From the Past: Hay shipments, school play, meat market, lumber company, crops and crime

125 years ago
1899

Hay shipments: W.A. Wells today shipped two carloads of hay from Wren to San Francisco, via Yaquina. Last week he shipped a carload from Philomath. The farmers should congratulate themselves on having a steady market for their surplus hay. Should this condition continue, more attention will be given to raising hay. In Benton County, the possibilities of this branch of agriculture are very great and, with an expansive market, the product of hay would become a source of financial prosperity. (Published Feb. 22, 1899, in the Corvallis Times).

100 years ago
1924

School play: The Philomath High School play, “A Pair of Sixes,” was presented by the senior class, assisted by several persons selected from the rest of the school, at the I.O.O.F. Hall Friday and Saturday evenings, and proved to be a great success. Both evenings drew a large crowd and everyone present seemed to thoroughly enjoy the entertainment. The cast consisted of 12 characters under the direction of the Prof. O.T. Olson. Each and every character seemed exactly suited to his or her part and are winning considerable praise. Sixty percent of the proceeds will go to the senior class and the other 40 percent will be used for baseball supplies. (Published Feb. 20, 1924, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).

Meat market: Philomath has only one meat market again. Business is being conducted at the new Sanitary Market. J.W. Berreman and A.L. Hathaway are the proprietors. (Published Feb. 20, 1924, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).

75 years ago
1949

Lumber company: Announcement was made today that Dorval Bevens and Glen Witham of the North Side Lumber Co. of Philomath had purchased the Smith Lumber Co. one mile west of Philomath on the Newport highway. The mill with a capacity of 25 to 30 thousand board feet of lumber per day is now in operation under the new management. (Published Feb. 24, 1949, in the Benton County Herald).

Frozen crops: Freezing weather of the past two months killed out an estimated 25% of fall seeded grains and vetches and 30% of fall seeded ryegrass and pastures in Benton County, according to reports of farmers, seed dealers and others, says S.A. Jackson, Benton County extension agent (agriculture). Damage occurred on hill soils as well on the flat prairie lands, the report revealed. Crops in the river bottom fared the best but were damaged some. Losses on fall seeded red closer, cannery carrots, sugar beets for seed and fruit and nut tree damage has also been observed and reported. (Published Feb. 24, 1949, in the Benton County Herald).

40 years ago
1984

Crime rate: Police Chief Richard Raleigh’s 1983 year-end report of Philomath Police activity revealed an 83% crime solution rate, the highest solution rate in the history of the Philomath Police Department’s record-keeping. No rapes have been reported in Philomath since one in 1981. In the past nine years, only one homicide occurred within the city limits. It involved the shooting death of 18-year-old Richard Brown … by irate neighbor James Cook. Cook was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and is scheduled to be sentenced March 1. Philomath had 17 assault cases last year, down from an unusual high of 32 the previous year. Burglaries also numbered 17, a marked decrease from 1982’s 37. Theft remained the city’s most prolific crime, involving 79 cases in 1983. It was the lowest number in recent years, however. (Published Feb. 22, 1984, in the Benton Bulletin).