Good old days

125 years ago

March 23, 1888

Coeur d’Alene lodge, of this city, has commenced preparations for the entertainment of the grand lodge of Knights of Pythias of this jurisdiction which convenes at Colfax on May 15th. A large number of visiting knights are expected here at that time. They will receive a royal welcome, and no efforts are going to be spared to make their stay here an exceedingly pleasant one.

Essie Hatley, a boy about 16 years of age, was arrested and brought before Justice Inman on Wednesday, on a charge of forgery. He was lodged in the county jail under bonds fixed at $300 for examination until April 11th. The youth forged M.W. Lindley’s name to an order on A. Kuhn for a $7.50 pair of pants and a package of “Old Judge” smoking tobacco.

It seems to be the prevailing opinion of the people living on the other side of the much-condemned point on the Pleasant Valley Road that the present route can never be made passable and a change to the former location is desired.

100 years ago

March 21, 1913

Colfax is to have a government building costing probably $50,000, in addition to the site. The United States Senate passed the House bill appropriating $7,000 for the purchase of a site for a federal building in Colfax. This site is to be used for a post office and probably for a federal courtroom.

Samples of the new nickel 5-cent piece have reached Colfax. The new coin bears on one side the feather-bedecked head of a siwash gazing thoughtfully in the direction of the rising sun, which supplants the familiar Goddess of Liberty of the old coin, with face turned westward. On the reverse side stands a sturdy buffalo with tail in action and head lowered for a charge.

Around the implement houses of the city last Saturday was much like a day at a fair when the machinery exhibit is in motion. It was farm machinery demonstration and the explosion of the noisy, yet useful gas engines mingled with the buzz of revolving wheels, the whole suggestive of things doing. The Whitman Implement Co. was one of the exhibitors and entertained many interested visitors during the day.

75 years ago

March 18, 1938

Selection and hanging of pictures will be studied by women’s clubs in Whitman County during the week of March 24-30 under the direction of Martha Lowery, home furnishing specialist of Pullman, and Kathryn L. Miller of the county extension service.

Ed H. Kilgore, who formed a partnership with Wm. S. Smith March 1 when he purchased a half interest in Smith’s bakery, arrived here Sunday to take charge of the shop. A graduate of the American Institute of Baking, Chicago, Mr. Kilgore was a service man for the Consumers’ Compressed Yeast Company, Spokane and Seattle. The baking department has been enlarged by dispensing with the lunch and fountain service. A dough conditioner is a newly installed piece of equipment. Changes in the front of the bakery will include a sales room and concentration will be made upon the wholesaling and retailing of bakery products.

50 years ago

March 21, 1963

Nineteen cases of communicable disease were reported to the county health office last week, with nine cases of mumps topping the list. Other cases included five flu, four chicken pox and one measles.

Oakesdale and Colfax took top honors in the one-act play contest staged at Colton High School. Colfax won the award for the best one-act drama, “The Bond Between,” while Oakesdale won the award for the best tragi-comedy with the presentation of “Manikin Manikin.”

Airman Apprentice George Perry arrived Friday morning from San Diego, Calif., for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Perry, and friends. He has completed his boot training in the Navy at San Diego and will leave next week for Memphis, Tenn., where he will go into training for storekeeping aviation.

25 years ago

March 24, 1988

A break-in at the Endicott school over the weekend caused extensive damage. Several items of electronic equipment and a 1979 Chevrolet stationwagon used by a bus driver as a turnaround car, were missing from the school. Whitman County Deputy Doug Parks, investigating officer, estimated the loss of items and damage to the school in the $8,000 range. The Endicott burglary follows a break-in last weekend at the Lamont Middle School. Total loss in that break-in was estimated in the $3,500 range.

Washington Water Power business offices in Colfax and Tekoa will close by May 1 following a streamline move by the company that will centralize offices. Tekoa’s office presently has eight employees and Colfax, seven employees.

10 years ago

March 20, 2003

Fate of the Colfax School District $7.4 million bonding proposal which gained a tenth of a percent in the ballot count Monday will hang on some of the 28 more ballots which will be counted Friday before the county auditor certifies the March 11 special election.

Rosalia leads the county in being the first Whitman County town to be included on the new Secretary of State web site commemorating the 150th anniversary of Washington becoming a territory. On the site, an account of the Steptoe Battle along with histories of some of Rosalia’s early settlers and pioneer life can be found.