This Week in Odessa History

Sixty-six years ago, much as today, Odessa area hunters were anxiously awaiting the opening of the hunting season in October.

Bag limits were different then. The local lakes were filled with water, something we are not enjoying at the present.

The following was excerpted from the articles appearing in The Odessa Record for October 9 and 15, 1947.

Duck hunters found generally good shooting on the opening day of the hunting season. The first day opened at noon, allowing 3 hours and 51 minutes of hunting.

Many killed their limit of four ducks during the afternoon. It is estimated that the kills reached better than half of the first day last year, when a longer day and higher bag limits were in effect.

Goose hunters reported no luck at all. The geese on the game reserve stayed put during the opening hours. Those which had left the reserve to feed did not return until later in the evening.

With hunters out in force, the ducks were kept on the move Tuesday and most of the hunters had a chance at high flying flocks.

Monday was successful as deer hunters started returning home.

Chinese pheasant hunters said there was fair shooting, but limit kills were reported. Several quail made their way to local tables.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 3, 1913

The local flouring mills were started last Wednesday, and the hum of machinery there is now heard day and night. The mill is running to its full capacity of 300 barrels, and it is expected that it will be working two shifts daily until after the first of next year.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 6,1938

The huge WPA project to clear 28,440 acres for the lake-bed of the 151 mile reservoir to be created by Grand Coulee dam is definitely scheduled to begin this week. Materials are on the ground and construction will begin immediately for the first crew camp at Lincoln, near the junction of the Columbia and Spokane rivers. When the full quota of men is employed it will be the largest WPA project in the United States and that more than $9,000,000 will be expended to complete the work.

A temporary camp will be erected to house 40 men who will build an adjacent 300-man camp as the first of eight or ten to accommodate WPA crews. Timber will be removed and towns and farm buildings razed. Railroads, telephone lines, roads, state highways and bridges will be relocated on higher ground by the WPA.

The United States Bureau of Reclamation has defined the territory as that from the Columbia and its tributaries from the dam to the Canadian border, up to the contour line 1,310 above sea level. This area will provide a 500 mile shoreline for the future lake, to be the largest body of fresh water in the United States west of the Great Lakes.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

September 29, 1988

The 1988 Deutsches Fest celebration saw a slightly diminished crowd from recent years.

While the weather may have been a factor, competing activities in northeastern Washington also took a minor toll in decreased numbers.

But most merchants and food booth committee people were satisfied with the revenues gained during Fest 18. An overcast sky during part of the weekend apparently had little effect on hungry German specialty food buyers.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 3,1963

The Utah-Idaho Sugar company plant near Wheeler was badly damaged last evening in a series of explosions that killed seven men and injured seven others.

Fred Allington has arrived safely in Korea and is now stationed at Inchon about 10 miles from the demilitarized zone.

Fode’s Meat Market announces its grand opening for Saturday with free prizes and free corsages. The first 100 women will receive the corsages and there will be balloons for the children. Top prize will be a hind quarter of beef.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

October 2, 2003

Jim Bunt Is the town’s newest police officer. He and his wife Karen, come to Odessa all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Odessa High School sophomore Kysa Cronrath has earned yet another accolade as she was selected for the WIAA/Seattle Times State Athlete of the Week from the B school division.

Kysa was selected for her performances in cross country. Kysa is the daughter of Mark and Dorris Cronrath of Odessa.