This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From The Odessa Record

June 4, 1915

Odessa’s two-day celebration to be held on July 2nd and 3rd this yeaer will eclipse all former attempts along the celebration line in this town. A sum of nearly $1,000 was set aside, and of this sum $500 will go as prizes to winners in horse races, foot sports and baseball games.

Decoration committee chairman Browning is completing arrangements for stringing almost twice as many electric lights on Main Street as were used last year. The decoration contemplated is far more elaborate than has ever been attempted here before and private homes and business houses will be asked to assist in the general decoration theme.

The Odessa town baseball team defeated the Mohler team by a score of 8 to 4 in a game played Sunday at the local ball field.

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record

June 6, 1940

Zachary Taylor Finney died at his farm home near Wilson Creek at the age of 87. He and his brother George W. Finney came west from Missouri in 1886, both initially settling in what was to become the townsite for Odessa. After four years, he moved to Wilson Creek where he was instrumental in establishing the school district. He was a frequent visitor to Odessa where he was known to all as “Dick” Finney.

As soon as electricians finish their work installing lights at the horseshoe pits, the horseshoe committee will arrange a tournament between the local players. The lights will add realization to the difference between the modern games and those played years ago. In those days we used to spin the shoe in the general direction of the peg, and the first one getting 21 points was the winner. Five points were awarded for the occasional ringer and three for a leaner. Today, pegs are measured the proper distance apart, to the inch, and the horseshoes are of an official weight.

Odessa Girl Scouts camped at Diamond lake over the weekend. Chaperones were Mrs. C.C. Dobson, Mrs. William Zagelow, Mrs. Emanuel Bartalamay and Mrs. R.E. Geissler, with Leslie Lee and Arthur Amende as drivers. Girl Scouts making the trip included Wilma Raugust, Jeanne Weber, Anna Marie Amende, Claudine Dobson, Ruth Derr, Imogene Kuest, Marjorie Wachter, Dorothy Kuhlman, Joan Bresee and Adelia Jantz.

50 years ago

From The Odessa Record

June 3, 1965

The class of 1965 included 38 graduates, with commencement scheduled for June 3: Gary Schell, Terryl Schauerman, Jack Dunsmore, Linda Gilbert, Ric Wolf, Judy Iverson, Gary Hoefel, Vecenta Rosario, Paul Horak, Richard Kissler, Mary Ellen Duran, Bill Hays, Cheryl Goetz, Tom Groh, Karen Birchard, Bobby Gross, Marlene Schorzman, Steve Stout, Barb Zeiler, Kathleen Phillips, Harry Barrett, Jack Kagele, Carla Schafer, Janet Hardt, Ron Haase, Marcia Edwards, Mary Ellen Schillinger, Nancy Schorzman, Loretta Giles, Ron Franz, Mary Lubold, Tom Wolsborn, Linda Jeske, Ray Roloff, Marge Gies, Ron Jantz, Sheila Kagele, Donna Wolf.

Athletes from 95 A and B high schools competed in the state track and field meet. Odessa’s Forey Walter won first place in the 220-yard dash in 22.6 seconds and took second in the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds, while Paul Horak placed fifth in the javelin with a throw of 172 feet, 11.5 inches, a personal record. Their combined efforts gave the Odessa team the fourth place trophy.

Telephone direct dialing to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada became a reality in Odessa in June.

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

January 18, 1990

Audrey Beck retired from her position as head cook at the Odessa School District. Her co-worker Bonnie Burroughs organized a retirement party. Each wore special T-shirts identifying themselves as “Audrey the Arsonist” and “Bonnie the Burner.”

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

June 2, 2005

Equipment was moved into place on Memorial Day in anticipation of the start of the Highway 21 realignment project by Halme Construction. BNSF workers had already completed work on the railroad crossing on the roadway.

Stan and Debby Dammel were named “Man and Woman of the Year” by the Washington Flying Farmers organization at their convention in Wenatchee.