This Week in Odessa History

There was a time during the school term when Odessa school children, if not their teachers, too, looked forward to three glorious days of fall.

It was the time of the “Teachers’ Institute,” so named no one seems to recall, when pupils got three days off from their studies while their teachers traveled to Spokane to hear lectures, attend forums and exchange views with other teachers.

The teachers probably felt that Institute was worthwhile, but for the children it was pure joy It was respite from their classes, which only a few weeks earlier had taken them away from their summer vacation. It usually meant a shopping trip to Spokane with their parents. It was a welcome early fall break.

Institute went on from about 1920 until the 1950s, and, in fact, it still goes on in the form of teachers meetings held in Spokane in our time.

Here is The Odessa Record’s record of the Teachers’ Institute of 1922, appearing in the September 29 issue of that year.

All the school children of the Odessa country have enjoyed a three day holiday this week. The city and country schools alike closed Tuesday afternoon so as to give their teachers an opportunity to attend the joint teachers institute for four counties held in conjunction with the Washington Educational Association meeting at Spokane which is still in convention.

Tuesday evening the outgoing teachers from this station filled the seats of the day coaches on Train No. 4 to overflowing and some were obliged to stand up. There were a few seat hogs in one car and a careful observer could not but notice several amusing incidents in the way they were handled by the good looking school maams. In one instance two young ladies crowded into a set occupied by one of these pests. He stood it apparently unconcerned for a few moments without a word and then finally gave up and headed for the smoker. In another instance the porter was called to the rescue. With the crowded condition of the train as it left here one could not help wondering how teachers between this point and Spokane were picked up as No. 4 was the only train carrying passengers that night. The dynamo of No. 40, the local, was out of commission and without lights the conductor refused to take on passengers here.

According to reports, over 900 teachers were in attendance at the big meeting. The Lincoln County contingent held its business meeting on the opening day. Among the officers elected for the ensuing year was Miss Edith Boone, Odessa, secretary.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

September 13, 1912

Most men would resent the enactment of a property qualification for voters. They say, and they are entirely right, that since they live in the town they should have a hand in running it whether they are fortunate in the possession of this world’s goods or not. This is entirely true. But there is no privilege that does not carry with it a duty. If it is any man’s privilege to help govern the town by vote, then it is his duty to help promote its prosperity by his aid. Some people seem to think that every movement for the town’s improvement should come from men of means, and the burden of both labor and expenditure should be born by them. As a matter of fact, every citizen should be willing to give his time, his thought, and his money to some extent, to make this a bigger and better town.

Let us not only vote for good men but work for a good town. Let us spend our money locally, so that it will be deposited in local banks and be at our command if we need it in emergency. Let us set our money to work here at home where it will build, erect houses, increase population, create markets, enlarge our assessed valuation, contribute to our convenience and make our own property worth more and our own town a better place in which to live.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

September 16,1937

Emanuel Bartalamay and Pauline Borgens Libsack, Odessa, and Sigur Christian Nielsen, Wilbur, were admitted to citizenship in superior court on Wednesday. The petitions of Adam Bartalamy, Con S. Heimbigner and John Frank, all of Odessa, and Otto Robert Haupt, Creston, were continued to give them time for further study.

The city council has adopted a preliminary budget for 1938 calling for $7,426.00 of which $3633 will be raised by a 14-mill tax levy, $267 by a 1-mill park tax levy and $934 by a bond fund redemption levy of 3½ mills. Fines, licenses and state receipts will make up the remainder.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

September 17, 1987

Odessa’s David Birge, a volunteer driver who operates the Grant County Seniors van here, has been named Driver of the Year in ceremonies at the 1987 Washington State Transportation Conference at Pasco in early September. ”Dave not only operates the van in an outstanding manner routinely day by day,” said the nomination, “but he has designed a special step for his van, placed smaller steps at the drivers and front passenger entrance at each door.”

“He also designed and placed a special pole in the van that helps each passenger to securely brace themselves upon entering or exiting.”

“His van is always in immaculate condition and, being a retired mechanic, he performs most of the necessary maintenance on his van, which in turn is financially beneficial to our organization.” the nomination continued.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

September 12, 2002

The 100 anniversary of the founding of the Town of Odessa will roll around Friday, September 13.

On that date in 1902 the 57 voters who turned out for the election approved a proposal to incorporate the town, 50-1. Six others abstained.

The little town had grown to a population of 450, and was looking forward to an increase to 1,000; Only four years earlier, Odessa had been no more than a siding on the new Great Northern Railway.

No special observance of the anniversary is planned but Odessa’s birthday will be celebrated the evening of September 19, during Pre-Fest activities of Deutschesfest.