This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

May 14, 1920

The Odessa vs. Davenport ball game [town team, not high school] broke up in a row in the seventh inning with Odessa leading 5-4. A questionable call was made by the Davenport umpire at home plate after a short fly ball that landed foul, and the Davenport player at third headed for home. Odessa team members and fans said the runner never touched the plate, but the ump ruled him safe.

It was also claimed that the runner was off base at the time of the foul pop-up and never returned to tag the base. The umpire insisted that his decision should stand, and Odessa captain “Slats” Wachter ordered his players from the field and made a formal protest of the decision. It was the first time an Odessa team had ever walked off the field. Sunday was bad day for the new league, as Harrington and Lind men came to blows in their game at Lind.

Odessa readers were intrigued by the Ephrata Commercial Club’s hiring of a “rainmaker” for their area for $6,000. Demonstrations in California, Arizona, Colorado and Alberta, Canada had shown promise for his method.

C.M. Hatfield sent the following telegram: “Can arrange to operate upon the atmosphere for your section of Washington from May 20 to July 25 upon the following terms: First inch of rainfall, no compensation; second inch, $3,000; third inch, additional $3,000 for a total of $6,000 for a three-inch rainfall.

Will cover the country for a 100-mile radius.” He was expected to arrive the following week to set up towers and other equipment.

75 years ago

May 10, 1945

Construction of a temporary airport west of the cemetery will be complete this week and the official dedication will be held on Sunday. A strip of pasture land has been cleared and leveled to make an 1,800-foot runway on the Haase Brothers’ ranch.

Miss Lucille Luiten, daughter of George Luiten of Lamona and Earl William Iverson, seaman first class in the U.S. Navy, were married at Kennewick on Saturday.

Sgt. James Goetz, who recently returned from the Pacific area, having been wounded in the knee, is now in the hospital at Walla Walla. He spent a few days visiting his parents here.

Bob Engle, radio technician second class, with the navy in California, and Mrs. Engle have been visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Engle of Marlin. They also visited friends in Odessa.

50 years ago

May 14, 1970

Three seniors at Odessa High School received scholarships to attend post-secondary schools next fall. Janet Traylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Traylor, has been accepted by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing program, a national program with only 135 girls chosen from throughout the nation. She will attend the University of Washington for her first two years and the last two at Walter Reed Army Medical Center at the Univ. of Maryland. After that she will be commissioned a Second Lt. Army Nurse and will serve for three years. All her expenses will be paid through the scholarship. David Wiest, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wiest, has entered into an agreement with Seattle Pacific College for a grant of $600 and job opportunities for his first year’s expenses. The agreement is renewable for three more years. Beth Hemmerling, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Hemmerling of Marlin has been awarded a tuition grant of $300 by Esther’s Beauty School of Spokane.

25 years ago

May 11, 1995

The Odessa community float and two members of Odessa’s royalty, Christina Wollman and Angela Ramm, won the Director General’s Award at the Washington State Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee. The win was for the best portrayal of its theme, “The Roaring ‘20s”.

The “flour mill” subcommittee of the Odessa Economic Development Committee planned a May 20 presentation of possible uses and design concepts at their May 19 meeting. Subcommittee members Dick Laney (financing), Bill Graedel (relocation sites), Don Walter (design concepts) and Kathy Valenta (uses for the building) were to give reports. The building was deemed structurally sound, although in need of paint and repairs to the roof.