This Week in Odessa History

One hundred and seven years ago, a young Odessa answered the appeal for and to San Francisco, which on April 18 and 19, 1906, had been struck by an earthquake and fire that caused $350,000,000 worth of damage.

The new town, which then had a population of about 600, contributed $333.75 toward San Francisco’s relief. While this made up for only one-millionth of the loss, it was still big money for Odessa in those days. Many of the contributions, all of which were published in The Odessa Record, were of 50-cent, dollar or two-dollar amounts, but they ranged as high as $25.

The Record reported on Odessa’s campaign to help San Francisco in its issue of April 27, 1906:

Joseph Kriegler, C.O. Harvey and F.A. Logsdon, the committee appointed by mayor George Kennedy to receive contributions for the San Francisco sufferers, have reported contributions of $333.75 from Odessa people. Among the largest contributors were Conrad Heimbigner, G.W. Finney Lumber Company $25 each; Odessa Mercantile, L.G. Nuelsen, Odessa State Bank, German American Bank, Odessa Hardware & Implement Company, $15 each, and Joseph Kreigler, Odessa Milling Company, W.L. Smith, Kriegler-Pate Mercantile Company and Koth & Son, $10 each.

Tuesday morning, Mayor Kennedy wired Mayor Moore, of Seattle, to draw on Odessa for $350, with which to purchase food and forward it with other consignments that are leaving Seattle. Should the additional contributions fail make the $350, the balance will be contributed by the Town Council from the town’s funds.

The committee was out but a short time before they stated that they approached but one man who was not willing to aid in the humanitarian cause, and that many hunted them up in order that they might add their portion to the aid of a destitute city, thus showing that the people of Odessa do not wish to be considered in the rear when there is a call to assist in a good work.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

April, 1913

The remainder of April’s history is missing from the 1913 newspapers. The 100 year column will resume in May.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

April 14,1938

A spring, flowing at an approximate flow of 1000 gallons daily, is continuing to pour its flow on the field of the John Ingle ranch east of town. The spring, hitherto unknown, started running last week and has soaked the gullies of the ranch, leaving a good sized body of water in the lower fields.

Mr. Ingle, who recently purchased the land on which the spring is located, is planning to use it to irrigate an alfalfa bed. Amateur geologists state that a series of dams built east of there is raising water high enough that it can flow through ground fissures and out at the Ingle ranch.

The projected rural electrification line has been temporarily laid aside and work will be attempted to organizing members later in the summer. H.G. Heimbigner was named as general chairman to keep the project active and see what developments might be made later.

The temporary committee from the north country reported that a possible line of 21 miles, with 18 customers, could be worked out, if every rancher would subscribe for the power but found that several had no intention of doing so.

The south district committee found that many of the ranchers were willing to go but would have to wait until after harvest, as their finances would be required to handle the harvest and remainder of the spring work.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

April 4,1963

Gerhard Luiten of Lamona was honored at a dinner on Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Luiten, celebrating his 80th birthday. Guests were Mrs. Minnie Calliott of Spokane, Mr. and Mrs. Jake G. Luiten of Lamona, Joyce Luiten of Spokane and Connie Luiten of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The cooking school sponsored by Odessa firms on Friday afternoon drew 140 women to see and hear demonstrations given by Peggy Lewis and Emilie Ann Adams, prominent home economists.

Door prizes were given, Mrs. John Carr winning the spatter-free broiler; Mrs. Louis Pavliska the 6-place setting of Pyrex dinnerware; Mrs.Harold Gies the portable mixer; Mrs. Alvin Iltz the Hoover steam and dry iron and Mrs. Reinhold Kissler the set of six waterless cookware kettles.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

April 14, 1988

Two teams from Odessa joined more than 60 others from throughout the Inland Empire at Northwood Junior High School, Spokane for the March 12 regional competition of the Odyssey of the Mind program.

The program is invitational, and the students were from teacher Marianne Iksic’s advanced learning classes here in Odessa.

“The junior high group competed in the vision II Atlantis problem,” Iksic reported. “In the fall, they chose Atlantis from a series of five problems, and their task was to create a vehicle which would explore an imaginary ocean in search of artifacts from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Goals for advanced students who participate in the Odyssey of the Mind are to “learn ways to solve problems, how to follow through with ideas and produce a completed solution, how to work with others toward a common goal, and to display and appreciate good sportsmanship,” the philosophy of Odyssey of the Mind a statement reveals.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

April 17, 2003

Odessa Police Chief Joe Mueller has tendered his resignation.

Mueller, who has been chief of police in Odessa for the past two years has accepted a position as chief of police Cosmopolis, Wash., in Grays Harbor County, near Aberdeen.

A “city” of RVs, motor homes and tents sprang up last week on Irby road just south of Highway 28 when thousands of bikers and and their friends and families met for the Desert 100 races, which took place on Saturday and Sunday.

Odessa sounded like bumble bees buzzing as over 2,500 motorcycles converged for the 33rd annual Desert 100 race. The race across rangeland owned by Wes King was declared a huge success by all who participated.