Good old days - Aug. 19, 2010

125 years ago, August 21, 1885

Thos. Fitzgerald was buried under a couple of tons of earth yesterday morning, by the caving in of a portion of the bank back of the Congregational church, from which a party of workmen, of which he was one, were procuring material with which to build a roadway in the vicinity. He was completely hidden from view, his hat remaining on the surface, indicating the spot from which he was extricated. He was removed and examined by physicians at the residence of W.C. Lauder, revealing several bruises but no bones broken. He is resting easy Thursday noon.

Johnny White returned Wednesday from Buffalo, Wyoming, the nearest market he could find for the band of forty-two horses he drove from here nearly two months ago.

The warble of a police whistle drew a crowd to the Pantheon saloon Wednesday evening. A fracas was in progress and the marshal was wanted to enforce Marquis de Queensberry rules. No arrests.

As an instructor in the art of cigarette rolling, Johnny Leonard is a success.

100 years ago, August 19, 1910

The fine farm house of Mrs. C.M. Kincaid, a short distance east of Colfax, was destroyed by fire last week. It was occupied by Mr. And Mrs. Harvey Lawson. Loss was $2,000 with $700 insurance.

Among the more prominent guests registered at the Hotel Colfax this week were the following: Dr. I.L. Magee of Spokane, Herbert Shaw of Olympia, John H. Jones of Pullman, W.L. LaFollette of Pullman, J.G. Person of St. John, L.D. Wolford of Portland and George M. Baker, deputy U.S. Marshall of Spokane.

H.S. Hollingsworth is building a concrete sidewalk in front of his property along Mill street near the courthouse. This would be an excellent example for others to follow, especially along this part of the street, where there is so much travel.

E.C. Murray has been authorized by the city council to prepare plans and specifications for paving and curbing Mill street. The protest against the proposed improvement has been overruled.

Not a single marriage license was issued by the county auditor this week. Can it be that Cupid has entered politics.

75 years ago, August 23, 1935

Alone as he was taking a load of hogs to Spokane, T.C. Smith, Colfax, was held up and robbed of $350 by two highwaymen dressed as road workers at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, about a half mile beyond the Northern Pacific crossing north of Spangle.

Of doubtful propriety is the hazing of prospective high school freshmen which has been indulged in this week by sophomores. Chester Parnell was one of the several victims. He was taken to the Heidenreich place east of town and made to walk back home barefooted on the graveled road. Jack King’s feet were also badly blistered from similar treatment.

James Perkins returned Tuesday from Yakima with 30 new bicycles for his shop here. He has decided to keep his three shops open after enrolling at W.S.C. this fall, he to manage the Pullman shop, his brother, Louis, the shop here, and George Palmer the shop in Yakima.

Pleasure seekers will have little trouble finding the brightly lighted Midway at this weekend’s Colfax Round-Up, as it will be set up on Upton street, between Main and Mill.

50 years ago, August 18, 1960

Three neighbors of Carl Stewart, Mockonema district farmer who is recovering at St. Ignatius hospital from injuries sustained when his combine overturned last month, will aid in harvesting his wheat crop this week. Neighbors Larry Lothspeich, “Mic” McNeilly and Oscar Steiger will move their combines onto the place today to cut approximately 400 acres of wheat.

Charles Plowman, a long-time custodian at the LaCrosse school, will be honored in the naming of a new addition to the school, which contains the gym and shop.

Mayor William H. Burns said today that efforts will be made to acquire all rights-of-way needed for the No. 1 unit of the Colfax flood control project by Jan. 1.

Laying of the cornerstone of the new addition of the Peace Lutheran church will be held Sunday, Rev. Rudolf Mensch said today.

25 years ago, August 22, 1985

Six of the 13 Whitman County library drop boxes have been placed at branch libraries. All are located in front of the libraries, with the exception of Endicott, where the box is in front of Louise Weitz’s house about a half a block from the city hall library branch.

Repairs to the Palouse Empire Fair grandstand were scheduled to get underway this morning, with Westmar construction of Pullman contracted to do the work. The lower center section of the grandstand bleachers were condemned last month by county building inspector Leonard Riedner.

A total of 22 new teachers and administrators will be on county school staffs when the year opens this fall. New administrators include Charles Bailey, superintendent at Endicott, Dennis Charlton, principal at Steptoe and Mark Hummel, principal at LaCrosse.

10 years ago, August 17, 2000

The K-12 Cooperative-wide dress code for the upcoming school year at SJE has received a great deal of approval from both communities. The school boards agreed to parents requests to add trench coats to the list of items deemed inappropriate because of the Columbine tragedy.