From the Files

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 8, 1923

Will Soon Be Able to

Test Out New City Well

Hope to have ample supply of water to meet all requirements, including swimming pool.

The casing is in place at the new city well at the park and the pump is being installed so that it will be possible in a few days to test out the well to determine the flow of water. The progress was reported at the city council meeting Tuesday evening. The council is anxious to have the job finished up and very hopeful that the test will show an ample supply of water.

A committee from the commercial club was present to take up the matter of locating the swimming pool in the city park. The place desired was in the southeast corner. The park board was present and protested against locating it there. They said their plans for shrubbery and landscape design would be interfered with.

Local Brevities

S.B. Eslick, deputy collector of internal revenue, will be at the Adams Hotel Feb. 14th, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., for the purpose of assisting taxpayers in compiling income tax returns for the year 1922.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 5, 1948

2 Homes Burn in Lind Region

Two homes in the Lind area were destroyed by recent fires. A blaze which started in the pumphouse was fanned by a strong wind and swept through the house at the Eugene Phillips ranch late Sunday evening. Furniture and clothing were saved with the help of the Lind fire department. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Doyle and family lived in the house.

Early last Thursday morning fire of undetermined origin destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. Englehart. Mrs. Englehart was awakened by the smell of smoke and discovered the kitchen and porch blazing. The house was partially covered by insurance, but most of the furniture and clothing was destroyed or damaged by smoke and water. The Engleharts are living temporarily in the basement of the Mayfield home.

2 Cars Collide Near

Ritzville on Icy Roads

A Richland, Wash., man forfeited a $15 bond on a charge of negligent driving this week after his automobile collided with another car Sunday on slippery pavement a half-mile north of the Ritzville city limits. The Richland driver, Victor D. Rouse, 49, was piloting his 1940 Mercury sedan towards Richland when, according to State Highway Patrolman Donald Drake, he lost control of his car on the packed snow covering the road. He collided with a 1939 Lincoln coupe driven by Ralph C. Watson, 66, of Kahlotus, who was headed towards Spokane. The Rouse car swerved off the highway.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 8, 1973

Suspect Pair Caught Here

Two men sought in Colville for assault and armed robbery were captured in Ritzville about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Officer James Kennedy, at work on his night beat, spotted their car by its description received over 24 hours earlier on the teletype at the sheriff's office. Monday about 4 p.m., sheriff's officers took the men from the jail here and returned them to Colville. They are Patrick M. Pratt, 21, and Henry Dwayne Judd, 22.

According to the Colville police, the pair took a Canadian, Patrick A. Dollier, Lake Christina, B.C., out in the country at Colville. Dollier later told the police the men had robbed him of $120 Canadian money and forced hm to write two checks for $125. Also Dollier related he was held by one of the pair and beaten by the other. The men then took Dollier back to his motel room in Colville.

Dobson Family Here

The Brian Dobson family have settled in the parsonage of the Assembly of God Church here. They have lived at Bremerton the past year where Brian has helped his father, Rev. A.A. Dobson, pastor of Evangel Temple. Before that, Brian was an Assembly of God pastor in Illinois and before that in British Columbia. Here he succeeds the Rev. Tom Nace who has moved to be assistant pastor in an Assembly of God Church near Payette, Idaho. The Dobson family members are, from left, Danny, 3, Jill, 8 months, and Mrs. Dobson, Marilyn.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

February 12, 1998

G. Wellsandt celebrates

80th birthday in Ritzville

Gerald "Jerry" Wellsandt, of Spokane, returned to his hometown of Ritzville to celebrate his 80th birthday. His wish was to have dinner at the Circle T Inn surrounded by family and friends. Wellsandt and his twin sister, Geraldine, were born on the family farm to Wm. and Dorothy Wellsandt. He was graduated from Ritzville High School. His most memorable years were his high school years when he was active in musical productions and playing in a dance band. His memorable working years were at Becker Buick in Spokane.

- The Journal