This Week in Odessa History

In 1916, there were no cross-state highways in Washington.

The road through Odessa, known as the North Central Highway, extended from Davenport to Vantage Ferry, and the Sunset Highway went through from Spokane to Wenatchee.

That year, there was talk of forming a “good roads association,” to promote the development of a better transportation system.

The Record carried this article 95 years ago in its issue of October 6:

The Record advocated last week a Good Roads Association The plea was made simply on general principles and the realization that concerted action can accomplish more than individual. Events that have since transpired prove that such a body is an absolute necessity not only in our community but in every locality in southern Lincoln and Grant counties if we hope to keep pace with the times.

In fact, if quick work is not done by organized representation from Harrington west, the North Central Highway is liable to lose its promised place in the line of state appropriations and will have to continue in the future as it has in the past, to be built entirely by local work.

The Blewitt Pass has evidently not come up to the expectations of the live Wenatchee Commercial Club, and they propose to make a new state road on the east bank of the Columbia River from Wenatchee to Ellensburg, as against the Vantage Ferry route.

It would be a fine thing for Wenatchee and would also help out Ellensburg, so a meeting is scheduled by the combined efforts of the two cities to be held in Wenatchee to secure support to make their proposed road a reality at the next session of the Legislature.

If the move should be successful, it would mean the North Central Highway would become a reality, receiving legislation appropriations. To this end, it is proposed to hold a meeting of all the good roads boosters from Harrington to Ephrata at Odessa next Saturday to outline a plan of action. Our state Representative, E.L. Farnsworth, and Frank Guilbert, good roads specialist from Spokane, are expected to be present. The North Central Highway is not only the shortest highway across the state but it is also open to travel at all seasons of the year, besides having many other advantages.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 6, 1911

The Commercial Club committee appointed several months ago to take up the question of securing 24-hour service at this point with the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. reported that they had examined the books of the company and found that the business done in Odessa at the present time did not justify the company in giving us 24-hour service but recommended that the club aid the company in securing enough additional business to warrant the extra expense. Mr. Crandall, the representative of the company, was present and stated that he would recommend night service for Odessa providing the number of phones could be increased to eighty, or about fifteen more than are in use at present.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 1, 1936

Dr. L.J. Bonney, health officer for the Town of Odessa, announces that the whooping cough had a good hold on the community and that parents must remember that it is a reportable disease, a ruling that will be enforced.

He further advises that all parents with children of under school age keep them at home, away from churches, shows or other public gatherings.

Odessa merchants will join with farmers in the big Trade Day parade to be held in Odessa on Saturday, as entertainment for the large crowds that are expected to take part in the prizes and parades of the day.

Attractions in Odessa that day will also include a generous number of attractive bargains in all stores. Fall merchandise has been arriving daily in readiness for the big day.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 12, 1961

Death claimed two more of the people burned critically in the August 27 gas tank explosion at the carnival in Odessa. They had been under medical care at Spokane since a blast of flame struck them while on the grounds that Sunday.

Mrs. Gale (Margaret) Palmer, 26, died Monday night Although critical from severe burns, she had held hopes of improvement. She had remained in a Spokane hospital.

Mrs. Elizabeth Zwick, 56, Hartline, died Sunday of burns received in the same explosion. She too had been under care in a Spokane hospital.

It brought to five the number of lives lost when a butane gas tank exploded in a popcorn stand at the King Carnival while playing the Odessa festival date. The operator of the stand, Mrs. Patricia Kelly, 31, Seattle, was killed outright in the explosion. Jess Palmer, 3, and his brother, Robert, 2, of Odessa, later died of burns received in the tragedy. A brother, Billy, 4, was burned but not critically. He was released from the hospital last Friday.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 9, 1986

During homecoming activities at Finney Field Friday night, candidates for homecoming queen, with their escorts, were introduced to the crowd. They were Deea Schafer with Kody Johnson, Phyllis Kile with Jeff Miller, Becky Jantz with Mark Burroughs, Jami Watters with Bill Ryan and Carrie Zagelow with Alex Wagenblast.

In the concluding chapter of a continuing discussion, Odessa town council members Monday night declared alley parking within the city limit at an end.

Any concessions threatening the accessibility of alleyways has the potential to hinder successful emergency service.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 18, 2001

While the fear of anthrax exposures grips the nation and sighting is of mysterious “white powder” are giving people the jitters, even as nearby as Spokane International Airport and at Pullman, Odessa so far is apparently unscathed.

But should the threat of anthrax strike, the community would be ready, local health and law enforcement officials said this week. Their first words of advice are that anyone suspecting they have been exposed to anthrax or if they believe they have evidence of the presence of anthrax should immediately call 911.

Odessa’s mayor Carl Ryan Monday night read citations in honor of medical service, fire and police department and state and county law enforcement personnel who serve the Odessa community in times of emergency.

Rebecca Kolterman is seeking her second term as a member of the Odessa Town Council in Position #4.

Kolterman ran for office in 1997 because she wanted to see the then sewer project up and running and the north-south highway through Odessa finished. She also was interested in seeing an end to the bickering which has been rampant within the Council at that time.