100th birthday Neill's Flowers & Gifts downtown Pullman 10/21/2010

First Train Ride Thrills ‘em Speechless

Oct. 28, 1965
Pullman, Wash., Herald

A total of 208 kindergartners, the great majority taking their first ride on a train, have been going to Moscow this week on the Northern Pacific “Bug,” Pullman’s last passenger service threatened with extinction.

The 51 children shown in this Pullman Herald photo were accompanied by their teachers, Miss Suzanne Dayot and Mrs. Dale Martin. This was the Monday group that waited 20 minutes for the southeast bound 10:55 one-car train.

The 52 who started their “mission to Moscow,” Friday had a longer wait since the train that day was 90 minutes late. Making for some pretty hungry children before they bussed back from the Idaho city to sack lunches at the Adams School. Teachers that day were Mrs. Claude Simpson and Mrs. Martin.

More than 50 were on Tuesday’s train accompanied by Mrs. Bernard Bobb and a Washington State University practice teacher. Filling out the daily pilgrimages was the Wednesday group, who of more than 50, the last young throng being accompanied by Mrs. Gene Gustafson and Mrs. Robert Doornink.

The Pullman School District furnished the bus which brought back the children. The kindergarten is a private operation jointly of Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. W.S. Butts, which has four morning groups and four afternoon groups in the Adams school on College Hill.

Mrs. Simpson says that this is the 13th successive year that the kindergartners have taken the ride to Moscow. In most previous years, this has been a school ending project in May or June, with the parents providing transportation back in private cars, commonly followed by a family picnic in Pullman’s Reaney Park.

The October schedule was used this year because of the attempt by the Northern Pacific to discontinue passenger travel on the Spokane to Lewiston branch as of Oct. 31. Even when the Federal Interstate Commerce Commission assured a few days ago that passenger trains must run for four months yet, the decision to hold the runs now was kept under the belief that such a project should be run in good weather.

At a recent meeting of the Kindergarten Parents-Teachers Association the prospect of losing this opportunity for their children was discussed and encouragement was given for the parents who cared to do so to sign the petitions for saving train travel that have been in circulation at Dissmore’s Food Mart and at the CUB.

“This is one of our big projects of the year,” Mrs. Simpson explained. “and annually it means a great deal of motivation. In advance of the trip the children for many days study transportation of all kinds, especially trains and other services to the community.

“As for the trip itself their feeling it is almost impossible to describe. It is new for most, since far more children have traveled by air than by train. They each buy their own tickets, which are given to them in a folder. The way they clutch their tickets, they have become the most precious thing in the world to them. Then they are given paper hats to wear and the conductor punches each ticket.

“On the trip itself, you might not believe it, but here are 50 children so truly excited that they don’t even talk. It is strange to see them traveling and being so quiet.”

Gary Dinsmore, acting Northern Pacific agent, says there has been a recent upsurge in passenger travel out of Pullman, perhaps because the train service has been in the news.

Palouse Empire Fair in Colfax 9/9/2010

Pullman Herald stories about Neill's Flowers & Gifts from over the years

Neill's Flowers and Gifts when it had a fountain and grill besides flowers ... And, now, with new owner Mitch Chandler (left) and retiring proprietor Greg Neill.

Longtime family business changing ownership

Pullman Herald Wed. March 29, 1978

By MITCH DION
Herald Intern

One of the oldest businesses in Pullman is changing hands this week. Nell’s Flower and Gift shot is being sold after nearly 70 years under the Neill name.” I guess I’ve been in this business long enough it’s time to try something new,” Gregory Neill said.

Neill’s father, Roy, started the business in 1910, as a greenhouse on Military Hill between Lark and Charlotte Streets.

“It was called Cougar View Greenhouse, and my dad would make daily deliveries to Dutton’s Candy Store on Main Street where people could buy fresh flowers.” Neill explained that Dutton’s was located about where Creighton’s Men Store is presently.

In 1920 his father bought the present store which was a confectioner’s shop. From 1920to 1940 it served as a combination fountain, grill and flower shop. “Prior to 1940 it was the only real fountain in town and all the kids from the university would come down.”

Neill and his brothers and sisters spent a good deal of their young years working in the store.” We made all our own candy and ice cream -- it was tough work, he recalled.

In 1940 the building was remodeled, the fountain and grill closed and the name changed from Neill’s Sweet Shop to Neill’s Flowers and Gifts.

Neill said his father was facing stiffer competition from other fountains downtown,” and besides, he was running out of kids at home to run it.”

Having children around the store has become a family tradition, however. The Neill’s have four children, and they all grew up spending many hours with their folks at the store.

Neill spent several years at WSU in the thirties, and then five years in the Navy in World War II, serving in the Pacific. He returned to Pullman in 1945 and went into the family business. He and his wife, Tillie, have been running the store since 1957, when his father retired.

The elder Neill lives in Panorama City, near Olympia, but usually visits Pullman each summer. “When he visits the store he tells us how they used to do everything different, or he’ll go around gasping at the prices,” Neill laughed.

Neill is selling out to Mitch Chandler and his wife Mari Jo, “because he wants it, I guess.” Chandler promises to keep the business basically the same. Neill will stay in Pullman and go into business with his brother-in-law, who owns Franz Realty.

The Neill family has been in Pullman for a long time. Thomas Neill, Gregory’s grandfather came in the 1880’s and is considered one of the town fathers. Except for his time in the service, Gregory has spent his whole life here. Asked if he would ever leave, he said, “Sometime I might, but it’s a pretty good town, really.”

#

FLORISTS AT WORK – Greg Neill (left), his wife Tillie (center) and Maxine Eddy keep busy hours designing and arranging a variety of flower orders daily. Neill’s Flowers and Girt Shot, now the only florist store in Pullman, received approximately 40 orders on an average day and is really flooded with orders on special holidays (resulting in) a busy schedule for personnel in the horticulture business.

Pullman Herald
Oct. 19, 1967

A Palouse Profile

Rose or Topiary; Florist
Arranges Flowers to Joy
Winners

By JEFF CLAUSEN
Herald Staff Reporter

Popular recording artist Wayne Newton released a song last year that went – “I want some red roses for a blue lady; Mr. Florist, take my order please.” Now this was a song for romantic young lovers, but when you’re Gregory M. Neill, the song has added meaning.

Neill is owner of Neill’s Flowers and Gifts in Pullman, and he and his shop personnel are well familiar with young and old persons alike who place approximately 35-40 flower orders daily for friends and loved ones in Pullman or throughout the world.

. . .

GREG NEIL HAS been in the florist business since 1945, but the family name has been around for some time longer. Greg’s father, Roy, first started the business in 1910, when he built greenhouses known as College View Greenhouses on top of Military Hill in the vicinity of Lark and Charlotte Streets.

Roy, who is now retired and living in Panorama City near Olympia, moved the business to its present location at 120 Main in 1921, and the shop’s name was changed to Neill’s Sweet Shop, fountain lunch, candy and flower shop all in one.

In 1940, the shop was rebuilt and renamed to Neill’s Flowers and Gifts, and it has remained so since. As the flower business picked up, the fountain lunch was removed, and now the store specializes in mainly flowers, cards and various gifts.

. . .

GREG HAS ALWAYS lived in Pullman and he is one of a long list of area Neills. He was born Oct. 18, 1918 and graduated from high school in 1937. Greg attended Washington State University (then College) for three years, where he majored in horticulture, and in 1941 he became a flight instructor for an Army Contract School.

Greg stated, “I’ve always enjoyed flying and I picked up my pilot’s license here in the Pullman area before I instructed in the Army.”

Greg married his wife, Tillie, whom he met when she was attending school at Lewis-Clark Normal in Lewiston, in Phoenix, in 1941, and in 1942 he crossed over services and joined the Navy as an instructor and transportation pilot.

. . .

IN DECEMBER, 1945, Greg and Tillie returned to home-sweet-home in Pullman, where he went back to work at his father’s florist shop.

Roy Neill retired in 1957, and Greg has been in full command since. He and Tillie both work full time at the shop together with four full-time and four part-time employees.

Greg stated, “This is the way we operate on an average day basis, but on holidays or other special days, we really run a full crew. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day are usually our busiest days, and it really becomes crowded around here.

“Why sometimes we even have to phone from the back room to the front desk because there’s no room to walk between the two places. We work long hours, but it is an enjoyable and pleasing type of work.”

. . .

BEING INQUISTIVE about various types of arrangements, this reporter asked what flowers and style seemed to be the most popular, and how long does it take to make up these arrangements?

To this, Tillie, who was also in the back room working with Greg and full-time employee Maxine Eddy on orders replied:

“Well, roses seem to be the most popular and they are also the easiest to arrange. I would say it takes approximately 10 minutes to do a rose order (an arrangement of a dozen or so), but some may take even longer, depending on the particular style.”

Greg further commented, “Yes, and I believe mixed arrangements are the most difficult order to place. Sometimes, a mixed arrangement will take up to 20 minutes. Miniature flowers are also difficult to arrange, but on average orders, the mixed styles take the most time to complete.”

Ask what was remembered to be one of the most unusual arrangements made in the shop, Maxine started, “We’ve made up so many intriguing arrangements, it’s difficult to note just what was the most unusual, but Greg once styled a Topiary tree done with orchids, and it was different but beautiful.”

. . .

THIS REPORTER was also curious as to what kind of training florist employees go through before they are allowed to work on arrangements.

Greg remarked, “Well, it may be surprising, but none of our employees as been specially trained as such to arrange. They learn the business here – an on-the-job training situation, you might say. The best way to learn is through experience, and believes me arranging flowers in quite an experience.”

Tillie continued, “It takes approximately two years to learn your way around the shop. That seems like a surprisingly long time, but this is a touchy business, and it can’t be learned in just a few days. Styling various flower arrangements is simply a matter of learning through doing, and(its) seemed to work out well that way for us here.”

. . .

NEILL’S FLOWERS are shipped in daily from Spokane, and sometimes even twice daily. Greg explained, “We usually receive shipments each day, but when it gets busy, we need more flowers.

“The flowers are stored in two refrigerated here in the shop, one a window display in the store front and one on the rear of the building.”

The Neills reside in Pullman at 308 W. Main, and they are four children, three of them married girls, Mary Lou, Carolee, and Nancy. Gary, 16, is a sophomore at Pullman High School. Greg and Tillie are also grandparents of three children.

The florist business is a busy business, but according to the Neills, it is most interesting. Tillie stated:

“National statistics show that they average person buys flowers twice a year, so if you multiply that by the number of potential flower orders in Pullman, you can see that we keep busy.”

. . .

GREG AND TILLIE Neill enjoy their work, but as Greg stated, “If you want to become a florist, you must be willing to work at least 8 to 10 hours each day and many times even longer.

“But it is an unusual occupation and one that is extremely interesting if you enjoy horticulture.”

#



Friday, April 5, 1946
Pullman Herald
2nd Annual Town and Country Edition
Page 3

Pullman Florist
For Over 35 years

FLOWERS
GIFTS

Father and son, Roy and Gregory Neill, are pictured here in their store which is one of the modern in the Northwest. They merchandise Flowers, Pictures, Greeting Cards, Novelty Gifts, Etc., and a gift from Neill's is a distinctive gift indeed.

Member of the Florist Telegraphers Delivery Association since 1921

In continuous business in Pullman for 35 1/2 years. That's the record of Neill's Flowers Shop and for the past 25 years this business has been operating in its present location at 120 Main Street here. Roy Neill started business here in 1910 with a flower stand in Dutton's Confectionery in addition to selling direct from his Greenhouse. In August 1920, Neill's moved into their present location with a flower, gift and confectionery shop, but in 1941 the building as remodeled and
space was given over to the enlargement of the gift and candy counters along with the Flower Shop.

Roy Neill said that 1945 was his best business year in his 35 years of operation, and that during 1943-1944, when the Air Corps students were here, he sold more orchids than his total for the past 20 years.

During the past two Christmases and Mother's Days he received a tremendous volume of incoming orders from overseas, and during the month of May, 1945, a new high was reaching in outgoing orders.

Gregory Neill, who returned from service with the Naval Air Transport Command October 28, is now in partnership with his father.

Neill's new purchase all of their flowers from Spokane after disposing of their Greenhouses in 1942.

.....

Label on box

From
COLLEGE VIEW GREENHOUSES
Thomas Neill & Sons, Proprietors
PULLMAN, WASHINGTON

CUT FLOWERS -- DON'T CRUSH

Longtime family business changing ownership

Photo cutline: Neill's Flowers and Gifts when it had a fountain and grill besides flowers ... And, now, with new owner Mitch Chandler (left) and retiring proptieter Greg Neill.

Longtime family business changing ownership

Pullman Herald Wed. March 29, 1978

By MITCH DION
Herald Intern

One of the oldest businesses in Pullman is changing hands this week. Nell’s Flower and Gift shot is being sold after nearly 70 years under the Neill name.” I guess I’ve been in this business long enough it’s time to try something new,” Gregory Neill said.

Neill’s father, Roy, started the business in 1910, as a greenhouse on Military Hill between Lark and Charlotte Streets.

“It was called Cougar View Greenhouse, and my dad would make daily deliveries to Dutton’s Candy Store on Main Street where people could buy fresh flowers.” Neill explained that Dutton’s was located about where Creighton’s Men Store is presently.

In 1920 his father bought the present store which was a confectioner’s shop. From 1920to 1940 it served as a combination fountain, grill and flower shop. “Prior to 1940 it was the only real fountain in town and all the kids from the university would come down.”

Neill and his brothers and sisters spent a good deal of their young years working in the store.” We made all our own candy and ice cream -- it was tough work, he recalled.

In 1940 the building was remodeled, the fountain and grill closed and the name changed from Neill’s Sweet Shop to Neill’s Flowers and Gifts.

Neill said his father was facing stiffer competition from other fountains downtown,” and besides, he was running out of kids at home to run it.”

Having children around the store has become a family tradition, however. The Neill’s have four children, and they all grew up spending many hours with their folks at the store.

Neill spent several years at WSU in the thirties, and then five years in the Navy in World War II, serving in the Pacific. He returned to Pullman in 1945 and went into the family business. He and his wife, Tillie, have been running the store since 1957, when his father retired.

The elder Neill lives in Panorama City, near Olympia, but usually visits Pullman each summer. “When he visits the store he tells us how they used to do everything different, or he’ll go around gasping at the prices,” Neill laughed.

Neill is selling out to Mitch Chandler and his wife Mari Jo, “because he wants it, I guess.” Chandler promises to keep the business basically the same. Neill will stay in Pullman and go into business with his brother-in-law, who owns Franz Realty.

The Neill family has been in Pullman for a long time. Thomas Neill, Gregory’s grandfather came in the 1880’s and is considered one of the town fathers. Except for his time in the service, Gregory has spent his whole life here. Asked if he would ever leave, he said, “Sometime I might, but it’s a pretty good town, really.”

Couple of days in Aug. 2010: Pullman Transit

Warren J. "Bub" and Janice Talley Wayenberg

From the Yakima Herald-Republic Aug. 2, 2010

Warren J. "Bub" Wayenberg

PULLMAN, Wash. - Warren J. "Bub" Wayenberg, a native of Yakima, died unexpectedly of natural causes in his sleep July 25, 2010, at his Terrace Apartment in Bishop Place, Pullman, Wash. He was 85.

Bub moved to Pullman in December 2007 with his wife, Janice, to be nearer family members. Mrs. Wayenberg died Sept. 11, 2008.

He was born Oct. 10, 1924, in Yakima to Peter J. and Jennie M. (Christianson) Wayenberg. Bub graduated from Moxee High School in 1942. Athletics and Scouting were among his favorite activities. He worked on the family farm and earned his pilot's license. He later worked with the Civil Air Patrol and was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945. He held the rank of corporal at the time of his honorable discharge in 1946. As a tabulating machine operator for the corps, Bub worked with early IBM computers in management and personnel.

He was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas; Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, Texas; and Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, LA.

While at Barksdale AFB, Bub met his future wife, M. Janice Talley, at a USO dance on the base. The couple married Nov. 27, 1946, at the bride's family home in Shreveport, LA. They moved to Yakima to operate and purchase the family farm that was homesteaded by his grandfather who helped bring many Dutch families to the area.

He and his wife owned and operated the family fruit orchards until 1968 when they sold the 100-plus acres and home. The couple then joined Richard and Polly McFarlane as co-owners of Tree Fruit in Zillah from 1968-72. Bub later worked for Snokist Growers as a representative to member growers for 18 years.

He was named the Ahtanum Moxee S&W Conservation District Conservation Farmer for 1964.

Bub joined the Terrace Heights Fire Department in 1954 and attained the rank of captain before he retired more than 31 years later.

From 1950-55 he worked the winter holiday season at Bob's Home and Auto where he and the owners gathered and distributed Christmas gifts to less fortunate families in the area.

Bub was a member of the Terrace Heights Community Presbyterian Church. He was very active in his children's schools and served as a co-president for East Valley High School PTA. For years he and his wife bowled in a Friday evening league.

He was a little league coach and a favorite chauffeur for his children and their friends throughout their school years. Bub was a strong supporter of school booster activities and worked very hard on school levies while his family went through the schools.

He was a long-time elected member of the Terrace Heights Sewer Board, completing his final term in 2007. Bub has been a member of the Terrace Heights Improvement Association and Terrace Heights Lions Club, and a long-time social member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

He was an enabler. Bub provided his children the opportunity and encouragement to try everything. He was thrilled when his son earned a state Hall of Fame spot as an Idaho wresting coach and when his son-in-law earned Hall of Fame honors as a Washington track and field coach. He beamed with pride when his older grandson earned a Ph.D. in molecular biosciences and later when younger grandson earned his medical degree. Bub, too, was pleased with his daughter's energy in community service projects. Of course, watching his great-grandson play every Sunday at a family brunch brought many smiles.

Bub also helped many seasonal workers and farm managers with the resources or opportunity to do more with their lives. He cherished loyalty and rewarded those who worked for him through harvest. Several families returned each year and while the children played at the house, family members harvested the fruit.

For many years Bub would take over duties for the Mother's March and gather contributions to the March of Dimes from nearby farmers.

He and his wife enjoyed many long road trips, cruises and visits to her family in Louisiana. Bub was an early supporter of Yakima Meadows horseracing. Among his favorite pastimes were watching Yakima Bears and Seattle Mariners baseball games.

He also made time when he finally retired to meet nearly every day for coffee with Bill, Fred, Wally, Dick and many others in Selah.

After his move to Pullman, Bub and his Cougar baseball hat were seen at many WSU events. He had tickets for Cougar men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball and track and field. He never missed a women's basketball game during the three seasons he lived in Pullman.

He enjoyed traveling the eastern part of the state and went often with son-in-law Mike to take people to medical appointments scheduled anywhere from Walla Walla to Spokane.

He loved to play pinochle, bingo, and visit the casino - first, the Senior Tuesdays at the Legends in Toppenish and most recently, Northern Quest in Airway Heights. He enjoyed all the excursions that Bishop Place offered.

Bub is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Michael Hinz, of Pullman; one son, Richard A. Wayenberg, of Pullman; grandsons and granddaughters-in-law, John and Angela Hinz, of Pullman, and William and Heather Hinz of Salt Lake City, Utah; and great-grandson Archer J. Hinz, of Pullman.

He is also survived by nephew Bruce (Judy) Wayenberg of Grangeville, Idaho; nieces Bernie Goolsby (Doyle) of East Wenatchee and Cheryl (Dan) Pigg of Lake Oswego, OR; and their families.

Bub is also survived by cousins Joan Woodburn, Yakima; Lawrence Christianson, Yakima; Virginia Lincoln, Mountlake Terrace; Lillian Berghuis of Sequim, Wash.; and Jean Swanson Dumfries, VA.

He is also survived by his wife's family: three brothers-in-law and their wives: Jerry and Barbara Talley of Shreveport, LA, James and Neale Talley of Bossier City, LA, and Robert and Terry Talley of Bethany, LA; two sisters-in-law and their husbands: Dorothy and Joe Russell, of Shreveport, LA, and Sandra and Lynn Sasser of Livingston, Texas, and Mexico City; a brother-in-law's widow, Alla Talley, of Shreveport, LA; and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Pearl (Simard) Wayenberg.

A service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Keith & Keith's Terrace Heights Chapel in Yakima. A viewing is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, 902 West Yakima Ave. Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman and Keith & Keith Funeral Home in Yakima are handling arrangements.

The family suggests that memorials in Bub's name be sent to ones local firefighter's public outreach fund, the local animal shelter or Humane Society or the American Red Cross.