Good old days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Nov. 22, 1889

We desire to call the attention of the patrons and friends of our public schools to the success of the eighth grade in the examination of candidates of teacher’s certificates.

Of the seven members of this class four earned certificates; one receiving credit for a good second grade, which was not granted as he is too young to hold a certificate.

The remaining three averaged but little below second grades.

The work of the entire class was accorded special mention for general excellence by members of the examining board.

In view of the above results it must be conceded that the Colfax public schools are doing honest, practical work.

Stand by your schools.

Their success builds up your city; their failure is disastrous to business and prosperity.

Progressive people, wishing to locate in a town, first inquire as to its school advantages.

Visit the schools! See for yourselves what the three hundred pupils who are in daily attendance in our schools are doing.

Meanwhile, let it be remembered that the eighth grade of the Colfax public schools is the “Banner Class” of Whitman County.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Nov. 20, 1914

The first snow of the season fell intermittently all Monday morning, but melted as fast as it fell and is the earliest snowfall in years. The temperature during the 24 hours was 31 degrees and the lowest 27.

Permanent highways No. 7 and 7A at Colton and Uniontown have been completed by the contractors and are ready to be taken over. F.C. Doolittle, who was inspector on the work, returned to Colfax Saturday.

A grand old-fashioned turkey shoot will be held Sunday at Chas. Feenan’s farm, 12 miles northeast of Colfax on the St. John road. Over 100 birds will be put up and all kinds of guns from .22 to shotguns will be used. Everybody is invited to attend and take your choice of birds for Thanksgiving dinner.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Nov. 17, 1939

The Hamilton school journalism class, of which Leonard Jennings is instructor, visited the Gazette-Commoner office recently to see the mechanical equipment and again in a few days to see the newspaper printed, folded and mailed.

The class publishes the Hamilton Hi-Lites, their school mimeographed newspaper.

The staff includes Opal Swanson, editor; Helen Izett, assistant editor; James Jones, assistant editor; Lorraine Marden, Jacqueline McEwen and Joan Lee, associate editors; Cleon Mackleit, activities; Jane Roberts and Lois Brown, music; Evelyn Wilson, art; Vincent Hensle, Joe Henderson and Carolyn Knutson, sports; Clive Harris and Mary Mackleit, humor; Catherine Gilchrist, exchanges; William Vannice and Don Alden, Scout news; Patty Powers, Hamilton Hawkshaw; Juanita Heilsberg, library.

Other eighth graders are reporters.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Nov. 19, 1964

Colfax is enjoying one of the largest “building booms” it has had in recent years with an estimated quarter million dollars worth of public and private building underway at the present time, in addition to the two and one half million dollar flood control project.

Colfax’s new city hall, under contract to Gil Bauer Construction Co. of Spokane for $104,036, is the largest individual project.

Completion is expected next spring and at present brick and concrete block walls are rising rapidly, plumbing and wiring are being roughed in and other work is taking shape.

A 12-unit apartment building with 48 individual rooms is being rushed on Mill Street by Ted R. Ackerman for a group of 12 tenants each of whom will own his own apartment.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Nov. 23, 1989

Colfax football came to a frustrating end Saturday afternoon in Martin Stadium when the Toppenish Wildcats bagged a 22-13 win to advance to the semi-final round of the state A playoffs. The defeat closed out the Bulldog season at the same playoff step as last year.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Nov. 18, 2004

A special appearance has been inserted into this year’s CHS musical production. Terry Asbjornsen, JES teacher, administrator and coach, has been “signed” to portray his own creation, a takeoff version of a miscast Nightingale. The bird will appear in “Once Upon a Mattress” which will begin a run of six performances Saturday evening.

The Palouse Tourism and Marketing Committee volunteers made stops in Palouse, Oakesdale and Garfield on Monday, walking the town sidewalks an scribbling on notepads in their latest tourism project. Volunteers are circling towns near Pullman and Moscow, taking pictures and collecting stories of various places as potent material for a travel writer. The project is to promote tourism for visitors not only from outside the Palouse but also from within.