This Week in Odessa History

A rock festival planned for June 18, 19 and 20, 1971, in a barren sagebrush area just south of Marlin, which was expected to draw visitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest, caused anxiety in the Odessa area for nearly three weeks.

First announced by Spokane news media on May 25, the Seattle promoters of the affair billed it as a major spectacle, featuring nationally famous rock stars.

In Odessa and Marlin, however, there were visions of another Woodstock, but with even worse consequences, for it was feared that law enforcement authorities could never control the assortment of hippies, bikers and bona fide rock fans which were expected for “Sunrise 71,” as it was called.

The Odessa Record carried a report in its May 27 issue, announcing that the festival promoters had predicted that 500,000 rock fans would attend.

Tension mounted in the weeks that followed. The Record pictured a sign which had been mysteriously taped on a downtown business house window. An accompanying story in that issued reported:

“The status remains indefinite as to the ‘festival’ announced for June 18-20 on the outskirts of Marlin. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern as to how to handle an influx of 50,000 or more people (apparently the estimate of attendance had been scaled down from the promoters’ figure of a week before). A formal application under a new state law (to hold the festival) was made to Grant County commissioners, but no action had been announced as of The Record’s press time on Wednesday afternoon.”

The following week, on June 7, the Odessa Town Council considered the question and its possible consequences. Council members pondered everything from insufficient police personnel to handle such a crowd just passing through town to how the local hospital might handle a flood of overdosed drug cases, which was thought to be a certainty at a gathering like this.

The Record reported in its June 17 issue that the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office had set up a command post in Odessa to be on alert for an emergency.

Meanwhile, Grant County commissioners still had not issued a permit for the event. Despite this, several hundred people had filtered into Marlin, and many more were on the way. Some pitched tents and others camped outside even though no sanitary facilities had been provided.

The Record reported that shopkeepers in Marlin had found their places of business overrun.

County law officers and eight state troopers were stationed in Odessa as were a fleet of ambulances, in anticipation of possible violence.

A road block was set up at First and Alder Street in Odessa to filter west bound and south bound traffic through town. The town swimming pool was drained as it was supposed that in the hot weather which prevailed rock fans might gather in Reiman park.

Right up until the last minute, it was believed the festival would be going ahead. But late on June 17, Grant County commissioners denied a permit for the show and issued an injunction against it.

The rocker who had encamped at Marlin moved on to Deep Lake in Grand Coulee, where county commissioners had offered them a camp and safe haven, but without the entertainment they had come to Marlin to enjoy.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 31, 1912

The first Eighth Grade Commencement Exercises ever held at Irby took place at the Irby school house last Friday evening, when a splendid program was rendered before a crowded house. Three graduates, Rudolph Haas, Lottie Miller and Edward T. Miller, well known in the community of Irby, were presented with their diplomas by School Director F. Woodin, who was also chairman of the evening, and spoke well of the school’s success and progress.

R.S. Crowl, editor of The Odessa Record, made a twenty mile trip through the farming country tributary to Odessa Monday evening to inspect the wheat surrounding the area.

All the grain seen on the trip had a rich healthy color and an even stand and most of the fields were very free from weeds.

One thing is certain, prospects for a bumper crop were never better and given favorable weather during the next few weeks remaining before harvest, 1912 will take rank with 1897 as a big crop year. It is really a treat to get out in the country and see how fine the grain looks.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 27,1937

The 33 members of the class of 1937 will hold their graduating exercises in the high school auditorium, on Tuesday, June 1.

The commencement exercises this year will follow the newer trend, members of the class putting on an interesting program, with awards of honor medals and other acknowledgments. Use of a commencement speaker will be dispensed with, using the time for outstanding musical organizations of the school.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 28, 1987

The new cemetery chapel, nearing exterior completion, was on display during the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Odessa Cemetery last Monday.

The Odessa high School graduating class of 1987, breaking with tradition, will hold commencement exercises at the Odessa City park on Sunday, May 31.

1987 graduating class members were Ken Weaver, Bill Ryan, Annette Thorp, Phyllis Kile, Markham Nichols, Jeff Miller, Mike Burghard, Jami Watters, Troy Dammel, Kyle Schafer, Leland Smith, Shad Walter, Kelly Watkins, David Kramer, Steve Hawkins and Jim Williams.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 30, 2002

Throngs gathered at Odessa Cemetery and at the Bohemian Cemetery 2½ miles south of Odessa for memorial rights and to decorate graves.

About 200 persons, many of them out-of-town relatives and friends, came to pay tribute to loved ones buried at the cemetery.

Fifty-seven Odessa High School alumni and former teachers and advisors have made reservations for themselves and in many instances their spouses to attend the 66th annual banquet and reunion of the Odessa Alumni Association on Saturday, June 15, at the Odessa Community Center.

Now is the time for the class of 2002 to walk down the aisle and become the graduates of 2002. Something new this year is the addition of the high school choir singing The Graduation Song.