Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

March 15, 1889

The Colton Eagle scribe visited Colfax a week ago and when he went home briefly penned his observations in this manner, all of which is correct and proper. The present season promises to be one of great activity in Colfax as it will indeed throughout the entire Palouse country. Several large new bricks will be added to the monuments that adorn the city and record the enterprise of the citizens of Colfax. New industries will be inaugurated and those now started will be pushed with zeal.

When ploughing the land this spring cross the furrows over those that were turned in the fall which will aid you in pulverizing the soil. Before planting, run the pulverizer over the ground and then harrow until the soil is as fine as possible.

When grooming a horse, use the curry comb lightly. When used roughly, it is a source of great pain; brushing and rubbing are the proper means to secure a glossy coat. Let the heels be brushed out every night. Dirt, if allowed to cake in, causes sore heels.

Never allow anyone to tickle or tease your horse in the stable. The animal only feels the torment and does not understand the joke. Never beat the horse when in the stable, as nothing so soon makes him permanently vicious.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

March 13, 1914

A marriage license - hooray! Issuance of a marriage license Wednesday, March 11, to Walter Edward Davisson of Boise, Idaho, and Christina Heidinger of Penawawa, broke a famine in that department of the county auditor’s office that prevailed for 12 days.

It was announced last week that Colfax would not have a league ball team this season which decision may stand, but lovers of the game have been putting their heads together and urge that the booster club call a meeting to further consider the matter. According to the fans a regular independent team is the least the town can get along with, so let’s get together and talk it up.

The Palousers’ Evening Club will be entertained next Friday evening at a 6:30 dinner at the Pythian castle. The hostesses are Mr. and Mrs. O.F.J. Dysenroth, Mr. and Mrs. S.E. Ratliff and Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Bass.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

March 17, 1939

Champion apple pie baker of Whitman County is Mrs. Ralph Bryon of Albion, member of Pine Grove Grange. Her pie was entered in the finals conducted at Whelan Grange Hall in which 12 winners in local grange contests were entered.

Miss Velma Phillips, who is dean of the college of home economics at the State college in Pullman, told farm men and women attending the county progress conference here that “buymanship is more than buying,” in her talk on “Better Buymanship.” She also gave some sound advice on problems of purchasing.

In the Lamont news, Grange met last Friday evening. After the regular meeting, a nice program was presented by the school children of the fifth and sixth grades, which was greatly enjoyed. Pie testing was a special feature of the evening. Mrs. Roy Holliday received first prize, Mrs. Swift second and Mrs. H.E. Davis third. Lunch of apple pie and coffee was served to quite a large crowd.

Distributed by the county welfare department since February 1, and going to all parts of the county from the local commodities depot on Tyler Street were the following: 2,450 pounds of flour; 2,100 pounds of butter; 1,000 pounds of cornmeal and 14,202 pounds or over seven tons, of oranges.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

March 12, 1964

Colfax voters gave the city council the go-ahead when they approved the demolition and rebuilding of the south half of the old high school in Tuesday’s election. Residents approved the transfer of about $128,000 from remodeling into rebuilding when 438 voted yes on the proposition and 188 voted no.

The Whitman County typing contest will be held at the Tekoa High School this Saturday. All Whitman County schools have been invited to enter in the competition. There will be a division for the first year typists and one for second year typists. Certificates and awards will be presented to winners. Typists will be judged according to speed and accuracy. The contest is sponsored by the Whitman County Activities Association and the contest will be under the direction of Don Beach, manager of the non-athletic activities for Whitman County. Judges will be selected Saturday.

Linda Felber, Washington’s Junior Miss who will leave this week for the national Junior Miss contest in Mobile, Ala., was honored at a dinner by her high school classmates at home of Miss Jerri Sanders Saturday evening at six o’clock. Those present were the Misses Sharon Shahan, Donna Lowe, Carol Wilmot, Bonnie Baker, Judy Morasch, Mary Ann Redmond, Marilyn Munson and the honored guest and the hostess.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

March 16, 1989

Torrential rains took a toll on fields and towns on the west side of Whitman County last Thursday. The rains, which covered a five-hour span, mixed with snow runoff to send water over the banks of drainage ditches to a larger waterway. Rosalia, Endicott, Malden, Ewan and Pine City were among towns hit by the mud and water. At Rosalia, the water runoff carved ditches and exposed pipes in two city streets.

Colfax Auto Parts closed its doors Wednesday to mark the end of a business here which dates back 68 years. The closure was announced in a letter sent out to customers this week by Phil Sargent, general manager of Jobbers Warehouse Co., the Spokane firm which operated the store for approximately six years.

The flu season hit area residents hard this year causing increased calls to local doctors and higher absence rates at school.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

March 11, 2004

In a photo, Natalie Shaw, one of six seniors of the Colfax girls basketball team, goes up against Brittney Cubik of Lind/Ritzville in the championship game of the A tournament Saturday night in the Sundome in Yakima. The Bulldogs and Broncos extended their season-long battle all the way to the title game. Colfax won the game and the state A title for the second time. Shaw was named the tournament MVP.

County commissioners Monday approved a contract with the town of Tekoa which will allow the county sheriff’s office to provide law enforcement in the town 40 hours a week.

Eight-year-old Maya Turner of Pullman has no fear of horses. That is not always the case with young children and some adults, said Ann Warrington of Palouse, owner of First Rides. A retired WSU librarian, Ann started First Rides last year and teaches horseback riding in a non-traditional way. Rather than teaching riding with saddles, bits and the usual array of horse tack, Ann teaches natural horsemanship, a technique she has been studying over the years. A simple rope is used to guide the horse around the ring and what amounts to a saddle blanket with a handle give something for students to hold onto. Ann wants her pupils and her horses to have fun and get comfortable with each other.