OUT OF THE PAST: 1.6.11

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, January 4, 2011

By Compiled by Elane Dickenson

90 YEARS AGO

Jan. 6, 1921

Considerable damage to buildings, telephone and electric poles and other property resulted from the high Chinook wind which swept over the valley Tuesday night. At Joseph there are at least 21 poles down, while at Wallowa the superintendent reports 31 poles on the ground.

Appointed a member of the state highway commission Monday afternoon, Jay H. Dobbin that evening sent a telegram to Gov. Ben W. Olcott declining the office. He declined for two reasons: he felt he could not spare the time from his business the office would require, and he owed to his own county and community any service he could render beyond attending to his own affairs.

At his home on his farm at the head of Butte Creek, John Evans last year produced 1,832 dozen and two eggs. In other words, his flock of between 200 and 300 white hens laid 21,986 eggs, with a market value of $1,012.62.

Laurence Pratt and Alice Russell were married in Enterprise Dec. 28, and took the outgoing train for their home at Indian Valley. Ira Pratt met them at Cambridge with the sled, as there was about a foot of snow, but it had rained all night and the water was getting very high  when he left home. 

 

70 YEARS AGO

Jan. 9, 1941

Travelers who drove the highway between Eastern Oregon and Portland the first of the week will long remember their experiences on ice and snow.

Every vehicle had to stick to the tracks made in his own lane with no passing. Travel was at about 20 miles an hour. Sheriff Millers destination was Salem and the drive took 16 hours.

LOSTINE The Lostine Civilian Rifle Club met Friday evening and elected the following officers for the year. Dean Crow, executiveofficer; Chester Ogbourn, president; Bob Bright, vice president; S.M. Crow, secretary; M. Crow, treasurer.

JOSEPH Speaking of flu School was closed last week, but began again Monday. As to who was sick, it would probably be just as easy to say who wasnt. Whole families seem to have been afflicted and whole families immune.

TROY Melvin Courtney and Bernard Wortman were repairing telephone line on the Eden hill to Troy Wednesday. Jim Fordice and his son Jimmie drove to Enterprise Thursday to meet the county court concerning a proposed road from Lost Prairie to the river.

 

50 YEARS AGO

Jan. 5, 1961

In the columns of the Chieftain this week, the highlights of the news in Wallowa County in 1960 is summarized. … Several local businesses closed during the year. The Thorpe mill suspended operations permanently, Coxs creamery quit, Rowes grocery and Rons Jewelry went out of business, and the sawmill at Enterprise quit operating.

District attorney Keith Wilson is pondering over the legal perplexities involved in the arrest of three Nez Perce Indians Dec. 26 for shooting doe deer in the Cold Springs area. … Their legal counsel maintains the Idaho Supreme Court has upheld their right to hunt … under an 1855 treaty.

Wallowa County treasurer Nora Anderson has received a check of $113,388.06 from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest for the countys 25 percent share of sales and uses on the forest during the past year. This is believed to be a record.

Sue Ann McGraw, freshman at Wallowa High School, was named queen of the Snow Ball formal, which was held Friday evening at the high school gym.

 

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 9, 1986

Sen. Bob Packwood vowed to never give up his campaign to protect the Hells Canyon area before a standing room-only crowd of Wallowa County residents Tuesday. … In an angry statement, Packwood disputed a historic timber harvest figure given by Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce manager Gerald Perren, calling it a lie.

Snowmobilers can now legally operate their recreation vehicles on an approved route in Joseph because of a new ordinance the Joseph City Council passed at its Tuesday night meeting.

Virgil A. Bentz is the first person to throw his hat in the ring for a position on the Wallowa County Court currently held by commissioner H.M. (Mike) ORourke of Joseph.

Downhill skiing was in vogue here last weekend, as members of the Eagle Cap Ski Club christened their new T-bar lift on Fergison Ridge. A recent snowstorm that deposited about a foot of new powder snow provided optimal conditions for over 300 skiers on hand for the opening weekend.

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