This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From the Odessa Record

July 23, 1914

“A family on every quarter section was the spirit of a meeting here this week. A speaker told of the immigration plan of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, to list land for sale and find settlers for this land. Sales people will be sent east to contact farmers who would come west. Over 60 farmers have listed land, headed by David Jasman with nine quarters, Fred Low, six, Wilhelm Isaak, Kelly Bros. and R.M. Kelly, four each.

“The first grain of the 1914 season was received Tuesday by C. E. Jay, manager of the Seattle Grain. It was received from Geo. Heimbigner, Jr., who estimates he has a 30 bushel crop.

“Storekeepers are adopting a rule that ranch butter must be wrapped in butter paper, with the net weight, name and address of the maker. The Odessa stores plan to follow the same rule.

“Wind and rain storms swept the Inland Empire, dropping a good rain here. In Spokane the rainfall in 24 hours exceeded the normal month of July. Warden and Othello reported the worst storm in their history, and at East Wenatchee the Great Northern trains were delayed for several hours.

“The Odessa Record is installing a new Unitype typesetting machine. (One of the early attempts at creating a type setting machine, that brought the modern equipment such as the Intertype that sets the Record type).

“Tom Weber, 11 miles northwest of town, has a 20 acre field of wheat that stands as high as a man’s head. He expects about 50 bushels to the acre. It is on land that was used to raise carrots and potatoes last year.

“A criminal charge has been filed against a group of real estate men in the Seattle area, charged with “locating” settlers, The firm has accepted as many as 50 “filings” for the same quarter section of land.

“The young boys of Irby have been making some good trout catches in Crab Creek, ranging from 17 to 21 inches, and weighing up to three pounds.”

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record July 20, 1939

Starting Tuesday, wheat commenced to arrive at the Odessa warehouses when harvest started at the George Schafer and Praetorius Bros. ranches. On Wednesday, harvest got under way at the Turner ranch near Harrington.

Turkey Red, which is being harvested at this time, is testing better than 60 pounds to the bushel.

The hot days are ripening the wheat quickly. There will be no shortage of labor for the harvest. Dozens of workers, following the harvest, are rustling jobs in Odessa at this time.

The D.G. Roloff family, hearing a scratching in the stove pipe leading into the kitchen this week decided the noise was caused by a rat, although unable to figure out how the animal could have entered. When the noise indicated the animal had reached the damper, a section of pipe was taken out and carried outdoors. Tipped over, out rolled a small chicken hawk. His appearance indicated that a complete job of chimney sweeping had been done.

50 years ago

From the Odessa Record

July 23, 1964

Making up the Odessa Rodeo royalty for the 1964 show were Princess Anne Evavold, Queen Sharon Smith and Princess Marilyn Richardson. The girls were starting their round of activities to call attention to the August rodeo, fair and festival.

Three Odessa candidates planned to join other Republican candidates for state, county and national office at the Odessa park. The picnic was sponsored by the Lincoln County Republican Women’s club.

Three Odessa men were running for County Commissioner including Robert Deife, Fred C. Stehr and John Scrupps.

The Odessa grain elevators were practically empty at the start of the Harvest. Jos. Pavliska noted that the Odessa Union Warehouse company went into harvest with only 300 bushels on hand.

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

July 20, 1989

The front page of The Record featured a drawing of the plan for Odessa’s “family water recreation facility” – more than just a new swimming pool – that was presented in a public meeting at the Odessa municipal library. Those present learned the five water areas (the wading pool, the spa, the two instructional pools and the main pool) would contain less total volume of water than does the previous facility. The new complex would sit at an angle with the main pool diagonally at the southwest corner, according to the design that comes from The Pence Associates Inc. of Pasco. Pool boosters were continuing with their search for a means to finance the proposed construction.

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

July 22, 2004

U.S. Air Force Captain Scott Knerr, of Odessa, was to participate in Skyfest 2004, at Fairchild Air Force Base. Knerr was to fly a C-5 from Dover, Del. Air Force Base for display at the air show and he was to be on hand to answer questions about the giant cargo aircraft.

Knerr, a 2000 graduate of the ROTC program at Central Washington University, entered the military as an officer. In July 2004, he was promoted to the rank of captain.

Knerr also was recently chosen as an executive aide to a colonel at Dover Air Force Base. He is the son of Bill and Carol Knerr of Odessa.