This Week in Odessa History

A report in the May 3, 1907, edition of The Odessa Record on the volume of wheat received at Odessa warehouses during the preceding season emphasized that the town was the world’s largest primary wheat shipping station.

Odessa area wheat field had been in production less than 10 years but more wheat was being shipped out of Odessa than at any other point along the Great Northern railroad, and that included Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska.

A large sign painted on the side of the Odessa Flouring Mill proclaimed this fact. About a third of the wheat leaving Odessa was in the form of flour which the mill had ground.

The town’s special distinction came to an abrupt end in 1911. That year, the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific Railroad’s branch through Rocky Coulee from Warden to Marcellus changed the marketing system. From then on, wheat from the rich farming area south of Odessa, was received at Batum, Ruff, Moody, Packard, Schoonover, Lauer and Laing stations.

Today, only a fraction of the Odessa areas’ wheat leaves via railroad. The Milwaukee Road’s branch line-- in fact, its main line as well– has disappeared. The largest share of wheat from Odessa and the surrounding area is transported by truck to the Snake River, where it is transferred to barges for shipment to Portland.

Here are excerpts from The Record’s report 105 years ago:

Through the courtesy of Odessa station agent H.J. Patterson of the Great Northern Railway, we are enabled this week to give a complete and authentic report of the wheat received and sent from Odessa during the shipping season just ended.

Shipments totaled 663,667 bushels of wheat and 340,000 bushels of which have been ground into flour at Odessa’s mill. This brings the grand total to 1 million bushels, or thereabouts.

Wheat exports for the previous season were about 1.2 million bushels. Although the acreage for both seasons was approximately the same, yields of the last crop were somewhat lighter than the previous year, owning to the hot winds before harvest.

Even at 1 million bushels, Odessa still remains the largest primary wheat receiving station on the great Northern, and this year, if the present prospects count for anything, the seasons record will be beaten by one-half.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 10, 1912

A tribute is to be paid to the mothers of the state on Sunday, May 12, as Gov. Hay has issued a formal proclamation setting aside that day to be observed as Mothers’ Day through the state in accordance with a custom which has grown up and which the Governor recommends should be fittingly observed by doing particular honor to the mothers on that day.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 13,1937

Carpenters have been busy completing installation of the new Safeway store, scheduled to have its opening this week end.

A sheep herder, putting his band of sheep into a field at the Klima ranch on Sunday, despite large “no trespass” notices, refused to heed the advise of Mr. Klima when told to move and later found himself in justice court. Mr. Klima contacted the sheriff’s office and when Lew Hutsell responded, they took the herder, who gave his name as Anderson, before Justice F.B. Totusek. There the herder willingly paid for damages and court costs and was turned loose.

Ranchers have been posting their property against the coming of the sheep and violators were subject to court action as trespassers.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 14, 1987

After a $261,000 levy failure in early February when balloting failed to reach the required 60 percent, last Friday’s school funding vote struck back with a vengeance as district patrons approved two to one a re-run of the same amount.

There will be a “no slack” for motorists who ignore the new 65-MPH speed limit in rural areas, Washington State patrol chief George Tellevik has announced. That, he warned, is effective immediately.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 9, 2002

The Community Center was filled on Friday, May 3, as the 11th Annual Odessa Healthcare Winetasting and Auction got underway. There were in excess of 180 in attendance. By the time everything was said and done, the amount of monies committed had grown to approximately $25,000, which is a new record for the Foundation.

The royalty for the 2002 Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo was chosen Saturday, May 4 in conjunction with the dressage horse clinic at Widmer Arena in Davenport. There were two contestants, Kaci Wilson and Marci Breshears who tried out for the honor of being queen.

Wilson will reign this year as queen and Breshears will assist her as princess. They will be representing Lincoln County Fair at community events, parades and rodeos throughout Lincoln County and surrounding areas.

Meg Allen, Larisssa Zeiler and Brooke Voise will be at the National Conference for FBLA held in Nashville, Tenn.