Good Old Days

125 years ago

September 23, 1887

Wednesday night about 11:45 p.m. Sexton’s sawmill in the north end of town caught fire and was entirely consumed. Total loss, including the planing mill and all machinery, was placed at between $5,000 and $6,000, and there was $2,500 insurance on the mill. Loss of lumber was about $300. The proprietors have 160,000 feet of logs in the stream above town. It is unfortunate to lose the sawmill as the unusual demand for building activity calls for a supply that can not be met.

The city fathers have taken a step in the right direction in ordering the erection of street lamps throughout the city.

Last Saturday was the day for the bronco race for the $40 saddle offered by F.G. Gerichten. The event caused a thousand people to assemble at the fair ground. The match race was between a sorrel mare belonging to the Abell boys from near Dayton and Matlock’s bay horse Democrat. The mare won the 600 yard race easily. Only three ponies entered the $5 stake for the saddle race, which required eight entries. The horses instead raced for the $15.

The new steamboat being built at Riparia will be the largest on the river. She will be 165 feet in length and draw but 14 inches.

100 years ago

September 20, 1912

Seventeen-year-old Winnie Brownell and her husband, Wesley Brownell, aged 25 years, shot and killed the young woman’s father, Al Neeves, at the home of Charles Long five miles south of this city Sunday afternoon and then gave themselves up to the sheriff.

The young couple walked from the Craig mountain country in Idaho to Colfax, nearly 100 miles, for the purpose of avenging assaults which the young wife says her father had committed on her several times before her marriage and once only a few weeks ago, when her father brought several men with him and drugged her. She said she woke up naked.

They were several days on the road and lived principally on fruit secured from the orchards which they passed. Mrs. Brownell’s hair had been cut short and she was dressed as a boy.

They slept in the Long barn waiting for Mr. Neeves. Around 2 o’clock they charged Neeves with the assaults on Mrs. Brownell. He denied the charges and Mr. Brownell opened fire with a 38-caliber Iver Johnson revolver. He fired five times, three taking effect in Mr. Neeves’ body. Neeves ran for the house and reached the porch where he fell dying. Mrs. Brownell then took her revolver, a 32-caliber Iver Johnson, and fired a last shot into the head of her prostrate father.

After calling Sheriff Carter, the forlorn couple met Deputy Sheriffs Cole and Corner near town and quietly handed over their guns and stepped into the automobile. They were placed in the county jail where they passed a restful night.

Still dressed in trousers, a black shirt and vest and wearing moccasins, Mrs. Brownell met the county officers and newspaper men Monday morning and quietly told her pitiful tale. Her large eyes wore the sorrowful look of an ill-treated dumb animal. Both she and Mr. Brownell seemed to feel that they had done their duty.

After learning of the most recent assault, Mr. Brownell had “Jake” Neeves arrested at Culdesac. They said they were threatened with death during the trial and left their two children with a neighbor. They were wandering in the mountains looking for work when they decided to kill all who had assaulted her at Culdesac. When they returned, they found their children had come to Colfax with Mrs. Neeves and decided to set out, with nothing but their revolvers and a small supply of food.

The couple has been charged with first degree murder and will have a hearing Friday. No counsel has been appointed.

75 years ago

September 17, 1937

Bulldoggers, calf-ropers and bronc riders, the cream of the cowboy world, have registered for the fifth annual Colfax Round-Up which takes place this Friday and Saturday. In the top hand contingent are approximately 40 members of the Cowboys’ Turtle association.

Reiterating a recommendation made when parallel parking was adopted, a committee representing the Chamber of Commerce asked the city council to establish a two hour time limit for parking.

Intending to enlarge its headquarters here next spring, the state highway department purchased four lots in close proximity to its present shop site at Clay and Third streets.

The state highway department has completed construction of a fine appearing timber-treated bridge across South Pine Creek between Oakesdale and Tekoa.

50 years ago

September 20, 1962

Whitman and Columbia port commissioners made a strong plea for a change in the proposed bridging of the Snake river from Lyons Ferry to the mouth of the Tucannon river before members of the state highway commission in Olympia Monday. Engineers hired by the port districts showed the state could save between $600,000 and $700,000 by changing the route. Engineers and others also pointed out there would be greater economic benefits to the Tucannon route since it would provide access to southwestern Whitman County and future industrial development at Riparia.

Williams Lake will be poisoned by the state game department to kill off scrap fish and make room for the planting of game fish.

Bands from six Whitman County schools will participate in band day ceremonies at the WSU-San Jose State football game Saturday on Rogers field at Pullman.

Mrs. J. Beecher Neal of Garfield was named Palouse Empire Mother of the Year by the Eagles Auxiliary at the Palouse Empire Fair.

25 years ago

September 17, 1987

The bell that hangs in the tower of the former Hay Baptist Church will be donated to the state centennial committee to represent Whitman County in the centennial bell garden in Olympia. The church was built around 1910, Commissioner John Henley estimates, and the Baptist convention returned it to the community as a meeting hall when the church ceased to hold services there.

Edward Anderson, National Grange Master since 1979, will visit Steptoe Grange Friday. All Whitman subordinate grangers have been invited and members asked to bring a salad.

Official dedication of the new Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church south of Colfax on the Almota highway will be Saturday.

Steve Duncan of Pullman won best of show with his 1954 Jaguar XK120 at the first ever car show at the Palouse Empire Fair.

Colfax School District will reject all sealed bids submitted for 25 surplus typewriters and call for a second round of bids on only seven to nine. Supt. Dick Langum said the district will keep some of the typewriters that were originally intended for sale for office use.

10 years ago

September 19, 2002

A new bronze statue was dedicated Saturday at Memorial Park in Palouse. The statue of children playing on a swing was created by Will Murray of Spokane, a member of the 1956 Palouse High School class, who dedicated it to his parents, Ed and Vera Murray.

Arrow Machinery announced it will close offices in LaCrosse and St. John Oct. 1. The eight employees will retain jobs with the company.

A crowd estimated at 300 spilled onto Main Street in Pullman in the early hours Sunday morning after police were called to break up a fight and used pepper spray to suppress suspects. Officers reported flying tables and a large fight at the Top of China. A large crowd in the upstairs dance club felt the effects of the spray which was used at the restaurant level of the club.

Lee Utgaard, 80, the first person to open checking and savings accounts in the Bank of Whitman, was on hand last Thursday to help the bank celebrate its 25-year anniversary. President Jim Tribbett presented Utgaard, now of Veradale, with a gift basket for his role in starting up the bank.