Good Old Days - Nov. 15, 2012

125 years ago

Nov. 18, 1887

Regarding Thanksgiving Day as incomplete without a ball, and no other organization having signified an intention to give one, the band boys have taken the matter in hand and announce a ball for Thanksgiving evening at the Opera Hall. The price of tickets has been placed at $1.50.

The vacancies in the board of school directors of district No. 1, Colfax, caused by the failure to elect at the recent election held for that purpose, were filled this week by appointment of the county superintendent, C.M. Mecklem, who appointed W.H. Pritchard and J.N. Pocock, director, and Wm. A Inman, clerk, for the ensuing year. The appointments give general satisfaction.

On the eve of Jan. 2, next (the first falling on a Sunday), a bevy of Colfax young ladies will give a grand new year - leap year ball, preparations for which are already in progress. The young ladies have, so to speak, taken time by the bangs in this matter and the Gazette predicts that their party will be a glittering social success.

Among the arrivals in this city Saturday last was Jeff Bowers, brother of Jas. Bowers, the well known Union Flat farmer. In 1853, a few months before James was born, Jeff left his Eastern home emigrating to the Pacific coast and the brothers have never met until this time. They are now putting in their time becoming acquainted with each other.

The law fixes the age of whisky before it can be tendered for sale at two years and nine months, and the age of man before he can drink it at 21 years. The law evidently supposes that whisky reaches maturity at an earlier age than man or it is determined to give man the advantage to keep from being knocked out.

In an advertisement, Palouse City and Colfax Stage Line, P.W. Kittrell, proprietor. Round trips daily, Sundays excepted. Headquarters at Palouse City. The comfort of passengers especially looked after and quick transit assured.

100 years ago

Nov. 15, 1912

Ten boxes of apples of the Burrell Investment company at Diamond were entered at the Apple Show in Spokane this week.

Officers for the ensuing year in Colfax Council No. 1488, Knights of Columbus, were installed Tuesday evening by Past Grand Knight Geo. M. Weber, as follows: Grand Knight, J.B. Lorch; Dept. Grand Knight, Pat Codd; Chancellor, Ed. Stevens; Warden, Wm. Cummings; Fin. Secretary, Geo. M. Weber; Treasurer, Wm. E. Troy; Advocate, Lue. Hofer; Lecturer, L.T. Schiblin; Inside Guard, Geo. E. Travis; Trustee, John J. Rioth. Following the installation ceremonies, the members enjoyed a luncheon and smoker.

The Pastime Theater is now showing the best of the licensed or association pictures. A feature in two reels, Rameses King of Egypt, will be shown for the last time tonight. This picture is better than usual and well worth seeing.

Miss Hazel Cornelius, daughter of Green Cornelius of this city, and J. E. Sarver, a grain buyer of Almota, were married at the Cornelius home in this city yesterday in the presence of a few relatives and friends. Rev. R.D. Snyder of the Methodist church performed the ceremony.

The University of Montana football team will play W.S.C. at Pullman Saturday afternoon.

George Wilson, who works for Alec Hickman of Almota, had his leg broken in three places Sunday when his horse fell as he was riding after stock. He is at St. Ignatius Hospital.

75 years ago

Nov. 12, 1937

Colfax High School employs more people than any other single institution in town, Principal Ray Warren told students at a special assembly at the high school last week. He estimated that $600 is invested in equipment and building for each student. Running expense of the high school is about $175 a day he said. Amount of money contributed toward operating expense by the county and state is determined by the attendance, the principal explained. The state pays 35 cents, the county 5 cents and the school district 15 cents each day for each student present during the school year. While attendance has been comparatively high, possibility exists for improvement, he said.

Wheat quotations here Wednesday were 63 cents for western and soft white, 64 cents for western red, and 66 cents for hard winter. Oats were worth $18.50 and barley, $21.

Definite announcement was made by H.E. Heffner, manager of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, that the proposed farmer line telephone demonstration will take place at the Colfax office next week. Direct notification will be sent to every one of the 433 farmer line customers connected through the Colfax Central Telephone Office. Mrs. P. Canutt, Chief Operator, and the young ladies of the exchange switchboard who connect farmer line calls with other subscribers to telephone service in the community are particularly interested.

50 years ago

Nov. 15, 1962

More than 150 Colfax High School students will perform in the annual fall concert of the band and vocal groups next Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium under the direction of Sig Norman and William Moss, music instructors.

Mr. and Mrs. D. I. Hopkins of St. John are now approximately halfway around the world on a tour which began Oct. 21 and will end about Christmas time after they have girdled the globe and completed a “people-to-people” tour sponsored by the state department.

Theft of 13 turkeys and two pigs from their farm between Hooper and Riparia was reported to the sheriff’s office this week by Mrs. Bill Evans, Hooper.

Nearly 400 members and wives are expected to attend the annual meeting of the Colfax Grain Growers today at Steptoe Grange Hall, Manager Jack Hallett said this morning. The Steptoe Ladies will serve luncheon as the meeting opens at noon to be followed by the business session with reports from officers and the managers and entertainment including selections by the Belles and Beaux of Colfax High School. Terms of two directors Paul Faires and Joe Hodge, expire and successors must be elected for three-year terms. Souvenirs will be given everyone attending the meeting.

Eugene Stout, Uniontown rancher, reported to the sheriff’s office recently that two Hereford cows valued at $350 each were shot and killed in Steptoe canyon on his farm. Deputy Sheriff L. F. Rice investigated.

Mike Kincaid, son of Mrs. Ellen Upshaw and the late Welden Kincaid, is one of three W.S.U. students who left yesterday for Kansas City, Mo., to attend a national crop grading contest.

25 years ago

Nov. 12 1987

A total of 87 units of blood was donated at the Red Cross blood drawing at the Elks Club in Colfax, according to Karen Johnson, co-chairman of the drawing. The drawing was down from last spring when the units were collected. However, the drawing staff considered the turnout good. Goal for Colfax drawing is 120 units but that number is rarely met.

A survey sent to a sampling of county residents concerning local health care showed support for local physicians and for Whitman Community Hospital. The survey was sent to 100 people and 65 were returned. The large majority of respondents rated Whitman Community as excellent or good in a variety of categories.

Tony Byrne, former wrestling coach for the Colfax Bulldogs, has been signed as varsity mat coach with the university in Saskatoon. Byrne said he would discontinue his interest in the insurance business in Colfax. He said the Saskechewan offer was one of three he was considering.

Thrifty Grandmothers met in the Public Service Building. Carol Coller from the Ronald McDonald House was the guest speaker. The club voted to donate funds to several organizations including meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas, Children’s Home Society, Salvation Army, Volunteer Fire Department for Toys, Christmas Memorial Tree and Ronald McDonald House.

Chuck Guptill of Colfax, who runs the McGregor Company phosphate plant at Mockonema, will head a committee to identify hazardous chemicals stored in the county and Jim Nebel of Rosalia, environmentalist and sanitarian for the county health department, will review, update and analyze an existing county emergency plan.

10 years ago

Nov. 14, 2002

On W.S.U. football game days, Highway 195 traffic moves at the pace of a Stair Master. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday night, hours after the Cougars plucked the Oregon Ducks in a 32 to 21 win at Martin Stadium, northbound cars were held back to 25 mph for six miles outside Colfax. Local restaurants, gas stations, taverns and any place that sells mittens and ear muffs are not complaining.

Palouse Farm and Home store will open in Tekoa Nov. 25, according to Anne and Ken Hamblin of Thornton. The business had been scheduled to open in Oakesdale several weeks ago. Less than a week before the scheduled opening, the building they were leasing caught fire when wind carried flames from a neighbor’s burn pile, taking part of the building and much of the inventory the Hamblins owned. Oakesdale townspeople rushed in to try and save some of the inventory, but at the end of the day, the couple had lost nearly $11,000 in goods.

Arthur Lothrop, a 2000 Colfax High School graduate who is now an Airman First Class stationed at Mildenhall, England, was one of eight people selected to compete on a team representing USAF bases in Europe at the Defender Challenge events at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The competition involved 10 teams from major commands around the world.