This Week in Odessa History

BNSF trains carrying sleek new imported automobiles from Japan and Korea race through Odessa today virtually unnoticed.

The vehicles, destined for Mid-western and Eastern markets are enclosed in container cars in trains which sometimes are nearly a mile long.

A Great Northern train going through Odessa in the opposite direction 88 years ago was cause for quite a bit of excitement. It consisted of twenty-eight freight cars a each containing five new Buicks, and was enroute to Seattle, stopping at many of the stations along the way, including one at Odessa.

This report is from the Odessa Record of January 15, 1925, announcing plans for the train’s stop:

“Between 4:30 and 5 p.m. next Wednesday, a trainload of Buick automobiles, which was shipped from the Buick factory in Flint, Mich., on January 1, will be stopped at the Great Northern station in Odessa.

“The train will contain nothing but Buick automobiles, 40 carloads of them, 200 autos all told and valued at a quarter of a million dollars. The shipment comprises the richest cargo of first-class freight, which has ever been sent into the Pacific Northwest on one train.

“At the rear of the train will be a special car carrying officials of the Great Northern Railway and of the Northwest Buick Company, of Seattle.

“When the train arrives in Seattle, a big parade will be held on Seattle’s principal streets.

“The Odessa Hardware & Implement Company, the local Buick agency, has extended a cordial invitation to Odessa people to be at the Odessa depot when the train stops here . . .”

There were a total of 28 cars in the train when it arrived here, 12 cars having been left with the Buick agency in Spokane. A carload of five autos was set out in Odessa, and these will be used by the Odessa Hardware & Implement Company, local Buick agent, and the agency in Ritzville.

Commercial Club went aboard the train for a conference with M.J. Costello, assistant traffic manager of the railroad, in regard to improving service to Odessa. Costello would make no definite promise to the committee, but said he would make further efforts to try to improve passenger service here.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 3, 1913

The fourth annual ball of the Odessa Firemen, given at the opera house New Year’s Eve, was a very successful affair, about seventy couples being in attendance and all having a delightful time. The music was furnished by a Spokane orchestra and a midnight supper was served to the dancers at the Hotel Odessa. A number of out of town people were in attendance and the dance lasted until nearly 4 a.m.

The bounty record of the auditor of Lincoln county shows that during the year just ended bounty was paid on 738 coyotes, compared with 784 the year previous. During the last year 25 bobcats were presented, an increase of three over 1911. Total bounty paid out in 1912 was $863, and in 1911 the amount was $894. Five years ago the amount of bounty was nearly $1600.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 6,1938

The city council on Monday night ordered new equipment for the fire department, including 200 feet of new hose, 12 water proof coats, two gas masks and one hose nozzle. The fire truck siren was purchased and becomes the property of the city.

Completion of work on one new home resulted in several changes during the past week, the C.H. Graedel family moved into the home recently modernized, thus leaving the William Quast home without a tenant.

John J. Schorzman and family have moved to the Quast home, leaving the Heizelman home untenanted.

Town Weber and family, through the purchase of the Balmer property, released the August Reiner house, which is now tenanted by George Gehring, who moved to town. The John Wolsborn family has rented the home of Mrs. Jacob Bastrom, leaving the Heimbigner house untenanted.

Births in Odessa far exceeded deaths, it was revealed in figures released by Mrs. C.A. Bragg, registrar of vital statistics for the Odessa area. Her records show 35 births and nine deaths.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 7, 1988

Odessa’s Junior Miss, Shellie Green, will begin her week-long stay in Pullman January 9, as judging begins January 13 and concludes with the program the evening of January 16 at WSU’s Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum.

Shortly after the beginning of Monday evening’s town council session, former councilman Harold Kern was sworn in as Odessa’s mayor. Kern, who defeated Harvey Delzer in the November general election to become mayor, had served a term on the council and resigned that post effective December 31 in order to accept the oath from town clerk Sharon Hester.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 9, 2003

The North Columbia Community Action Council has taken over the functions of the mothballed Lincoln County Housing Authority.

“I see a hole in Odessa’s marketing plan,” said Lincoln County Advance Development Office consultant Pam Kelley at a meeting of the Odessa Public Development Authority to discuss business stimulation for the community.

“You want to target what kind of businesses you would like to have here,” she said.

Kelley said that while grants for retail business opportunities aren’t available for the state, there are funding possibilities, although limited, for community marketing efforts.