This Week in Odessa History

Firemen want new equipment, fire at Hemmerling home, FB team wins

 

Last updated 10/30/2017 at 12:54pm

Winners at the Grant county fair-- Jaylene and Jana Jasman, pictured with their mother, Debbie are the 2 1/2-year-old daughters of Jerry and Debbie Jasman. They won the "most look alike" twin girl's division. Also winning were Jamie and Kamie Arlt, the 12-year-old daughters of Brad and Debie Arlt.

100 Years Ago

The Odessa Record

October 26, 1917

Local firemen want new truck.

The Odessa fire department has announced that it needs some new equipment. The old house carts purchased at the organization of the department fourteen years ago, are fast beginning to show the effects of many strenuous runs. For a couple of years past these carts have been conveyed to practically all the fires that occurred in the day time at the rear end of a Ford. By this method the tire boys made the best kind of time in their runs to fires, but it was hard on the carts, for their designers lived in a day when Henry Ford was firing an engine in a Detroit factory and were intended to be hauled by firemen instead of making a twenty mile clip at the rear end of a "sag bugg" under the weight of over a quarter of a ton of hose. The result is that one of them is about ready for the scrap pile and the other well on the way.

Even though these carts were in the best of condition modern methods and the growth of the town has made this equipment comparatively obsolete. No automobile can be depended upon for night calls, and the runs to the outskirts of the town are now too long to take any chances on a hand pulled cart. Five minutes difference in the arrival of the department may mean not only the destruction of a home but of an entire section of the town as well. At present in one new residence district there are several of the best homes in the town that cannot be reached with the hose of one cart. Both reels are necessary to fight a fire should one break out there.

At their meeting the fire boys talked over ways and means to get an auto truck for the department. They have in their treasury a hundred dollars and each member agreed to pay an assessment so that fund would be swelled to $150 as a start on the amount necessary to buy a truck. Members of the city council were then interviewed and the boys received promises that they could count on between two hundred and fifty and three hundred dollars from the "City Dads" for their purpose.

The truck they have in view will have the capacity of carrying 1200 feet of hose, two chemical tanks, a small hook and ladder apparatus and a dozen firemen at any speed up to twenty miles per hour. It would mean that a run could be made to the farthest house on the hill in less than three minutes, if the boys pulled the cart, and that they would arrive there ready for hard work instead of an exhausted condition.

Anyone who witnessed the livery barn fire a couple of years ago can tell what a difference even a difference of a minute can make at a fire.

The cost of such a truck fully equipped will be between eight and nine hundred dollars, so half of this amount would have to be raised by popular subscription. Only one business house has been waited upon by the fire men's committee at this writing. That is the Odessa Hardware Company which has generously agreed to donate forty dollars and a year's garage service on the truck if one is purchased.

As the truck and equipment will be city property under the supervision of the town council and fire department, the boys feel confident that not only will the other business men respond as liberally but that the property owners will do likewise so that the new equipment will be here for the town's fire protection by December first.

Calvin Graedel a Benedict.

Unknown to his many friends, Calvin Graedel slipped quietly away from his home southwest of Odessa headed for the South country where he was married last Thursday, October 18th, to Miss Laura Sackett at the home of the brides parents. Full particulars of the event will probably not be learned until Mr. and Mrs. Graedel return from their wedding trip on which they will spend a month in San Francisco and other California points, after which they will return to Odessa and take up life on the Graedel ranch.

75 Years Ago

The Odessa Record

October 26, 1947

The Commercial club, in one of its more generous moods the entire cost of the annual Halloween party for the high school students, and to provide treats for each of the Friday afternoon Halloween parties among the grade school children.

The high school girls' glee club makes its appearance Friday night in the first of a series of four concerts. A variety of songs, covering a wide field, will display the versatilely and ability of this outstanding organization. Miss Marjorie Wachter, accompanist for the club, will be heard in the ever popular "Rhapsody in Blue" by the renowned American composer, George Gershwin.

A small gasoline motor and some originality has developed for Wayne Braun one of the most popular vehicles in town, his one passenger "jeep." Operated principally ln the vicinity of his home near the city park, it attracts volunteer drivers.

Harriet Smith has resigned her position as switchboard operator at the Odessa central office and Miss Margaret Walter, local manager, has hired Marie Ramm in her place. Miss Smith has not decided on her future plans.

Three from here were among the Monday enlistments in the United States army, including Paul L. Hoefel, Clarence Haase and James Kagele, the latter of the Moody area.

With 39 present, the employees of the Odessa Trading company gathered for a dinner at the Odessa Hotel Tuesday night, honoring Reinhold Suchland, William Smith, Virgil Kiesz and Walter Peters, employees that are scheduled for military service.

The Eastern Washington College band has chosen Leslie Lee as vice president, and Wilma Sackmann on the board of directors.

Velmer Deife was one of five men elected to Scarlet Arrow, senior men's honorary at the Eastern Washington College, at a recent meeting. Velmer is now serving his fourth year as a member of the varsity football squad.

Heavy frosts during the past week put the finish to many of the flower gardens of the community and caused a rush for anti-freeze solutions.

Howard Hemmerling is continuing with his radio course at Camp Murphy in Florida, and reports that his copy of the Record reaches him satisfactorily.

Corp. Al Lenhart writes that the big maneuvers are over and that he is again sleeping on a cot, after three months of ground sleeping.

Letters received from Milton Frieske, stationed in the south seas with the marines, state that he is well. He occasionally gets to see Iorwerth Derr, another Odessa marine.

Arthur Melcher is home from the desert maneuvers in California, on a short furlough.

Robert Flath, who has been making his home at Willow, California, was inducted into the army recently and is stationed at St. Petersburg, Fla. The army there occupies hotels and down town restaurants.

There are 101 service men receiving the Odessa Record, through their own subscriptions, or through the kindness of friends.

50 Years Ago

The Odessa Record

October 26, 1967

Fire damages Hemmerling home.

A short, but intensely hot fire Thursday evening did extensive damage to the hall area of the Clarence Hemmerling home, 601 East Fourth, located on the bluff behind the Christ Lutheran church. Smoke and heat damage is obvious throughout the remainder of the one-story structure.

No one was at home at the time of origin The family had left for the bowling alley before 7 p.m. The smoke-filled house was discovered upon the return of Mrs. Hemmerling shortly after 9 p.m. She immediately called the volunteer fire department and her husband, who was still at Odessa Lanes.

Flames burst out in the short hallway rug and licked out at hall closets and doorways leading to the three bedrooms in the east end of the house, while Mrs. Hemmerling awaited fire department personnel. They had subsided, obviously due to lack of oxygen, upon arrival of the fire truck. A few gallons of water were used to douse embers in the hallway floor.

The intense heat of the closed up house appears in many localities, with bedroom synthetic drapes partially destroyed, a long drape along the south windows gone and the traverse rod partially melted, part of the ornamentation on the living room ceiling hanging light fixtures melted and in disarray, and a plastic thermometer melted, to name a few.

The house is equipped with thermopane windows. Most of them are cracked, but not broken out. One large pane on the north side of the modern home is also cracked.

The kitchen and utility area of the west end of the structure is streaked with smoke.

No estimate of the total damage is possible at this thime, Mr. Hemmerling states. Much of their clothing was scorched or damaged from the smoke. Packages of new sheets and blankets in a hallway closet were singed and spotted. Packages of colored slides were destroyed.

A massive roof bean which runs the length of the house had been burning well out into the open living area of the home, the fire being fed from the short hallway area.

Clarence states that he expected to see the whole house burn as flames were clearly visible in the bedroom windows as he drove in from the bowling alley. Fortunately, the presence of mind of Mrs. Hemmerling to keep the house closed, saved the structure from further damage.

The Hemmerlings and daughter have moved to the motel while damages are being assessed and repair work gets underway.

It was noted Thursday evening that unauthorized personnel was entering the home following the blaze. Fire Chief Bill Richardson wishes to state that this will not be tolerated. The property owners and fire department personnel are the only people authorized to enter a home. Others are trespassing and may be subject to prosecution, he states.

Odessa defeats Liberty Lancers.

Odessa's first score in the game with Liberty Friday came on a pass from Karl Zacker to Terry Smith that covered 26 yards. Rex Smith ran over the extra point.

Tom Schafer then went over tackle for 13 yards and the second touchdown for the Tigers. Extra point was no good and at the end of the first quarter the score was 13 to 0 in favor of the home team.

The Tigers couldn't score in the second quarter, but the Liberty Lancers on a pass-pitch play were able to log 35 yards and a touchdown which proved to be Liberty's only score for the day. The half ended 13 to 6.

Mid-way through the third quarter Tom Schafer brought the crowd to its feet with one of the most outstanding runs ever made on Finney Field. Tom was trapped, thrown back by one arm; he kept spinning, turning and zig-zagging and broke into the open. With a few beautiful blocks thrown by Terry Kissler, one when Jon Raugust got three men and with a number of other blocks, Tom was able to scoot 100 yards for the touchdown.

Late in the third quarter Karl Zacher threw a pass to Steve Evavold. Karl ran the extra point over to make the final score 26 to 6 in favor of the Tigers.

The Tigers have been improving week by week and will take on a very strong Reardan team, Coach Al Latimer states. Reardan has only been defeated once this season by Davenport. They tied Ritzville.

Terry Kissler, Jon Raugust, Steve Evavold, Dave Keller, Larry Iverson, Tom Schafer and Terry Smith were all outstanding on defense, Al states.

25 Years Ago

The Odessa Record

October 22, 1992

Odessa, county called radon-free.

Odessa and the rest of Lincoln County are radon free, according to a report by the state Department of Energy at a recent seminar on Washington State energy code updates.

The department made spot checks of the entire state two years ago to test for the presence of radon, a gas formed underground and caused mostly from decaying granite. It radiates to the surface and is often found in homes. It is believed to be a cause of lung cancer.

Odessa building inspector Harold Kern reported on the seminar Monday at the meeting of the Town Council. He said Odessa was on of the localities included in the spot check. At the seminar it was explained that the department has determined the Lincoln, Adams and Franklin counties are radon-free. Traces have been found in Spokane and northeastern Washington counties. Grant county was shown to have radon radiation in its extreme northern portion. But the greatest evidence is found in western Washington and in mountainous regions in the northern part of the state.

Kern said new buildings in Odessa are tested for radon emissions. This is now required by the state building code.

Kern said news buildings in Odessa are tested for radon emission as required by the state building code. New homes must be equipped with piped ventilation installed from beneath the basement and exhausted above the roof area.

 

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