WallaWallaHistory.com

From the archives

1910 U.S. Census Bureau population: Walla Walla County: 31,931 Columbia County: 7,042 Washington state: 724,803	2000 Census population: Walla Walla County: 55,180 Columbia County: 4,064 Washington state: 5,894,121
City of Walla Walla - 1911 Tax levy: $124,000 (including bond debt service) Total assessed value: $9,537,003 Rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $13.08	City of Walla Walla - 2007 Tax levy: $4,335,641 (including bond debt service) Total assessed value: $1,523,266,147 Rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $2.85
October, 1914 Total voter registration in city of Walla Walla: 5,893	Spring 2007 Total voter registration in city of Walla Walla: 15,147

Oct. 5, 1911 Walla Walla Union

Regarding F.S. Maddock of Lyle, Ore., a prominent writer who was spending a few days in Walla Walla for the first time in 25 years: "He gives it as his opinion that Walla Walla strikes him as being a very smart and up-to-date city and one of the prettiest cities of its kind in the Northwest.''

Oct. 5, 1911 Ad, Walla Walla Union

Hanger & Thompson store:
Stylish trimmed hats from $5 up
Wool dresses from $7.50 up
Silk Dresses from $22.50 up
Long coats from $10 up
Dress skirts from $5 up

Oct. 10, 1911 Walla Walla Union

"The building permit total for October was swelled considerably yesterday when $50,000 was added by a permit issued for the construction of the First Baptist church at Park and Boyer streets, by Contractor W.F. McLean of Seattle. The filing fee was $15. Work will be commenced in the near future.''

Oct. 14, 1911 Walla Walla Union

"One of the largest wheat deals pulled off in this city for several years took place yesterday when George Drumheller sold a portion of his 1911 crop, amounting to 110,000 bushels, to the Jones-Scott company, consideration in the neighborhood of 75 cents per bushel, making a grand total of about $82,500 for four-fifths of one year's crop. The wheat is of the blue stem variety, and was grown on Mr. Drumheller's ranches at Eureka Flat and Dry creek, and is A1 in quality.

...The total crop harvested by Mr. Drumheller this season is 150,000 bushels, the largest individual crop of wheat ever raised in the Northwest...

The check which the rancher will receive for his wheat is second only to the one he received last October from the Jones-Scott company, when he sold his 1910 crop to them for $84,860.05. The check was photographed and used extensively for advertising purposes by the Commercial Club, appearing in many magazines in advertising pertaining to this district. If Mr. Drumheller's entire crop had been disposed of in a lump, the check received for the crop would have exceeded the far famed 1910 check by $28,000.''

Dec. 3, 1911 Walla Walla Union

"December seems reluctant to be any less of a building month than November by the number of permits that have been issued already, eight different contracts having been permitted by Chief Metz in the last two days. The most important ones were the Dacres hotel remodeling permit of $3,500 and a permit to A.C. Harris, 1758 Evergreen street to erect a $1,200 residence. Tilley's Smoke House will remodel the back room and probably move the billiard tables upstairs. T. Paul is to remodel his property at 14-16 Alder street and E. Eubanks will remodel his drug store. Other minor permits were also let.

These make a good start for the month and if winter construction work keeps on the city will awaken in the spring with a new era before it. The building this fall has been contrary to all expectations and speaks well for the city.''

Dec. 5, 1911 Walla Walla Union

"Directors of the Touchet school district were in the city yesterday, looking over plans for the new $30,000 rural school that is to be built in that locality. This will make another modern country school for this county, there already being several either built or in the course of construction...There are now about 100 pupils enrolled in the district, and many more will enter, especially in the high school courses, when the new building is completed.''

Jan. 8, 1914 Walla Walla Union

"Taking steps to revolutionize the school system of Walla Walla city by the adoption of the Junior High School system, advocated by progressive and modern educators, and thus keeping up and further advancing the reputation of our city as an educational center, the Board of Education at a special meeting yesterday afternoon decided to submit to the voters a special election, a proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $175,000 for the construction of an 18 room addition to the present high school building.

"...If the bond issue is approved by the voters there will be a radical change in the city school system. The seventh and eighth grades will be abolished, and pupils from these grades, together with those in the first year of the high school as present constituted will make up the membership of the new Junior High school, leaving the other three grades of the high school as a senior high school. This plan, known some times as the `six and six' plan, gives pupils six years in the grades and six years in the high school.''

Jan. 10, 1914 Walla Walla Union

"Announcing that he has made up his mind that the best thing to do on the courthouse question is to have the old building repaired, Chairman Jim L. Reavis of the board of county commissioners yesterday presented a resolution authorizing repair work to be started on the structure, but Commissioner Harry A. Reynolds stated he had not made up his mind as yet and asked for further time. A motion to accept the resolution was presented by Mr. Reavis but was not seconded for this reason and the resolution was placed on file where it may be brought up at any time.

Commissioner Reavis said that opinions varied on the advisability of repairing the structure and that as the majority of the taxpayers apparently were against a new building he suggested the repairs.''

Feb. 1, 1914 Walla Walla Union

"There was considerable activity in the real estate market during the past week, many transactions being closed and others being negotiated through local dealers. Inquiries are being received by the dozen now and the indications are that there will be a more brisk trade this spring than that of a year ago.''

Feb.28, 1914 (Regarding School Board deciding to resubmit failed high school enlargement bond issue to voters) Walla Walla Union

" 'We need more room and something must be done immediately,' City Superintendent of Schools W.M. Kern stated last night following the meeting. 'Unless the new building can be erected it is probable four or five more of the little one-room school rooms will be put in and it is possible the gymnasium could be cut up and used for class rooms.' ''

Sept. 15, 1914 Walla Walla Union

"In these days of progress in municipal affairs, can any public official charged with the responsibility of street and road supervision, overlook the demand of the times? Sooner or later almost every residence street in Walla Walla, and every important highway throughout the valley, must be permanently improved; the issue is one which as citizens we cannot indefinitely sidestep, unless we are to fall behind the march of progress on the part of every live community in the west.''

Nov. 30, 1914 Walla Walla Bulletin

"Heavy taxes have been much decried in the past few years in Walla Walla, and it is of interest to taxpayers to know that the levy established for 1914 is the lowest of any in eight years.''