Work underway at Codger Pole

Cleaning and painting of the Colfax Codger Pole has started this week. Crews earlier in the week cleaned the pole and started applying the paint to the top Codger.

The contractor has rented a lift from Sun Rentals to get to the top of the pole. The lift from Sun Rentals in Pullman is the largest in their inventory and has a reach of 66 feet.

The Codger Pole project is being done by Allen Cuddy of Pullman, who submitted the lone bid on the project at $9,700. It was approved at the last city council meeting. The contract calls for painting the top Codger on the pole and the faces on the Main Street side of the pole. The contract also calls for filling of some of the cracks in the pole which is actually a cluster of poles.

Work on the Codger Pole is being funded by proceeds from a tax on lodging fees for motels with over 40 units. That makes the Best Western the lone source of the funds here. The Codger Pole restoration was listed as one of the projects to be undertaken with the motel fund surtax, which is intended to be used for improving facilities which can be used by visitors who occupy the rooms.

The Codger Pole has been part of the Colfax Main Street scene since 1991, when it was constructed to commemorate the 1988 game featuring a matchup of Colfax and St. John football teams which first faced off in 1938. The faces on the pole, which was carved by chainsaw artist Jonathan LeBenne, are those of the players in the 1988 game.

Lone maintenance on the pole since 1991 has been application of a preservative which was done by members of the fire department with the use of their ladder truck.

The pole is actually a cluster of cedar logs which were provided by Buell Brothers in St. Maries. The late John Crawford, originator of the Codger Pole game and pole, arranged to have the pole planted inverted with the small diameter ends at the base.