This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From The Odessa Record

January 21, 1916

$10,000 fire loss at Harrington. Fire at Harrington last Saturday destroyed McInnis Bros. big barn, in which was also housed the service sttion and garage of W.H. Hart and the Hentry Fallert building used until the first of the year as a saloon. Both burned to the ground.

The fire started in the repair part of the Maxwell serviice station. W.H. Hart had built a fire in his heating stove and stepped out for a few minutes. On opening the door on his return the smoke and flames burst from the room. A stiff wind was blowing. The volunteer department was prompt in getting to the fire, but all they could do was to save surrounding property.

Seven horses, two automobiles, five other rigs, three sleighs, 20 tons of hay and two tons of oats were consumed.

14 below zero Wednesday. Hy. W. Rieke, the local weather man,informs us thjt this month has been the coldest since government have been kept at Odessa and thirteen of its mornings found the thermometer ranging between zero and 14 below, the latter being registered Wednesday morning.

Growth of Odessa Creamery. A review of the growth of the Odessa Creamery company, now under the active management of Hugo Kleeman, who embarked on the business a year and a half ago. Kleeman started remodleing his vacant building into a creamery. He built his own plant and started small. The new firm enjoyed the patronage of 12 customers at the start and 500 pounds of butter per month was the maximum output for several months. He receives cream now from 108 customers and in the spring expects to handle the entire output of over 800 cows. Butter output now averages 2500 pounds per month and is expected to increase to 7,500 pounds in the spring.

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record

January 23, 1941

Donald Hemmerling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hemmerling, brought the first 1941 buttercup to the Odessa Record office.

A cablegram received by the Odessa Trading Co. from Bucharest, Roumania was addressed to the German consulate in Batum or Odessa on the Black Sea and delivered to Odessa, Wash. by mistake.

On the sixth grade honor roll were Louella Iltz, Joanne Walter and Donald Zier. Seventh-grade students achieving a score of 100 in the county spelling contest were Lloyd Carlson, Norma Carlson, Frances Cook, Jean Fink, Helen Groh, Delores Uhrich, Donald Zicha and Eugene Widmer.

50 years ago

From The Odessa Record

January 20, 1966

The Odessa Chamber of Commerce presidency changed hands as outgoing president

R.E. Suchland handed over the gavel to Winston Weber at the Chamber banquet the previous Saturday. Over 100 attended the banquet in the school cafeteria.

Specifications for a submersible pump, motor and other appurtenances for the new water well will be prepared following action by the town council Monday evening. Mayor R.L. Tanck reported that the town hall upstairs meeting room has been repainted and the drapes have been cleaned. There are also plans for the kitchen to be redone. Councilman Harold Hoefel contacted a Spokane area man to produce updated town maps with new street and avenue designations. Chuck Carnes, operator of the Roundup Room, requested permission to allow live music and dancing at his place of business. The council also discussed a proposed agreement with Odessa Flying Service regarding hanger space and use of airport facilities.

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

January 24, 1991

The Odessa Float committee members resigned after 10 years of donating their efforts to the cause, only to experience dwindling help with the project as the years went by. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce was asked to provide reliable assistance, but committee members said they received little or no help and were simply “burned out.”

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

January 26, 2006

Old Town Hall repairs nearly finished. A burst pipe on the second floor in December damaged the ceiling, floors and walls of major portions of the downstairs area. The hardwood floors survived the water and did not require replacement, just sanding and refinishing. Painting is now under way.

Loretta Gobert opened Loretta’s Barber Shop in the same location that the late Del Kirstein operated his barber shop for 42 years.