150 years ago
1874

Henkle reunion: On Wednesday last we enjoyed one of those pleasing and interesting occasions so rarely witnessed by the now a-days nomadic American people — a reunion of a family, where the snows of winter embraced the fender bud of spring across the lapse of five generations. The picnic given by the children and grand children of Jacob Henkle, Sen., near his house, on the South Fork of Mary’s river, on that day, was attended by about three hundred persons, among whom we found seventy-two lineal descendants of this venerable patriarch, divided as follows: Children, 6; grand children, 30; great grand children, 35; great great grand child, 1; total, 72. This only includes the actual lineage of Mr. Henkle, leaving out all cousins, aunts, nieces, nephews, etc., of whom there was a large number present. We do not think another man in the Willamette valley can make as good a showing. We have since been informed that the total number of lineal descendants present was eighty-five. — Ed. (Published May 23, 1874, in the Weekly Corvallis Gazette).

125 years ago
1899

Service planned: Rev. C.C. Poling will preach at the Independent school house on Sunday morning at 11 and at Philomath in the afternoon at 3 o’clock. (Published May 26, 1899, in the Union-Gazette, Corvallis).

Enjoyable day: Miss Jessie Buoy, who taught the Elk City school last year, and Mr. Frank Payne of Philomath, came into our city Saturday night to spend a day or two as guests of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Buoy. The two men spent the following day angling for the gay and festive trout and never caught one — under six and a fourth inches. (Published May 26, 1899, in the Lincoln County Leader, Toledo).

100 years ago
1924

Road work: State highway commissioner W.H. Malone and engineers Cline and Sawyer stopped in Philomath last Friday morning to confer with city officials as to what their plans were in regard to that portion of the highway that runs directly through the city. Commissioner Malone stated that in all probability nothing would be done on the highway this year. He stated that the commissioners were ready to go ahead with their part of the work, but that the county had to do its part of the work, or the grading, first. That the section between Philomath and Wren would be fixed first, graded and a new bridge erected over the Mary’s river. As the county has not the available funds in sight the work will have to wait. (Published May 22, 1924, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).

75 years ago
1949

PHS graduation: Holding the 37th annual commencement exercises last Thursday night at the Philomath high school there were 23 seniors given diplomas. Those graduating included Helen Quetschke, valedictorian, Joyce Shroyer, salutatorian, Ivan Adams, Gladys and Shirley Arnold, Gerald Beattie, Larry Butterworth, Elwyn Ellis, LeRoy Green, Donna Jean Harlan, Dorothy Harris, Jess Howard, Ben Kisor, Lois Leder, Joe Morgan, Myrtle Mulkey, Bonnie Prather, Bertie Small, Ted Smith, Willajean Stahl, Nita Thomas, Beverly Tunison and Lodena Wood. (Published May 23, 1949, in the Benton County Herald).

40 years ago
1984

State titles: Trish Stevens and Tassie Norton won individual state championships in leading the Philomath girls track team to a fourth place finish in the Class AA meet at Mount Hood Community College last Saturday. Norton, a junior, won her third straight 3,000-meter title and Stevens, a freshman, won the high jump. (Published May 23, 1984, in the Benton Bulletin).

Coach Cox: Philomath’s baseball team was scheduled to close out the 1984 season against Central Tuesday on the Warrior home field. The Central game is Gary Cox’s last game as the Warriors’ coach. Cox is calling it quits after 12 years of coaching at PHS. Cox, who coached the Warriors to an Emerald League championship in 1975, will become the activities director at the school next year. (Published May 23, 1984, in the Benton Bulletin).