Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

April 4, 1890

It will not be long till the census enumerator will ask you all sorts of impertinent questions and what is worse you will have to answer them or pay a fine. One feature especially impertinent is whether your property is mortgaged or not.

Willis & Owings, the photographers, are having a great rush of business during the pleasant weather, and are turning out some finely executed work. Their photographs will compare favorably with any of the studios on the coast.

While the Snake River Fruit Growers Association is discussing the question of markets, would it not be well for us to take steps towards creating a market at home? The fruit interests of this country and this section have grown to such proportions that an effort should be made to create a home market for it.

It will not pay what it should when it has to be shipped to find a market.

Would it not pay to establish a canning factory? Colfax, as a central point, would offer many advantages for a canning establishment and in this way not only could the surplus fruit be disposed of, but a considerable amount of vegetables.

We believe a scheme of this kind would increase the profits of the fruit growers and prove a paying investment to the man or individuals who would engage in the enterprise.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

April 2, 1915

W.H. Parvin and family and Miss Flora Ackley of Albion figured in a runaway accident on Sunday when their team became frightened at an automobile and bolted. The ladies jumped from the rig, but Mr. Parvin hung onto the lines and was dragged a considerable distance, receiving severe bruises. Miss Ackley received a sprained ankle.

Saturday evening about 9 o’clock, a Ford auto, driven by George Machlend, with a large Hudson, owned by a liveryman of Kendrick, Idaho, collided. The smaller machine was badly demolished. Three wheels were broken off and it was otherwise damaged. The larger car suffered no particular damage. Fortunately none of the occupants were hurt, beyond a few bruises. The accident occurred on the Almota grade near the city limits.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

April 5, 1940

Under the auspices of Codd French Post of the American Legion with the assistance of city parks committee and the fire department, a Dizzie Lizzie Derby will be staged at the Schmuck Park athletic field. Jerry Edwards, who is in charge of staging the event, has guaranteed the Legionnaires not less than 10 entries. The events will be open to all old cars, Model Ts, jalopies, race bugs and any person interested is welcome to enter his car.

Twenty-eight enumerators who received their appointments from Jay Perry, district supervisor at Walla Walla, started counting noses and taking the farm census in Whitman County.

A variety of entertainment featured Amateur Night sponsored by North and South Palouse Grange at the grange hall. First prize was won by Betty McNeilly, 10-year-old daughter of Faye McNeilly, of the Mockonema district for her fine tap dance number, including a difficult tumbling act.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

April 8, 1965

Work is progressing, and if things go according to plan, Colfax area kids will have their own private pond to fish in some time around the first of May, Jim Hansen of the Colfax Kiwanis Club announced. The Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary are currently spearheading an effort to clean up and rehabilitate Cannon Pond as a fishing pond. The pond will be cleaned out and fish planted by the state game department, Hansen said. Work remaining on the pond includes the cleaning of the banks of the pond, scheduled by the Colfax Boy Scout troop this week, and a work detail to clean in the pond.

St. Ignatius Hospital Auxiliary reported a successful rummage sale which increased the Whitman County Hospital Fund $1,143, thanks to the many articles donated for the sale, Mrs. Janet Huber of the Auxiliary reported. Building space for the sale was donated by Bo Henry.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

April 5, 1990

A spectacular and hot departure was made Saturday by this 300,000 bushel crib elevator at Thornton. The project to remove the structure has been in the works at Whitman County Growers since last June. A part of the building which was used for processing was demolished by a crane and placed next to the crib before it was ignited. The burn was done under a DOE permit and Rosalia Firemen countered spot fires around homes and buildings on the west side of Thornton.

Plans for a 62-foot “Codger Pole” at Schmuck Park, scene of the 1988 Codger Bowl game between St. John and Colfax teams, sustained a setback Monday night when the Colfax City Council turned down three motions to help fund the project. City funding of up to $2,500 was proposed on two motions. Another motion cut the figure to $2,000.

Moving two horse barns across the Palouse Empire fairground to the main display area has been approved by the fair board. The project is targeted for next year pending approval of a grant application to the state fair board for 50 percent of the funding.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

April 7, 2005

An ag pilot made an emergency landing late Sunday afternoon east of Palouse after leaving the Dale Schoepflin airstrip on Ringo Road. The pilot, David R. Bowen, was apparently unhurt. Bowen said he had been flying loads all day. He was attempting to take off with another load of 1,200 pounds of fertilizer when the Cessna A188B was unable to get enough lift and bounced three times before coming to a stop about one and one-half miles north of the runway. One wheel and the fertilizer spreader were torn off the plane.

Whitman County Commissioner Greg Partch presented Russ Rickett with a certificate appointing him as the mayor of Oakesdale at the Oakesdale City Council meeting. Rickett had been functioning as mayor since November.