Good Old Days

125 years ago

May 13, 1887

The streets of Colfax presented an animated scene on Saturday last, an unexpectedly large number of people assembling from all parts of the county to witness the buccaroo riding contest for the elegant saddle offered as prizes by Erighten Bros. First prize was awarded to “Skook” Lloyd, a cowboy from the classic precinct of Pampa, who rides the hardest “buckers” with an ease and grace which would be termed superb in any corral or round-up.

So far as his scalp is concerned, the festive squirrel can now go his way in peace, the county commissioners having ordered the discontinuance of the bounty, also for coyote scalps. Squirrel scalps are no longer legal tender in Whitman County.

The Chinese wash-house in the west end of Garfield will be ready for business by the forepart of the coming week.

J.M. Reed, chairman of the county commissioners, requests us to state arrangements have been made for the support and medical attendance of the paupers of Whitman County, and that no bills contracted by said paupers, except by order of the commissioners, will be allowed. Merchants and others will govern themselves accordingly.

100 years ago

May 10, 1912

The Winona flouring mill is closed for the summer and extensive improvements will be made. The mill race will be widened, a new water wheel installed adding 20 horsepower and a new cleaner and other machinery installed.

The Ewan Water Works company held a meeting Tuesday and decided to take steps to incorporate and arrange for distribution of water from the company’s well.

Postmaster Hamilton of Diamond is getting ready to serve ice cream and soft drinks during the warm weather.

The new firefighting apparatus has arrived at Tekoa and will be stationed in different parts of the city. It consists of three hose carts, nozzles and a large amount of two and one-half inch hose.

New sidewalks have been completed in front of the post office and Clarkson’s store at Thornton .

75 years ago

May 7, 1937

Raymond Edward Stevens, 42, pleaded guilty of second degree murder and was sentenced to no more than 40 years at hard labor in the state penitentiary at Walla Walla for the murder of Mrs. Mary H. Weber, 28, in a savage and drunken fight at the Pioneer Hotel, S. 102 Lake Street, Monday evening.

Stevens said he and Weber had been living at the Arlington Hotel in Spokane and owed $12 they could not pay.

Weber went to Colfax to make a loan from Bert Fuller.

Instead of going to the hotel, she stayed around town and drank.

Stevens took a stage down here and found Mary was drunk.

He slapped her out of it and an argument ensued.

When she went out for more drinks, he struck her with his fist, the blow that killed her.

Approval of a contract to lend $455,000 of rural electrification funds to the Inland Empire Rural Electrification of St. John has been made. The appropriation is designed to build 463 miles of distribution lines in previously unserved areas of Spokane and Whitman counties.

A creditable and colorful showing was made by the Colfax High band at the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival, after which the group enjoyed a picnic at Dry Falls, a visit to Soap Lake and inspected Rock Island dam.

50 years ago

May 3, 1962

Colfax school directors were both “cheered and jeered” by a divided crowd of about 350 patrons and ended last night’s meeting with no decision. Board members to a man refused to give any explanation for requesting the resignations of Supt. Howard Moses and Glenn Powell two weeks ago.

A large number of Colfax merchants have agreed to accept Seattle World’s Fair trade dollars at their stores. Stickers bearing the Century 21 symbol will announce where the trade dollars are “good.”

Carpenters will move in next week to begin building forms for a wall that will bisect Canon pond near the Colfax sewage plant as part of the city’s flood control project.

25 years ago

May 7, 1987

Members of the Colton American Legion Post have decided to build a memorial for the men and women who have served in our country’s armed forces. The memorial will be a stone-covered wall with a plaque for World War I on one side and a plaque for other wars and service on the other side.

Desiree Jesse, Palouse Empire Rodeo Princess, cut a red ribbon to open the new Bank of Whitman building in Endicott Saturday with branch manager Mike Roberts and Mayor Tom Byrnes.

Whitman County commissioners have decided to try a “stand-off” with state ecology officials concerning regulation on operation of a county landfill. New minimum standards must be met this month. Commissioners will not adopt the standards because of the expense involved.

Sharon Cook of Dusty will be among members of an “Up with People” cast that will present two performances next week in Coeur d’Alene.

10 years ago

May 9, 2002

Colfax City Council authorized placement of river rocks in planters which front businesses along North Main, but stopped short of agreeing to pay for the rock. The council also approved a new law which gives police officers authority to eject people from city parks.

Endicott Post Office was vandalized over the weekend. The postmaster found some type of pop had been spilled on the floors and counters of the office. Tax books had been stuffed into mail drops and scattered around the office. The vandalism could lead a policy change that would lock the front door.