This Week in Odessa History

They didn’t call them chambers of commerce in those days

They were commercial clubs in all but the larger cities like Spokane.

One hundred and eight years ago this week, the Odessa Commercial Club, forerunner to the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, was organized.

That body, made up of the town’s civic and business leaders, has been an enthusiastic booster of Odessa ever since.

It was designated the Odessa Chamber of Commerce in the 1950s.

Here is the report of its founding, appearing in The Odessa Record on March 11, 1904.

A meeting at the city hall last Tuesday evening for the purpose of planning the organization of a commercial club was well attended by the citizens of our town, and if the enthusiasm shown at this meeting continues, we may be assured that the benefits of the organization will soon be felt in Odessa and the surrounding country.

The new organization begins life with a charter membership of 24 of Odessa’s most energetic business and professional men at its head and it is believed that before a month passes the membership will be doubled.

The following officers were unanimously elected for the ensuing year. George Kennedy (who was Odessa’s first mayor), president; W.L. Michaelsen, vice president; H.C. Phillips, secretary; Eugene Page, treasurer.

The appointing of several committees was postponed by the president until the next regular meeting.

Other charter members are Dr. N.H. Goodenow, Fielden Logsdon, F.J. Guth, Oscar F. Minch, R.E. Trantum, L.G. Nuelsen, W.H. Becker, W.D. Kelly, H.A. Manchester, E.J. Keigler, L.G. Shindall, L.L. Benningson, L.P Zimmer, Julius Kunkel, J.P. Weber, L.C. Weik, R.S. Crowl, J.V. Schatz, J.T. Ashworth, F.J. Ardolf and F.J Hoagland.

The Constitution and by-laws of the club state the objective of the organization is to advance in every legitimate way the growth and development of the city of Odessa, particularly by the following means:

• By advertising the advantages of living in Odessa and the surrounding country.

• By encouraging immigration to the country around Odessa.

• By promoting the establishment of new business and encouraging the investment of capital.

• By securing the permanent improvement of streets, sidewalks, alleys and public highways.

• By beautifying the city and encouraging the planting of trees and shrubs along residential thoroughfares and on public grounds.

• By establishing and encouraging the development of market facilities for farm products.

• By discouraging useless and improper competition and to encourage decent competition in all lines of business.

• By assisting the city authorities in influencing and setting examples in the enforcement of city ordinances and laws.

• By encouraging the proper and economical expenditure of public money for public improvements and by discouraging extravagant and wasteful expenditures.

• By otherwise advancing the public welfare of our city and creating a spirit of enthusiasm for public good.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

March 1, 1912

At a meeting of the school board Karl R. Edmunds, assistant principal of the Odessa public schools for the past three years, was elected principal to succeed Prof. Wm. U. Neely, who will leave Odessa June 1st to take up the duties of county superintendent of schools, to which position he was recently appointed by the board of county commissioners.

An enthusiastic road meeting which was attended by the thirty road foremen of Commissioners District No 1, Lincoln county, was held at the town hall last Saturday. Meetings were held in the three districts of Lincoln county for the purpose of instructing the road foremen in practical road building, with the end in view of systematizing the work and making every dollar spent on the roads count for something, instead of squandering the taxpayers’ money on work that makes for no permanent improvement in the roads and often leaves them unfit for travel during the wheat hauling season when traffic is the heaviest.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

March 4, 1937

Crab creek, normally dry, is again carrying flowing water. On Saturday night a small flow from Duck Lake draw started running into the dry creek bed. During other springs the water from the territory drained by Duck Lake fills the Crab creek banks when it strikes town. This year it had but small height.

The thawing weather has opened up the ground and the moisture is being rapidly absorbed. All the pools in Odessa streets have disappeared. Rainfall on Monday added to the surface moisture.

Drilling of the new city well, halted at a depth of 400 feet, was taken up at the council meeting on Monday night, and it was decided to close the present contract, with final disposition to be taken up at some future meeting. It was believed that the amount of water obtained did not warrant an expensive test.

Tentative plans call for drilling a well on the present well lot across the tracks from the new well. A pump may be secured to test the present well.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 22,1962

The remaining issues of The Record for 1962 are not available for publication. The 50 Years Ago column will begin again in January of 1963.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

March 5, 1987

Memorial Hospital administrator Don James has successfully completed requirements for a doctorate from Gonzaga University in Spokane.

“The Odessa Trading Company remains in a strong financial position for the year ended December 31, 1986,” accountant Mike Leffel of Leffel, Otis and Warwick told assembled members of OTC at the firms annual meeting.

“Working capital increased nearly 50 percent during the current year,” Leffel said, adding “the current working capital ration of two to one will provide the company with adequate financing for the next year.”

The chapel association plans to begin construction later this month,” said Hemmerling, who noted county building permits have not yet been obtained. On completion of the chapel, the council member noted, it will be turned over to the city.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

March 7, 2002

Odessa Junior Miss has made some changes. They are now called the Miss Odessa Scholastic Program.

The program will continue to be a scholastic one. The only difference will be Miss Odessa will not participate at the state program.

Construction on a $503,591 expansion program which will give Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center a vastly improved physical therapy department will begin March 18.

The expansion project includes the enclosure of the portico on the northwest side of the north wing of the hospital building. This is the open lower-level area where the hospital’s ambulance now was stationed.

The area of the existing therapy department will be rearranged to allow for three rooms for private treatment, an enlarged exercise room with mat tables, exercise bikes and other gymnastic equipment, office space and a waiting room.