Good old days - Nov. 1, 2012

125 years ago

November 4, 1887

The old blacksmith shop on the corner of Main and Canyon has been torn down. The shop was built about 14 years ago and was the last of the original buildings of Colfax. T.B. Weller is building a new 24x60 feet building on the site of the old one.

Cars rolled into Palouse City Monday noon and were received with frantic tootings of steam, whistles, firing of anvils, “hooraying” of citizens, elevation of flags, soaring of hats and other demonstrations of satisfaction. A grand railroad ball was given last night in honor of the event.

B. Binnard purchased the J.F. Kennedy property, well known as the Bazar, 30 feet front, on Main street. Consideration $3,100.

Prof. R.S. Harris will open a cigar store, whist and billiard parlors in the new Smyth building adjoining the White House clothing store. This is a new departure in this part of the country and will no doubt prove a good investment.

100 years ago

November 1, 1912

George Wesley Brown, acquitted of murder but not considered by the jury as a fit person to be at large, was taken to the penitentiary at Walla Walla Sunday where he will be confined in the ward for the criminal insane until the physician in charge is satisfied he can be safely at large.

A Whitman County jury will then have a hearing on his mental condition.

Winnie Brown, wife of George Wesley Brown, received the same verdict from the jury, but her attorney J.T. Brown has moved to have that verdict set aside.

Until her hearing on Friday, Nov. 8, Mrs. Brown is confined in the county jail where she says she is better clothed and better fed than ever before in her life.

If her motion is granted, the 17-year-old woman and mother of two, may be sent to some institution for training and restraint for a time.

The Colfax police committee was instructed to put several extra men on the force to keep order on Halloween night. Considerable property has been destroyed in the past on Halloween night and city officials hare making a desperate effort to put a stop to it.

The Colfax Milling Co. is engaged in filling 1200 barrels, or six carloads, of flour to be shipped to Boston, another order of 750 barrels goes to San Francisco and three carloads are being shipped to Hong Kong.

Rosalia cannot vote on the local option question this year. The supreme court decided the last election was the last in which the general public could vote on liquor.

75 years ago

October 22, 1937

After attempting to get into the Gazette-Commoner to “talk about marriage announcements,” and tramping the streets with a table leg in search of Special Officer Jim Hickman, Roy Main, 29, Spokane, was arrested by Hickman and Night Marshal W.R. Baker Thursday evening and fined $15. Maine, employed as a truck driver on the Mockonema cutoff construction, knocked at the newspaper’s back door for wedding announcements. While waiting, he went to the apartment of a Colfax woman, amputated the table leg and flaunted it around the streets.

Federal agents are expected from Seattle to take custody of Dr. Robert W. Rose, 34, who was arrested Monday afternoon on a charge of stealing narcotics from the store of the LaCrosse Drug company. Officers here declared he is an admitted drug addict and confessed to removing hinges from the store’s narcotics case while pharmacist Paul Victor was out to lunch.

50 years ago

November 1, 1962

Fire sirens will wail, sounds of an explosion will echo and hurried traffic will fill the streets of Colfax tomorrow. These are the sounds of a mock civilian disaster scheduled for sometime during the day to test the readiness and ability of Civil Defense, American Red Cross, St. Ignatius Hospital, police and fire personnel and facilities. About 25 persons will be “injured” from a mock boiler blow-up in the county courthouse.

Lynn Pierce was crowned queen of the Lacrosse high school junior prom, “Stairway to the Stars,” Saturday night. Nancy Andrus and Margaret Brannon were princesses.

A hobo party was the featured entertainment at the Wilcox Grange meeting Friday evening, with guests from Rebel Flat and Parvin granges attending. Best costume prizes went to Mrs. Russell Gay and Lawrence Hickman.

25 years ago

October 29, 1987

As Whitman County goes into its fourth month of a prolonged drought, farmers who have never considered federal crop insurance are contacting agents in record numbers.

Colfax city employees met Monday night to discuss the pros and cons of becoming affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees, a negotiating unit affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

Colfax mayoral candidates Carol Stueckle and Tom Kneeshaw, in their final week of campaigning, continue to take different approaches to the office as they seek to take over the city’s helm from Leonard Riedner and be the first to hold the office at the new pay level of $5,000.

Andy Olson, Rick Fisher and Joey Elder of Garfield will receive Eagle Scout awards for outstanding service and leadership in a ceremony Sunday.

10 years ago

October 31, 2002

Couty commissioners voted Monday to take the Auditor’s office off a line-item budget status, one of the leftovers from the financial disputes involving former Auditor David Repp. Newly elected auditor Eunice Coker requested the change in status so she could move more money into the elections account.

Two Whitman County drug dogs are being retired, and Colfax Assistant Chief David Szambelan wanted to know why. K-9 Emma was donated to Spokane and K-9 Thor has been retired after being in a severe car accident with Sgt. Pat Kelley last summer in Oregon. Sheriff Steve Tomson explained that the dogs had completed their four-year commitment to the program.

A thrown speaker box was a factor in a two-car accident last week on Highway 195 south of Colfax. A Pullman driver rolled his car after over-correcting when he woke up after falling asleep when driving. The speaker box was thrown and hit the car of a Davenport driver who was driving south.