Good old days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Dec. 28, 1888

While skating on the pond at Wall Street Bridge on Wednesday afternoon, Hallie Beebe, a fifteen-year-old son of W.W. Beebe, was ran into by a companion and thrown upon the ice, falling upon his right leg, which was broken above the ankle. He was carried to Hamilton’s Drug store and the fracture reduced.

Divine Services will be held in the Methodist Episcopal church next Sunday by the pastor Rev. R.H. Manier. Subject in the morning, “The Birth of Christ,” a Christmas sermon. Subject in the evening, “The Old and the New” a New Year’s sermon. Seats free. All invited. Come early.

The Christmas tree exercises at the Baptist church were attended by a large throng of people, the church being closely packed. The tree, with its hundreds of beautiful and costly gifts, presented a beautiful sight, and many were the hearts made glad as the presents from its heavily limbs were distributed among the waiting and expectant people. The vocal and instrumental music by the choir was appropriate and well rendered. The exercises were universally voted a success.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Dec. 26, 1913

The postal department is advertising a civil service examination to be held at Almota on January 24, 1914, for the position of rural carrier from Almota post office. The age limit is from 18 to 55 years, but the limit is waived in case of persons honorably discharged from the army or navy.

Colfax has a new rest room for the tired country women, the wives and daughters of the farmers who come to town to trade. It is one of the finest in the west and was formally accepted with a vote of thanks by the executive committee of the Ladies Improvement Association at the council meeting Monday night.

What is believed to be the finest passenger train that ever ran over the Colfax-Moscow branch of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation company passed through Colfax last Friday. It was a special of the Milwaukee road to take the students of Washington State College who live in western Washington to their homes for the holidays. There were five sleepers, a day coach, an observation car and dynamo baggage car, and the train was electric lighted and steam heated throughout.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Dec. 23, 1938

Dedication ceremonies for the newest church building in Colfax, that of the Full Gospel Assembly, were held Tuesday evening. The auditorium and upstairs are completed, but the basement will not be finished until later.

The street committee of the council Monday evening was empowered to place stop signs on five streets, at their intersection with Mill Street. Streets on which the signs will be placed are Spring, Wall, Upton, Island and North. Heavy traffic on Mill and several virtually blind corners caused the council to halt vehicles moving east into Mill.

Lacking sufficient floor space in the present location for its office personnel which has been increasing rapidly in the past few months, the Agricultural Conservation Association will move January 1 from the Freeman building on north Main street to the second floor of the Strevy-Hughes building.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Dec. 26, 1963

The man who directed the chariot race in the famed movie, “Ben Hur,” was in Colfax last week. That would be Enos Edward (perhaps better known as Yakama) Canutt, one of Colfax’s more illustrious native sons.

Cuban children from the St. John Academy will celebrate Christmas in a traditional style, both Cuban and American, Father Stefani said.

The Cuban tradition will include a “Lechon Asado” the eating of two small roast pigs on Christmas Eve, Father Stefani said.

One of the treats in store for the 55 children is a telephone call from their parents.

This will be the first time the children have talked to their parents since about a year ago, and will be double welcome because mail from Cuba is so slow, the Father said.

He added that it takes “several months for mail to go between here and there.” The youngsters are also included in Santa’s Christmas Eve rounds and on Christmas they will go to individual families in Spokane for a six-day holiday, he said.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Dec. 29, 1988

A windmill located on the Palouse highway near the Colfax cemetery entrance succumbed to high winds Christmas Eve. Ruth Kramlich Cook, 76, said she remembers the windmill being in place when she was five years old and her family moved to their home just downhill.

Frank Rhuby of Spangle “puts the touch” on the Anderberg building at the north end of Rosalia. The abandoned building which had been snagged in a dispute of ownership, left the scene after the city, county and Gary Anderberg agreed to divide the expenses of razing the structure. Mike Koppel of Rosalia captured the building’s fall on film.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Dec. 25, 2003

The Palouse water reservoir project, which tops the county’s list, aims at installing a 500,000 gallon steel reservoir tank at Palouse. The new reservoir would replace a steel and brick facility which is believed to be about 100 years old, according to Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove. Palouse residents have already been building a funding base for the project through proceeds in water bill revenues.

Port of Whitman County officials are making the final adjustments to a plan for expansion of Boyer Park’s recreational vehicle park. An additional 24 hook-up plus some additional tent sites are expected to be added to the facility next year.

Four area girls will be among the 34 entrants this year in the Washington State Junior Miss competition Jan. 22-24. Entrants from area schools are Kyla Wolfson, Mary Rose St. Hilaire of Washtucna, Angie Jeffries of St. John-Endicott and Carissa Miller of Colfax.