Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

January 23, 2013

The annual Garfield County Cattlemen's Bull Tour will leave from Four Star Supply, the first stop will be Dutch Flat Angus (Nick & Joe Waldher) at the Geiger Gulch feedlot. Black Angus bulls will be viewed at this stop. Second stop on the tour will feature Horned Herefords at CX Ranch (Bill Cox) at the Robinson Lowe place on Gould City-Mayview Road. From there the tour will proceed to Cabernet Cattle Co (Roger Koller) at the Victor Place on Kirby Mayview Road, where their Red Angus bulls will be shown. The final stop will be at Ledgerwood Gelbvieh (Samee Ledgerwood) at the new barn on Alpowa Creek, where Gelbvieh bulls will be featured.

Cole Mayfield was recognized as January's Student of the Month in the Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce's program. Pomeroy Junior-Senior High School teacher Janie Field nominated Cole, following the PIRATES acronym that defines qualities sought in the Student of the Month: Pride, Independence, Respect, Attitude, Trustworthy, Effort, and Show Kindness. Sterling Bank is the sponsor for the January Student of the Month.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 28, 1998

Contrary to what tele-marketers are telling Pomeroy residents, a home security system they are selling isn't endorsed by Pomeroy Police Department. Police Chief Dave Boyer said he has been told by residents that they are getting calls at home regarding security systems, including fire alarms, for their home. The caller also claims that the Pomeroy police have endorsed their product, he said. "We don't have any connection with them," the chief said. Boyer said residents who receive such calls should get as much information over the phone as possible then notify his office.

On a separate note, Boyer said a resident who wishes to remain anonymous is offering a $100 reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for vandalism at the City Park and golf course.

Fifty Years Ago

January 25, 1973

Several residents thought their houses were on fire, and others didn't know what to think this week, as Pomeroy City workmen went around town dropping smoke bombs down manholes. The project-which is continuing-is an infiltration study of Pomeroy's sanitary sewer system. The smoke bombs are being used to determine locations of leaks in both sewer mains and laterals (connections to residences and other customers). The crew uses a smoke bomb to test a specified area, and where leaks or cracks exist, smoke will escape, coming up out of the ground, or in some cases, up through basements or under mobile homes. The purpose of the study is to find out where infiltration of the sewer system by storm and surface waters occurs.

County Commissioners released preliminary results on the nursing home opinion survey, and thanked the work crews who did such a complete and fast job. The commissioners said they were happy with both the job done, and with the results of the survey, which indicate a preference for a nursing home in combination with the present hospital. The survey results show 96 percent of votes in favor of a nursing home.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

January 29, 1948

Garfield county's new $135,000 memorial hospital will open its doors to the public within the next 30 days. The institution will be in charge of Laura L. Matlock, superintendent. The hospital cost $115,000 and the equipment in it $20,000. Citizens of Garfield County, by volunteer subscriptions, have donated $13,000 in cash for furnishing the hospital. The hospital equipment is said to be the best that money can buy. Particularly well equipped is the surgery and the maternity ward.

Dewey Brown, president of the Garfield County Fair Association, was elected to the board of directors of the Washington State Fairs association at their annual meeting held in Seattle. Phillip Bloom also attended the state fairs meeting along with Mr. Brown. Mr. Bloom took part on the program by participating in a panel discussion on the problem of small fairs.

One Hundred Years Ago

January 27, 1923

A surprise to a number of would-be purchasers lurked in the arrangements for the sale on foreclosure of three sections of warehouse property at Mayview, Judkins and Pomeroy held here last Saturday. Around ten thousand, it was figured, was about the sum each property should bring. Somebody might bid in the whole thing at $25,000, but who would put up such a pile of money? Money is scarce now, you know. Stepping out to the front of the courthouse at the appointed moment, Sheriff E.E. Powell began to cry the sale, when, without batting an eye, Mr. Walter McCameron of the Portland Security & Trust company forthwith bid: $40,000 for the Judkins property, $40,000 for the Mayview tramway and $40,000 for the Pomeroy warehouses-total $120,000, impartially placed, no favorites played.

Work started several days ago on the new reservoir on the north hillside, to take the place of the old one that was constructed in 1887 for fire protection purposes. "This old stagnant pond has long been a menace to the health of the city, and will now be emptied and disconnected," said J.E. Tupper, city engineer. "It could only be filled by costly pumping, and to keep the water in it pure was a practical impossibility. The new reservoir will be filled by gravity, as are the other two in the east end of town, and the storage capacity will be practically doubled. This does not increase the total supply of the city, but it does double the reserve that is needed to tide us over any excessive drain on our supply," Mr. Tupper said.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 29, 1898

The longer a person lives in this country, the less he knows about the climate. It is only those who have recently come into the country who pretend to make any predictions. "The oldest inhabitant" this winter has nothing to say on the subject, for, scratch his head as hard as he may, he can't recall anything like the past season. The weather boss has completely knocked out the weather prophets, so that they have given it up, having been proven false prophets twice a day all winter.

From the Chicago Times-Herald: The worm has turned. The city council of Mankato, Kansas, has passed an ordinance by the terms of which "each and every person found guilty of whistling or singing 'There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight' shall be fined 50 cents for each and every offense committed between the hours of six o'clock in the morning and ten o'clock at night." Here is a reform that will win. Four years ago, when "After the Ball" was gathering strength in the east and had swept everything before it, that tidal wave struck the city council of Mankato, and was hurled back in fragments of froth and foam. The nuisance ordinance proved effective: "After the Ball" was suppressed and the great west was saved.