Good old days - Aug. 26, 2010

125 years ago, August 28, 1885

Porak and Desserts Brewery at Sprague was partially destroyed by a fire which originated in the furnace room. Amount of loss was estimated at $8,000.

They have several thousands of gallons of beer on hand and plan to continue business uninterrupted.

Jo. Moore has decided to settle down and grow up with the country. He has purchased the Bowman residential property at Canyon and Mill and is making improvement before he sends for his family.

100 years ago, August 26, 1910

James Roberts, 18, is identified as the slayer of Dell McConnell in the back room of the New Castle Saloon on the Fourth of July. The sheriff had been lookkng for the suspect for weeks.

Roberts contended McConnell picked a fight in the back room and that led to the shooting.

Roberts left his hat behind when he jumped out the back door of the saloon, and later sent an order for a matching hat. The suspect has five brothers, all reported to have excellent reputations.

He was located working for a harvest crew in the St. John area.

75 years ago, August 30, 1935

Colfax baseball season ends with a 8-6 win over Lewiston, the league leaders. The loss was the lone defeat for Lewiston. Colfax finished the season at 4-5.

The Colfax Chamber of Commerce approves a resolution asking business and professional people and their employees to not park along Main Street between the courthouse and the post office.

County Superintendent R.R. Maxwell reports the O’Dell, Clear Creek and Templeton Districts have closed their schools and will tranport pupils to Colfax.

50 years ago, August 25, 1960

Ballasting and oiling of 6.5 miles of the Penawawa Road may be completed as of this weekend, much to the joy of Snake River orchardists and their customers.

The Penawawa Church, recently re-opened, has closed again due to lack of sufficient interest.

Laying of a cornerstone Sunday marked one third completion of the addtion to Peace Lutheran Church.

Jack Ramsey has been hired by the Palouse-Rock Lake Conservaton District to take soil samples for testing in the district’s lab. Ramsey was formerly employed by the Sprague Grange Supply.

25 years ago, August 29, 1985

Closure of the J.C. Penney’s store in Colfax is reported to be imminent. Manager Tim Hall said the company plans to close the store Jan. 4.

“This is not the first store in a small town to close,” Hall said. He noted the Colfax store is now one of the smallest in the western United States.

Palouse Empire Fair directors Monday learned the fair grandstand is in worse need for repair than first anticipated. Crews from Wesmar Construction of Pullman have found more support stringers have rotted out.

First estimated to cost $3,500, the repairs are now anticipated to cost $5,000.

10 years ago, August 24, 2000

Louise Leendertsen of Palouse, a 25-year volunteer at the Perkins House who spent a lot of time tending the gardens, his stepping aside. Sally Vogel of Pullman is listed as the heir apparent for the volunteer work.

Volunteers worked at McDonald Park Tuesday to prepare the baseball and softball fields for seeding.