“This is the group that ate the Thanksgiving dinner at Chapman Schoolhouse. Mrs. Elmer requested me to send one.” - Mrs. Chris Johnson, Wallowa (Date unknown)

100 years ago – Nov. 25, 1915

The banquet of all banquets given since Enterprise was settled took place Saturday night in celebration of the completion of the sawmill of the East Oregon Lumber company. The next day the first log was run through the mill in the presence of Duval Jackson, I.H. Fetty, H. Lee Carlton, Superintendent J.H. Pollitt and others of the company’s staff and a large gathering of town people.

The schedule for the mill whistle, a novelty still in the community, is as follows: 5am – one long blast. 6:15am – two short blasts. 6:30am – one long blast, mill starts. 12pm – one long blast, mill stops. 12:45pm – one long blast, mill starts. 4:45pm – one long blast, mill stops. The primary purpose of the whistle of course is to regulate the hours of work at the plant, but it also serves to set the time for the town and country about it.

A new era in the community as regards fuel prices has been brought by the opening of the mill. It sells 16” slab wood for $2.50 a cord, at the mill, or about half the price that has prevailed in the past. At present fir and tamarack are being cut and they make the best fire wood found in forests of the county, burning freely and with great heat.

70 years ago – Nov. 22, 1945

Playing at the McLean Theater in Wallowa: a free show to all who have bought Victory Loan bonds, Wallace Beery in “Barbary Coast”.

One case of diphtheria was recently found in the Wallowa school, and because of this the Shick test will be given the first of next week. The Shick test shows whether a child is immune against diphtheria. If the child has a positive reaction, he will then be immunized. Dr. Kettle, health officer, Margaret Rogers, health nurse, and Dr. Merrill will Shick test and immunize the children.

The Wallowa district Scouts Court of Honor was held in the Legion hall Tuesday night. The troops of Enterprise and Wallowa attended. Boys given their tenderfoot badges were Kenneth Baker, Kenneth Jacob, Kenneth Warnock, Bobby Trash, Dick Reynolds, Larry Reece and Leo Shuman. Keith Fleshman and Paul Curry received their second class award. For first class, Jon Skovlin was the only candidate. His father, A.H. Skovlin, troop committeeman, presented Jon with his badge and card.

50 years ago – Nov. 25, 1965

Agricultural income in Wallowa county jumped in 1965 by almost a million dollars to register a gain of more than 17 percent over the 1964 total according to figures compiled by County Agent Elgin Cornett.

The highest selling bull at the Wallowa county “Select Sale” last Thursday was KK Crusty 10 sold by Kenneth and Roanna Kooch to Mike Brennan for $520. Average for 32 bulls was $364 and average for 9 heifers was $217.

Work is progressing rapidly on the new grocery store building which is going up on south River street near the Hurricane Creek highway “Y”. The 60×100 foot concrete block building is being constructed on lots south of the Leonard Brooks residence and faces the east.

Excavation and foundation work has been moving rapidly ahead on the new federal building going up at the corner of West First and North streets next to the Elks Lodge. Completion is scheduled for next September.

Classified ad: For rent – one bedroom furnished or unfurnished house, foot of Wallowa lake. Garage and fireplace. $55 monthly includes water.

25 years ago – Nov. 22, 1990

Front-page photo caption: Sound conservation practices have netted Flora area wheat farmer Chris Cunningham the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts’ “Cooperator of the Year” award for 1990.

“Bell, Book & Candle”, a 3-act comedy, will be performed by a local cast at the OK Theatre in Enterprise Nov. 28-30. This is the second major theatrical project directed by Estelle Banks of Joseph and co-produced by the Joseph Chamber of Commerce and the Wallowa Valley Arts Council. The cast consists of Lee Daggett, Sue Kissinger, Cody Limbaugh, Sally Bowerman and Charlie Day.

Following the retirement of long-time basketball mentor Gary Sather, the Joseph High School boys team starts the new season with a brand new head coach, Blake Carlsen.

Wallowa High School juniors Erin Mallory, Michelle Jackson and Brenda Smith, and sophomores Seth Jensen and Lynn Jackson were selected to participate in the East Oregon State Honor Band held in La Grande.

Photo caption: The W.C. Junior Women donated two checks of $1,500 each to the Wallowa County EMT Association and Wallowa County Fair Board for the Junior’s 2-year projects last week. Above are EMTs Sherri Adams and Dottie Britton accepting a check from Pier Jensen and fair board member Connie Black accepting a check from Margaret Kassahn.