This Week in Odessa History

A report first appearing in the Harrington Citizen and then carried in the Spokane Spokesman-review and the Seattle Times in July 1909 didn’t amuse R.S.Crowl, the editor of The Odessa Record.

In fact, he was furious about a story, which had it that all of the farm land southwest of Odessa was adrift in sand.

The Record fired back with this front-page article in its July 12 issue:

If a person were inclined to believe all of the stories gotten up by many unreliable corespondents, by this time he might really believe that the people of Odessa had come to the conclusion they were living in a veritable Sahara.

We earnestly raise our voice as a warning to the people in all the town in the northeastern part of Lincoln County to look out, because there seems to be no stopping place for the sand, and they may soon awaken to find their beautiful farms covered to a depth of several feet with shifting sands.

The reports in the Harrington Citizen and the Spokane and Seattle dailies grew out of appeals by land owners in southwestern Lincoln County that certain portions of their farms contained blow land and that their assessed valuation should be reduced.

These reports quote Assessor Parmenter with saying that in company of County Commissioner Sam Mayer, of Odessa, he went to the area southwest of Odessa to view the land for assessment purposes and that he found the land is being almost totally destroyed for agricultural purposes by the drifting sand and with every wind that blows the tillable soil is being fast covered.

Further, it was reported that many farmers would try another year to raise a crop and if unsuccessful would desert the land. Mr. Parmenter was quoted as saying he had much difficulty getting through the sand with his automobile, when in truth he and Mr. Mayer did not go out in an automobile but with a team and buggy.

“The reports stated that over 12 sections were nearly rendered useless, and that Mr. Parmenter ran out of blanks after using enough for 12 sections, really making it appear that about 17 sections had been destroyed for agricultural purposes by being covered with moving sand.

“We are in a position to state that instead of the number being 17 sections, there are about 2,600 acres on the 17 sections mentioned that contain sand and this is according to statements of the owners for the purpose of lowering their assessment and are taken from the office of the county assessor during the present week.

“We also know that a couple of sales had been nearly made for some of this land at $25 per acre but when the time came to make out the deed the owner refused to let it go at that price. A half section sold a short time ago at $27.50 per acre and the purchaser has since been offered $30 for it.

“Crops in the ‘sand belt’ are making from 20 to 30 bushels of wheat to the acre this year.”

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

July 12, 1912

The first load of new wheat to be brought to Odessa this season was delivered Wednesday morning at the warehouse of the Seattle Grain Co., of which Aug. Jansen is agent. It was from the ranch of Henry Walter, five miles south of town, and was of the Jones Fife variety, tested 56 pounds and the average yield from an 80-acre field was 22 bushels per acre.

D.H. Durland has been employed by the Odessa Commercial Club to collect an exhibit of the products of the Odessa country for display purposes. Mr. Durland has collected a number of fine samples of sheaf grain. Good samples of bulk grain and other products are also wanted. The exhibit will be used to advertise the Odessa country in the east during the coming fall and winter.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

July 22,1937

An article appeared in the Seattle Times in 1912 showing the strength of Odessa at the time.

“”Whether the city got its name from its inhabitants, or got its inhabitants from its name, is a disputed question. Some say that the Russian name ‘Odessa’ was given the railroad the first German-Russian colonist came here. This much is certain, a goodly number of German-Russians live there and the town bears the earmarks of their thriftiness.

“The first thing that greets the eye upon alighting in Odessa is a sign proclaiming this to be the ‘the largest wheat shipping point on the Great Northern railway.’ At the time this was the truth. But the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound railway built a branch from its main line at Warden to Marcellus, coming within eight miles of the city, to the south at Lauer. This has deprived Odessa of one-fourth of its wheat shipping. The erection of the sign followed the mammoth crop of 1907 at which time 1,500,000 bushels of wheat was shipped.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

July 9, 1987

Nearing exterior completion, the cemetery chapel has been enclosed with doors hung and concrete entryways poured. Most noticeable is the chapel spire atop the building, drawing attention from the highway that passed nearby.

As other development portions of the Superconducting Super Collider project are underway, a study is also being made to determine benefits.

“There is no way to evaluate the intellectual and technological wealth to the state,” physics professor Dr. Henry Lubatti of the University of Washington.

The entire project would be a stimulus for universities throughout the area, he claimed.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

July 11, 2002

A new parking area and a graveled path have made visiting Cache Crater much easier. The trail shortens the distance to the crater from Highway 21 to about 300 feet. The vista point to the west of the crater will eventually have an interpretive kiosk.

The Odessa Town Council Monday night unanimously approved an ordinance creating a local improvement district for the enhancement of downtown First Avenue.