Good old days

125 years ago

May 8, 1885

A slight shock of an earthquake last Saturday night.

Stella, 6-year old daughter of Mayor Perkins, glanced askance at eternity through water last Tuesday. In playing around a spring inadvertently left uncovered, she lost her balance and fell in, head downward. The casing of the spring is a barrel, projecting a few inches above ground, and her descent was stopped by one foot coming in contact with the rim. Little Charlie Ewart, another 6-year old, realized the danger in which his playmate was in and pulled her away from what would soon have been a watery grave.

Shearing is well underway. During the fore part of the week, Lippitt Bros., of this city, received 15,000 pounds of the season’s clip. Endicott will be the base of wool shipping operations this year.

A merry party boarded Saturday’s train, bound for Palouse Falls, where they arrived in supposedly good order. Their time was profitably spent in fishing and sight-seeing and Monday’s train was kind enough to return them to the bosoms of their respective families. The incidents of the trip would fill a small volume, and our limited space forbids doing the subject justice, hence we summarize by saying they had a parrot and monkey time, with variations.

100 years ago

May 6, 1910

The fourth annual L.B. Harris horse show was held in Colfax last Saturday and broke the record in point of the number and quality of exhibits as well as in point of attendance. A regular circus day crowd thronged the streets. A band from W.S.C. at Pullman furnished first class music. Except for the loose rock on Main street, no one would have ever dreamed that sixty days before the city had been devastated by a disastrous flood.

The jury term of court began Monday. First case tried was that of (Texas City resident) charged with stealing wheat. The jury went out Wednesday evening and after deliberating for a couple of hours, brought in a verdict of guilty. The defense moved for a new trial and bond was increased to $3,000, which was furnished.

A great deal of interest in a river channel was manifested at the meeting of the O.R. & N. and S. & I.E. railroad officials, county commissioners, city council and a committee from the Colfax Commercial Club. There was evidenced a disposition on the part of all concerned to treat the matter fairly. The only plan discussed was that of widening and changing the channel of the South Palouse from Island street to the O.R. & N. bridge.

The new courthouse clock was installed the first of the week and is keeping perfect time. It is a perfect piece of machinery and a true credit to this city.

75 years ago

May 10, 1935

A chain letter born in Denver swept through Colfax like wildfire this week and spread with tremendous velocity. It reached the peak Monday when typewriters and printing presses ran at full capacity to supply the demand of those who hoped to profit from $1,562 upwards, depending on their faith in humankind, whether it was worth 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents or a dollar. It is estimated 14,000 printed and as many typed forms were used. Post office officials declare the rush of first class mail this week has exceeded that of Christmas time.

Fire claimed the lives of Charlie Harlen and Mace Chambers early Thursday morning when the Harlen farm house burned one mile east of Garfield. Harlen, suffering of pneumonia, tried to rescue Chambers, but his clothes caught fire and he was forced to make his escape. He died several hours later of exposure and smoke-filled lungs.

One-fifth of a cent metal tax tokens arrived in Colfax Thursday morning, the Farmers National receiving 3,500, or $7 worth, and the First Savings & Trust, 3,000 or $6 worth. The supply was quickly absorbed by merchants.

50 years ago

May 5, 1960

Mystery still surrounds the fate of Clarence E. Witte, a semi-retired Thornton rancher, whose body was found in the Spokane River Monday. Witte was last seen Dec. 17 in Spokane and officials had since been searching for him. His car was found abandoned on Cannon and Sixth streets in Spokane with no indication of his whereabouts.

Radar equipment may be used in the near future to detect traffic violators on Cedar and Thorn streets, the city council decided Monday night. Chief Robert Lenz said he could borrow equipment from the state patrol to be used to slow traffic on those streets, which he feels have become “race tracks” for too many motorists.

Mr. and Mrs. Neil Klemgard of Ewartsville realized they may have taken their rock-hunting hobby too seriously in the central Oregon mountains. After a day of hunting, they discovered they had put too many rocks in their “poorman’s trailer,” which is Mrs. Klemgard’s name for their new pickup with a “built-on room on the back,” when they were left with no room in their sleeping quarters and had to rent a motel in The Dalles for the night.

25 years ago

May 9, 1985

A small handgun alleged to be the weapon used in the April 26 robbery of Rosalia’s Old National Bank was found May 2 on top of the fire station by Sheriff’s Dep. Rick Daugherty. The gun is believed to have been tossed onto the station roof when the suspects fled.

Les Walker and Dave Oliver, organizers of a drive to send 50,000 bushels of wheat to Ethiopa, departed Colfax Monday en route to Addis Ababa, Ethiopa’s capital. They hope to see distribution of Washington wheat to feeding stations in Ethiopa and will make contacts with relief organizations with an eye to a second wheat collection after their return.

Petitions to vacate strips of land behind the Excell store and an unused platted street on the West Hill above Peace Lutheran Church were rejected by the Colfax city council Monday night. Vacation of land behind the store had been requested as part of a store remodeling project and the vacation of the street property was requested as part of a neighborhood dispute on access to sidewalks which go up the side of the hill.

10 years ago

May 4, 2000

Duck 147, “owned” by David Dunham of Walla Walla, was the winner of the third annual Colfax Chamber of Commerce duck race Saturday morning. First prize was a stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Lamont Mayor Tom Pederson sent a letter to county commissioners asking for help because the town is having problems because of numerous goats and sheep wandering into town. County officials said Monday the town’s council will have to address the issue because the county has no ordinance concerning livestock.

A Colfax committee was appointed Monday night to check out the possibility of developing a skateboard park. Fourth graders Thomas Crisp, Jared Beraducci and Jared Ledbetter formally presented a petition for the park.