Good old days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Dec. 20, 1889

While a hand-car, manned by a number of Chinamen, was passing along on the track on the west bank of the river, in Colfax, Monday afternoon, one of the crew fell off, the wheels passing over one of his limbs, inflicting a painful bruise.

Two childrens' cloaks, picked up on the road to Pine City, await an owner at the post office book store in Colfax. The cloaks are of good quality, with fur-lined cuffs and collars. Call and get them. It is growing cold, and the little ones will need them.

A special session of the county commissioners' court will convene in Colfax Monday, January 6th, when it is probable that arrangements will be made for containing the work of construction on the much needed new courthouse and jail.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Dec. 18, 1914

Colfax has long been noted for its excellent stocks of holiday goods at low prices but the town has fairly outdone itself this season.

Wednesday and Thursday, December 23 and 24, will be Children's days in Colfax, when a real live Santa Claus will be on the streets, giving away candy, nuts and toys to all the children.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Dec. 15, 1939

Merilyn Burford, daughter of Mrs. Alice Burford and freshman at the University of Idaho, suffered exterior and interior cuts on the lower lip, a laceration under the lower lip, and severe bruises, when the footboard on next to the top row of the stage bleacher seats broke Saturday evening during the Colfax-Lacrosse basketball game in the high school gymnasium here.

Falling with her to the floor about 10 feet below, were Jane Bryant, who suffered severe bruises, Mary Iris Franz, Darlene Burns and Julie Mae Lust.

all of whom escaped injury.

Miss Burford, who was treated at the Bryant and Weisman clinic, returned to college Wednesday afternoon.

Collapse of the bleacher footboard occurred during the last minute of play and was occasioned by the jumping up and down of rooters in the excitement over a close score.

In the noise and confusion the accident went unnoticed by most of the students.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Dec. 17, 1964

Freezing temperatures, high winds and five and one half inches of snow which fell Monday night and Tuesday morning in Whitman County caused power and telephone outages, school closures and impassable conditions of many roads throughout the county. The mercury took a sudden dip Tuesday going from a maximum reading of 29 degrees to minimum of minus 12, the lowest temperature recorded in Colfax since Jan. 23, 1962, when the mercury plunged to minus 15.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Dec. 21, 1989

Some serious changes are ahead for the city clerk's office and Gene Bridge's barber shop in Garfield. Those two facilities are related because they're at the same place. It's common knowledge in Garfield that Bridge's barber chair faces the counter of the city clerk's office in the same room. For the last 19 years, that's been an acceptable combination because the town's clerk has been the same person, Bridge. Change is in the works, however, because Bridge this year decided to run for mayor of Garfield and defeated incumbent Ray McCown in the November election.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Dec. 16, 2004

Republican Dino Rossi's lead narrowed to two votes over Democrat Christine Gregoire after the manual recount of Whitman County votes in the gubernatorial race. The pervious machine recount put Rossi's lead statewide at 42 votes, which narrowed from a 261-vote lead after the first count.

One of the best views of Colfax was available to crew members who were working on the KCLX tower on the south hill of Colfax last week. The 176-foot tower has been purchased by Verizon and a contractor has been hired to strengthen the tower. Also, about 50 feet of the tower will be removed for Verizon Wireless Communication service, according to Bob Hauser of KCLX.