100 YEARS AGO

Feb. 6, 1913

A head-on collision between a freight train and a passenger train a quarter of a mile above Lostine Tuesday afternoon badly damaged three engines and tied up the branch for a day. No one was seriously hurt, although several persons were bruised. The collision resulted from the attempt of the freight train crew, under Conductor Stacey, to run from Enterprise and Lostine on short time.

The contract for furnishing the courthouse with wood was awarded, verbally, to H.P. Rowe of Alder Slope last Saturday. His bid was $4.25 a cord for the 120 cords required, red fir and yellow pine.

Some apprehension has been felt for range stock, particularly sheep, on account of the snow that has fallen in the eastern part of the county. Several inches covered the ground early this week in the Imnaha canyon and stockmen are feeding where they have hay.

GROUSE The smallpox is still spreading in the Anatone neighborhood. There has been one death, an infant only a few weeks old, and several others quite sick at this writing.

70 YEARS AGO

Feb. 4, 1943

There has been a rumor going the rounds that the Enterprise hospital would close its doors soon after Feb. 1. The management assures us this is a false rumor. Although it is possible the hospital may be forced to close due to the shortage of nurses and insufficient revenue to carry on, as long as nurses can be had and enough money is forthcoming to pay the bills, the hospital will keep its doors open.

WALLOWA Mrs. John Blanchet of Pendleton returned Friday to her home after a short visit here at the Ernest Filley home. She came to Wallowa to bring her small grandsons, Johnny and Jimmy, who make their home with the Filleys. The small lads had been visiting in Pendleton, having accompanied their mother, Lt. Marguerite Burns on her return from a visit here. Lt. Burns, an army nurse stationed at Pendleton air base, expects a call for overseas duty soon.

JOSEPH A trip to the head of the lake revealed that the roof to the dance floor and bowling alleys on the west side had completely collapsed beneath the weight of the snow, leaving the buildings a wreck that can scarcely be repaired.

BARTLETT The bulldozer from Anatone had to help the trucks with hogs through the drifts and the top of the Rattlesnake grade last week, and it is reported now the road is closed to travel on account of the drifts.

50 YEARS AGO

Feb. 7, 1963

Monday night the Enterprise City Council acted on the parking meter controversy which has been arousing sentiments (both pro and con) during the past few months. The council decided to remove the meters for an indefinite period to see what happens.

Weather elements raised general havoc in Wallowa County last Thursday night when the weeks of subzero temperatures suddenly changed to a much warmer climate, accompanied by gale winds. At the official weather reading at 6 p.m. Thursday the temperature was a comfortable 31 degrees. By 8 p.m. the mercury had risen to 52 and high winds had started.

Three Wallowa County football players were chosen for the East team in the East-West Shrine game this year: Ron Wagner, Enterprise, first team; and Dave Parks of Joseph and Red Evans of Wallowa, alternates.

IMNAHA The cold weather ended Thursday with a south wind and rain which melted the snow fast. A small ice gorge started at the Wayne Marks ranch, but didnt move the ice out at the Bridge where it was so thick.

25 YEARS AGO

Feb. 4, 1988

The Enterprise School Board unanimously approved a resolution at its regular meeting discouraging Enterprise residents from signing a petition that would place a new state marijuana initiative on the November ballot.

The Joseph City Council hired a new librarian, Jill Klages, at the council meeting Monday night. She will fill a 22-hour a week position, vacated in November by Mary Fiorillo.

Wallowa County will become the literary center of the Northwest for one weekend this summer when it hosts the Northwest Writers Gathering, held for the past two years at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. Titled Fishtrap Gathering: Writing West of the Rockies, the event will be held at Wallowa Lake July 8-10.

The print shop of the Wallowa County Chieftain welcomed back a familiar face this week when Don Swart Jr. returned after working for Master Printers Northwest in Pendleton.