This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From The Odessa Record

April 3, 1914

The John Schafer store was burglarized and $414.43 was taken from the till besides three pairs of socks and one odd sock and nearly two boxes of chewing gum.

Entrance was gained through a cellar window which the robbers had pried open and exit was made in the same way. No trace of the robbers has been discovered, but Mr. Schafer thinks it probable it was done by some one who was acquainted with the store and the stock, as would be indicated by the robbers having taken only the best grade of socks.

Mr Schafer has requested The Record to state that he has no use for the odd sock which the burglar left, and if he will come back to the store he will be glad to give him the sock.

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 23, 1939

A cooking school, sponsored by the Odessa Trading company is expecting 100s of women to participate in a two-day cooking school. The school will be held in the vacant store room next to the Trading Company store.

Harriet Hall, nationally-known home economist, will conduct the cooking school and demonstrate preparation of meals on the nationally-famous “Dutch Oven” range, which is now sold by the Odessa Trading Co.

W.C. Raugust, manager of the store, said that roasts, whole oven meals and pastries will be included among the many other dishes to be prepared by Miss Hall during the cooking school.

Farm women are especially urged to attend the cooking school, since both wood and coal and electrical equipment will be featured in the preparation of meals. The new “Dutch Oven” range is patterned after the famous old Dutch ovens of our forefathers and incorporates the fine principles of these old ovens in a new attractive, modern kitchen range.

Death moved through the ranks of the pioneers again this week, removing George Heimbigner, Jr. and Mrs. Phillip Hermann, early residents.

50 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 26, 1964

Crab Creek turned loose a flood under Odessa during the past week. Water broke through the normal silt banks of the stream and found passage way underground. This became known when water started flowing into elevator pits along the railway tracks in the north part of town.

Pumps were set up to keep the pits clear of water. It was evident that the underground stream was gaining in volume. This was last Wednesday.

Thursday the volume was such that the water was seeping into store basements down town. By Saturday this had become a strong factor. Robert Zacher reported water in the basement at the bank. A deepening seepage was found beneath the Odessa Drug Store and Odessa Record and pumping was necessary in the basement at Suchland Chevrolet. Strate’s Furniture had water in its basement.

It was noticed that drinking water seemed cloudy and tests were taken for laboratory analysis and the water treated to avoid possible contamination. Residents were asked to boil their drinking water.

The situation was not without its humor. When word came that water should be boiled until the sanitation treatment had time to reach all parts of town, everyone seemed to develop an extreme thirst. It seemed that water was never so precious. This lasted for the first two days, after which water drinking habits went back to normal.

With no local solution to the situation, Mayor Robert L. Tanck asked for help from the U.S. Corps of Engineers in Seattle.

Potential danger of the situation lay in the movement of the underground water, which could be undermining streets and building foundations. Another danger lay in the possible damage to the retaining walls of Crab Creek and its flood control factors.

By Monday more basement areas were showing signs of water. Moist areas were appearing in the basement of the Lawson store.

Crab Creek did not overflow this year. Its water load was relatively small and there was no flood threat. Then came a break-through to create the underground situation.

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 23, 1989

School Superintendant Gordon Wallace reported at a school board meeting that the district has signed a Certificate of Substantial Completion for the new high school.

As part of Washington’s Centennial year celebration, the Odessa Historical Society plans to make a quilt in the Dresden Plate design.

Residents and former residents are invited to sign their names on the spokes of the Dresden plates.

The quilt is intended to hang in the museum and become a lasting legacy for the community.

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

April 1, 2004

Pfc. Scott Bacon is home on leave from the Army. Bacon is the son of Ray and Scotty Bacon and is a 2002 graduate of Odessa High School.

Bacon was stationed in Iraq and described the terrain as being very similar to that of the Odessa area.

Lincoln County District Court has announced that defendants now have the opportunity to have their mitigation or contested hearings heard via the Internet.

John Gahringer and Florence Stout exchanged wedding vows.