Good old days - April 8, 2010

125 years ago, April 10, 1885

A movement is on foot to establish universal time in this city, and to that end, C. Gourdon, watchmaker, has adopted railroad time. Set your timepieces by his regulator and you won’t get left or be too early so often.

Peter Jacobs, proprietor of the Union brewery at Uniontown, informs us that he has secured the services of Ernest M. Helm, a Bavarian brewer of 27 years experience, and formerly foreman in a large Cincinatti brewing house, and will soon supply his customers with a quality of beer unequaled in the northwest.

The luscious strawberry is ripening on Snake river. A continuance of the present weather will insure their appearance in this market in less than a month.

A plug hat mania has struck the town. Veteran Doc. Miller has even donned a shining tile.

L.M. Ringer of Almota shipped 36 tons of barley to a Milwaukee brewing house last week. This is one of several shipments that have gone from Eastern Washington this spring and the industry promises good returns.

A petition was presented to the city council at its last meeting, praying for the removal of Chinese wash houses from Main Street. The petition was read and tabled and will be acted upon at the next regular meeting.

100 years ago, April 8, 1910

As a result of an investigation of the failure of the Palouse State Bank, three of the former officers are facing charges of larceny by embezzlement. All were released on bonds after their arrests. Prosecuting Attorney Chamberlain says that the specific act on which the informations are based was the removal of notes and assets of the bank without giving any equivalent.

Colfax is becoming an automobile city. U.L. Ettinger, Nick Codd, Chas. L. MacKenzie and Fred S. Ratliff & Co. have a new 40-horse power Buick, J.L. Irwin has invested in a 20-horse power Reo and J.M. Martin is going out to his farm in a big Elmore.

The Elberton pipe line has been repaired and the people of Colfax are again supplied with pure spring water.

Mayor Lippitt returned Tuesday from his trip to California and was much rested and refreshed by the little vacation.

75 years ago, April 12, 1935

Mrs. James A. Perkins, whose late pioneer husband is known as the Father of Colfax, Sunday celebrated her 80th birthday. She received a beautiful floor lamp from the Ladies Aid and Missionary Society of the Congregational Church and telegrams from loving friends and relatives.

Warned several times against speeding on Colfax streets, Conrad Walters was fined $25 and costs Monday after pleading guilty on a reckless driving charge. He was apprehended Saturday making fast time on Main Street.

Harvey Lee has started enlarging and remodeling his dwelling at Mill street into a house of eight steam-heated apartments. Each will have a large living room, a bedroom and clothes press, private bath and kitchenette with built-in features, electric range and refrigeration.

50 years ago, April 7, 1960

Approximately $110 was stolen from the Elk Drug Store in Colfax Tuesday night, as robbers broke open an alley door and then tore open the cash register with a crow bar.

Erosion loss in Whitman County totaled 11.5 million tons last winter, ranking it as the fourth worst year since 1939.

Daryl Click of LaCrosse and Ralph (Butch) Hodge of Colfax, both on the freshman boxing team at WSU, have qualified through the Golden Gloves tournaments to enter the Western Region Olympic Boxing trials at Pocatello, Idaho.

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Kinsinger, Steptoe, will open a market in that community Saturday, April 16, and will offer free ice cream cones for children and coffee and doughnuts for adults.

25 years ago, April 11, 1985

Rosalia residents were awakened early Easter morning by a fire which destroyed a 600-foot former Milwaukee Railroad trestle on the west side of town. The steel girder, estimated to weigh 80 tons, fell over the roadway and was cleared off Monday morning.

Garfield Pharmacy will close its doors at the end of this month. Edward L. (Bud) Duhamel, owner for the past nine years, said the amount of business in the town just hasn’t been enough to sustain the pharmacy.

A petition to reinstate maintenance man Robert E. Reed and a financial statement from Mayor J. Allen Young were among public papers in circulation in Oakesdale this week after a stormy city council session April 1. Reed, employed by the town for 10 months, was fired by Mayor Young at the end of the session. Reed said he believes his firing was a result of a city money strain which emerged when he attempted to improve town services. He added his work as Oakesdale marshall, including investigation of narcotics cases, led to the firing. Mayor Young in a letter to residents stated there were several reasons for Reed’s dismissal.

10 years ago, April 6, 2000

Arrival of a sunny spring morning Saturday enhanced the launch of the new baseball field at McDonald Park in Colfax. The doubleheader was played after hours of volunteer time and donations converted a former pasture into a playing field.

The Port of Whitman, the city of Garfield and the Community Education and Training Center in Colfax are seeking a share of about $160,000 from an economic development fund created this year from a portion of state sales taxes.