Good old days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Feb. 21, 1890

The favorable spring outlook of a week ago was knocked bottom side upward Sunday by a regular imported Dakota blizzard of small size. Fully six inches of snow fell, and the weather has since turned to freezing. Beautiful spring, false and fickle, where art thou now?

The Uniontown Journal says that Mr. T.P. Lomax has imported into that country a considerable number of Eastern quail (the little Bob White fellows) which he will distribute among the responsible farmers to propagate and asks the legislature to protect them for five years.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Feb. 19, 1915

Plans are already underway for the ninth annual L.B. Harris horse show here early in April. A number of novel features will be given this year that have not heretofore been shown. This show has been an important event over the past few years and has never failed to bring out the best livestock in the Palouse country.

Eli Robinson of St. John is making some extensive improvements in his butcher shop, constructing a brick house for smoking meat and doubling the capacity of his artificial ice tank.

Farmers report that a few hardy squirrels have already made their appearance.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Feb. 23, 1940

Restocking of Whitman County with birds for the hunting season next fall began last Saturday when 240 California valley quail were liberated in the Colfax game reserve, St. John, LaCrosse and Rock Lake areas. Next week 1,420 Chinese pheasants will be released throughout the county. The quail are wild birds that were trapped in Okanogan County. They were liberated in groups of 30. Since their food is principally insects and weed seeds, they are assets to farmers.

A Whitman County caravan, arranged by R.P. Benson, assistant county agent, is scheduled to leave the courthouse at 8:30 a.m. next Tuesday for Walla Walla and Columbia River points in the interest of the open river development program sponsored by the Inland Empire Waterways Association. The loading of a special type truck used in connection with barge transportation will be witnessed at the headquarters of the Walla Walla Grain Growers.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Feb. 25, 1965

St. John's Eagles captured their third county championship in seven years when they upset favored Endicott in the title game, 75-58. Members of the championship team include Manager David Bafus, Bill Gordon, Gary Naught, Dave Gordon, Mac Mills, Glen Kjack, Reed Smith, Rich Miller, Doug Heinbigner, Gary Smick, Ralph Seward and Coach Bill Hays.

Fifty years old and unwanted. That seems to be the plight of Colfax's old city hall, which the city will sell when it moves into the new city offices the first part of May. The city hall was put up for sale through bids recently and with about half a month remaining before the bids are due, the city has yet to receive one bid for the old building.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Feb. 22, 1990

When Dusty residents Dick and Helen Appel traveled to New Zealand during the 1989 winter holidays, they also took along a personal tour guide, John Pearson, a native of New Zealand. Pearson, of Colfax, and his wife Debbie, and their 20-month-old daughter, Kristyn, visited his family in Christchurch on the southern island. Debbie, who was raised in Othello, said the trip was a first for her and Kristyn to visit New Zealand. The families shared their slides and memories with the Whitman County Wool Growers Association at the annual meeting.

Barriers went up across the F Street Bridge in Palouse after the city learned it would lose liability coverage on the span believed to be more than 80 years old.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Feb. 24, 2005

Last summer's proposal of an extensive renovation of downtown buildings in Colfax is now officially off the track. The proposal, announced last July, involved businesses, the port and the City of Colfax. It resulted in some changes but the overall plan never got underway.