100 YEARS AGO

Jan. 9, 1913

The first severe cold snap of the winter visited Wallowa County and the rest of the northwest the first of this week. Sunday the mercury had a bad sinking spell, and before the sun came up Monday it had registered a minimum of 20 below.

The Alder Slope rural mail route from Enterprise will be started, six days a week, on March 1. This welcome news for the several hundred residents on the Slope reached Postmaster Ben Weathers yesterday in an official communication from Washington. The carrier for the route is not known. He will receive $990 a year salary.

While wrestling on the ice last Friday, Harold Thornburg fell and broke his leg. He was playing with other schoolboys near the coasting grounds not far from the schoolhouse, and his companions placed him on a sled and hauled him to a physicians office.

EDITORIAL Sewers: The message of Mayor G.S. Reavis to the people of Enterprise published last week again brings to the front the question of sewers. Practically every house in Enterprise uses city water. The waste must go somewhere. It is now taken care of in cesspools, scattered through the city, on nearly every lot. Of course, a complete sewer system will cost money. But the ultimate cost to each householder will be not a penny more that the present practice.

70 YEARS AGO

Jan. 7, 1943

Much credit can be given the officials of Wallowa who have guided the city affairs the past 10 years. Ten years ago the city debt was $72,000; now it is $12,000. A debt of $60,000 was paid off during one of the worst depressions this country has ever known.

Snow at Sled Springs guard station measured 36 inches deep on Dec. 31. This is the greatest depth of snow recorded at this point in the 26 years that a measurement has been maintained.

A party honoring Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Fordice of Flora on their golden wedding anniversary was held at their home on New Years Day. There were 45 persons present. Due to bad roads there were several that couldnt get there.

LOSTINE The New Year was ushered in by only a few taps of the bells by the youth of the village, due to their turning the bell over in the beginning of their enthusiasm. The major part of the next day was spent by the boys trying to remedy the mistake. Robert Shipley who was on the lower floor was painfully cut when a falling board struck the top of his head from the belfry.

50 YEARS AGO

Jan. 10, 1963

The Wallowa County School Census of children from four years of age through 19 recently completed shows a drop of the number of children in this age bracket, from 2,139 in 1960 to 2,078 in 1962. Out of 12 school districts in the county, only Joseph, Wallowa and Promise show gains.

A second shift was started at the J. Bate Co. mill at Wallowa last week, marking the first time since the strike began last June, when two shifts were in operation at the sawmill. No new developments in the negotiations to settle the strike have been reported.

Photo caption Aboard the navys newest and largest aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, at the naval station in Norfolk, Va., Oregon Congressman Al Ullman presented two oil paintings to the ship on behalf of the people of the city of Enterprise. The paintings, done by Eugene Hayes of Lostine, depict scenes of Enterprise and Wallowa Lake.

The first baby born in Wallowa County made a belated appearance at Wallowa Memorial Hospital Sunday morning, Jan. 6. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Fowler of Joseph welcomed the new member of their family and named her Carol.

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 7, 1988

Wallowa County Commissioner Vern Werst filed last week to run again on the Republican ticket for his current position in the May 17 primary. So far only incumbents Werst and Wallowa County Judge LeRoy Childers have filed for the two county court seats up for election this year.

The problems of a substandard road, Lakeshore Drive, that serves much of the south west portion of Wallowa Lake, was dropped into the lap of the county court by the Wallowa County Planning Commission at a Tuesday night hearing.

Photo caption The young members of Dance Inspirations Dance Movement class gave their last performance under instructor Charlene Harrington, who is leaving the county to return to college, at the Joseph Civic Center. Pictured are Sarah Gerner, Sarah Crane, Betsy Combes, Tina Reynolds, Andrea Johnson, Analiese Johnson, Tisha Stangel, Courtney Roberts and Kelly Siebe.

Vesta Jacobs completed over 31 years as a part-time clerk for the U.S. Postal Service in Wallowa Thursday, Dec. 31. She began her stint with the Postal Service in Wallowa, and filled in occasionally at offices in Elgin, Joseph and Lostine.