Good old days - April 15, 2010

125 years ago, April 17, 1885

The strained relations of European powers has had the effect of advancing the price of wheat to something like living rates. We are now able to quote 45 cents per bushel in this city, sacks furnished.

A new and more substantial dam was put in at the lower end of Cooper Lake this week, increasing the depth of water which is now ample for fire purposes.

A band of 200 horses is being collected in this vicinity. They will be driven to a Dakota market.

A barn went galloping down Main street one day this week. Four horses were hitched to it.

H.H Spalding is planting shade trees along the streets, thereby improving the appearance of Almota.

A bald headed dog is numbered among the curiosities in this city. He ambles when Doc. Miller calls “Monk.”

100 years ago, April 15, 1910

Josiah Richards and F. Bland vanden Berg, expert accountants from Spokane, who have been investigating the books of the defunct Palouse State Bank, yesterday completed their work and filed their report with the county commissioners, at whose insistence the work was done.

City council Monday passed by unanimous vote the saloon ordinance. License fee for saloons was raised from $800 to $1000 per annum. Under terms of the new ordinance, hotel bars will be obliged to pay the regular license fee, not the former $500 hotel bar license. No chairs, stools, tables, partitions or music of any kind will be allowed in the saloons, but provisions were made for pool and billiard tables.

William Colvin, a carpenter arrested in Seattle last week and brought to Whitman County court to show Judge Canfield cause why he had not paid alimony as ordered, was released on $500 bond Monday and was attacked and beaten by two unknown men Monday night. Colvin claims to have been walking on the O.R. & N. tracks when attacked.

75 years ago, April 19, 1935

Baby Colfax 1935 is Billie Arnold Schmick, 23 month old son of Mr. And Mrs. Wm. Schmick, who live one mile east of Diamond.

He was awarded the title in class one to two years at the Baby show at the Temple Saturday afternoon, sponsored by The Daughters of Plymouth. Jerry Lee Morton was the most attractive baby in the class under six months, and Earl Dale Enos in the class from six months to one year.

Bob Hall and family of Steptoe lost their home and virtually all of its contents in a Saturday night fire that started from a defective chimney. Janice, the four-year-old daughter, led her partially blind brother, Wayne, 9, to safety and saved her own clothes by moving them to a barn.

50 years ago, April 14, 1960

Knowing how to spell a Russian leader’s name and a city in Iowa were the deciding factors last Thursday as Gary Schuldt, 17-year-old Colfax high school senior, won the third annual Inland Empire spelling bee in Spokane. He bested 78 other entries by correctly spelling the word “Khrushchev.”

Directors of the Colfax Grain Growers announced yesterday their plan to start construction immediately on a 400,000 bushel grain elevator at the site of the old Union Center school, 11 miles southwest of Colfax.

Sixty-seven Colfax residences and commercial buildings are now being heated by gas, and Washington Water Power officials are hoping for 100 more users before the next heating season, according to a report given by Joe Garrison, manager in Colfax.

25 years ago, April 18, 1985

Absenteeism at Colfax high school, capped by an extensive fade last Tuesday when students headed for the Snake river during warm spring weather, has caused concern among teachers and school officials.

Teachers report the number of students missing class was high last quarter and the continuing trend is taking its toll on overall class progress as well as on the individual violators.

As a community service project, Pine Grove Grangers have installed “Welcome to Albion” signs on the Pullman and Colfax roads. The signs were built of wood and steel by Jack Fulfs, Dan Fulfs, Cal Parvin, Doc Phelps and Mike Taylor, all under the supervision of Glenna Eggers.

Farmington Seventh-day Adventist Church will observe its centennial next week. “The Messengers” of Walla Walla college will sing Friday. Pastor Bill Poole invites all to attend the services.

10 years ago, April 13, 2000

Port of Whitman commissioners have decided to ban hunting at the dredge cells at the port’s industrial site at Wilma. Geese hunting has been allowed for years but is now being banned after reports of misuse of firearms in the area.

Colfax police were called to the Southview area about 7 a.m. Friday on a report of cattle grazing in the neighborhood.

Chief Barney Buckley said the cattle apparently wandered up the hill from their pasture area which is along the Pullman Highway south of Colfax.

Work on a new $2.1 million county shop and storage complex on the Duncan Springs Road at the east end of the Whitman County airport started Monday.