Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

May 3, 1889

The Seventh Day Adventists of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and north Idaho will hold their annual camp meeting on the South Palouse, one half mile above Colfax, commencing May 22 and holding over until May 28th. From 300 to 500 people of that religious belief will be present. They will have erected a large canvas pavilion in which services will be held and numerous small tents will dot the valley. Elders E.P. Daniels and J.M. Loughborough will preside.

Forty-three stallion licenses have been issued by the county auditor during the season, for which $590 have been paid into the treasury, 90 percent of which goes to the road districts in which the horse is kept.

N.H Carter left the city Tuesday bound for his diggings in the Ruby city.

100 years ago

The Commoner

May 1, 1914

The LaCrosse Hotel was burned Tuesday. The fire started in the afternoon from a defective flue and the building was destroyed with a portion of the contents. Heroic work by volunteer fire fighters saved other buildings. The hotel was owned by George Taylor and was leased to Ernest Stillwell who owned the furniture. Both the building and the furniture were partially insured.

Whitman County is to have nearly 16 miles of new highways built upon the most modern and improved plans during the next six months.

A cold wave swept over the Inland Empire last week and the first of this week, and snow fell in many places. Only enough snow fell at Colfax to be distinguished but at Pullman there was an inch of snow Monday morning and other posts reported from half an inch to two inches. This was followed by lowering temperatures, and ice froze Monday and Tuesday nights. Grave fears are had for the fruit crop. Reports from Riparia are that all of the cherries, peaches and other “tender” fruits are killed and the crop will be almost a failure. Points further up the river report less damage. In Colfax it is claimed all of the sweet cherries are killed, but the later varieties escaped injury.

75 years ago

Gazette Commoner

May 5, 1939

Five hundred pheasant eggs received by A.F. Harms, Whitman County 4-H Club agent, from the state game farm in Kennewick, have been distributed to 4-H members enrolled in a wildlife propagation project.

Each club member received 50 eggs which are being incubated under hens.

The birds will be reared to 10 weeks of age at which time they will be purchased by the state game commission for release in Whitman County.

Those receiving eggs included James, Wesley and Marie Van Dyke, Phillip Whitman and Pauline Hunter, Rosalia; Eugene Van Dyke, Malden; Richard and Robert Griffin and Stanley Jacobson, Pullman.

In addition to rearing the pheasants, the club members are making a study of wildlife conservation.

Their program for the year will include a visit to the state game farm in Walla Walla.

Center of activity in Colfax this Saturday will be the high school gymnasium, the scene of the annual flower show sponsored by the Athenaeum club and the Chamber of Commerce. Local flower gardens have been bursting forth recently, encouraged by the exceptionally warm days.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

April 30, 1964

One of the oldest churches in the northwest district, the Colfax Church of the Nazarene, will dedicate a new church building at a 3 p.m. service Sunday. The new structure, for which ground was broken last Sept. 16, is located on Morton Street across from the high school.

Queen Jeanne Snider poses with her royal court for the Colfax High School Senior Ball Saturday night in the multi-purpose room. The rest of the court is Princesses Bobbette Hankel, freshman; Ellen Dickerman, sophomore; Cindy Hickman, junior, and Don Kromm, king.

Pupils of Colfax Elementary School elected a king and queen for their hobo day following a display of costumes. Shown in a photo thumbing a ride are Marcia Leinweber and Steven Appel.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

May 4, 1989

Loss from winter’s 60 to 70 percent toll on this year’s planted winter wheat will make a dent in the county’s economy but cranking figures on the loss will be an iffy situation at this stage.

Wagons Ho! will be the cry heard in Tekoa May 16 when over 25 wagons and some horses and riders kick off the beginning of the Washington State Centennial Wagon Train. Tekoa will also be celebrating its centennial in conjunction with the wagon train’s departure. An old-fashioned square dance and breakfast are among the planned festivities.

Colfax Mayor Carol Stueckle last week decided to keep John Bibler on the city’s fire department payroll and thereby touched off a walkout by members of the volunteer fire department. The mayor made her decision after reviewing personnel committee report on allegations made against Bibler.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

April 29, 2004

The 69-year-old Uniontown dairy barn with famous wheel fence off U.S. Highway 195 will undergo structural improvements this summer to house artisan workshops and retail sales booths next year. With the monetary award from Whitman County Economic Development Fund, the Uniontown Community Development Association will get a $78,200 boost for the first phase of renovating the Dahmen barn.