Good old days - March 11, 2010

125 years ago, March 13, 1885

City Ordinance No. 64, passed Monday by council, makes it the duty of the city assessor to tax up to two dollars against all persons who keep a dog in the city. The old ordinance, requiring the marshal to collect a dog license, is repealed. As there is no penalty attached for non-payment of the assessment, dog owners will rest easy. No danger of the marshal killing your pups.

Along the Whitman County shores of Snake river are numbers of Indians who make their living by fishing in the river and raising horses upon the surrounding hills. They own large bands of horses and keep the range pretty well eaten out, much to the distaste of the few whites in that vicinity, who have no better right to the range than have the Indians, yet wish to monopolize it.

The city council has set a reward of five dollars to be paid to the first person who gets to the engine with a dray team after an alarm of fire has been sounded.

The croquet game on the county grounds has resumed spring business.

100 years ago, March 11, 1910

A week ago Wednesday morning Colfax was in a deplorable condition. The high water of the preceding day had swept away homes, flooded stores and houses, carried away all but one of the bridges so that the city was divided into three parts, each cut off from the other by raging torrents, had broken the water mains in a dozen places, put the electric light system out of commission, plowed the streets into ridges and furrows and wrecked the railroads so that the city was isolated from the rest of the world. It was a trying situation, but the men, women and children of the city, imbued with Colfax spirit, went to work to restore order out of chaos.

TAKE NOTICE: There seems to be an impression among certain persons that any one finding property washed away by high water has the right to retain it. The law of 1909 is very plain on this question, and provides that the finder of lost property who takes it into his possession is guilty of stealing it. All property washed away, no matter where found, must be returned to the owner. If the owner is unknown, leave it at the sheriff’s office for identification. – Chas. L. Chamberlin, Prosecuting Attorney of Whitman County, Wash.

DuVall and Bilger have the largest and best line of flood photos in the city. Your friends will appreciate photo post cards of the disaster, and in future years, they will prove interesting souvenirs to your children.

75 years ago, March 15, 1935

At present there are 1,509 male and 44 female applicants for work registered at the national reemployment service office in the Federal building, according to R.W. Brown, manager. There are 119 war veterans among the men.

Approximately 40 new Studebaker cars were parked on Main street Sunday evening while on their way from the factory at South Bend, Ind., to Spokane. Each driver had one car in tow. The caravan had covered 2,300 miles when it arrived here, had left South Bend March 2 and had held to a speed limit of 40 miles an hour.

People stopped at the Elk drug store all day Tuesday to hear foreign reception on a stratosphere radio set which is equipped with 25 tubes and three concert speakers and is capable of receiving every type of short wave signal that is broadcast.

Inconsistent as it may seem, wheat dropped two cents Monday while bread went up a cent.

50 years ago, March 10, 1960

Colfax’s city council was notified Monday night that beer and wine licenses for the former Headquarters Tavern in Colfax had been denied by the state liquor control board. The letter, written to new owners Ralph and Max Lyons of Deer Park, said the area in which the tavern is located is adequately served with liquor licenses.

Whitman county’s road problems went from bad to worse during the past week as snow and heavy rains washed tons of mud onto the roads and caused numerous washouts.

Rosalia Chamber of Commerce devoted considerable time during its last meeting to a discussion on varying aspects of possible construction of a local 8-lane bowling alley.

Oakley Burns, engineer on the Milwaukee railroad, returned to Malden Monday after making his last run.

25 years ago, March 14, 1985

As a result of a financial crunch in Tekoa, the city cut back police patrol hours and is now exploring a contract with the county sheriff’s office to expand the hours of police protection.

Approximately 1,900 had dinner at the 32nd annual Uniontown sausage feed where 1,800 pounds of sausage were consumed as well as five cases of potatoes, five gallon buckets of sauerkraut, 18 cases of corn, 200 dozen rolls and 400 pies.

Four tables of pinochle were in play at the Lamont Grange charities card party in the Community center Saturday evening. High prize for women went to Betty Stone. High for men went to Bob Morton.

10 years ago, March 9, 2000

Bill Pewitt, a former bartender and saloon owner who ended up a town marshal said good-bye to his tavern in Colton last weekend when the 110-year-old Iron Horse Tavern was intentionally destroyed by fire Saturday morning. After all of the proper permits were issued, the fire was lit and community members gathered around to watch one of the oldest buildings in town get torched.

After rattling for three games on Whitman County hoop turf and one more at Friel Court, the Garfield/Palouse Vikings and St. John/Endicott Eagles each stacked three wins at the state B in Spokane. When it was over, the Vikings had a fifth win over the Eagles, a 43-41 zapper, and their second state title.