This Week in Odessa History

The era of the saloon passed out of existence in Odessa at 10:30 p.m., December 31, 1915, when the ban on liquor sales became effective.

In the issue of January 7, 1916, The Odessa Record reported on the saloons’ last stand.

New Years Eve witnessed the passing of the liquor traffic in a most satisfactory manner.

Though the town was crowded and the saloons were packed, it was a good natured and much quieter crowd than had been expected under the circumstances.

All of the saloons practically closed out their entire stock.

At one saloon, the beer supply ran short at noon, and at 10:30 p.m., the closing hour, practically everything else in town was exhausted, only a few bottles of bitters and other similar preparations for which there was no call.

The former saloon men of Odessa have accepted the will of the majority in the proper spirit and all will probably remain in Odessa to devote their energies in other channels, wherein it is hoped that they will meet with as much success as they did in their former vocations.

Hugo Kleeman states he will devote his entire time to his creamery and ice business. In the latter, he is making preparations to put up 500 tons for his own and the city’s consumption this year. He feels confident that the same application given to these lines will net him fully as much revenue as he formerly received from his saloon.

John Shimek has retained his release on his place of business, but is yet undecided as to just what line he will take up for his future vocation. Rumor says it is either hardware or groceries, but Mr. Shimek informs us he will make his decision in a few days.

Con Miller has purchased the Pastime Pool Room from Jack Kaye. He will dispense soft drinks, cigars and confectionery to his patrons.

The Janikula brothers are undecided as to their future plans but will remain in Odessa, taking a vacation for a while. They own their building and business and will probably take up some new business there in the near future.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 5, 1912

No change made in the manner of assessing property in this county in years has pleased the farmers as much as County Assessor D.B. Campbell’s announcement, made last week, that the 2600 miles of roads in Lincoln county, representing 10,400 acres of land, will not be assessed as part of adjoining land when the field deputies make their rounds next year.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 7, 1937

A blustering win on Tuesday morning and during Monday night heaped the highways with drifted snow, causing much grief for the school bus drivers and ranchers. Henry Schibel found that his school bus route required an additional four hours that morning. It is believed that Dan Borgens returned home with his load of students, as they had not appeared by the end of the school period.

From the north country came word that the Wilbur-Odessa highway was blocked that morning. Mail carrier Stanley Klima planned to use his special snow car for his route on Wednesday. His outfit is equipped with crawler type treads and sled runners for the front wheels.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 4,1962

The biggest sale the Odessa Trading company has ever made was completed this week when the firm sold its plant in the Basin area for $725,000, plus inventory, it was announced by W.C. Raugust, Trading company manager since its start some 35 years ago.

The reason for selling, stated Mr. Raugust, was that the plants were built with the idea of handling wheat, grains, beans, corn and other products, intending to expand the company operations through the Basin. Due to the Freeman farm policy there is not incentive to go further. It would have been necessary to handle other commodities for which the firm had no established sales agencies.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 1, 1987

Lincoln County commissioners, after a two-month struggle with the county’s budget, have announced a balance while maintaining the current staffing level.

“While it was necessary to cut staff,” said the spokesman, “some positions were frozen at part-time rather than being increased to full-time as had been requested.”

A scarcity of funds in proposed revenues first caused commissioners Loren Moos, Don Schibel and Andy Rustemeyer to seek an across-the-board departmental cut of 10 percent.

“However,” said the spokesman, “That wasn’t determined to be a feasible solution because of mandated services and because in a lot of the department most of the budget is for salaries.” Wages for staff already on payroll were not adversely affected.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 3, 2002

Because of the generosity of the Odessa Baptist congregation, Parkside Daycare will move into a new home - its very own - sometime later this year.

In it search, the Parkside board was considering the Baptist building, and as there had been no prospective buyers, the Baptist members voted to donate the 92-year-old building, which has been well maintained and is still in excellent condition.

There have been great changes at the museum since the new building opened in May 1984, replacing the original museum which burned to the ground with all its treasures in an arson fire in December 1981.

The Odessa Historical Society are hosting an open house on Sunday, January 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.

There will be guided tours through the main building and the barn during the open house.