This Week in Odessa History

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record

November 30, 1939

The Christmas buying season is on and Odessa merchants have stocked heavily. This was fortunate, it was revealed during the past week, when it seemed increasingly difficult to get orders filled. Early buyers will get the advantage.

The war situation in Europe, with the present governmental permission to engage in sales to warring nations, together with strikes in many plants, is causing the difficulty in getting merchandise.

On a round of the stores this week the Record news man had a pleasant trip. Stores have been building cheery Christmas displays. Bright colors, gay lights and highly banked showings of merchandise bring out the Christmas season.

Dolls are again popular among the toys, with the seven dwarfs leading the quints in popularity. Mechanical toys lead for the boys, being divided between chemical, electrical and buiding toys. Popular radio, motion picture and comic characters are found among the toys.

The Christmas card displays are out, with unusual choices. The increased popularity of the card greeting particularly to those on the friendship list, has resulted in increased emphasis on the part of the card manufacturers.

Odessa offers a splendid choice for the Christmas shopper. Every store has its Christmas merchandise, ready for immediate purchase. Practically every store offers a layaway service, where gifts are stored until ready to be taken to the homes.

At the Wednesday meeting of the commercial club a committee was placed in charge of street decoration, including A.W. Jessett, Al Wagner, J.P. Keller, George Schiewe and John Miller.

On Saturday night the Marlin dance hall will be visited by Bert Milton and his Harmony Band, announces Stanley Wraspir, manager. The orchestra is billed as “a rare treat for dancing feet.”

50 years ago

From The Odessa Record

December 3, 1964

Odessa people interested in the possibility of irrigation water from the East High Canal and formation of a possible irrigation district, will have their questions answered at a public meeting tonight in the city hall.

Paul Hamilton, field secretary of the Columbia Basin Commission from Ephrata, will be the speaker and will answer questions asked by the land owners.

At a recent Lions Club meeting Mr. Hamilton was the featured speaker. It was decided the information would be welcomed by every resident and the public meeting was arranged.

At that meeting the speaker said no part of Lincoln county or the Moody and Batum areas of Adams county are in the present East district. If they wish to be included they must originate action.

“It will be a landowners project, not a government project,” the speaker told the Lions. “People will have to want it and fight for it.”

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

November 30, 1989

The Weatland Bank of Davenport and Seattle-based Washington Mutual Savings Bank have announced an agreement for The Wheatland to purchase Washington Mutual’s Ritzville branch.

The acquisition would increase The Wheatland’s chain to four offices. Branches currently exist in Odessa and Wilbur.

The Odessa Tiger football team took the state B – 8 crown in the Kingbowl XIII. Odessa ended the season at 12 – 0 with the championship.

Coach Myron Kramer said, “It took the Odessa Tiger football team one day short of a year to find out if they could come all the way back.” “On December 3, 1988 we lost the championship game, and on December 2, 1989 we won the state title, completing a 12 – 0 season.

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

December 3, 2004

The Record published the names and addresses of the Odessa men and women in the military service. Local people were encouraged to send letters to them at the holidays and throughout the year to let them know their service was appreciated. The Record mailed out a complimentary copy of The Record to all the service members on the list.

Work on the BNSF Railroad grade crossing in the Highway 21 realignment project is set to begin early in January 2005. “The entire project should be completed by the end of July,” Craig Aldworth, consulting engineer on the project said. The latest cost estimates on the total project, including engineering and right of way, is $1,992,000. The BNSF work, also funded by state and federal sources, is estimated to cost $453,000.