Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

July 17, 2013

Pomeroy Spinners recognized business owners Mark and Leslie Schmidt for their support by the Schmidt's Pomeroy Foods and PF Express. "Pomeroy Foods annually donates eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt, allows us to store the eggs in their cooler, and provides supplies for the Fair booth." said Spinners president Larry Ledgerwood. The Schmidt's were one of the first business owners to sponsor the Spinners' 'Pirate SHIP' campaign to raise money for new football helmets.

Installation of the new street lamps on Main St. began last week with Johnson Electrical Contracting, Lewiston, setting the poles in receptacles and placing the polycarbonate luminaires on top.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 15, 1998

With regional and national focus on the Snake River, it's easy for residents to forget that Pataha Creek that runs right through town also faces pressures from the Endangered Species Act., and bull trout in the upper Tucannon were listed as an endangered species. The upshot is farmers, ranchers and others will face ever closer scrutiny of how their actions affect the habitat.

Garfield County residents' support for the ambulance service has topped just about every survey of desired health care options, and the gratitude for the ambulance crew's care and professionalism is often expressed in thank-you notices in the East Washingtonian. According to Wynne McCabe, the supervisor for Garfield County Fire District's Emergency Medical Services, the Ambulance Memorial Fund has provided the district with over $27,000 in the last 10 years for purchase of specialized medical equipment for emergency response.

Fifty Years Ago

July 12, 1973

Pomeroy City Council approved The Pomeroy Municipal Code, in an action that has no effect on any provisions of existing ordinances. The book must be maintained as a record and laws will be enacted as before, but from this time forward someone wanting to look up "the law" will have an easier time of it.

Vandalism has resulted in virtually all of the flower pots on Main Street being vacant, and one-by-one those that still have plants are losing them. Last week the petunias in the flower pot at Home Mart were ripped out during the night, and left to die on top of the planter. Loren Porter, who has been planting flowers in the pot for several years noted he has grown to expect that they will be ripped out, but this year they lasted until July and he had hopes they might make it through the year. They were just coming into bloom when some person or persons ripped them out in the dark of the night.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 15, 1948

"Set 'em up in the other alley" might be what Robert D. Taft is thinking this week. On contract hauling with the Blue Mountain Canneries, Inc., here, Taft was coming down the grade on the Bell Plain Road Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in his truck, when the front left wheel locked. The truck spun over an eight-foot embankment and rolled 100 feet down the hill, turning over. Damage to the truck $500. Injuries to Taft, 21, none. But he doesn't want to duplicate the feat.

Game Supervisor Gene Fennimore of the Walla Walla district reports that the lower pond formed on the Tucannon river has been named Deer Lake. The upper pond on the Tucannon will be called Beaver Lake. The ponds have been stocked with trout.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 21, 1923

Wheat harvest started Monday, after some delay by rains, when Frank Morgan started his little combine in Turkey red. The yield of this crop is estimated at from 35 to 40 bushels to the acre and the quality is good, despite the heavy rains. Some of the grain is down, it is said, but there will be little if any loss on this account. Barley threshed by Henry Freeburn on land owned by Floyd Robinson was the first new grain delivered in Pomeroy this year. The first load was delivered to the Pomeroy flour mill company on Wednesday.

The members of the American Legion Auxiliary have pledged to make a monthly contribution. Already they have contributed to the purchase of the new player piano. Also they have sent $5.00 to help pay for an electric sewing machine for the Cushman Hospital at Tacoma. The contribution of canned fruit of the American Legion auxiliary have proven so helpful to the hospitals that Col. Story of Cushman and Maj. Judkins of Walla Walla, have offered to have empty jars packed and delivered to point of shipment. It is hoped that this will mean a great deal more home-canned fruit, which always appeals to the sick men.

One Hundred Twenty Five Years Ago

July 16, 1898

Co. C 2d Infantry Washington Volunteers, were mustered in last Monday morning, and left on the train, at 6 p.m., to assist their country in her hour of need. They were given the greatest ovation that ever a crowd received from this town, and no one of the large number present could help being proud of their soldier representatives, feeling certain that they would be an honor to their friends and relatives, to themselves and to their country.

Commenting upon Hon. S.G. Cosgrove's able 4th of July oration at Ritzville, the news of that city says: The speaker of the day, Hon. S.G. Cosgrove of Pomeroy, fairly outdid himself. Naturally chock full of patriotism, and the news just coming of the splendid victories of the American forces at Santiago, the old soldier seemed to be on fire with patriotism, and if anyone present had any doubt about the United States being the grandest country the sun shines on, or the American people being the most chivalrous, the doubt had gotten away from them.