This Week in Odessa History

Odessa voted to repeal 18th ammendment

Odessa went to the polls on August 29, 1933, to vote for or against the repeal of the 18th Amendment.

Five candidates from what was then Washington’s 8th Legislative district, including Lincoln, Adams and Ferry counties, were chosen as delegates to the convention for ratification of the proposed amendment to the Constitution. Two were against repeal and three were for.

J.P. Keller, Odessa’s Ford dealer, who later became a state senator, was the local candidate as a delegate.

In the election, Odessa declared itself “wet,” or in favor of repeal, with a 3 to 1 margin in the east precinct and 6 to 1 in the west precinct, the Odessa Record reported in its September 1 issue. The polling was light, with Odessa giving 192 votes to the district’s three wet candidates, including 109 to Keller, and 74 to the two drys.

Lincoln County, normally dry, turned in a wet vote of 1019 to 914, The Record reported.

Washington was the 24th state to vote on repeal. Thirty-six states had to favor repeal to expunge the 18th Amendment. That occurred on September 24, when Texas voted for repeal.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 15, 1913

Last Saturday night about 10:30, Dr. Ganson heard considerable commotion among his chickens in the chicken shed, and when he went to investigate the cause of it he heard someone running up the alley. Next morning when it was light he found that the wire fence had been cut with a sharp tool of some sort, and that the party had tried to put his hand through this gap and get the chickens which were a little out of his reach, but were frightened when they saw the hand.

At a meeting of the Odessa school board last Wednesday it was decided to add a course of cooking to the domestic science department of the high school, and contracts were let for the installation of plumbing in a room which will be fitted up for this purpose.

With the addition of this new course, and the supplying of another teacher to the grades because of their crowded condition, Odessa will have this year one of the most completely equipped and managed schools in Eastern Washington.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 18,1938

There are a few championship claims to be ironed out at the harvest festival in Odessa next week. Softball players must determine which of the rural areas has the best players, horseshoe contestants must prove the outstanding player, the west and east side of towns must determine which can pick the huskiest 10-man tug of war team.

Women, proud of their handicraft, will compete for the judge’s recognition as the outstanding cake baker, dress maker, pie baker and quilt maker. Kiddies are well taken care of, with a free carnival ride ticket for each one, ten dollars worth of pennies to scramble for in a pile of straw, foot sports, swimming and a pet parade.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 15,1963

Western dress will be the order of the week starting Monday and continuing through to Saturday’s rodeo.

Everyone who has a flag is urged to fly it from now until the rodeo, to brighten up the town for the event.

The annual rodeo is again an approved Northwest Rodeo association show, and girls from the area will return to take part in the barrel riding contests.

In addition to the regular rodeo events, bull, bronc and bareback riding, bulldogging and calf roping for men, the team roping event will be staged.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 14, 2003

The Lincoln County Fair, with its theme this year, “My Fair, My Town,” opens August 24.

Odessa youths and adults participating in the Lincoln County Fair were busy this week preparing their exhibits.

Odessa Junior Livestock Club members, and leader Fay King, said all the club members are seasoned veterans. They include Taylor Walter, Meg Allen, Willy Allen, Josh Allen, Ryan King, Lacy Walter, Alex King and Travis King.

Clarene Haynie is now in her 11th year as superintendent of the Knitting and Crocheting department at the fair.

Those from Odessa who are among the new superintendents this year are Mike Sheppard heading the livestock judging contests and FFA agriculture mechanics; Marilyn Smith and Jeanie Campbell, western Games and Terry Connolly, 4-H crafts, fine arts and mechanical science.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

August 11, 1988

The Odessa Economic Development Committee, joined by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Odessa, will conduct a survey of 750 area residents during late August.

The survey will determine the feasibility of building a retirement center in the community, and will seek to learn the thoughts of locals about recruiting retirees from outside the area to live here.