This Week in Odessa History

Though Christmas was a quiet day, it was a merry one, especially for the little folks of Odessa. Christmas gifts and Christmas cheer in the shape of confections, nuts and other dainties, in which the little ones entered into the occasion could not bring back memories that made all feel younger and better for the day.

Christmas eve was an exceptionally joyous one for the boys and girls as the Presbyterian, Methodist and the German Congregational Sunday schools furnished their pupils and friends with Christmas trees and programs, while the German Lutherans held their’s Christmas night.

The exercises at each place, we are told, were excellent and spoke well for the parties that had charge of the training of the children, and provisions had been made to provide full stockings for all so that none were left unremembered.

A slight mishap which caused momentary concern occurred at the Methodist Church when Santa Claus’ raiment took fire while he was lighting the candles but it was quickly extinguished without injury to him, though his costume was in such condition that he was compelled to absent himself during the remainder of the evening.

Christmas in Odessa proved that none thought it a burden but that it was a spreading of good cheer and happiness which produced a spirit similar to that which filled the heart of Tiny Tim, in Dicken’s Christmas stories, when he said “God bless us all everyone.”

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

December 12, 1913

The delegation from Lincoln county now enrolled at the State College numbers 37. Of this number, seven are enrolled in the Department of agriculture, three in Horticulture, three in Home Economics, five in Electrical Engineering, six in General, six in Elementary Science and one each in the following departments: Mechanical Engineering, Modern Language, Pharmacy, Music and Latin.

Local grain men are today offering 823 cents for No. 1 Bluestem wheat and 72 cents for Red wheat, the highest prices that have been offered this season for grain. Not since the latter part of May has wheat been quoted at a price equal to or higher than this, the prices at that time being 85 and 75 cents, the highest figures paid this year.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

December 15,1938

A deal was completed today whereby the Keller Motor company, pioneer Odessa garage firm, was sold by Senator J.P. Keller to William Weber Jr., Odessa drayman, who will take possession on the morning of December 27. He plans to retain the present firm name.

Senator Keller will continue his Odessa business life, retaining the Keller Oil Company, standard Oil distributing company for this area.

Mr. Weber, a native of the community, has operated a dray line in Odessa for the past 10 years, during which time he has made his office at the garage. He will continue his dray line.

The Keller Motor company was started October 15, 1922, as a partnership. Mr. Keller later acquired full ownership. He came to the community in 1919 to take a job as parts manager for the Chris Rieker motor company.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

December 12,1963

The artistry of nature created a Christmas setting early this year. It laid down a blanket of fog. Cold weather and Jack Frost took this fog, transformed it into glistening white patterns on tree branches, electric wires, shrubbery.

To enhance this beauty, and bring it jeweled perfection, the wintry sun would break through the mist, lighting the world in a Christmas card beauty.

Such beauty should be preserved, it seemed, and nature used another material, a rain that froze into ice as it hit. Soon the entire picture was coated. This coat grew.

Man-made items, such as electric light poles and wires, seemed to nature to be out of place in the picture, so Jack Frost and the ice rain laid extra layers on these until they collapsed under the weight, and were than blanketed with snow.

The passing modern items set the finish to the Christmas scene. Soft lights came from windows where old lamps were burning. These faint gleams added their tones to the picture.

The scene was beautiful but we have an urgent feeling that it was not appreciated.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

December 11, 2003

The Odessa Town Council Monday night adopted a budget for the Town of Odessa for 2004 of $4,460,051.68, up slightly from the 2003 budget of $4,360,573.83.

The 2004 figures are exactly the same as those presented at a public hearing on the budget on November 24. At that time, Mayor Carl Ryan explained that a balanced budget would include no increase in utility charges except for an automatic 5 percent increase in revenues for sewer operating costs.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

December 8, 1988

Odessa rooters gathered last Saturday with the school pep band to encourage the Tiger Football team in the state B-8 championship game against Bridgeport-Mansfield.

Telephone rates rose December 1 for both residential and business customers in Washington State, a requirement of the Federal Communications Commission.

The residential subscriber line charges rose from 2.60 to $3.20 per month, while single line business charges were hiked from $4 to $5 monthly.