Good old days - Jan. 20, 2011

125 years ago, January 22, 1886

Thursday afternoon Ed. Crane, living down the Palouse in the Matlock region, came into town and surrendered himself to the authorities, stating he had, in self-defense, killed a man named Evans with whom he had an altercation. Coroner Pattison will hold an inquest over the remains today.

The Palouse Soap Co., whose works are at Steptoe, commenced operations this week. The product will be in the market in a few days.

A truck team belonging to James Jones indulged in a lively runaway last Saturday, at the conclusion of which one of the horses was found standing on his neck, with his feet sticking through the glass door in Noble’s tailor shop. Johnny took his measure on the spot.

Our Farmington correspondent reports the able bodied Coeur d’Alene Indians will commence their annual hunt or deer drive tomorrow. They first construct a long pen on the bank of the lake, then form themselves into a large V, the lines extending several miles back. Then commences the drive, the result of which is generally several hundred deer imprisoned in the pen, which are afterward slaughtered. Two or three days are usually consumed in the drive.

100 years ago, January 20, 1911

Mrs. Theresa Colvin has the distinction of being the first woman to offer herself for registration as a voter in Colfax and of being placed on the list.

City council met Monday night before a capacity crowd, Mayor Weinberg in the chair and all councilmen present. Mayor Weinberg again presented the name of T.A. Ireland for city marshal and asked for confirmation. This was refused, Councilmen Dreifus, Johnson, Stravens and Tifft voting no. Barroll, Kirkland and Perrine voting to confirm. The mayor then presented the name of William I. Dailey, who was then confirmed for marshal, Kirkland being the only councilman voting no.

The new footbridge crossing Cooper Lake on the east side of Main street in the south end is completed and was turned over to the public Saturday. There will be less concern about children going to school from fear of runaway teams than formerly existed.

75 years ago, January 17, 1936

That pernicious of individuals, the dog poisoner, has been at it again, several families in the south end reporting the loss of their pets.

To be injured three times in making western thrillers for the movies has been the experience of Yakima (Enos) Canutt, who was here with his family to visit his mother, Mrs. H.J. Welty. With his wife and little three-year-old son “Taps,” he left here Monday by automobile to return to Hollywood via Salt Lake City.

Someone entered the unlocked back door of Roy Endsley’s floral shop Sunday afternoon and stole $6 from a purse while the shop had been unattended. By using a piece of wood to deaden the sound of breaking glass, entrance was gained to the store of the Colfax Furniture company over the weekend by a person who then reached through the window and released the night lock. Only 13 pennies were taken from the cash register and one of them was dropped on the floor as the robber made his exit.

Allen Titus, 22, employed by B.C. Cameron at Farmington, suffered a peculiar injury Saturday and underwent an unusual minor surgical operation at St. Ignatius. While chopping wood, he split his thumb from the tip to a point below the second joint, directly through the center. The halves were knit together at the hospital.

50 years ago, January 19, 1961

Colfax’s new “Laundercenter,” one of the first of its kind in the country, will be opened to the public this weekend. The city’s new automatic laundry is housed in a trailer which is more or less permanently parked in Adrian’s “Mobile Homes” trailer court at the Twin Bridges junction. The laundry includes four agitator type and eight tumbler type washers and five large dryers.

Whitman County was third highest in the state in total contributions in the Democratic party fund drive held prior to the 1960 general election.

Colfax High School emptied its 300 students in 55 seconds in a fire drill last Wednesday. Principal Glenn Powell said this is a record time for evacuating the building.

25 years ago, January 16, 1986

Announcement of the closure of the Safeway store in Colfax Monday sparked a chain reaction which could see as many as three Colfax businesses changing site over the next two years. Safeway officials in Seattle said the last day of business here will be Jan. 24. Star Foods will move to the Safeway site. Coast to Coast will then move to the Star Foods building on the south end, and the Coast to Coast location at Main and Upton will eventually be occupied by the accounting firm of Kirkpatrick, Utgaard and Perry.

Volunteer firemen from Diamond, Colfax and Steptoe districts halted a blaze which threatened to consume the Glenn Miller farm residence west of Mockonema. The Millers escaped the house and its contents were saved.

10 years ago, January 18, 2001

Sheriff Steve Tomson was uninjured Wednesday when the department’s Ford Bronco he was driving went out of control and slid into a ditch one-half mile south of Steptoe on Highway 195. Sheriff Tomson hit a patch of black ice while attempting to pass another car that was traveling at a slow rate of speed.

Whitman County commissioners again Tuesday delayed a decision on how much money to put in the so-called “.08 fund.” The money comes from a program created by the state which diverts .08 of the state’s sales tax revenue for local economic development projects.

Eight Jennings Elementary fifth graders assembled in city hall last week to address letters seeking donations to the Colfax skateboard park. night.