This Week in Odessa History

Crab Creek floods wrought destruction on Odessa several times during the 20th Century. They usually occurred at the end of January or in February, as the creek was swollen by runoff water.

In the late 1930s, flooding was brought under control, for the most part, with dikes built through the town on both banks of the creek.

One of the first and most awesome of Odessa’s floods occurred 104 years ago. The Odessa Record reported the disaster in its issue of January 22, 1909:

The people of Odessa and the lower portion of Crab Creek Valley have been experiencing the worst flood in the area’s history this week.

The largest portion of Odessa has been under from one to three feet of water, and bridges, sidewalks, fences and a few small out-buildings have been swept away as many people have been compelled to abandon their homes and seek refuge with friends.

At Irby and Wilson Creek, conditions are reported much worse than here, and the Great Northern Railway has had over two miles of track swept away and several bridges carried out between Odessa and Irby. Under the most favorable conditions it will take a week or 10 days to rebuild. In the meantime, a stub train will run between Odessa and Spokane on the dinky’s time and through trains will be run over the Washington Central Railroad from Spokane to Seattle.

A Chinook started early in the week, which rapidly melted the snow that covered the ground at a depth of from 8 to 15 inches, and Tuesday Crab Creek, which has been dry since last summer, became a raging torrent, racing through town with banks full and over flowing in some places. The first flood water came down Duck Creek, past the pumping plant, flooding the town well and rushing around the pump house. It threatened to undermine the foundations on which the machinery stands.

This water emptied into Crab Creek just above town and in itself was no menace to the town, but early Wednesday, upper Crab Creek got busy and the water then began to raise rapidly. About the same time, the ice began breaking up in the creek above town and came floating down in great chunks. The first of these carried away the middle span of the foot bridge on First Avenue, and a few minutes later the Fifth Street foot bridge leading to the school house went out. The water was then flooding the lower portion of town lying between Crab Creek and the railroad was covered with water 1 to 3 feet deep.

Merchants took the precaution to empty basements and had large crews of men working all night getting their stocks to higher ground. On Wednesday, when the water began to rise so as to threaten damage to goods on upper floors, barricades were placed across the doors and banked up with manure and cinders to keep the water from sweeping through. In this manner, the water was kept out of most of the business places, and little damage resulted. However, at the Odessa Hardware Company, Neulsen’s and the Odessa Mercantile, water covered the main floor. The Big Store and other business houses escaped with small damage. The first floor of the Grand Hotel was covered with 3 inches of water, and the Odessa Hotel was in nearly as bad shape. Landlord Weisgerber of the Odessa Hotel took over the dining room at the Masonic Hall and has been serving meals there since.

The town will be the heaviest loser from the flood. Every footbridge is out of commission. The four wagon bridges across Crab Creek are still intact, although the approaches have been washed away. It is hard to estimate the damage to private property, but it will probably run into the hundreds and probably thousands of dollars.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 10, 1913

The installation of officers of Odessa Lodge No. 195, I.O.O.F., took place at the meeting held Thursday evening. Following are the new officers: Lee Ganson, N.G: W.R. Lesley, V.G .: Chas. T. Deets, secretary; W.B. Kelly, treasurer; H.C. Phillips, warden; F.Lodgsdon, conducter; R.S. Crowl, R.S.N.G .; E.J. Jenks, L.S.N.G .; G.W. Finney, R.S.V.G .; Jos Kriegler, L.S.V.G .; R.E. Trantum, I.G .; G.B. Kemp, O.G .; Lee Guth, .S.S .; C.M. Smith, L.S.S.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 13,1938

The 1937-38 supply of wheat in the states of Washington, Oregon and northern Idaho is estimated at about 24,000,000 bushels. From this supply it is estimated that local consumption and shipments to other parts of the United States and to possessions will not exceed 55,000,000 to 60,000,000 bushels. This will leave between 34,000,000 and 39,000,000 bushels to be exported or carried over at the end of the crop year.

The youths of the Odessa area are gathering at the lakes of the area for skating parties. At Duck lake an enterprising rancher has set up an old farm lighting system to operate three lights for skaters’ use.

High school students have made use of the two water mains the council recently extended to the Second avenue playground and flooded it for the first time. The water is freezing and youngsters are hoping that it will be good for skating.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 10,1963

Not only must a letter writer remember to use his 1963 in dating, but must remember that new postage rates went into effect on Monday. First class letter mail now requires 5 cents, drop letters 4 cents and postcards 4 cents.

Airmail letters cost 8 cents, air mail cards 6 cents.

Fifty years ago when this area was still under development, laws were flexible and as a result two fake towns were platted on two sections of land near Odessa, to create a vexing problem for the county. They finally met their end through taxation problems.

Waukesha and South Waukesha, the two fake townsites, were platted better than 55 years, and lots sold by real estate sharpers, throughout the northwest. Buyers later found they had a dry lot, miles from a railroad. The towns became an incubus to Lincoln County, which found that collection of taxes on the property cost 10 times as much as received.

Waukesha, located on the pasture land at the R.G. Delzer place, just over Bob’s Lake, had its lot sales boomed by promoters who told vivid tales of a mineral spring that would rival the health resorts of the east, also painting pictures of a projected hotel and amusement center. Lots were sold rapidly on the strength of the prospectus, to hundreds of people that had never seen the property.

Fifty years have gone by and no sign remains of the platted towns. The Waukesha springs, once slated to provide health for hundreds, now feeds into a water trough, where the Delzer stock quench their thirst.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 14, 1988

P.C. Jantz Elementary school offers the services of a psychologist and speech, physical and occupational therapy to test any preschool child in the Odessa community for developmental delays.

Because seasonal cold weather and icy road conditions make outdoor walking difficult, the Odessa School District has opened the new high school gymnasium on a limited basis.

“It’s hard for some people to get their health walks or medically-needed walking exercise done on the open road this time of year. People in particular who’ve been advised by their doctors to get exercise by walking are welcome to use the gym weekdays,” said Superintendent Gordon Wallace.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 16, 2003

Construction of the new 250,000 gallon water tank to replace Odessa’s dilapidated 80-year-old North Reservoir is expected to begin this summer, Mayor Carl Ryan said Monday at the meeting of the Odessa Town Council.

The town had previously received a $557,670 Community Development Block grant for construction of the new water tank, which is part of the 2003 Odessa Water System Improvement Project budgeted at $650,170 which also included the upgrading of water mains, hydrants and wells.

Two finalists have been chosen as candidates for the officer position open at the Odessa Police Department, Mayor Carl Ryan announced Monday at the meeting of the Odessa Town Council.

The two candidates still in the running, Roland Singer and William DeCarl, still face psychological and polygraph testing, Ryan said.