Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner, Sept. 8, 1893

Last Sunday afternoon, while J.B. Trimble was starting for his home on the Lansdale ranch, the sudden descent from the railroad track at the Main Street crossing jarred the wagon to such an extent as to upset a chair upon which Mrs. Trimble was sitting in the bed of the wagon, precipitating the lady to the street. Mrs. Trimble sustained rather severe injuries, mashing one of her shoulders and fracturing one rib.

***

At a late hour Sunday night, a hobo walked up the stairs of the lodging house over the Tennessee Restaurant. His entrance was noticed by the proprietor, Will Ellis, who followed up the guest, and found him just about to retire for the night. Mr. Ellis demanded the price of the room, and when the hobo endeavored to run a game of bluff, he ejected the fellow. The tough customer afterwards threatened Mr. Ellis in the restaurant, and became so boisterous that Ellis attacked him and beat him a couple of times with a ticket puncher. The hobo rushed out and down the street and gave no more annoyance.

Sept. 15, 1893

The city council met in adjourned session Tuesday afternoon and decided, among other things, to make the improvement on south Main Street, in the vicinity of the location of the new Catholic church, in spite of protests made to the board.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner, Sept. 6, 1918

C.B. Morley told the members of the city council Monday that it was the duty of the members of the city council to take some action which would prevent the speeding on the city streets.

Sept. 13, 1918

A force of men has been busy this week putting the race track and fairground in first class condition for the big annual fair which is to be held during the second week in October.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner, Sept. 3, 1943

Jesse Neal laid aside his scissors and razor last Saturday night after barbering 41 years in Colfax. Three days a week since 1901, Simon Dreifus has been going to Jesse for shaves and haircuts, a total of 6,396 times. It is an interesting coincidence that these veteran businessmen are retiring at about the same time. Simon has sold the hardware business which he had conducted since 1902 and will take life easy beginning next Tuesday.

Sept. 10, 1943

Work on the new bridge on west Cooper Street started Sunday by Tom Ristvedt, who anticipated it would be ready to carry traffic in about another two weeks. The span will replace the one that went out last winter in the flood waters of Spring Flat Creek.

50 years ago

The Colfax Gazette, Sept. 5, 1968

The famed Zacchini human cannonball act which has toured the world for 25 years with the Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus will be this year's circus feature at the Palouse Empire Fair. The act will be brought to the fairgrounds by three generations of the Zacchini family.

Sept. 12, 1968

Less than half of Whitman County's 17,000-plus registered voters are expected to turn out for next Tuesday's primary election, County Auditor Pauline H. Lust said this week.

25 years ago

The Whitman County Gazette, Sept. 9, 1993

Whitman Convalescent Center in Colfax has been sold by Roy McDonald of Colfax to a firm headed by Gary and Christine Rudd of Vancouver. The sale marks an end of 40 years of rest home operations in Colfax by McDonald.

Sept. 16, 1993

Rosalia Hardware & Honda was destroyed by Fire Friday. When crews arrived on the scene the building was fully engulfed. Forty motorcycles were destroyed in the blaze.

Owner Glenn Edgemon reported the business had been in the family for 50 years. His father, Harding Edgemon, purchased the business in 1945, and Glenn started working there in 1948.

Edgemon said the insurance company called and said the business was well insured. "That eases some of the pressure," he noted.

***

County commissioners Monday decided to accept a $66,500 settlement from Grange Insurance Company for the 1991 fire that burned an unused trestle located on the abandoned railroad line that crosses the Palouse River northwest of Colfax along the Colfax Trail.

10 years ago

The Whitman County Gazette, Sept. 4, 2008

With the year's record high oil prices, a rash of fuel thefts has swept through Whitman County. Sheriff Brett Myers said his deputies have responded to seven or eight thefts of farm diesel this year, more than in previous years, but fewer than he expected.

Sept. 11, 2008

Whitman County's planning commission next Wednesday, Sept. 17, will likely decide on an amendment to county zoning codes to allow the construction of wind-measuring meteorological towers in the agriculture district.