From the Dayton Chronicle archives

Ten Years Ago

May 25, 2011

Jean Nelson selected as 2011 Parade Marshal. Dayton Days has been dear in the heart of Jean Nelson since riding in her first Dayton Days parade at the age of five in 1942.

Three junior girls, Colleen Delp in Math, Keisha Phillips in Technology, Shelby Smith in Science, were honored for academic excellence by the American Association of University Women Scholar Recognition Program. The Dayton Branch of AAUW started participating ten years ago.

Ann Walsh, Puget Sound Energy, recently completed the 18-month Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Development Program as a member of Class 32.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 22, 1996

Melissa Simmons establishes new District record: Dayton’s premier female sprinter set a new District record in the 100-meter dash with a clocking of 12.35 seconds.

Daytonite Chester M. Brown received a patent on his adjustable sprinkler bracket. The simple device carries U.S. Patent #DES. 369 and was received 5-18-96.

Fred Gritman and his wife Betty, who moved here in 1952 and started teaching industrial arts in that fall of that year, completing 30 years in 1982. Fred and his horse “Buck” will head the 1996 Chamber of Commerce parade to open the Dayton Days celebration,

Fifty Years Ago

May 27, 1971

Fred E. Smith, state vice president for the Washington State Jaycees, received a plaque as second runner-up in the outstanding state vice president contest during the state convention held at Yakima.

Three-Day Show Action Offers Rodeo, Races Evening Rodeos, Afternoon Faces, Rodeo Events Return After 6-year Absence. The 53rd annual Dayton Days celebration will open Friday, May 28.

First Sheep Herdsmanship trophy presented at the Spokane Junior Livestock Show to the members of the Upper Whetstone Fleecers 4-H Club, Pam Sunderland, Cindy Startin, Lisa Turner, Rhonda Howard, Valerie Howard and Charlotte Eaton. Adult leaders are Merwin Neace and Jim Turner.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

May 23, 1946

First Lieutenant Lelia Louise Courtney of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Courtney, is expected to sail for Yokohama, Japan, for a year of duty at a U.S. army hospital in Japan. She will in a group of 300 army nurses sailing on the U.S.S. Koranda, a hospital ship.

Johnny Munroe, formerly of the U.S. Merchant Marine, pointed out that it was National Merchant Marine Day for three Dayton boys, Harvey Frye, Glenn Magill and himself who were in the service a year ago and another formerly of Dayton, John Bender now of Sunnyside. Those four and many others were engaged in extremely hazardous work throughout their service.

One Hundred Years Ago

May 21, 1921

To Avoid Alto Hill, the O.R.&N. May Go Around a Heavy Grade. Manager McNeill has decided to build an extension of the O.R.&N. Co.’s branch line from Bolles Junction to Dayton to connect the last-named place with Delaney.

Covello Clips: Somewhat moist at this date, Corn is coming up nicely and promises a good crop indeed.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 23, 1896

About 300 horses belonging to Mrs. Daniel Lyons were recently sold at auction in Waitsburg and Dayton. The prices ranged from $1 to $40 per head.

Harry W. King found a portion of a mastodon tooth some four miles below his residence on Tukanon, near Marengo. It was protruding from a bank, up a little hollow, back from the main stream, where a new wagon road had been made during the past year.