From the Dayton Chronicle archives

Ten Years Ago

September 24, 2014

It was Just 325 feet of sidewalk. Construction of the A.D.A. approved section of pavement, stretching from the hospital campus to the Touchet River dike involved a number of local governmental agencies, individuals and charitable organizations, and was in the beginning initiated by Jennie Dickinson, who watched her mother, then a resident of Booker Rest Home, gaze longing at the kids playing soccer in the nearby athlete fields.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 22, 1999

Barbara Hanger, winner of the Dayton Depot Day's Speedster ride drawing, climbed aboard, for her round-trip on the rails between Dayton and Present, on a Fairmont built, 1986 MT 19, owned by Don Piercy, a member of the Pacific Railcar Operators, Oak Harbor, Wash.

The newly hired Deputy Sheriff Joe Rhymes, gave some personal history to the Dayton City Council after a formal introduction by Sheriff Jim LaTour.

Fifty Years Ago

September 26, 1974

Vernon Smith, retired farmer and hobbyist, recently completely restored the cabinet and mechanism of a 100-year-old grandfather clock at the local library. The clock was brought to Dalton by W.W. Ward for his jewelry store in 1883 at that time its age was not known. Many of W.W. Ward's grand children reside in Dayton, including Antoinette (Mrs. Harvey) Frye and Don Hatfield.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway has just announced the promotion of William C. Lyman Jr. to the position of Trainmaster, with headquarters at Fresno, Calif. Lyman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Lyman and a 1960 graduate of Pietrzychi High School. He began his career with Santa Fe Railway as Operation Analyst in 1970, being promoted to Assistant Trainmaster in 1971.

For Columbia County farmers, 1973 was the most successful year they have had in a long time, according to the final tabulations. Following as it did upon a relatively good 1972, enabling the farm community to recover somewhat from a number of lean years. With farm receipts amounted to $17,003,000 gross, before allowing for taxes, supplies, labor costs equipment and other operating costs.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 22, 1949

W. A. Crossler and Robert Breiner of Dayton have started construction of a drive-in grocery in Waitsburg.The building will be a modern structure 16 feet by 24 feet or larger with a door on the left front side and a large right front window.

Mr. and Mrs. P.M. Smith, former owners of the Mission Tavern, have repurchased the place from James Edwards, who has been running it since last January. According to Mrs. Smith, extensive repairs will be made, the ceiling will be lowered, a new floor will be put in and the interior will be completely repainted.

Elmer McNeal, well-known native son of Dayton, was instantly killed at his home in Walla Walla when the charge of a 16-gauge shotgun struck him in the head. Elmer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Grover McNeal.

Welfare Says Work or Else. County Welfare Administrator, Ted Wagner, announced that the county welfare office has worked out arrangements with Columbia County Commissioners setting up a "work project" system to deal with "employable" recipients of general assistance.

One Hundred Years Ago

September, 1924

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 23, 1899

The greater portion of Columbia county's crop is saved and in the warehouses. The farmers struck it rich this year by raising mostly barley.

The Chickasaw legislature passed a bill raising the fee for, marriage licenses from $50 to $1,000. The Measure is aimed at white men who marry into the tribe to profit by annuities and lease money drawn by female Chickasaws.

The committee of citizens in charge of the reception of the Washington volunteers on their return from Manila have arranged a three days' celebration. On the evening before the arrival of the regiment, Seattle will be illuminated all night so the boys may know when they are many miles away that they will receive a warm welcome.