Good Old Days

This Colfax street scene from the 1950s was shot from just west of Mill Street facing northeast. The Colfax Motor Company is adorned with signs offering service for Hudson and Pontiac car brands, both now extinct. Partially visible to the right is a sign for the Daily Bulletin, and at frame left is the parking lot of the former Safeway grocery store. Photo courtesy of Jim Krouse.

125 years ago

The Commoner

May 19, 1893

When George McMillan, who was acting as deputy marshal of Garfield, went to Lee and Morrow’s Saloon late in the day of Nov. 5 to quiet a disturbance, according to yesterday afternoon’s testimony, Champ Payne ran up to strike him with some instrument that he held in his hand. The ruffian dropped his weapon to the sidewalk. Finally, witnesses told the boys to behave themselves or he would arrest them if he had to call every man in town to assist him.

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The body of a Chinese was found in the Snake river near Almota, 14 miles south of this city, with a dagger wound in the right side of the head.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

May 17, 1918

J. N. Emerson of Pullman, county food administrator of Whitman County, spoke before members of the commercial club Wednesday noon and asked the club to aid him in creating sentiment against the fourth meal, which has become common in the country in connection with church and lodge work. Banquets, party dinners, church luncheon, and lodge suppers are to be banned.

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The members of the board of county commissioners were notified while they were in session Monday that Henry Bush, Sr., has started a suit against three members of the board as representatives of the county for the sum of $3,550. Mr. Bush claims that road number 12 was put across his land in Feb., 1916, without his consent, and two acres of his land were taken without his permission.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner

May 14, 1943

Schmuck Park will be kept open this season with Herman Nagel as caretaker and the swimming pool operated under management of Mrs. Henry Klee, it was announced Wednesday by Councilman Roy Endsley, chairman of the city parks committee.

50 years ago

The Colfax Gazette

May 16, 1968

School superintendents in four county school districts are searching for 10 teachers to fill out their staff for next year.

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Ronald M. McHargue, 23, Tekoa, escaped with minor injuries April 27 when the TD-9 tractor he was driving was struck by a Milwaukee freight train on the McHargue Ranch road two miles east of here. McHargue was taken to the Fairfield clinic where he was treated for bruises, concussion and minor shock and then released.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

May 20, 1993

The 100-year-old Binnard Building in Colfax could be the next aging Main Street fixture to leave the scene. Larry Dale, building inspector, has asked U.S. Bank, which leases the building, to renovate or demolish it.

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Day of reckoning has approached for the Colfax downtown billboards, a target of scorn when two appeared on the scene more than three years ago.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

May 15, 2008

The topic of maintenance of the Codger Pole came up May 5 after city council members were advised the banner poles, which align with the Codger Pole, will be removed because they have rotted.