Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Oct. 12, 1888

Another of the flourishing towns has received a visitation from the devouring element. This time it is Uniontown, in the southeastern portion of the county. The flames originated in Stephen Baur’s bakery at 4:20 Saturday morning last, from a defective flue. The alarm was promptly responded to by willing hands, and all possible was done to check its spread, but before it was controlled and subdued, property to the value of something more than $4,000 was destroyed.

The Commoner is informed that the O.R.&N. company have purchased 80 acres from J. Conatser on Cottonwood, on line of its new branch of railroad for a town site. This is seven miles east of St. John. The site selected is said to be a good one and there is no doubt but that in the near future a sprightly little town will spring up there. The company now is grading for switches at this point. We understand that the tract will be platted in a few weeks and lots offered for sale.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Oct. 10, 1913

The shipment of brook trout promised by the government on application from secretary Lamphere of the Palouse Business Men’s Association, arrived Tuesday, says the Palouse Republic. They were deposited in the Palouse River at different points by Mr. Lamphere, assisted by J.P Duke and John Kendall. If they are protected, a few years will see an abundance of trout in the Palouse.

Frank Bryant, the aviator, made a successful flight in his aeroplane from the fairgrounds Thursday afternoon. Weather conditions were good and the flight was a beautiful one. It was witnessed by a large crowd at the grounds and hundreds of Colfax citizens saw him from the streets. He will fly this afternoon and tomorrow.

A single honor was won by Miss Jennie Miller, daughter of Mrs. H. Miller of Colfax, in the bread baking contest inaugurated by the Colfax Milling Co. A cash prize of $20 was offered for the best loaf of bread made from Colfax flour. So deep was the interest taken that it required two large show cases to hold the exhibits, there being 58 entries. Loaves of bread were baked by girls of tender years and aged ladies and some of the finest bread ever seen here was the result. The judges had a difficult task, for all the bread was of superior quality.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Oct. 7, 1938

Al Smith of the city street department and Howard Sarver of Mockonema returned Monday evening from a two-day hunting trip near Republic. They brought back two bucks, both killed Sunday. They reported encountering a severe electrical storm Sunday, which made it difficult to get the deer out of the mountains.

Apprehension of criminals was the subject of a talk given by Deputy Sheriff Ralph Waller at the regular meeting of Boy Scout Troop 88. He described the statewide blockade, the latest system of catching fleeing criminals. He also told about the importance of the short wave radio and teletype in this work.

In an advertisement: No longer is it necessary to leave a comfortable bed to operate the radio in another room, to change stations, to silence the radio when sleeping-time arrives. No longer is it necessary, also, to hop out from under the warm covers first thing in the morning to get the early radio programs. Philco has taken care of this with its new and amazing Mystery Control. With a flick of the finger on the dial of the control box, stations can be tuned, and changed, volume controlled and the radio silenced. All this done without wires and represents the most revolutionary advance in radio and radio listening since the radio was invented.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Oct. 10, 1963

Expansion of Colfax elementary school facilities by the addition of two new wings to the present building was discussed by the Colfax school board, and Supt. Milford Crowley was authorized to confer with architect George M. Rasque in Spokane.

Damage estimated at $3,000 resulted from a fire and smoke in the cellar and back porch of the Don Schierman home about six miles north of Endicott on the St. John highway. Schierman was burning weeds when the fire got into the cellar and spread to the house, burning off the back porch before firemen from Endicott and Winona were able to extinguish the fire. A deep freeze box and a washing machine were destroyed and smoke damage was heavy.

Eddie Olson successfully defended his Colfax golf championship title to become a five-time winner of the local crown.

Whitman County hunters are looking forward to an excellent pheasant season when the general season opens Sunday, if a poll of hunters taken by the Gazette proves accurate. Pheasant shooting is expected to be good county-wide.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Oct. 13, 1988

A day of sales and activities is planned for Dusty Daze Saturday. Dusty Daze will again feature a run, parade, fashion show, apple pie contest, pumpkin painting and breakfast and lunch specials.

Senior members of the Colfax football team departed the homecoming rally after receiving balloons from the cheerleading squad. The rally honored many CHS teams and clubs.

A “Donate A Seat” drive to raise funds to pay for the Palouse Empire Fair bleachers got underway this week. A seat can be “purchased” for $20.

Workers pumped concrete to the second floor of the Bank of Whitman in Colfax this week as construction continues on the bank’s expansion. Administrative offices will be moved upstairs, allowing more space on the main floor. The upper story adds 1,600 square feet of space.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Oct. 9, 2003

Corn mazes are nothing new. They pop up in fields all around the country this time of year and maybe that’s exactly why the corn maze in Palouse is different. Take a wrong turn in the Palouse Maze and you end up in the downtown area, in fact, take any turn and you end up in downtown. A full crop of standing corn right in the middle of downtown tends to get attention.

More buildings are taking shape at the Port of Whitman Business Air Center west of Colfax. Two buildings on the industrial side of the park are almost completed and framing has started on a third, this one on the airport side of the road. A fourth will come soon. The last two buildings are private hangars being built by Barney Buckley and Ron Rea.