Good old days – Sept. 16, 2010

125 years ago, September 18, 1885

The first regular train arrived in Pullman at 5 p.m. Wednesday, amid great rejoicing. Track is now laid a couple of miles beyond the town.

Smith Bros. grain schute, located at Smith’s Landing, five miles above Wawawai, commenced operations a couple of weeks ago. The schute is 3,000 feet long, has a capacity of ten bushels a minute, and is supplied with a cleaner which removes the dust and most of the straw from grain passing through it. Farmers delivering through the schute save three miles of travel.

Uncle D. Wolfard has a pet frog at the Colfax brewery depot which is a never failing barometer. It has not yet been known to err in its prognostication of the weather. (this was the extent of this article-ed)

Nearly all of our farmers have made a trip to Snake river this year after peaches, plums, grapes, etc. heretofore they have gone to Walla Walla, but Snake river can furnish more such fruit than the Palouse country can consume.

100 years ago, September 16, 1910

Albert Schultz, while driving a team four abreast to his home near LaCrosse, drove his horses into the back of F.J. Zesiger’s hack. The hack was smashed to kindling wood and Zesiger barely escaped death. Schultz was arraigned before Justice Doolittle, charged with reckless driving. He plead guilty and was fined $25.

The entire business section of Thornton is in a mass of ruins as a stove ignited the confectionery store of R.A. Willie at 9 o’clock Monday night. Fanned by a high wind, the blaze spread rapidly from the little store to adjoining buildings and within an hour the central portion of the town was a seething cauldron of flames. Heroism by residents saved the four big elevators containing 250,000 bushels of wheat, and the O.R. & N. depot.

On Friday night of last week Model Steam Laundry was entered by thieves, who blew the safe open with nitro-glycerin and took about $20 in cash. The yeggmen wrapped the safe with wet clothes to deaden the sound of the explosion and succeeded in making a getaway. No clue has been discovered as to who the robbers were or where they went from here.

Albert Schultz, the man who was arrested the first part of the week for reckless driving, died yesterday. As stated elsewhere in this issue, Schultz drove his horses into the back of F.J. Zesiger’s hack, and it is believed Schultz died as a result of brooding and worrying over the accident.

75 years ago, September 20, 1935

Cowboys in their boots and vari-colored shirts, fancy leather or Indian blanket vest, rodeo kerchiefs and ten-gallon sombreros milled on the streets Thursday night as Colfax prepared to stage this weekend a graphic picture of the exploration, pioneering and settlement of the west, eclipsing all exhibitions of former years.

The state of Washington, through its finance committee, Tuesday purchased a $10,000 bond issue of the Ewan School District, paying par at 4 per cent interest. The 20-year bonds, payable on option after two years, were issued for construction of a new school building. The only other bidder was the Lamont Bank of St. John.

Two special Union Pacific trains pulled through here Sunday taking college students to the University of Idaho and Washington State College. Each train carried 13 coaches, including baggage and chair cars and sleepers.

To perfect the blocking and tackling of the 33 prospects of the high school football team, a dummy has been erected by Coach Howard Moses. The team scrimmaged alumni Thursday in preparation for the game with St. John Sept. 28.

50 years ago, September 15, 1960

Mrs. Minnie Stevig, longtime Steptoe resident, was crowned Palouse Empire Queen Mother at the fair Friday night.

Police Chief Bob Lenz reported today that he had no new leads concerning the robbery of $20 from Standard Lumber Co. over the Labor Day weekend. The thief apparently unfastened one of the large back doors, broke a small window in the office and entered the building.

Efforts have been made to drug an Akita, a Japanese breed of dog which was imported to this country a few years ago, and which a year ago escaped from his owner and has reverted to being a wild dog. This dog has been cited and identified as the animal which has caused considerable damage to sheep in the Clear Creek community.

Colfax elementary school’s cafeteria served 427 meals Tuesday – a record for this time of year – Carrie Greene, supervisor, said today. Normally, the cafeteria’s patronage does not hit the 400-meal mark until colder weather arrives in fall.

25 years ago, September 19, 1985

City, county and school officials faced with skyrocketing liability insurance rates are scrambling to find insurance companies that can come up with policies without breaking the bank. Most companies are refusing to write liability policies for municipalities. Those that do, have raised their rates. Many companies have extended themselves on re-insurance – when a company writes a large policy purchased from large insurance companies. Many firms feel the need to cover that policy, as the company that reinsures takes on more risk.

Two motions by Raymond Smith, LaCrosse rancher who faces removal from his property by the county sheriff after a long legal struggle on foreclosure debt, have been placed on the superior court docket for Friday. Smith’s motions ask to enter new evidence, and ask the court to reconsider.

10 years ago, September 14, 2000

Spokane Hearing Examiner John Montgomery will review the preliminary approval of the Whitman County Planning Commission Sept. 19, in regard to a proposed residential development at Rock Lake. The development calls for eight homesites and a caretaker’s residence on an 818-acre parcel near Rock Lake.

Wind, rain and mud took a toll on the Palouse Empire Fair at Mockonema, but the show went on and most of the participants went home with some measure of satisfaction. The run a bad weather, however, took a toll on the fair’s attendance and earnings. Fair Manager Bob Reynolds estimated attendance was down 27 percent over the four days.

Since the repaving project on State Route 270 between Pullman and Moscow began a couple of weeks ago, the daily traffic load on the Old Moscow-Pullman Road has increased 10 times. To control dust and safety, the speed limit will be lowered from 50 mph to 35 mph.