Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

December 5, 2012

Pataha Flour Mill's annual Christmas Tea and Confections will take place Saturday, Dec. 8 in the Houser Room at the mill. Pullman violinist Rick Grunewald and his wife Nancy, a vocalist, and Palouse pianist Caroline Germain will present a variety of famous Christmas music. Carla Heytvelt will direct the event, and carols sung by all will be accompanied by Juyne Bowles on the organ and Jon Van Vogt on the piano. Jon said a wide variety of Christmas treats will be served, along with tea, coffee, and traditional wassail.

Pomeroy Elementary School's Title I program will sponsor and All-Star Family Reading & Pajama Night Wednesday in the elementary gym. The event is held in conjunction with the Book Fair that will be held concurrently in the library. The Book Fair continues through Friday. "It is an evening to celebrate reading with family," coordinator Sue Van Ausdle said.

Twenty-five Years Ago

December 10, 1997

Scores of residents came downtown during the Chocolate Extravaganza, sponsored by the Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce, for free chocolate treats and heart-warming holiday shopping during the sixth annual event. This Friday, the Chamber sponsors "Pajamas and Popcorn" downtown, with your favorite businesspeople in the best bedclothes, serving popcorn delights all day.

Pomeroy children writing letters to Santa Claus will get help again this year from the Pomeroy Spinners. Letters to Santa may be dropped off in the special box at the Pomeroy Post Office, according to Shaun Martin. The Spinners will see that the letters get to Santa Claus. Children's letters will be answered when the child's full name (first and last, please) and address are included in the letter to Santa.

Fifty Years Ago

December 7, 1972

Northwest weathermen say the Arctic cold which has swept over the region last weekend will continue at least for several more days. In Garfield County the air mass resulted in below zero temperatures, especially Tuesday morning, and 10 to 20 mile an hour winds from the Northeast resulted in a wind chill reading many degrees colder. The cold wave started in Garfield County with snows Saturday morning after an unseasonable 60 degrees recorded by the Forest Service Friday. Saturday's snows melted, but snow on Sunday stayed, with about 1.5 inches of snow on top of icy ground and roads in Pomeroy.

Work on the Pomeroy Booster Club concession stand and restrooms at the football field began on Saturday, Nov. 25. About a dozen interested members and friends erected forms on Friday and poured concrete on Saturday for extension of the retaining wall. Fill material will be placed behind the wall during the winter months to allow plenty of time for settling.

Seventy-five Years Ago

December 11, 1947

The Pomeroy Pirates boxing squad will show to the public for the first time this year in an intra-squad match on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. For the past week a number of high school youths have been swinging the leather gloves around with the thought in mind of winning for themselves a berth on the regular Pirate squad. Coach Laurence Slater will know who's who after the intra-squad matches Saturday evening. While all of the boys still need more training and conditioning the fans nevertheless are assured of some good fights Saturday night. Boxing is the most popular sport in which the Pirates participate if one is to judge from the cash taken in at the gate.

Purchase of land utilized by the old Tucannon CCC camp from the Grant Low estate, by the state game department, was completed Monday, Norman Knott, department land acquisition chief disclosed. The site is located approximately 24 miles west of Pomeroy near the Tucannon game preserve established some years ago by the department. Only the land is included in the deal since title to the former CCC buildings is held by the Methodist church. The department hopes to conclude an agreement with the church so that church groups, 4-H clubs and other organizations may continue to hold conventions, institutes and meeting there with the game department handling upkeep of structures.

One Hundred Years Ago

December 16, 1922

The storm which came down from the north-east with a roaring wind Saturday night started the first genuine "spell" of winter weather. Although the wind direction reversed itself and on Tuesday the storm was coming out of the southwest, it continued with occasional snow showers and on Thursday morning the country was smothered under a cover 12 to 18 inches deep. Roads throughout the county have been clocked and farmers in some localities have been unable to make their way to town. The stages are still making regular trips but with some delays. Farmer line telephone service has been interrupted generally.

Mrs. H.H. Cardwell, county chairman for the sale of Christmas seals, announces that she has received a supply of the seals to be put on sale December 11. The sale will continue until the 23rd of December. A committee has been appointed by Mrs. Cardwell to conduct the sale with the aid of the schools throughout the county. The idea this year is to get school children interested as solicitors, Mrs. Cardwell states, but anyone wishing to buy stamps who shall not be given an opportunity by the schools may obtain them of Miss Ruby Dixon, at the law office of G.W. Jewett.