This Week in Odessa History

The ultimate in volunteer service came to the surface in August 1923, when Odessa’s first concrete water reservoir was built.

The old tank is ready to be replaced today. It leaks beyond repair. A new reservoir, which will probably be built close to the town well, is already funded and scheduled for construction.

Eighty-nine years ago, Odessa citizens as well as farmers from the surrounding area came with shovels and picks and hammer and saws, as well as with wagon teams to accomplish one of the biggest projects in the town’s history up to that time.

The reservoir served the community as its only water storage facility for more than 30 years. It was complemented in the 1950s by the 500,000-gallon south hill reservoir. For decades, however, the north hill reservoir has stood proud, overlooking the town below.

The building of the reservoir was reported in the August 17, 1923, issue of The Odessa Record:

Under the direction and supervision of engineer Dennis P. Woods, of Spokane, the steel reinforcing of the floor of the concrete water storage tank on Odessa’s north hill was set in place this week.

The steel for the floor is laid and bound in such a manner that it forms small nine-inch squares.

Contractor Conrad Eckhardt and his men began pouring the concrete of the floor at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, and they finished the work on Friday. It will be several days before more work can be done, as the concrete must set sufficiently well, and then the framework of the sidewalls can be set in place and the steel network, which will be flowed by the pouring of the concrete for the walls.

Excavation and leveling of the grounds as well as the building of the forms for the concrete has been the work of volunteers. Farmers have provided teams and wagons and have helped with the construction work.

It is well worth the while of all to visit the tank to see just how it is being constructed. With the addition of this 250,000-gallon tank, the Town of Odessa will have one of the best tanks in the country and will be able to take care of an increase in population for many years to come.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 9, 1912

Chicago, August 7. -- Singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the delegates to the first national convention of the new progressive party proclaimed Theodore Roosevelt of New York as their candidate for president and Governor Hiram W. Johnson of California as their choice for vice president.

Making a new departure in the proceedings of the national conventions, the two candidates immediately were notified of their nomination, and in the midst of deafening cheers, they appeared before the delegates to voice their acceptance and to pledge their best efforts to the coming campaign.

Colonel Roosevelt in his acceptance speech, said;

“We hold with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln that the people are the masters of the constitution to fulfil its purposes and to safeguard it from those who, by perversion of its intent, would convert it into an instrument of injustice.

“This country belongs to the people who inhabit it. It is time to set the public welfare in the first place.”

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 9, 1937

Bids for erection of the new garage to house the school bus equipment of the Odessa school district, will be called on Saturday, and work is expected to start immediately. Architect Geo. Rasque of Spokane, has prepared the plans for the building, which will be brick construction, with an ornamental stucco front.

To know Odessa the tourist should visit the town on Saturday night during harvest. Dense crowds throng the streets and the stores are rushed to satisfy the wants of the many customers. During harvest, the days are quiet, but with the opening of the stores at 8 o’clock during the evening the trade appears.

Parking space on the streets is at a premium. Business men and ranchers cooperate to keep the streets clean for business.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 13, 1987

A slight dent may be made this year in the white wheat surplus, according to a Washington State University extension economist.

Domestic use of soft wheat, traditionally used to make cake flour and flours for noodles, pastries and unleavened bread, is expected to drop some, but exports are expected to increase a little more than the domestic drop.”

Bill Zagelow has been named one of 16 members of the Rail Development Commission, a group Gov. Booth Gardner said, “will begin to bring Washingtons’ transportation systems into the 21st Century.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 8, 2002

The Odessa Enhancement Project is moving right along.

Several customers have come into Record Square and said they feel like the pioneers when the streets and sidewalks were just dirt.

On Monday, a survey crew was staking out the curb stops and elevations.

Construction will begin replacing water service lines from the water main to the buildings on the north side of the street this week. This is a concurrent project outside of the scope of the enhancement project, but is timely so that any defective, worn, or faulty waterlines can be replaced prior to the placement of the new sidewalks.

Business has been slow downtown since work began because of the limited parking, gravel sidewalk areas and harvest, but the end project will be beautiful new sidewalks, with handicap accessible areas and something to be proud of for the entire town.