This Week in Odessa History

The operating hours of Odessa’s several saloons early in the last century were always a matter of controversy. No one seemed to care that they were open for business at 5 a.m., but there was concern about the closing time, which in 1912 was at 10:30 p.m.

A petition circulated in January 1912 asking for a 9 p.m. closure was presented to the Odessa Town Council, bringing considerable opposition from both citizens and business operators. The Record gave this report in its issue of February 2, 1912:

A petition asking for 9 o’clock and Sunday closing of saloons and temperance halls with something over 100 signers was presented to the Town Council Monday by the Rev. Williams and the Rev. Jaeger.

A number of businessmen and citizens were present to protest the granting of the petition, and a spirited discussion took place. The matter was referred to the Committee on Licenses and permits, with instructions to report at the next meeting.

The petition has been a live subject for discussion, and citizens appear to be divided on the question at issue. A majority of businessmen seem to favor leaving things as they are. Others favor a compromise, and a few say if the hours are changed they favor closing even earlier in the evening, at 7 or 8 o’clock.

It has also been proposed that the best manner to settle the controversy is to eliminate two of the four saloons and regulate the remaining ones very closely. Some talk of a local option election has also been heard. Mayor Minch remarked that the people of Odessa have also shown a disposition to adjust their differences in a friendly spirit.

Two weeks later, on February 19, The Record reported on the Town Council’s disposition of the saloon hour question:

The Town Council heard the Committee on Licenses and permits report on the petition for the earlier closing of temperance halls and saloons by recommending that they close their places of business at 10:30 p.m. and remain closed until 5 a.m. on all days of the week, and that saloons be required to be closed from Saturday night until Monday morning and that temperance halls do not permit any bowling or card games to be played on Sunday and be required to close at 10:30 p.m. on week days.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 17, 1913

The annual meeting of the Odessa local of the Farmers’ Educational and Cooperative Union of America was held at the usual meeting place last Saturday, when officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, F.J. Lauer; vice-president, F.H Geissler; secretary-treasurer, Jos. Nechanicky; conductor, Louis Horak; chaplain, John Luiten and doorkeeper, Peter Luiten.

The company is operating warehouses at Odessa and Nemo, on the Great Northern line, and at Schoonover, Lauer and Batum, on the branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound railway, just south of here.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 20,1938

Nearly 10 years in the wilds of the Spokane Indian reservation in the Wellpinit hills has come to an abrupt end for a savage but beautifully marked chestnut-sorrel stallion, around which numerous Indian legends have been spun.

Leo Taylor, Odessa horse trader and rodeo clown, who resides on the Elmer Gulkey ranch near Lamona, has tracked down and snared the big animal, who up to three weeks ago successfully evaded scores of attempts at his capture.

Taylor related how he sighted the big stallion one recent afternoon and then hastily prepared a camp outfit and set out on the wild horse’s trail.

"I camped on his running trail for three nights and on the third day out snared his legs with a rope noose. After that I tied him to a tree for a couple of days, roped him securely and then led him in to the ranch," Taylor related.

"To enter a stall with the stallion would, I believe, mean almost certain death," said the captor of the wild horse, which he declared was one of but a few left in the Wellpinit region.

Mr. Taylor, an experienced hand with unruly horses, intends to break the animal to riding, although he believes it will take months of effort.

Besides being the beautiful sorrel-chestnut color the stallion is marked with flax-colored mane and tail.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 17,1963

Odessa’s home owned insurance company the German American Mutual Farmers Fire Insurance association has completed its 58th year of growth on December 31.

The policy exhibit of the secretary, Clarence Hemmerling, showed insurance in force of $5,942,381.26, with total assets of $222,953.83.

The company started business in July 1905 and has enjoyed consistent growth since that time.

On its first anniversary, the Town and Country Junior Women’s Club has a look back on a successful year of service to the community.

A brief list of completed projects during the past 12 months: headed Mother’s Drive for the March of Dimes; donated a tree to Finney Field; painted and placed litter barrels on main street; planted rose bushes in the city park; donated vibro-bath unit to nursing home and donated painting to nursing home.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 21, 1988

After he was sworn in Monday night by town clerk-treasurer Sharon Hester, Clark Zwieg joined other members of the Odessa Town Council bringing the group to full strength as they considered the community’s business. Other council members were Mayor Harold Kern, Linda Burghard, Ed Deife, Kevin Kramer and Carl Ryan.

David Sayrs has been nominated to the Washington scholars Program, Odessa High School principal Jim Miller announced.

The program provides tuition and fee waiver at Washington public four-year postsecondary institutions and community colleges.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 23, 2003

Heavy snow began falling early Tuesday morning in Odessa. By the time the newspaper went to press on Wednesday morning about five inches had fallen and it was still snowing.

At least 40 business owners and operators have been invited by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce to attend a special meeting that could be the start of the community’s retail resurgence.

More than a gabfest to mull over how to cure Odessa’s downtown economic ills, the meeting is planned as a nuts-and-bolts workshop to explore what can be done to help the existing small businesses of the community to grow and to ring in new enterprises to enhance Odessa’s retail mix.

Pam Kelley, of Lincoln County Advance Development Office said there are various funding possibilities for small businesses that she will discuss at this next meeting.