Good Old Days

125 years ago

Jan. 27, 1888

A local organization of the Protestant Episcopal church has been affected in Colfax under the name of “The Church of the Good Samaritan” with C.E. Mets as warden, C.F. Adams treasurer, and Wm.

Hoare clerk.

The official papers of organization were issued by the Rt.

Rev. Bishop Paddock on Dec. 30, 1887, and were read to the congregation by the Rev. Mr. Gill at the morning service on Sunday last.

The organization starts out with flattering prospects of liberal outside assistance towards the erection of a suitable church building and there are indications that a becoming house of worship will be erected before another winter sets in.

Thus an apostolic church, having a broad church platform, is one of the institutions of our progressive town.

The post office has become a great resort for young people, pupils of our schools, after school has dismissed for the day.

The mail usually arrives about the time school is out, and the boys and girls congregate there under the pretext of asking for mail, but to a close observer it appears otherwise.

The following note, picked up on our streets, is a good explanation of the real object of their daily meeting.

“Dear –, The reason I didn’t laff when you laft at me at the post office yesterday was because I had a bile on my face and kan’t laff.

If I laff she’ll bust.

But I love you, bile or no bile, laff or no laff.” The owner of the “bile” may have the note by calling at this office.

In Thorn Creek news, there’s about 15 inches of snow. Henry Cave don’t let his sleigh runners rust. J.K. Dana says he’s getting fat on frozen potatoes. Hugh Naff has been very sick with typhoid fever, but is recovering. T.W. Patterson says he bought some land for $5.50 per acre. We have been trying to keep a debate alive, but it’s impossible at this writing to tell whether we’ll succeed. If only we could get hold of the Guy correspondent, as this is leap year, we would give him the chance to get an “Old Maid.”

100 years ago

Jan. 31, 1913

Whether or not the ground is frozen to an extent that would cause a large portion of the water from the melting snow to run off instead of entering the soil has been the subject of considerable discussion with adherents on both sides of the question. C.W. Haines of Penawawa solved it to his own satisfaction last Friday when the snow in his section was 20 inches deep on the level, by experimenting with a crowbar, which he punched through the snow and a foot into the ground with ease. If similar conditions of the soil prevail elsewhere, much of the moisture will be absorbed and the water will not attain sufficient volume to plague the people.

Negotiations are pending for the sale of the Carley foundry and machine shop in this city, one of the oldest manufacturing plants in eastern Washington. Councilman W.A. Nelson is the prospective buyer and if the deal is consummated he plans to reorganize and enlarge the business, adding some new equipment and giving steady employment to a larger force of men.

75 years ago

Jan. 28, 1938

Whether Colfax School District No. 1 will be consolidated with Mockonema and Green Hollow districts will be determined at elections Feb. 5, county superintendent R.R. Maxwell has announced. Colfax voters will go to polls at the high school between 1 and 6 p.m. to register their opinions, while voters in each of the other districts will find polls open at their respective school houses between the same hours.

Featured at the Colfax-St. John basketball games here this Friday evening will be the dedication of the new electric scoreboard presented to the high school by the senior class as a farewell gift. Ceremonies including unveiling are scheduled for the half of the second game.

Acceptance of the new fire truck which arrived in Colfax last week was made official Tuesday when Mayor Simon Dreifus signed the delivery sheet after the machine had exceeded qualifications of the state survey and rating bureau. Put through its road tests last week by Earl Albright, the truck was inspected Monday for pumping capacity.

50 years ago

Jan. 31, 1963

The country home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stewart of Colfax was damaged almost beyond repair by fire which broke out around 1:45 p.m. adjoining the utility room near the rear of the house. Volunteer firemen from Diamond, Wilcox, Dusty and Colfax battled the stubborn blaze for several hours. Some household and personal effects were saved. The fire may have originated from a light bulb in a doghouse coming in contact with rags inside the doghouse. The alarm was turned in by Jerry McNeilly.

The ice on the Palouse River proved just a bit too thin for a bulldozer being used in the Colfax flood control project. The bulldozer was retrieved later in the day after considerable effort.

Unquestionably the coldest place in Whitman County, at least as far as appearances are concerned, is the falls of the Palouse River in the southwest corner of the county. Spray from water pouring over the 196-foot falls has coated the canyon walls with a frosting as delicate as that of a bride’s cake. A pile of ice 30 to 40 feet high has built up beneath the falls and the pool is covered with ice of varying colors.

25 years ago

Jan. 28, 1988

Rainier Bank will close its Endicott branch in a consolidation effort with a tentative closure date at the end of February or early in March, according to Terry Schaefer at the bank’s Seattle office. The building has been sold to Bank of Whitman. Jim Tribbett, bank president, said Bank of Whitman will move into the Rainier building when it has been vacated. The mobile building they installed at Endicott last year will be moved to Rosalia to house the new Bank of Whitman branch that will open there in the spring.

Palouse Empire Fair board members Monday night voted to go ahead with a proposal for a $250,000 special levy to construct a new grandstand. Proceeds from the levy would replace the structure which was razed last year after it was condemned by the county building inspector.

10 years ago

Jan. 30, 2003

Two new homeowners may get more than they bargained for after buying two homes in Tekoa for the astounding price of $10 each. James and David Chaney bought the homes from Vera Orborn who has owned the properties for 20 years. The homes have been used as rental properties for most of that time. While it sounds like the Chaneys stumbled upon the ultimate real estate deal, they may have also stumbled into the ultimate money pit. Orborn received a notice the first part of December that the homes needed to be brought up to code or demolished.

Whitman County played a big part in the Washington State Junior Miss competition at Pullman. Three of the county entrants selected among the 10 finalists were Ashley Bruya of Colfax, Amy Gordon of LaCrosse and Rachel Bergstedt of Pullman. Bruya’s violin solo was judged to be one of the top three talent presentations among the 34 contestants.