This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 11, 1916

The interior of the Empress Theatre has been improved by the addition of a new curtain. The curtain contains advertisements of the principal business houses of the town and is the work of J.M. Deeds a scenic artist of Spokane.

Cooper Bros. will be with us on Wednesday, August 16, with many new and novel features, and it can truthfully be said to be a good one, presenting so many pleasing high-class original feats, acts and wonders, making it now the best of all tented exhibitions before the public. A grand street review at one p.m. Two exhibitions daily at two and eight o’clock.

While returning from Davenport Saturday, the William Deife machine turned turtle on the highway near Harrington. While making a sharp curve the two outer tires blew out and threw the car against an embankment. The impact of the machine was so great that it rebounded into an upright position. The top was completely demolished and the windshield smashed, but the car was able to pull into Harrington under its own power. Christ Haase was the only occupant of the car to receive serious injury and is now under the care of Dr. Langley at the Harrington hospital.

75 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 14, 1941

George K. Walter buried Wednesday. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for George K. Walter, 65, pioneer resident, who died at his home here Sunday following a long illness. The services were held from the St. Matthew’s Congregational church, the Rev. J.P. Flemmer officiating, with burial in the Odessa Cemetery under the direction of the Strate Funeral Home.

Pallbearers included Conrad Lenhart, John Lenhart, Conrad Walter, Henry Walter, Con H. Eckhardt and George Amen.

Mr. Walter, a native of Russia, came to the United States in 1902. About 30 years ago he came to the Odessa area, farming near here until seven years ago, then moving to town, making his home in a new house he had built.

Survivors include his widow, Margaret; four sons, Jacob, Ben, Carl and David, all of Odessa; seven daughters, Mrs. Fred A. Scrupps, Seattle; Margaret, Odessa; Molly, Cheney; Mrs. Jack Wilson, Seattle; Alvina, Seattle; Martha, Odessa; and Mrs. Ralph Huddle, Harrington; two brothers, John of Nebraska and Jacob of Mohler, and one sister, Mrs. Katie Betz, Tacoma. There are five grandchildren.

Fall festival group named. A fall festival will be held in Odessa, it was decided at the Wednesday meeting of the commercial club. A committee was named to draft plans and report at the next meeting. Named to this committee were H.H. Strate, chairman; C.C. Heimbigner; C.H. Graedel; Al Wagner and Arnold Kloxan.

Saturday fires destroy range. The Crab creek range was the scene of two large fires on Saturday, on grass that had been saved for winter pasture. The first was Saturday morning at Fred S. Weishaar, Clarence Buddrius and John Napier ranches.

The flames destroyed a total of 600 acres and also burned a large pile of tie wood on the Buddrius ranch. A crew of 40 men, including Great Northern section men, neighbors and volunteers from town worked for hours before this fire could be stopped.

In the afternoon a fire started at the David Hardung creek ranch about three miles east of here, destroying a half section on the Hardung place and spreading to the A.A. King, A.E. Scrupps and John C. Ingle ranches. Again volunteers responded from town.

50 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 11, 1966

Odessa riders plan pack trip; work on rodeo. “Have you noticed the growth in the population of horses in our town? The Odessa Riders Club are getting ready for their pack trip in September by taking short rides now and then before that eight-mile ride up in the mountains,” said club president Myron Walter.

The club is looking for volunteers to take rodeo posters to neighboring towns to be put on display. Posters may be picked up at Hank’s Pastime [tavern] or the VFW Club.

Fair books ready. Premium lists for the 1966 Odessa Tri-County Fair have been prepared and are available at the two Odessa grocery stores, Mrs. Gus Weber and Mrs. Harold Gies, co-chairmen of the fair department announced yesterday.

Arrangements are being made for judges at the quonset-hut exhibits August 26 and 27. In the livestock department, with Don Evavold as chairman, it has been reported that Jack Napier will be judging. Mr. Napier is well known and has an extensive background for such work. Only residents of Lincoln, Adams and Grant Counties are eligible to enter exhibits for premiums.

25 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 8, 1991

Look who’s driving wheat truck. There was a time when the farm wife’s chief duty during harvest time was to stay in the kitchen to prepare three big meals a day for hungry harvest crews.

That was 30 years ago, when it still took four or five men to cut the wheat and haul it to the warehouse. But over the years all that has changed. Today, homemakers contribute to the harvest right alongside their husbands. They’re found out in the field driving the wheat truck or even the combine, and in between times they juggle family and meal responsibilities, too. Leslie Fink remembers her first harvest truck driving job, which was for her grandfather, John Weber, when she was 15 years old. And she also remembers the huge meals that her grandmother Lucy Weber would prepare for the harvest crew. There was always a wide variety of dishes, and invariably the meal was accompanied by her homemade rolls.

Driving truck for her husband Steve, son of Al and Janet Fink, calls for a different daily schedule and easy meals. The children, Drew and Lauren, have a babysitter while mom and dad are in the field or they stay with grandma Evelyn Weber. Steve and Leslie harvest with Steve’s brother Jon and his wife Sharon (Iltz) and his father, Al Fink.

911 on schedule; ready in late fall. Odessa residents can expect to have the promised 911 emergency service in place by the first of the year, if not by November or December, Odessa Memorial Hospital administrator Ron O’Halloran said Monday. The hospital received a $50,000 federal grant in 1989 to partly pay for the rapid access line. The grant would cover the cost of the first year, which includes installation, line changes and training and totals $4,474. Only local calls, those with the prefix 982, will be able to use the new system. Both rotary and touch-tone phones can be used. Those needing emergency care can still call the seven-digit numbers of the fire department, police department or hospital. The main advantage of 911 is its convenience, especially under adverse conditions. The system will be ready in four to six months.

10 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 10, 2006

Biodiesel green light expected next week. Announcement is expected at a meeting of the Odessa Public Development Authority of the completion of all arrangements to bring a biodiesel refining plant to Odessa. The project is proposed by Inland Empire Oilseeds, LLC, a consortium of Odessa Union Warehouse, Reardan Grain Growe4rs and the Reardan Seed Company.

Fest food. The St. Joseph Altar Society was able to make all its kraut ranzas last Saturday. The group made 4,000 of the tasty delights. On Monday, the Heritage Church began making cabbage rolls. The group will make 4,000 cabbage rolls over the next three days. On Tuesday the Christ Lutheran Church began making apple strudel. The butter crumbs were prepared in the Odessa school cafeteria.