This week in Odessa history

100 years ago

Friday, July 11, 1913

Five Lincon county mothers have applied to the county commissioners through the superior court for relief under the new destitute mothers' pension act which was enacted by the last legislature and just recently became a law. The new law provides that upon proof of destitution, the superior court orders the commissioners to pay a sum of $15 per month for the first child under the age of 15 years and $5 per month for each other child. If the five petitions now before the court are granted, the county will be paying $150 each month to the destitute mothers.

Theodore Jorgeson, a little boy about 10 years old, had a narrow escape from death at Wilson Creek last Tuesday morning, when he was attacked by an angry cow and trampled. The boy had gone to see a cow which recently became the mother of twins. The cow apparently feared he meant injury to the calves and attacked him. He was rescued before the cow had time to make a second charge.

75 years ago

Thursday, July 14, 1948

When Lloyd King, rancher east of town, brought his high racked truck to town on Sunday afternoon, he commenced to wonder at the attention he was receiving. Friends would shout at him and point to the back of the truck. Fearing his rack was damaged he stopped to investigate. Firmly perched on the top of the rack was one of his hens, holding firmly to her post despite the rush of air from the moving truck. Mr. King permitted the hen to remain, where she was still riding when he left for home.

Democrats, gathered at Tacoma this week, found the left wing factions again trying to take over the convention, in a meeting that saw disorder and fights, according to political writers.

A restive crowd heard Senator Homer T. Bone deliver keynote address. When temporary chairman Cables attempted to conduct the meeting, a commonwealth group went to the platform, surrounded the chairman and by shouting and booing drowned out the proceedings.

Asmall picture of Governor Martin was torn from the wall and thrown away. Lieutenant Governor Vic Meyers was thrown from the speaker's platform. A semblance of order was finally obtained when Senator Lewis Schwellenback appeared on the platform, pleaded with the delegates to “keep faith with President Roosevelt” and succeeded in putting an end to the bitter factional battle that had raged all day.

The Great Northern railway section foreman's residence at Lamona, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Hans Undeberg, was destroyed by fire Tuesday noon, starting from a gas stove. All of the contents of the building were lost.

Residents of Lamona and some 50 farmers of that region prevented the blaze from spreading to the White Dulaney and Odessa Union warehouses adjacent to the property, as a wind carried blazing brands into the air.

Charles Golm, volunteer, suffered a badly injured hand in attenpting to aid in controlling the blaze. Warehouse crews and farmers, equipped with wet sacks, were busy beating out burning shingles that fell on warehouse roofs and the roofs of other houses.

Sol Reiman, manager of the Odessa Union Warehouse company, drove to Lamona upon receipt of word that the fire had started.

50 years ago

July 11, 1963

A loan of $382,000 to Lincoln Electric Cooperative, Inc., in Davenport from the National Rural Electrification Administration has been approved, report Senators Henry M. Jackson and Warren G. Magnuson.

The joint release from the senators says the loan will finance 30 miles of distribution line to serve 46 consumers. It will finance 10 miles of the line, 10 miles of 34.5 kv transmission line and a 1,000kva substation at west Odessa. There will also be extensive system improvements including conversion of 146 miles of existing line to higher capacity, according to the release.

25 years ago

July 14, 1988

The Lincoln County Centennial Committee's 500-page illustrated history book, “Lincoln County-- A Lasting Legacy,” has been delivered to the printers for pre-press preparation.

At the same time, committee personnel have announced they seek final donations, and loans, to meet printing and publication costs.

“We're asking for participation in the November publication of the book,” a committee spokesman said last week “Advance sales have been encouraging, and there's no question that all of the books will be sold—but funds are needed now to meet costs.”

With the printing process underway, the committee has asked for assistance “in achieving this worthy civic project.

10 years ago

July 10, 2003

Odessa has all kinds of activities for youths and adults this summer because of the state's Century 21 grant which funded the summer recreation program sponsored by the Parks Department of the Town of Odessa and the summer reading program of the Odessa School District.

This week, for example, there was a trip to Spokane to the Imax Theater and another trip to the Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d'Alene for a day. Then on Friday, they will go by chartered bus to Seattle to see the Mariners play and to visit Woodland Park Zoo. There was a photo camp on Tuesday, in which youngsters could learn photographing techniques. The summer reading program was on Wednesday, and on Friday and Saturday there will be basketball camps in two sessions for different ages.