Good Old Days

125 years ago

February 25, 1887

The man who ventures the prediction that there will be a chinook is in danger of having his head smashed.

The Farmington branch train now leaves Colfax in the morning (when it don’t snow) and returns in the evening (when it don’t snow) on account of avoiding the danger of having to tie the train up for snow.

Ground has been purchased for a fair and driving park to be organized at Farmington in the near future.

The Colton cheese factory is established on a good business basis, and with an experienced cheese maker promises to be a success in the coming season.

Untamed optown whisky caused one downtown fight.

Livingstone & Kuhn are considering building a brick opera house with a seating capacity of 120. The plan, which is an exceedingly good one, provides for a stage sixty feet in width.

100 years ago

February 23, 1912

Will the council close Colfax theaters and pool rooms on Sundays? The petition with 374 signatures presented by Rev. J.H. Bainton last week is being given serious consideration.

Slipping in the soft snow on top of a box car in the Colfax yards Thursday morning, T.P. Sullivan, head brakeman on the O.W.R.&N. freight No. 57, fell across the rail between two cars and his life was crushed out.

The Colfax Implement Co. has been absorbed by the Whitman Implement Company, the two stocks combined at the old stand of the Colfax Implement lot and James Hampton will continue in the management.

Marek & Weber are planning to begin work next week on their new packing house on the Inland property near the stock yards.

75 years ago

February 19, 1937

It wouldn’t sound exactly right if it were told that more than 30 Boy Scouts from Troop 95 spent “time” in the county jail Tuesday night. But such is the case, although the boys were not in for running afoul of the law. Scouts were treated by Sheriff Carson J. Walker to a tour of the jail and given a touch of how it feels to be on the inside looking out.

Otto Hoefle reports a window was stolen Monday night from the old bottling works building on his place at the extreme north end of town Monday.

Tentative plans for a summer camp for boys and girls, sponsored by the Whitman County Welfare Council, were divulged by Miss Helen Robinson, child welfare officer at a meeting of the council in the courthouse.

50 years ago

February 22, 1962

Not so long ago, the remark that “Jack and Dorothy are living in a trailer” brought visions of cramped, crackerbox arrangments where you could fall out of bed and land on the front doorstep. The rise in the number of itinerant workers in the county and the number of young couples who want a home of their own but cant afford “regular” houses” has helped bring about today’s spacious and modern trailer, such as is found mushrooming in Colfax’s two trailer parks.

First National Bank of Pullman was the low bidder for purchase of $55,400 in general obligation bonds to finance Garfield’s community swimming pool project when bids were opened Tuesday at a meeting of Garfield school officials.

Whitman County Shriners made sure Porky the pig was quie comfortable before putting him on a stage for Moses Lake to visit the Big Ben Shrine club. Porky now weighs only 40 pounds, but the Moses Lake club will have to feed him up to 300 pounds before he is sold to benefit the Spokane Shriners’ Hospital.

Bruce Carlson of Pine City, the challenger, won his senior bowling match on “Pin Busters” at Silver Lanes bowling alley in Spokane Saturday. His opponent was a senior from Pullman High School.

25 years ago

February 19, 1987

Endicott and St. John districts have approved a cooperative school program beginning in the fall with high school students in both districts meeting at St. John and junior high students at Endicott. Each district will keep their kindergaren through sixth grade programs.

Robert J. Holmes of Pullman, who once ran the Busby station for the Pullman Graing Growers, has been named new manager for Whitman County Growers, chairman Henry Suess Jr. of Colfax said Monday.

St. John/Endicott boys pulled themselves back by the hoop strings Monday night at Endicott to bag the Whitman Tourney trophy in a run that saw just one loss to the GP Vikings.

Betty Ackerman of Dusty, authority on the arrival of spring, announced last Thursday that she observed two killdeers in her yard. Robins have been seen for some time, but the appearance of the killdeers is the sure sign that spring is two weeks away.

10 years ago

February 21, 2002

Whitman County commissioners Jerry Finch and Greg Partch joined King County’s challenge to I-747’s constitutionality. Reciting projected future funding losses, Partch pointed out within five years, each of the county’s taxing districts will be in dire straits.

Colfax police recovered a plastic type tote box which had been discarded along the railroad tracks in the 600 block of S. Main. The box, left for several weeks, was filled with parts for repairing Coca Cola vending machines. Cheif Barney Buckley said the box was probably taken off a Coca Cola truck by somebody who believed it was full of tools. It was returned.

Darlene Martin of LaCrosse last Monday bowled a series of 555, with a game of seven strikes in a row in the third game of 243, as she qualified for an all events tournament Sunday.