Good old days

125 years ago

June 20, 1888

A temporary railroad bridge will be built at Riparia to be completed in 40 days. Work is progressing rapidly on the Riparia branch of the O.R.&N. between the Snake River and the junction at Pampa. From the latter place the track has been laid about a half mile.

Miracek & Gibson, the Colfax tailors, will move about July 1st from their quarters over the post office, to the building formerly occupied by I.B. Harris as a seed store. I.H. Miller, agent for the Singer sewing machines, will also take up quarters at the same place.

On the evening of Tuesday, June 12th, a fire broke out in the residence on the Mike Leitch farm four miles west of Colton on Union Flat Creek, and before it could be controlled, the entire building with household furniture was destroyed. Particulars as to how it caught are not known.

William Soper, who was fined $25 and costs by Justice Inman last week for violating the territorial statute, by selling whiskey to Indians, was indicted by the grand jury this week on the part of the United States for a similar offense and sentenced to one year in the territorial penitentiary, also $5 and costs for prosecution.

100 years ago

June 20, 1913

The voting for the princess to represent Colfax at the Spokane Pow Wow this week closed late Thursday night and the count of votes showed Miss Irene Tolifero the winner in the contest. Her majority was a large one, the total number of votes received by her being close to 30,000. The voting was spirited throughout the contest and the friends of the various candidates spent considerable time collecting and soliciting votes for their favorites. Eight young ladies were originally nominated, but a number declined to make the race and withdrew in favor of some of the other candidates.

A unique situation has developed near Endicott, the principal parties being the officials of the Still school district and the Potlatch Lumber Co. The ownership of the school house in the district has been the principal bone of contention in the suit which has just been decided. In telling of the situation, the Endicott Index gives the following facts: The school house foundation in the Still district northwest of town is undergoing repairs to fit it for holding the building once more. As soon as the work is done, the house will be moved back from the road and put upon its old bed, after a career more varied and spectacular than falls to the lot of most country school houses.

75 years ago

June 17, 1938

Hole digging for posts on the rural electrification line between Colfax and Hooper southwest, all in Whitman County, was started on this end Monday morning by a crew of 20 men. A report on the work that night showed 37 holes. According to Harry Rheutan construction superintendent for Fritz Ziebarth, contractor for the third section of the REA project, the first communities into which a line will be run are Onecho and Almota, to be followed with the servicing of the Wilcox, Union Center, Dusty, Penawawa, LaCrosse, Hay and Hooper communities. The project calls for 178 miles of line to service approximately 408 rural homes at an initial cost of $146,230 including materials and labor.

One of the prettiest dances given in Colfax was that of the Rainbow Girls at the W.O.W. hall last Saturday evening. The entire ceiling was transformed by hundreds of pink and white streamers draped from the center, while the walls were covered with musical scores carrying out the musical theme.

50 years ago

June 20, 1963

Sunday afternoon’s violent wind and hail storm knocked over more than a half a dozen poles on Pacific Northwest Bell’s Colfax-Pullman line about one mile west of Pullman, putting some local and long distance lines out of commission for a time. Farmers appear to have been hardest hit by the storm that cut a swath through Whitman County.

Delbert Konschu, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Konschu, St. John, who recently completed his freshman year at Washington State University, was one of 25 boys selected by the Washington State Grange and FAA to go on the “People to People” tour of Europe.

In a photo, Connie Lust, Endicott’s Lilac Queen, holds the first place trophy the Endicott float won in the Lilac Festival parade in May. The float, done in an oriental theme, won in competition with 13 other floats. It also took first place in the Palouse Empire Fair in September. Riding on the float with Miss Lust were princesses Jerine Bafus and Linda Gerlitz.

25 years ago

June 23, 1988

A special trophy has been commissioned for the Sept. 24 Codger Bowl in Colfax according to John Crawford of Studio City, Calif., originator of the event. The Codger Bowl, the first official event of what Crawford has tagged the “Fogey Football League,” will be a rematch of the 1938 clash between the St. John and Colfax football teams. Tony Chytka of Spearfish, S.D., will create “The Fogey” trophy.

10 years ago

June 19, 2003

Officials from 11 Whitman County towns were presented certificates recognizing town roots in territorial times of Washington. The awards were presented by Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed. The Whitman County stop was part of a sesquicentennial observance of Washington Territory.

Towns recognized were founded in the years when Washington was a territory, between 1853 and statehood in 1889. Towns recognized included Colfax, Colton, Farmington, LaCrosse, Oakesdale, Palouse, Pullman, Rosalia, Tekoa, Garfield and Uniontown.

Some Whitman County Sheriff deputies will be driving new rigs soon, according to Sheriff Brett Myers. “We will be getting three 2003 Ford Explorers,” he told commissioners. The new vehicles will be replacing several 1990s Crown Victorias in the fleet which have in excess of 150,000 miles on them.