From the Dayton Chronicle archives

Ten Years Ago

September 1, 2010

Tuesday afternoon, August 24, a combine caught fire causing a field fire on Patit Road and crews from Columbia County Fire District #3 and Waitsburg worked to contain and extinguish the fire. Thursday winds with gusts up to 40 miles an hour are suspected to have rekindled the fire. The fire quickly grew out of control as the winds picked up burning across the hills over Hubbard Road, Gammon Road, Bruce Road, McGee Road and on to the Tucannon, head into rough terrain into Garfield County.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 30, 1995

These swimmers finished the season with trophy performances at the Colfax conference swim meet. The Dayton team won the event by scoring nearly double the points of the second place team. Curt LaTour, swimming in the 11-12 age group took first place in 6 individual events, B.J. Himmelberger, in the 8 and under category used his swimming ability to win 4 individual events and swam on some relays earning enough points to win a high-point trophy.

Rolling Thunder, the first annual event, is a maximum altitude model rocket competition. The event will be held Saturday, September 16, 1995 at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department firearms training range.

Fifty Years Ago

September 3, 1970

First meeting for all boys interested in the Dayton Elementary Boys Choir will held in the music room of Dayton Elementary School September 8, according to Robert Long, director of the choir. Mr. Long urges all interested Third grade and older boys to join.

Major Dorsey M. Martin, U.S. Air Force Reserve, returned to Dayton, following a two-week active duty tour at San Francisco, were he served as assistant to the director of freight traffic for Western Area Military Traffic Management and Terminal Services.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 30, 1945

Fewer Pupils in Columbia County Schools grade schools have enough pupils to stay open, according to Raymond Berry, Superintendent of county schools. Columbia and Mt. Pleasant have combined at Columbia, Marengo and Russell will be at Marengo, Star and Robinette at Star, Whetstone and Mt. Vernon will come in to Dayton Grade School. Other county schools include Huntsville, Pine Grove, Grupe and Starbuck.

The National Highway Users’ conference is stressing the fact that years will elapse before the supply of new automobiles will catch up with the demand and that the conservation of existing cars is a matter of first-rate importance.

One Hundred Years Ago

August, 1920

According to the state district highway engineer, every contractor for the improvement of roads between here and the Snake River has now been let. The last contract to be let was for the improvement by grading and graveling of the last five miles from Delaney to Central Ferry in Garfield County.

200 head of Rambouillet ewes and lambs for sale by A.M. Van Nice, Turner.

Equal Suffrage Reality! The proclamation announcing officially that the suffrage amendment to the constitution had been ratified was signed today by Secretary Coby of the state department.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 31, 1895

News is received that a two-year son of Oliver Johnson was badly burned while playing in the woods on Eckler Mountain one day last week. The mountains burned closed to the residence and the little fellow fell into a burning stump.