Good Old Days

125 years ago

May 27, 1887

The proprietor of an apology for a restaurant in this city until recently, appeared in the role of a sharper the other day at Palouse City, where he went with the intention of opening a restaurant and lodging house.

Forming the acquaintance of one John W. Green, an industrious man whose eyesight was injured by the explosion of a blast on the line of the O.&C. railroad in Oregon.

Jones represented to Green the rent was too high in Palouse City to engage in the business, but he would visit the railroad camp and secure positions as cooks for himself and Green.

He exhibited an alleged check from the First National Bank of Colfax for $190 which Green, owing to his eyesight, was unable to read.

He lent Jones $22.50 to be repaid when his check was cashed.

Needless to say the check was not cashed, and Jones was last heard from at Kingston, headed for the Coeur d’Alene mines.

Ice cream finds a place on the bill of fare nowadays, and the fizz of the soda fountain is heard in the land.

The fire boys drilled Saturday evening and during the performance the hose got away from them. It writhed and twisted like a huge serpent, ducking the bystanders in great shape.

There are a few diseased horses in the Uniontown vicinity.

Henry Rock, proprietor of the Locust Grove stock farm near Diamond, sold last week a mare and a colt, the former sired by “Gambetta” and the latter by “76 ,” for $300 cash. There is no disputing it pays to raise good horses.

Palouse now has a saloon for every one hundred inhabitants.

100 years ago

May 24, 1912

F.P. Mauser, who pitched for Colfax against Tekoa last Sunday, was arrested as he stepped from the pitcher’s box at the end of the game. Deputy Sheriff William Cole made the arrest at the request of Sheriff Stone of Spokane. Mauser was charged with having taken two suit cases that did not belong to him from the Coeur d’Alene Hotel and bringing them to Colfax. Mauser claims a bell boy put the suit cases in the bus to Colfax for him and he did not know they were not his own until he arrived in this city. He at once wrote a letter to the clerk of the Coeur d’Alene explaining the matter. The letter was verified, but the man whose suit cases were taken refuses to consider it a mistake.

Early Sunday morning the Pacific Coast Elevator company warehouse on the south side of the railroad tracks at Guy was discovered to be in flames. A second warehouse also took fire and cinders drifted across the track to the cupola of the elevator. All three buildings were totally destroyed.

Thornton is getting in on the consolidated school movement. The district plans to present a petition to the county superintendent asking for the formation of a consolidated district including the entire present Thornton district and a part of the five adjoining districts.

Joe Calalano was brought up from Hay Station Thursday and lodged in the county jail. The Italian is charged with chasing a fellow countryman with a loaded revolver.

75 years ago

May 21, 1937

A fair-sized crowd congregated in the city jail Wednesday evening, voicing anger with officers Baker and Littleton who they say used undue force in arresting W. (Bill) Hobbs, ground man on a W.W.P. crew here.

Officer Baker stated Hobbs was engaged in a loud, quarrelsome argument on Main and when told by him to be quiet and to move on, became abusive.

As he started to lead Hobbs away, the officer said, Hobbs hit him in the neck and from then on “it was a merry round of pleasure.” Officer Littleton said before he could give assistance he saw Hobbs hit Baker several times and his tight hold on the officer was broken only when Littleton hit Hobbs with his sap.

Hobbs received a gash over the eye.

What appeared to be a wholesale chicken theft at Freshland Farms was thwarted by Horace Kincaid, owner, Thursday evening last, when four young men were put to flight by Mr. Kincaid before they entered the henhouse. Three left town rather than face vagrancy charges. The fourth, an employee of Mr. Kincaid’s and head of a family in Colfax, was immediately discharged.

50 years ago

May 17, 1962

A special train of between 60 and 70 cars will pull into Hooper either this morning or Friday, bringing a load of more than 2,000 head of Mexican steers to the McGregor Land and Livestock Co.

Colfax Chamber of Commerce this week began steps to purchase some 20 acres of land at the west city limits that will provide industrial site for what is hoped to be a future “boom” in Colfax. The land is owned by Mrs. Gertrude Ross and will be sold to the chamber for $12,000. The property lies north of the Walla Walla highway and south of the Palouse River. One-acre tracts will sell at $1,000 each to potential industries.

Tekoa’s new post office was dedicated last Saturday afternoon before a crowd of several hundred local residents and visiting dignitaries.

25 years ago

May 21, 1987

Costly damage to county roads in eastern Washington and northern Idaho resulting from abandonment of railroad lines and increased heavy truck traffic sparked a two year study of rail service in the Palouse country. An annual average of 4,079 cars of grain are shipped in the area at an average revenue of $800 per car. Two of the three railroads in the area are running at a deficit. Railroads agreed to hold off abandonments until the study is complete.

Clarence Johnson is retiring as rural mail carrier for the Oakesdale area after 34 years. He worked under six postmasters and drove eight vehicles during his time with a record of no accidents.

Sunday, the family ministries group of the Rosalia United Methodist Church gathered after the morning worship service and drove to Walk in the Wild Zoo for a picnic.

10 years ago

May 23, 2002

Whitman County commissioners and Auditor Dave Repp have negotiated a settlement of the year-long suit involving budget controls for the auditor. Commissioner Les Wigen said he sat down next to the Repp family during the annual Rotary Little League breakfast May 11. Afterwards, the auditor and the commissioner made arrangements to meet May 16 to settle their differences. Repp filed suit last May after commissioners eliminated one full-time position and one part-time position and placed the auditor’s funds on line item status as a result of departmental overspending.

A string of five burglaries over the span of three hours were committed in north Whitman County Saturday. Officers are attempting to locate a tan or light brown car of mid-80s vintage, possibly a Toyota Corolla or Celica. Burglaries were reported on Dry Creek Road, Klaveano Road, near Thornton and near Farmington.