Good old days

125 years ago

June 15, 1888

Oliver Hall has been having constructed the past week in the rear of his implement store a tower 56 feet in height, on which will be surmounted a Cyclone windmill, of which he has the agency. Water will be drawn from the well on Mill Street, and thence conveyed to a big public watering trough. It will also be used for sprinkling purposes.

Harris & McDonald have been having a monkey and parrot time with the large bay horse which they drive to their delivery wagon within the past few days. On Saturday he became unmanageable and tipped the whole concern over the bluff near the residence of Mr. Wait, and on Tuesday took a lively spin in the vicinity of the depot, wrecking things considerable both times. For this very improper conduct, Mr. Horse has been consigned to Tom Mullen’s big dray, and the above gentlemen are looking about for a more docile animal.

“Cash-up” Davis announced at the Commoner this week a grand opening of his grounds and hotel at the summit of Steptoe on July 4th. An admission fee of 25 cents will be charged at the gate. This promises to be a big event in the history of the county and should not be missed by anyone.

A horse was stolen from the premises of W.K. Griffith near Garfield last Sunday evening. The thief was not known. The horse was recognized passing through Colfax on Monday with a rider. A warrant was issued and parties are now hunting him up. He is supposed to have gone from here to Penawawa.

100 years ago

June 13, 1913

Walter Johnson and Miss Stella Gerber on Sunday surprised their many friends in Colfax by announcing their wedding which occurred last Thursday at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and which was kept a secret until the announcement was made Sunday.

The couple went to Spokane last week on separate trains and together went to Coeur d’Alene where they were married.

Returning to Colfax, Mrs. Johnson went to her home while Mr. Johnson went to his farm near Colfax.

The couple left Sunday for a wedding trip announcing their wedding just before they departed.

They will go to Portland and will attend the Rose Festival there before returning to Colfax.

They will make their home on Mr. Johnson’s farm near Colfax where he has spent considerable time constructing a home.

Manager Dolph Coolidge of the Colfax ball team has arranged a baseball tournament for Colfax which will bring some of the best ball teams in the county to Colfax and will probably afford some highly interesting games for the city. The tournament is to be held in connection with the Fourth of July celebration.

75 years ago

June 10, 1938

At a cost of $62,600, the state has virtually completed the span that crosses the Palouse River on the Mockonema highway a short distance west of town. It is 612 feet long and has a walk four feet wide on the upstream side. J.A. Masterson, division supervisor, estimates that the new road will be open by August 1.

Books on Colfax Library shelves were orphaned last week when the personality who had mothered them since they became part of the collection departed to make her home in Chicago. Mrs. F.M. Smith boarded the five o’clock stage Saturday evening for Spokane leaving behind her a record of having been the first and only librarian in Colfax for having served faithfully for 17 years.

The crops and livestock tour conducted by the county agent’s office Wednesday and Thursday of last week was successful both from the stand point of attendance and interest.

Elected by the library and school boards last week to succeed Mrs. F.M. Smith as public and school librarian was Miss Florence Slonaker who will assume charge August 1.

50 years ago

June 13, 1963

Probably the longest lineup of trucks and other vehicles ever seen in Colfax were awaiting unloading Monday morning at the wool pool headquarters at Spokane Seed Co. More than two and one-half carloads of wool was brought to Colfax in two days for sale in a single pool to a coast firm. Lots brought by individual farmers ranged from a truckload to a small gunny sack full.

For her work with Whitman County Farm Bureau News, Mrs. Vince Hensle was given an appreciation corsage from Whitman County Farm Bureau by President Dick Perkins at the Farm Bureau dinner meeting.

Approximately 100 4H youths will attend the annual 4H camp at Lake Chatcolet along with several leaders and parents, County Agent Clint Luce said last week.

Candidates for queen of the 1963 Palouse Empire Fair and their princesses will attend a “Queen’s Dinner” to be sponsored by the fair association in Pine Grove Grange hall at Albion, Secretary Felix Entenmann of the fair association said today.

25 years ago

June 16, 1988

After 54 years away from reading, writing and arithmetic lessons, Lenhart Hoffman went back to school. Now, at the age of 68, Hoffman is the proud recipient of a general education diploma. His wife, Yvonne, also passed the GED in Spokane last month after the Oakesdale couple commuted to Colfax one night a week for classes this past year.

Crew members of a Union Pacific freight train were packing their bags late Friday night after their westbound train derailed at South Main in Colfax and blocked three other city streets.

10 years ago

June 12, 2003

Two Colfax High School grads made a successful climb of Mount Rainier last week after preparing for the event since last February. Guy Feldman and Christopher Geier made the climb with Feldman’s brother-in-law, Erick Nielsen. They reserved a guide service with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. in February, and started training by weight-lifting, jogging and hiking with 50-60 pound packs. They began May 31 and returned June 2. Mount Rainier, at 14,410 feet high, is the highest peak in Washington. It is considered the premiere training ground for Alaskan and Himalayan expeditions.

Rosalia Chamber of Commerce wasted little time after finding out last month they had been awarded state funds to convert an old Texaco gas station in the center of town into a Visitor Information Center. At a meeting last week, the chamber was presented with a proposal for use of the building as the Gateway to the Palouse Visitor and Craft Center by Tanya Charles.