From the Dayton Chronicle archives

Ten Years Ago

July 18, 2012

Co-Parade Marshals are Sarah (Marll) Literal and Alvin Ashley in the 2012 Dayton Alumni Association celebration.

Three candidates were vying for County Commissioner District 2, Tom Bensel, Anne Higgins and Mike Talbott.

The second annual Mule Mania was on the agenda at the County Fairgrounds.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 23, 1997

The Alumni Track and Field Complex was dedicated with the unveiling of a marble monument with expressions of gratitude from Alumni Association President Charles O’Connor and School Board Vice Chairman Mike Talbott. The alumni association was founded in 1977.

The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus is bringing African elephants, clowns, aerialists and more to Dayton July 26.

Fifty Years Ago

July 20, 1972

Washington State Aerie presented a Red Sunset Maple tree at Dayton Manor, presented by Bob Curtiss, state president, Judge Lawrence Leahy, Clara Johnson, state president of the Eagles Auxiliary and state secretary Ben Packard to Eagle Manor manager Woodrow Beckley.

Green Giant anticipated finishing the pea pack July 27 while wheat and barley harvest gets started in Columbia Count.

Seven Dayton students will travel to Japan in August, joining a Walla Walla High School group. Mike Dingle, Jim Preston, Mike Varney, Glenda Roff, Pam Nichols, Lisa Cunningham and Shelby Cass make up the group.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 17, 1947

A barn fire of unknown origin destroyed hay, nine young swine and some equipment on the farm of Joner Trump.

A big duster storm hit Dayton July 10, darkened skies, uprooted trees and fortunately no injuries to people from falling power lines.

Summer, which invaded the community some time ago, became official last week when Claude Polly set up his croquet set.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 19, 1922

Saturday night saw the most devastating fire Dayton. A block of Main Street was almost wiped out. Discovered by H.G. Moe, it started about 12:30 a.m. in the Home Comfort barn. The asphalt pavement dissolved and smoked for hours. Small barns, wood sheds, store houses, fences and boardwalks were burned, and the fire burned over the lawns on Clay Street, up to the back doors of houses, requiring the persistent efforts of fire fighters to save the homes of George Range, Martin VanBuren, along with the warehouses of Nilsson & Son. Henry Pringle, G.E. Bartel and H.J. Torrance suffered heavy losses. R. R. Rix lost $3,500 in tools and machinery and had no insurance.

Backing a Hudson car at full speed through a large crowd gathered on the sidewalk in front of the F.M. Pauly cigar store at 202 W. Main Street about 8:30 last night, Ernest West crashed into the building through the glass front and nearly wrecked the entire place.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 24, 1897

On Saturday, July 15th, 1897, Mr. Jas. Ellis, “Pa,” Mr. C.B. Woodworth, “Uncle Cy,” Claude Ellis and A. McC. Applegate left Dayton for the Tukanon mines. The three last named gentle men having large mining interest to look after. Pa and Uncle Cy took the lead, driving a fine matched team of muckle colored “skates.” Claude and Mac followed with a more sedate team, as the old man did not like to trust the colts to “young bloods.” But they managed to keep Pa’s whiskers and Uncle Cy’s bald head in sight.