Good old days
May 2, 2012
125 years ago
May 6, 1887
The contract for building Colfax College has finally been awarded to McCord & Ford of this city on their bid of $11,310. The plan for a brick building has been abandoned and the structure will be built entirely of wood above the foundation. Work will begin immediately and by fall the city will have an institution of learning of which our citizens may well feel proud.
Marble works are the latest addition to the industries of Colfax.
Livingstone & Kuhn of our city have bought from the patentee, H. Leninger, of Salem, the exclusive right to manufacture and sell the Oregon Lightning Squirrel Smoker in Washignton territory.
A post office has been established at Belmont with Jas. A. Johnson as postmaster.
Deputy County Surveyor Meisck was engaged Wednesday in surveying the proposed fair grounds, located on the Palouse River a short distance below town. He finds between 70 and 75 acres suitable for the purpose and affording a good half mile track can be obtained.
Sexton & Ellsworth’s sawmill commenced work this week on a boom containing nearly 2,000,000 feet of logs. Codd’s mill is drawing a boom of about the same size.
100 years ago
May 3, 1912
The Pastime will show 22 slides of the Titanic disaster for three nights commencing Thursday, in addition to the five reels of the latest pictures. While the extras have been secured at extra expense, the price of admission will still be 5 and 10c.
After tunneling 80 feet into the bluff across the Palouse river from Glenwood, station workmen for the Palouse River Coal and Development company find the quality of the coal constantly improving. The vein, which was six inches thick at the outcrop, has widened to three feet and four inches. The company, besides working on the tunnel at Glenwood, is also preparing to sink a shaft to a six-foot vein near Palouse.
The school house at Winona has been the center of much trouble. Not long ago it was sold by the sheriff and bid in by the Potlatch Lumber company. Now the lumber company has placed a lock on the door and is preparing to move the building away. The school district could have settled the claim against the building for about $200 at one time but the costs have now increased to about $1000.
W.T. Brown, formerly of Rock Lake, has moved his stock of goods to Ewan and is now located in the McNall building. He announces that he has taken in as a partner Mr. V.P. Byram, the firm to be known as Brown and Byram. The firm will be a valuable addition to the town.
James Phillips is planning to erect a business block on his lot adjoining the Clark & Crews store at Lamont. The building will be 50 feet deep and one story.
75 years ago
April 30, 1937
Under new state highway code, Colfax is required to establish parallel parking of automobiles on Main street. It is mandatory because Main comprises a part of the state highway system.
Charles Anderson, Colfax, was given 30 days in the county jail when he pleaded guilty of petty larceny. He was accused of taking a garden hose from the property on which S.A. Weitman is building his flour and feed mill on north Mill Street.
Anita Wistaken and Edward Alexie, Indians from Tekoa, are doing 30 days in the county jail for drunkenness. They were brought here after being sentenced by Justice J.P. Riley of Tekoa after Alexie drove his fist through a window while on his spree.
50 years ago
April 26, 1962
Most Colfax residents are mystified by the sudden action of the school board in attempting to fire Supt. Howard Moses and Principal Glenn Powell of the high school. All but a handful of school patrons were taken completely by surprise when word of the school directors’ secret move leaked out and was confirmed by both administrators.
Dr. Raymone Forrey, chairman of the board, said he was instructed by the other four members of the board after a secret meeting last Wednesday to ask both for their resignations effective at the end of the current year.
Werner Schubothe, Colfax high school vocational ag teacher, was not “pressured” into resigning following an altercation with one of his students which involved boxing gloves.
Betty Sue Harper, high school sophomore, was a double winner at St. John’s Community Fair and Stock show Saturday, earning the queen crown and the reserve grand champion ribbon for her 4H Angus entry.
25 years ago
April 30, 1987
Contracts for excavation and piping of the Port of Whitman’s new 75-acre industrial park in Pullman were awarded to Lester Johnson of Spokane for $231,776. The contract for curbs and pavement to Poe Asphalt of Pullman at $165,655.
A proliferation of black carpenter ants in the area, particularly noticeable in the last week or so, is nothing to be concerned about, according to Dan Suomi at the county extension office.
Freshman princess Vickie DeChenne won the sales competition to be named queen of the St. John Fair.
10 years ago
May 2, 2002
Work on the town of Palouse’s Heritage Park next to Thurman’s Palouse Market began two weeks ago. The pocket park has been five years on the making and is on the site where a Conoco station once stood.
A man who was believed to be attempting suicide with a knife on Kamiak Butte was taken by ambulance to Pullman Memorial Hospital Sunday afternoon after he turned himself in to officers who were searching the butte. The man had a laceration on his upper left forearm and a kitchen knife in his backpack.
Lisa Bostwick, who was named economic development specialist for the Port of Whitman three months ago, was dismissed from that position last Thursday.
