This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From The Odessa Record

1914

Local registration books showed that the town of Odessa had 121 registered voters in 1914, with another 84 in the outlying district.

Wheat was selling for 79 cents per bushel.

Enrollment at the Odessa schools was 160 and growing, expected to reach 200 by the first of the year in 1915.

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record

October 12, 1939

Friday the 13th may be unlucky in some towns, according to the old traditions, but in Odessa it carries the best of luck, as provided by merchants who are staging a special offering of values to the public.

The Odessa Trading Company will have its showing of the (1940 model) Chevrolet and Oldsmobile, with free door prizes. Grocery stores have prepared to feature big reductions throughout the entire store. The J.C. Penney company carries an advertisement of clearance prices.

The Odessa ministerial association met for their annual business meeting and election of officers.

A protest strike was called in the Wilson Creek high school when six male students walked out, after demands against an instructor were not met. The group staging the walkout declared that their protest was against Harold See, a grammar school instructor, who has had charge of the high school assembly the first period each morning. A settlement of the matter was not reached and further developments were expected when school resumed on Monday.

50 years ago

From The Odessa Record

October 8, 1964

A howling windstorm blew through Lincoln County the previous Friday afternoon, raising great clouds of dust that closed some roads and led to an eight-car pileup near Lamona that resulted in three injuries.

Closure of the road between Lamona and Harrington also led to high school football coach Phil Roth nearly missing his team’s game against Soap Lake that evening. Following a scouting trip to Reardan, he was headed home when he discovered the road closure. Backtracking, he made his way home via Wilbur and made it to Soap Lake in time for the kickoff. In the game itself, quarterback Tom Wolsborn led the Tigers to victory, connecting on passes to Mike Schauerman and Forrey Walter. Paul Horak led the team in rushing yardage.

The George W. Finney home was purchased from Finney’s granddaughter Donna Kittilson by Mr. and Mrs. Gene Worley. The Worleys were in the process of moving the home to the southwest part of town from its location downtown. A new business was expected to take its place.

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

October 12,1989

Odessa’s new swimming pool was nearing the end of the planning stages 25 years ago. Odessa mayor Carl Ryan had applied for matching funds from the state after the town had raised money through donations, Deutschesfest fundraising events and voter approval of a bond issue to replace the former pool with a new one.

Students and townspeople enjoyed the Odessa homecoming bonfire at Finney Field.

A benefit fundraising auction for the Odessa schools athletic programs was to be held at the community center near the end of the month. The auction was to be preceded by a spaghetti dinner prepared and served by the local chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America.

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

October 14, 2004

The year 2004, saw the gross revenue from Deutschesfest take a hefty drop from its record amount of the year before from $71,645 to $53,477. Factors cited for the decline were the weather forecast that called for rain (which did not materialize in Odessa) and the rising cost of fuel. The number of RVs parked at Finney Field was said to be down by about a quarter of the previous year’s total. A central committee of citizens to plan events and publicity for the Fest was thought to be one way to help revitalize the event and prevent duplication of effort.