This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From the Odessa Record

January 30, 1914

Great Northern Railroad (GNW) endorsed an experimental dry farm station near Odessa in a letter from F.W. Graham, the western industrial agent of the GNW in Seattle to Odessa station agent, W.L. Moseley. The farm was proposed to be as close to Odessa and the railroad as possible. It was to act as a landmark and advertising for the commercial club.

The Cascade Scenic Highway was being planned through the Cascade mountains starting construction as soon as weather permitted. The road was to follow the abondoned switchbacks of the Great Northern Railroad through Stevens Pass. The announcement was contained in a letter which was received from Judge J.T. Ronald of Seattle, President of the Pacific Highway Association.

75 years ago

From the Odessa Record

January 26, 1939

A pioneer church organizer developed a ministry in the Odessa area died at the age of 88. He was the oldest man among the residents at the time. He was Rev. Gottfried Graedel, born in Huttwyl, Berne, Switzerland, Dec. 18, 1850, the son of Maria and Jacob Graedel, long-established, wealthy residents of that community. As described in the article, “business reversals wiped away the family fortune and he, as the oldest son, was compelled to work.

At the age of 24, he decided to enter the ministry and entered a seminary and later was ordained for a mission in America.

His first charge was in Portland in 1882. From there he served in various capacities and locations and held services in school houses, homes and later, churches. a mission was given to him, to organize churches and Sunday schools with the entire Pacific coast as his parish.

He was survived by four daughters, Mrs. Con Walter, Jr., Cheney; Mrs. A.E. Miller, Rosalia; Mrs. Henry Pfieff, Yakima; Mrs. E.R. Spieckerman, Portland; and three sons, Paul, Priest River, Idaho; Phillip, Portland, Oregon; and Calvin H., Odessa.

50 years ago

From the Odessa Record

January 23, 1964

Construction of the East High Canal to serve a vast acreage of the Columbia Basin now devoted to dryland farming appear(ed) highly feasible from an economic standpoint, members of the Lind Chamber of Commerce were told Saturday night.

The Bureau of Reclamation official, Harold T. Nelson of Boise, who had flown over the area earlier in the day, said it appeared to him to be the most ideal project for development in the Northwest. He cited the Basin’s low pumping charge for water and the availability of water from the Columbia River.

Nelson also pointed out that irrigation would enable farmers to diversify from complete dependence on a single crop and that intensified farming would reverse the population decline now taking place in the area.

He cautioned however that “even if we begin planning now for construction of the East High Canal it would be at least 10 years until the first water would be available for irrigation.

25 years ago

From the Odessa Record January 26, 1989

Odessa Chamber of Commerce announced the addition of a farm community auction to the activities of Spring Fest.

Auctioneer Al Fink will lead the sale to which farmers are invited to bring farm equipment and machinery and town residents were invited to dispose of their larger home equipment at the same auction.

Burlington Northern was fined $5,000 by the State Department of Ecology for burning railroad ties in violation of the state’s Clean Air Act.

10 years ago

From the Odessa Record January 29, 2004

The 77-year-old nameplate salvaged when the old Odessa High School building was demolished (in 1991) will be placed near the front entrance of the school building.

When the original building was torn down, the sign was hung on the ouside back wall of the new high school, near the rear parking lot.