Today it is simple for us to take a spray can or pump sprayer to get rid of unwanted insects and spiders. Back in the early 1900s, the chickens helped with insect control. Read on.

Wilson Creek area history

The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.

Today we backtrack a bit and then continue the story of the Ralph Osborne family:

In 1908 Ralph homesteaded nine miles southwest of Wilson Creek, as the crow flies, on the land where he now resides. He recalls the time his dad sent him to Wilson Creek to buy some nails. He had been riding for quite a while and thought he had surely gone far enough, but there wasn't a building in sight. Suddenly he came to the edge of a cliff, looked down and, you guessed it, there was Wilson Creek.

About 1909, the Big Company Store was built in Wilson Creek with cement blocks made by Steve Osborne. Ralph worked in that store at one time.

Mrs. Ralph (Hazel) Osborne was born in Worthing, South Dakota in 1901. In 1907 she came to Wilson Creek from Spokane by train with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Austin, and younger sister, Shirley.

When they arrived in Wilson Creek, a team and wagon was waiting. They drove to the homestead Charles was taking over near Black Rock. Hazel believes he traded the home in Spokane for the site.

She remembers the flying ants around the buildings. When they opened the door to go into the house, the ants swarmed inside and several chickens rushed in to gobble them up. Charlie Austin often worked away from home with the threshing crew, harvesting wheat. Lila Austin and their daughters stayed in Wilson Creek during most of 1908 and Hazel started to school there.

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on Feb. 3, 1950:

Housing project rewiring contract awarded to Watt

Award of a contract to Watt Electric of Ephrata for rewiring of 130 units in the Moses Lake housing project was announced this week by Harvey Fitts, executive director of the Grant County Housing Authority. The Watt bid was $3,290.

Housing authority directors conferred by telephone and made the award last week when they were unable to arrange a meeting. Fitts said he understood Watt Electric was starting fabrication of some parts for the job this week, in order to be able to start work at the project by the middle of February.