This Week in Odessa History

Rain has meant everything throughout Odessa’s history.

When it rains, the crops grow, and the community prospers. When there is a drought, things wither and die.

The Odessa area had just gone through the worst growing and harvest season in its history – which includes up to the present time – in the fall of 1931. It had been a total crop failure at harvest.

A rain in late October, therefore, was welcome news to farmers and to the community as a whole.

Here is The Odessa Record’s report in its issue of October 30, 1931.

Prospects for the farmers in Odessa region brightened this week with an increased downfall of rain and a steady rise in the grain markets.

Starting on Friday, wheat started its price changes, boosting prices 4 to 5 cents a bushel, after a steady increase in price during the last week or 10 days. The change brought the price of Baart up to 58 cents a bushel.

Tuesday saw another upswing in the prices, bringing Baart up to 60 cents a bushel or a cent a pound. The eastern market raised some at the same time, only to have a slight relapse, which did not affect the general improvement in price.

Rainfall for the early part of the week reached a total of approximately .30 of an inch. The rain fell heavily, followed by a chilly day which permitted it to sink into the ground.

Reassured by the abundant moisture, farmers commenced to seed fall wheat, hoping that it would get enough start this fall to be of value as a ground holder next spring.

Wheat dealers stated that the increase in the price of wheat was brought on by the Russian attitude, which makes it doubtful if that country will compete on the world grain market, thus directing the wheat demands toward the United States.

The rainfall of the week was preceded by three days of heavy wind, which caused the dust to blow heavily on the already windswept fields.

The rain brought a relief from the tension that has held the farmers, who were anxious to get into the fields. Many of them went ahead with their seeding at the first rain of the fall and welcomed the moisture to bring up the crop.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 13, 1911

County superintendent George E. Craig has commenced a vigorous campaign to round up parents in the county who have neglected to send their children to school. He has a number of warrants sworn out and was serving them to delinquent parents residing south of Harrington this week.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 8, 1936

A 1908 International truck proved the winning float in the Trade Day parade on Saturday, Jacob Raugust entering it in contrast to the new International truck entered by the Odessa Trading company.

The Commercial Club, at its meeting on Wednesday, resolved to make the next trade day an outstanding event, and instructed the committee to arrange a free entertainment, possibly an amateur hour for the day, with a full lineup of prizes as usual.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 19, 1961

Planning a greatly expanded program for its November 18 Turkey Carnival, the Odessa Lions Club today announced committee appointments with C.E. (Jack) Meek as the general chairman and Merle Janke in charge of publicity.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 16, 1986

A sure sign of autumn and approaching winter was taking place earlier this week on Amende Drive where Herb Burghard put his log-splitter on the site of an endless supply of fireplace blocks. With help from Jim Goetz, Art Deife and Dan Gettman, the crew muscled wood chunks onto the splitter, then tossed the results onto the truck for delivery.

Washington motorists who seek personalized license plates may now order them with the new centennial background.

The centennial-style plate also will be available to replace existing green-on-white standard issue license plates.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 25, 2001

Management changes at Odessa’s Trading Company, a division of Ritzville Warehouse Company, will be taking place at the beginning of November.

H.P. Carstensen is leaving his position as manager of the Central Washington Grain Growers hardware store in Wilbur to become OTC manager, John Anderson, Ritzville Warehouse CEO/general manager, said Monday.

Mark Cronrath, who has been OTC’s manager, has been named Odessa grain manager for Ritzville Warehouse. This new position for Cronrath will strengthen the grain side of RWC in the Odessa area.

Jon Davis, who has been administrator of Lincoln County Public Hospital District #1 for the past 2½ years, is leaving Odessa to accept a similar position in Colfax.