Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

July 30, 2014

The Harold and Helen Shepherd Foundation has awarded the Pomeroy City Walk project a $2,000 grant. Project creator David Webb's goal is eventually to place about 40 vintage neon signs in downtown Pomeroy. Though the City of Pomeroy waived permit fees for installation of the signs, the project will incur additional expense of about $200 per sign for state permits and required electrical items. David said he will continue with his original commitment to provide the necessary materials and equipment to hang each sign out of his own pocket, including purchase of a hydraulic lift, but the addition expenses were unexpected.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 28, 1999

For Trooper Steve Lueck of the Washington State Patrol, coming home and working out of Pomeroy after more than 20 years has meant seeing a lot of new faces in town. Steve, who is better known as Bud to locals, was born and raised here and graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1973. He is the son of Lillian and the late Larry Lueck. Steve credits retired Pomeroy Trooper Mike Cassetto for "having a bit of influence" on his decision as a junior in high school to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Fifty Years Ago

July 25, 1974

A fire on the E.N. Shorty Boyd place burned over ten acres of barley, some of which had been cut, before it was brought under control by the fast action of neighbors and the Pomeroy volunteer fire department and stopped the fire short of the Boyd home. The Saturday afternoon fire started under harvester operated by David Kazda, alone at the time. The blaze apparently broke out in the machine's electrical system, he reported.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 28, 1949

Lucky winners in Lee's Jewelry contest received prizes from owner Lee LaHatt this week. Mrs. Lloyd Ruark won third place, a kitchen clock, Mrs. John Smith won second prize, a Packard Electric razor and Mrs. Charles Burke captured first prize, the coveted Columbia Diamond ring set. The contest attracted several hundred contestants and was one of the most successful contests in the history of the store.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 26, 1924

Charged with transporting liquor, F.H. White was given an examination before Justice W.H. Dixon Monday, and held under a bond of $1,000 to appear for trial in Superior court. Getting a hint that White was bringing liquor into Pomeroy, Sheriff E.E. Powell, accompanied by Frank Goetze, laid for him at the top of the Alpowa hill on the highway and caught him Sunday morning at two o'clock, with seven gallons of booze in his Chevrolet car.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 29, 1899

The city water committee has secured the right for the use of power adequate to all demands of this city, of Mr. John Agee. Mr. Agee agrees to let the city have the water right free of charge, reserving for his himself the privilege of lighting his house and barn. An engineer will arrive in Pomeroy early next week to make estimate of the cost of conveying power by electricity to Pomeroy from the Agee farm.