This Week in Odessa History

One hundred and ten years ago this week, there were great expectations about a new town in southwestern Lincoln county – Irby.

It had been reported that the Great Northern Railway was about to put in a siding about midway between Odessa and Krupp, and that a flour mill, store and a bank were in the works.

In the 1903 issue of The Odessa Record, the following dispatch from the Spokane Spokesman-Review appeared:

The Irby Ranch, one of the oldest and best known properties in Lincoln County, has just been acquired by the Babcock-Cornish Company from V.A. Johnson.

The company also has purchased the J.S. Ranch, adjoining the other property to the west. The land involved is approximately 4,000 acres and the price paid is between $25,000 and $30,000. Much of the tract is grazing land.

The Irby Ranch was taken up by I. Irby some 25 years ago, and he held it continually until last year, when he sold it to V.A. Johnson. The property is located on the Great Northern Railway, at the station of Irby, about equally distant between Odessa and Krupp. Crab Creek flows through the meadow lands, of which there are several hundred acres. Between 400 and 500 head of cattle were included in the deal.

The company that will handle the property has been incorporated under the name of the Babcock Cornish Company. One of the principal stockholders is E.J. Babcock, of Davenport, Iowa.

There is a large wheat belt contiguous to the ranch, but the farmers have been compelled to haul to Krupp or Odessa. Because the railroad heretofore has not been able to acquire sufficient ground for a commercial siding. Work will soon begin on the erection of a wheat warehouse, and it is believed that the first year’s haul to them will amount to between 300,000 and 400,000 bushels.

The corporation will establish a bank, and plans have also been drawn for the erection of a flour mill.

At present there is nothing at the station of Irby save the ranch and section house.

The post office department has granted a post office for the place, and it will soon be established. A store also will be opened.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 21, 1913

The melting snow started the water running in Crab creek, Monday, and Tuesday the stream was running with its banks nearly full and talk of another flood was rife. Large chunks of ice floating down the stream knocked the props out from under the center span of the foot bridge near the school house, and it has been abandoned until the water lowers so that repairs can be made, and the wagon bridge on Fourth street was also rendered unfit for heavy traffic.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 24,1938

The receipts of the Odessa Trading company’s two day farm sale which closed Friday night totaled $18,000. Most of the 250 horses and mules were bid in by coast and eastern buyers, with $170 as top price paid for horses and $155 being top for mules. The used farm machinery also brought good prices.

Manager W.C. Raugust says this sale means good-bye to the last string of good mules in this region and most of the horses, farmers having turned to power machinery farming.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 21,1963

The public has been cordially invited to attend open house at the Memorial hospital on Sunday, February 24, between 2 and 4 p.m. Conducted tours will enable visitors to view the results of the recent construction and remodeling project and see the many services offered by the community hospital.

The first patients were admitted to the new hospital wing just before Christmas in 1962 and the first patient in the nursing home was admitted on February 3, 1963.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 25, 1988

A brief afternoon meeting between area barley producers and officials of Great Western Malting Company resulted in contracts signed between the parties for production of malting barley. Volume figures were not disclosed, but Odessa Union Warehouse pledged storage.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 27, 2003

There is a new physician in town, Dr. Gian Giuliani, and his presence is expected to add considerably to the services offered by Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center.

It may be over a year before the whale of a whistle, the chug-chug of steam or the click of wheels on the rails is heard, but the process will begin this week when the Inland Empire Railway Historical Society breaks ground outside of Reardan on the new location for their train exhibit and museum.

The Grange Supply Company of Odessa recorded a new margin of $36,134 on sales of $4,954,892 for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.

The downturn in the economy, resulting in a decrease in fuel and petroleum sales, as well as an increased cost in doing businesss, were reasons for the decreased profitability, said general manager Greg Luiten.