Good Old Days 5/19/11

125 years ago - May 21, 1886

A traction engine steamed through Palouse City on Saturday, followed by a large crowd of curious spectators. One small boy called out to his mother that the railroad had come.

Work commenced this week on the second story of the “Delta” saloon building, which will be used as a club room and billiard hall. It will probably be ready for occupancy during court week.

Chinese section workers are out on a strike this week, the contractors failing to liquidate for services rendered.

Thayer’s shingle mill, removed from Palouse City this week, is now in position near Sexton & Clyde’s saw mill and will be running full blast early next week.

Arrangements are nearly completed for the opening of a national bank at Farmington, a much needed institution. Necessary capital has been already subscribed and is in waiting.

Uniontown now has a good harness shop in town, where all kinds of leather goods can be had. Mr. Kemper is a thoroughly competent workman and salesman.

75 years ago - May 15, 1936

Purchase of the fencing which is to surround the three double tennis courts now nearly finished in Schmuck park was made Thursday of last week when the parks board signed a $1,159 contract with the Standard Fence Co. of Seattle.

Raymond M. Darden of Endicott just received word from D.C. that patents are to be granted on both of his successful and unusual grain bulking machines. The machine on his combined harvester requires only a few minutes to empty a 130-bushel load of wheat.

Thirty-two were killed and 15 injured when a loaded beer truck struck a band of sheep in front of the Chet Lamb house on the Central Ferry road Wednesday night.

A large neon sign was installed at the Fonk’s store this week under the direction of the Sun Beem Neon corporation. The sign incorporates the most modern features of neon equipment, including high-intensity tubing giving several times as much light as former signs.

50 years ago - May 18, 1961

Winona, which has long since lost its own bank, newspaper and hotel to the pace of the times, has suddenly awakened to become what looks like the “gas pipe capital of the world.” More than 250 carloads of 3.5 ton, 50-foot sections of pipe have been unloaded and stacked between the Palouse River and the UP railroad tracks, with more coming every day. The vast quantity of pipe stockpiled is part of the West’s biggest new natural gas pipeline, which will stretch from Whitman County to one of the world’s greatest natural gas fields near Edmonton.

With workmen coming in from all over the country, neither an empty bed nor an open restaurant seat can be found. Owners of one two-story house in Endicott, which had been vacant, found beds and furniture enough to equip the house and rented it this week to 10 men.

Framework was completed recently for Steptoe’s newest addition, a $15,000 restaurant that will be combined eventually with a nine-unit motel at the intersection of the St. John road and Spokane highway. It will be known as “The Wheel Inn.”

Approximately 30 riders attended the Posse picnic and trail ride recently held by members of the Sheriff’s posse. The ride began at the Dwight Brodhead ranch in Starbuck.

25 years ago - May 15, 1986

The Elberton grocery store, a feature of the county parks department historic downtown area at Elberton Park, will be razed this summer, according to Mike Werner, parks director. Museum items that have been kept in the store will be put into storage. Core buildings in Elberton’s former downtown include the Methodist Church, store, post office and barbershop.

A change in billing policy in an attempt to collect $750,000 overdue from patients brought a strong response at Whitman Community Hospital. Many of the former patients who received late bills were confused because the statements included sums that could be forthcoming from insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid.

The vintage Advance Rumley steam engine could depart from the threshing equipment collection at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds. Officials acknowledged the engine has been on loan to the fair and they will return it to Al Swift of Spangle at his request.

10 years ago - May 17, 2001

Whitman County commissioners approved an ordinance that lifted the ban on construction of cell towers, which had been placed under moratorium since last June.

Combined efforts of Gayle Startin of Startin’s Repair in LaCrosse, Bill Evans of Bill’s Tree Service and Tom Miller, maintenance supervisor for the county, installed new movements and hands for the county clock this week atop the courthouse building on Main Street.

Colfax emergency crews were called out to the Walla Walla Highway entrance in north Colfax about 8:30 a.m. Thursday when part of a load of grain spilled from a semi truck. A vacuum unit was brought from Whitman County Growers to pick up the grain off the highway and deposit it into another truck.