Good Old Days 11/3/11

125 years ago

November 5, 1886

The foot race announced to be run in this city yesterday between Abe Binard and George Warner fizzled out and stakes and wagers were drawn. We understand another attempt will be made to make a race between them. A huge crowd assembled to witness the race. LATER - A race was arranged and run later in the day, Warner winning by 18 feet in 100 yards. We understand about $800 changed hands on the foot race.

Work commenced on the Garfield Depot Monday. It will be 22 x 90 feet.

In north Colfax precinct, No. 9, Oliver Hall was elected justice of the peace and A.E. Buck constable. In No. 18, south Colfax, W.A. Inman was elected justice and B.F. Newcomer constable, they being the Republican candidates.

G.K. Bunker of Colfax has leased the Whitman House at Farmington, taking possession this week.

Those attending Miss A.C. Turner’s musicale this evening may expect a rare musical treat. Admission 50 and 75 cents. Reserved seats at Sutherland’s.

100 years ago

November 3, 1911

Word comes from the new town that the Ewan Mercantile company will be ready for business November 15. Mr. Guthrie has placed his order for lumber for a drug store. Several Tacoma men were there last week planning to set their orchard tracts for apples.

Holiday and Hughes have the contract for building a rock wall along the river channel on the west side of Main street south from the Island Street bridge. The wall will be built for $7.25 a cubic yard and the contractors will be allowed $12.50 for excavating.

With only two men serving sentences in the county jail, the chain gang has been placed on the retired list for the present as it does not pay to keep a deputy to guard less than a half dozen prisoners.

Moving picture shows are now being conducted nightly at the Garfield opera house. They will be continued as long as the patronage will justify.

Twenty of the largest shippers and leading business men of Colfax have signed a letter to J.J. Hill asking for a brick or brick veneer depot on the Spokane & Inland road in this city.

75 years ago

October 30, 1936

Dr. Jules Hendricks and Charles Chameberlin got into a terrific scrap Wednesday noon. Doc called Charley a thing or two, and Charley called Doc two more things. But it all ended amicably, because after all Mr. Charles didn’t mean to push bread crumbs into Doc’s lap at the Chamber of commerce meeting.

Jake Andor, employee of the Inland Empire milling company is in St. Ignatius hospital as the result of severe burns sustained while at work last week. The highly flammable sodium chloride with which he was working became dried on his trouser legs and the friction of the trousers caused the solution to ignite as he was getting out of a truck.

Z.H. Smith couldn’t budge deputy game warden Fay Hubbard Sunday when the latter accused him of having in his possession a duck shot out of season. Hubbard in the face of heated arguments by Smith and his companions searched nearly two hours before he found the duck hidden in the spare tire of Smith’s car. Smith drew a ten dollar fine and costs in justice court.

50 years ago

November 2, 1961

About a half dozen fire hydrants were turned on by Halloween pranksters and windows, especially on downtown stores, received the usual soaping, but Police Chief Bob Lenz reported behavior of Colfax trick-or-treaters was “real good.”

The city yesterday received the last of the easements needed for the flood control project along the North Palouse River and bids are expected to be called in two weeks.

Colfax Kiwanis club grossed $1,050 in the all-day “Kiwanis on the Air” program heard Tuesday on station KCLX. Kiwanians shared disc jockey and news reporting “honors” during the day and part of the money from local advertising will go to the group’s civic projects.

25 years ago

October 30, 1986

In anticipation of a change in the county commissioners’ transportation arrangements, whereby they can drive their own vehicles and get a set amount money monthly to cover expenses, Jim Henning of Sunset has turned in his county car and is driving his own. Commissioners have been driving county-owned vehicles, and new vehicles are purchased every two to three years. State law requires compensation for travel in a private car must be less than the cost to own and operate a vehicle.

The Martin-Blumenshein production of “Sentimental Journey” opened to an audience of over 400 Saturday night in St. John.

10 years ago

November 1, 2001

The Monday jury trial of Frederick D. Russell of Pullman was called off by Judge David Frazier after efforts to locate the missing defendant were unsuccessful. Judge Frazier issued an arrest warrant which orders Russell be held without bail. It also calls for nationwide extradition should Russell be arrested outside of the state.

Two boys came to the Colfax Police station Thursday night with a raccoon which was in a cage. The duo told police they discovered the caged raccoon in a “fort” located along the South Fork of the Palouse River upstream from the A Street loop. They transported the raccoon to the police station with the use of a skateboard.

Boy Scouts in Troop 550 completed a brick landscaping project for the Steptoe Community Grange. The brickwork extends across the entire front of the building.