Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Nov. 1, 1889

A Commoner representative paid a brief visit to the towns of Farmington and Tekoa this week.

He found them both in an apparent flourishing condition, and their citizens in good spirits.

The latter place has made a rapid growth this summer, and now contains about thirty substantial business houses and many residences.

The business directory of this new town now comprises a good hotel, two restaurants, four well-stocked general merchandise stores, two drug stores, one hardware and furniture store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one dry goods store, one meat shop, newspaper (Tekoa Globe), two saloons, two livery stables, one barber shop, two grain warehouses, two physicians and a notary public.

All of which seem to be doing a good business.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Oct. 30, 1914

The 1914 grain crop of Whitman County was worth $8,400,000 at a conservative estimate without counting any advance that may be made in prices on the amount remaining in the hands of the farmers. This is one of the most profitable crops the county has produced, despite the fact that the yield was below the average and the quality of wheat was not good, owing to the general prevalence of smut.

The temperance cantata, entitled "The Saloonless Nation," will be given by the children and young people of the Sunday schools of Colfax, at the Methodist church, Friday evening at 8 o'clock. Admission is free.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Oct. 27, 1939

Stark contrast featured Colfax weather during the past week which included the warmest October 21 in history and 28-degree drop in temperature from Monday and Tuesday. The mercury climbed to 71 last Saturday, which was the highest recording on file at the weather station for that day, dropping to 69 on Sunday and soared to 72 on Monday.

John Ottmar, manager of the Colfax branch of the Seattle First National bank, was elected president of the Whitman County Bankers' Association at the semi-annual meeting of the group at the Colfax Hotel. A.M. Michaelsen, manager of the Colfax branch of the Old National Bank and Union Trust company, is retiring president and was in charge of the program.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Oct. 29, 1964

In a photo: Colfax High School's homecoming royalty will be chosen from these seven girls representing the junior and senior classes. The selection will be announced at tonight's pep rally and the queen will be crowned during halftime at Friday night's game. In the picture are Ona Porter, senior; Sandy Riedner, senior; Peggy Morton, junior; Mary Lou Morton, senior; Kathy Zaring, junior; Marilyn Masterson, junior; and Sandy Schulz, senior.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy McDonald returned to Colfax last Friday from Miami, Fla., where he was elected president of the American Nursing Home Association. McDonald is co-owner of Palouse Nursing Home Inc.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Nov. 2, 1989

Phil Fleener, Moscow logger who worked last summer along the North Palouse River northeast of Colfax, has been fined $5,000 by the state Department of Ecology for logging practices that adversely affected water quality.

Rosalia school officials are conducting a survey of all residents in the district to determine a "consensus of direction" for the school.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Oct. 28, 2004

In a photo, Liz Jackson of Lakewood collects a shirt from Colfax Assistant Chief Carl Thompson during a stop by the "Hero to Hero" Saturday night in Colfax.

Jackson, Amy and James Green were on one of two teams that were making a loop of the state over the weekend.

The teams slated 20 stops around the state.

During their visits they asked for the "shirt off your back" from fire and police staffers who are asked to use a marker and write a note of encouragement on the shirts which will be sent to the troops in Iraq.

Jackson's son and son-in-law are both slated for duty in Iraq and James Green recently completed an assignment in Iraq.

Other Colfax police and fire officers also donated shirts.

Whitman County Department of Emergency Services will receive $171,400 from the Washington State Military Department and the Department of Homeland Security. The funds will be used "for the purpose of enhancing the preparedness of the nation to combat terrorism."