Good old days

125 years ago

May 4, 1888

In Endicott news, the new church is to be dedicated at the time the Congregational association meets here. David Fisher, a brother of H.C. and Henry Fisher, arrived here Tuesday from Indiana. He was here on a visit last summer and, being a man of good judgment, came back to stay. Dr. Clark is improving his house and grounds so tastefully that the eligible young ladies will certainly, some of them, improve the opportunities that leap year offers to the brave.

The following is a report of Endicott School District No. 74 for the month ending April 28th. The whole number belonging for the month, 40. Average daily attendance, 34. The number perfect in attendance and punctuality, 7. The following are the names of those neither absent nor tardy: Ina Smith, Eva Manchester, Annie Mason, Frank Mason, Leta Smith, Eddie Mason and Wellie Person. The attendance for the month was not equal to that of previous months on account of sickness. The interest manifested and the rate of improvement was good.

In Lower Union Flat news, sheep shearing will commence in about 10 days. Parties that are trespassing on Mr. Boyer’s young timber up the flat had better be more careful or they will get in trouble. A. Fudge returned from Waitsburg Friday where he had been visiting his family. He reports a good rain storm down there. A bare feet foot race came off Saturday between A.J. Camp and L.S. Plowman, Camp winning the race by four feet; distance 50 yards, time 20 minutes. Last night (April 30), the rain, the beautiful rain, commenced falling and it is still raining this morning and everything looks refreshed. It is a God-send to this part of the country.

100 years ago

May 2, 1913

LaCrosse is the only town in the Inland Empire that enjoys the unique distinction of having no vacant building. There is not a vacant residence nor business building in the city. None can be procured at any price and any one wishing to locate at this place must be prepared to erect their own home. Two store buildings are now being built and several more are being planned which will be built this summer.

The annual inter-class track meet held by the Colfax High School last Friday afternoon at the ball park drew a large crowd and served to demonstrate that Coach Cooil has an excellent squad from which to choose a winning team at the annual Whitman County meet to be held in Garfield Saturday, May 10. While a number of performances last Friday were above the average, better records would have been made had the field been in better condition, the track exceptionally heavy.

The town council of St. John has signed a 10-year contract with the Washington Water Power company to light the city for that length of time at $100 a month. The lights are to be turned on on or before October 10 of this year.

75 years ago

April 29, 1938

Six persons are scheduled to take citizenship examinations in superior court here on Naturalization Day, Monday, May 9. Those who have made application to take the examinations are: Sulo Robert Mattila, athletic coach at Washington State College, British; Betrice Hoback, Farmington, British; George William Straub, Endicott; John Rudy, Penawawa; Elizabeth Litzenberger, Colfax; and Phillipp Rudy, LaCrosse, all subjects of Russia.

Roy Glaser of Troop 95 received the highest honor awarded at the Boy Scout court of honor Monday night when he became a Life Scout. Everett Taylor, his scoutmaster, made the award.

Warfare was officially declared on all dwellers of the deep last Sunday when piscators, whose blood had been tingling for several weeks to flow in rhythm with some quiet stream, ventured forth with equipment varying from the fanciest fly to the fattest worm to lure the beauties from their aquarian homes. Best catches revealed were those of Clinton Honroth, Joey Hollingsworth and Gene Dorr.

50 years ago

May 2, 1963

Wendie Angus, St. John High School freshman, was crowned queen of the annual St. John Community Fair and Stock Show Saturday as a result of her class selling the most tickets on merchandise given away during the fair. Her royal court included Carol Morasch, senior; Cammy Lauten, junior; and Charlene Hargrave, sophomore. Ed Reich, FFA chapter president, placed the crown on Wendie’s locks.

More than 100 Whitman County school children participated in the annual spelling contest held Saturday at St. John’s Academy in Colfax. Sixth grade winners were Lillia Ko, Cuban refugee student at the academy, first; Leandro Cifuentes, academy (also a refugee), second; Melvin Reidner, academy, third; and Barbara Suess, Steptoe, fourth. It was the first time the Cubans had participated.

Approximately 50,000 miles, 6,000 truckloads, 270,000 rocks and six months after the start, hauling of riprap for the flood control project is finished. Close to 30,000 tons of basalt rock was taken out of the quarry, and hauled the four miles from the bottom land along the South Palouse River on the Ralph Morton farm to their destination in the project.

25 years ago

May 5, 1988

Al Therrien last week began work in removing Reddy Kilowatt and the WWP sign from the Main Street scene in Colfax where the business office has been an institution for more than 60 years. Therrien has been named one of two local service representatives.

10 years ago

May 1, 2003

Skeletal remains which were found in a bucket in a cave in the Lancaster area is believed to be that of a Native American who died possibly 140 years ago, county coroner Peter Martin reported Monday. The bones were found last Tuesday in a remote range area in the west side of the county.

It’s one of the most routine citizen complaints made to local cops: it’s the call to do something about a barking, running or dangerous dog. Most of the dog complaints law enforcement officers in the county deal with involve abandoned or lost animals. Usually, those are the sweet, garden variety family dogs, but there are the other ones: the biters, the injured and vicious dogs.