Good old days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Oct. 5, 1888

R.H. Corcilius, the new proprietor of the Eureka barber shop, is receiving an excellent patronage which is fully merited by the first-class work he does. For a smooth shave, nobby hair cut or anything in the tonsorial line, call at his shop. You will leave well pleased.

It is to be hoped that the fruit growers in Whitman County will make a creditable display of fruits at the coming fair. Quite a number of those engaged in fruit raising in the Palouse country did not even visit the fair last year. They should do so without fail this year, and bring some of their choice fruit for exhibition.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Oct. 3, 1913

Manager John Bloom of the 18th Annual Whitman County Fair has added a new and thrilling feature for this year’s attraction. A purse of $200 has been hung up, free for all comers, for a five-day automobile race, five miles to be run against time daily, winner’s best five days time takes the money. Enter your cars early as this will be one of the best events hung up by the association.

Several thousand head of sheep, owned principally by western Whitman County sheep men, have passed through Colfax during the past few days on their way from the summer range in the Idaho hills to the home range on the prairies of the western part of the county where they will winter. The sheep are in excellent condition, showing the result of good pasturage.

In an advertisement: Just received a fine lot of Buggy Robes, one of these goes with every buggy, hack or carriage sold during the county fair, October 6 to 11, Whitman Implement Co., Colfax, Washington.

William Swain, the Pullman architect, was in Colfax last week overlooking the many buildings he has in the course of construction.

H.J. Doolittle, locating engineer for the state highway that will pass through Colfax, will next week change his headquarters from Spokane to this city to facilitate his work. He will be accompanied by his family and while here will occupy quarters in the Morley house on Mill Street.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Sept. 30, 1938

Homemakers, women’s clubs and 4H girls displayed their handcraft and entries in home economics contests at the county fair in the high school gymnasium, a section of which is shown in a photograph. On the stage is the excellent quilt exhibit, while dresses, handwork, knick knacks and baking are shown. The county welfare exhibit and the public library display also are shown.

Plenty of action is promised football fans Friday afternoon when the strong Moscow Bear aggregation is scheduled to clash with the Colfax High School eleven in the Bulldogs’ first home game. Both teams are primed for a real set-to, and each has given the other plenty of reasons to be worried.

Mrs. D.W. Gilchrist, Mrs. Jack Imeson, Mrs. F.G. Holbrook and Mrs. Harold Upshaw entertained several friends and relatives at the Union Center schoolhouse at a shower party to honor Miss Ellen O’Neil, who is soon to be the bride of Weldon Kincaid. Refreshments were served, and the bride-to-be received many lovely gifts.

The birthday anniversary of B.E. Martin was marked Thursday evening of last week when Mrs. Martin entertained at dinner in his honor at their apartment. Guest included Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Brookhart, Mrs. L.A. Slocum and Mr. and Mrs. Winn Slocum of Rosalia. The evening was spent playing cards.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Oct. 3, 1963

Sam Caffee, Standard Oil distributor for the Colfax area, celebrated his “anniversary” the first of the month. Sept. 3 marked the beginning of his 41st year with Standard Oil of California. And there have been a lot of changes in those 41 years. In 1922, all deliveries were made with five-gallon buckets rather than the efficient pumps and gauges used today. It took about two and one-half hours to bucket out a regular delivery truckload of fuel. Today it takes about 20 minutes.

More wheat has been sold in Whitman County during the last 45 days than during any similar 45-day period in recent years local grain dealer said this week. The market has been from one to five cents per bushel above the loan price since mid-summer but began edging upward more rapidly about two weeks ago when word of the huge sale of Canadian wheat to Russia first leaked out.

The Colfax Gazette was given the top award for excellence in photography in weekly newspapers throughout the state at the recent annual convention of the Washington Newspapers Publishers Association in Yakima. The Gazette was in competition with weekly newspapers throughout the state in the Better Newspaper Contest conducted through Washington State University.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Oct. 6, 1988

Tom Kammerzell, a long-time resident of the Colfax area, was named to the Colfax City Council after Mayor Carol Stueckle cast a deciding vote. Kammerzell was elected 4-3 after the mayor voted to break a 3-3 tie.

Senior Jill Morasch was named queen for homecoming 1988 at Colfax High School. Princesses are Michelle Jeffries, freshmen princess; Rhonda Bafus, junior; Heather Curtis, sophomore and Alisha Ochs, senior.

Members of the Colfax City Council accepted the official Codger Bowl trophy before the start of the regular session.

Palouse Empire Fair has been awarded a $25,000 grant by the state Centennial Commission to help finance a historic museum on the fairgrounds west of Colfax for antique machinery and other historic items.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Oct. 2, 2003

A whirlwind tour of eight cities ended last week for Dusty resident Wylie Gustafson. Gustafson, famous for his Yahoo yodel as well as his band, Wylie and the Wild West, served as the emcee for the Yahoo! Yodel Challenge.

If you think the Fall 2003 Eddie Bauer catalog looks awfully familiar, you’re right. That is the Palouse in the background. The new catalog, part of the Seattle-based clothing company’s overall seasonal advertising push was shot in our area.

A total of 24 Codgers attended a noon luncheon at Hill Ray Plaza in Colfax to mark the 15th anniversary of the 1988 Codger Bowl Game.