Good old days - Jan. 14, 2010

125 years ago

January 16, 1885

An impromptu dancing party was given in City hall Wednesday evening as a compliment to Misses Coolidge, Ewart and Oppenheimer, who took their departure from Colfax on yesterday’s train. Dancing was kept up until midnight, when the participants retired to lunch. They concluded to go home from the refreshment saloon and neglected to return to the hall and put out the lights. Next morning, the owner of the hall was mean enough to grumble at this little oversight.

A sneak thief stole a pistol out of Marshal Harris’ overcoat, which was hanging up in the Thielsen House the other night.

Young Moore, the game-legged saddler who used to work for Madantz in this city, while indulging in his favorite pastime, a game of draw poker, at Roseburg, Ogn., the other day, became involved in a dispute with another player and attempted to draw a pistol. His opponent was too quick, however, and seizing a beer glass, struck Moore in the face, cutting off the end of his nose.

The Eureka meat market has discontinued business. It will be re-opened in June.

The Democrats are responsible for this weather. They knew full well that it would be a cold day when the Republicans got left, and still they persisted in electing Cleveland.

100 years ago

January 14, 1910

Joe Miller, a negro, Fred Barton and Jesse Grant last Friday entered pleas of guilty in Justice Doolittle’s court, to a charge of stealing wheat from cars in transport. They were arrested at Riparia.

James Woodley was up from Dusty this week. He says that the O.R. & N. and the Spokane & Inland each has five crews of surveyors working between Hooper and Pullman.

G.W. Strange has been appointed city marshal of Tekoa in place of Joe Cannutt, and Grant Dickinson has been made night policeman.

Prof. Cobb, principal of the Garfield High School, has tendered his resignation, to take effect on January 10, and with his family will start for South America – Santiago deChili – where he has accepted a position as teacher.

75 years ago

January 11, 1935

Miss Alma Barron, first grade teacher of the Martha Washington school 11 years, whose resignation was effective Dec. 21, has been succeeded by Gracie Fyhrie, the former third grade teacher. Miss Fyhrie was succeeded by Miss Gertrude Miller of Clarkston, who holds life certificates from the Lewiston and Cheney normal schools and a music supervisor’s certificate.

There are a good many cases of flu and sore throat in the Pine City community at present.

Walter H. Guild, Union Pacific superintendent at Walla Walla, died in Spokane Saturday of exposure and shock suffered early Thursday of last week when he fell down an embankment at Hooper in attempting to drop off a train. He was found about 30 minutes after the accident, his ribs broken and foot injured.

W.F. Lewellyn who has been employed by Anson Patterson at Thornton for several months left for Spokane last Friday. He, too, was one of many flu victims.

50 years ago

January 14, 1960

A proposal to give the Colfax school board authority to sell the old high school building will be included on the March 8 general school election ballot. If the board gets district-wide approval it is expected that it will enter negotiations with the City of Colfax for ultimate use of the old high school as a combined fire station, city hall and community center.

Gov. Albert D. Rosselini has planned three public appearances in Colfax and Rosalia tomorrow afternoon prior to the second biennial Eastside Governor’s Ball to be held in his honor at the W.S.U. campus Friday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wigen assisted Mr. and Mrs. Don Dorman Jr. with a “Poor Taste” party Saturday night for the weirdest assembly of costumed characters gathered in many a year. Winning prizes as showing the “poorest taste” were Mr. and Mrs. Joris Walli – was it the wigs or the leotards? Refreshments were in two stages – turkey carcass and potato chips early, and a sack lunch at midnite.

25 years ago

January 10, 1985

Colfax city council Monday night voted to pass a resolution to keep cabooses on trains. The resolution was in response to a letter from the United Transportation Workers Union asking for endorsement of a move by railroad workers to push for a state law that would require railroads to use a caboose. Union Pacific trains have been running from Spokane to Moscow without a caboose since Nov. 1.

Garfield hospital district purchased the contract on Garfield medical clinic Dec. 31 from Dr. J.T. Person, now of Hayden Lake, in an attempt to keep the clinic operating.

Lamont Grange will be honored by a visit from National Grange Master Ed Anderson of Nebraska and state master Ray Hill on Tuesday evening, Jan. 15.

Excell grocery in Colfax is exploring the possibility of adding 4,000 to 6,000 square feet onto its store. Plans were announced at Monday’s city council session along with a request for vacation of part of the Mill Street easement for expansion of the back of the store.

10 years ago

January 13, 2000

For the second time in two months, Pakistan has rejected bids from U.S. wheat marketers and bought grain from Australia instead. Although U.S. wheat marketers actually submitted a lower bid, Australia is able to ship its wheat to Pakistan at a lower cost because of its location.

Whitman County’s public health department has entered into an agreement with Columbia County to share services this year. Under terms of the agreement, Whitman County will provide administrative assistance and office help for a maximum of $25,000 which will be paid by Columbia County.

Malden’s electricity was out for over two hours during the wind storm Sunday. Joe Montague lost a large tree in his front yard, and the fire station lost the top to the fire siren.