Good Old Days June 16

125 years ago

The Commoner

June 12, 1891

An unusual accident happened at Oakesdale Tuesday morning.

A house was being moved from one place to another, necessitating it being taken across the track.

Unaccountable as it may seem, it was left to stand on the track overnight.

It was a large two-story building, a school house, it is said.

An extra train on the Union Pacific came along unexpectedly, running at a very high rate of speed.

On turning a curve, the danger was seen, but too late to avoid it.

So the engineer opened the throttle and dashed into the obstruction at full speed, tunneling the building.

The engine was wrecked, but the train was saved.

The fireman jumped, and his leg was broken, but no lives were lost.

The train was but slightly injured.

It is regarded as a most remarkable escape.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

June 16, 1916

The county commissioners met with a surprise when they went to the northern part of the county on Tuesday and found nearly seventy-five taxpayers blasting out a grade in the road which has been named by them the hole in the ground.

The people of that section of the county were at Colfax two weeks ago and secured the promise from the members of the county board that they would visit this particular place and visitors promised that they would do sufficient work to warrant the aid of the board.

“We all want a road up this canyon and will do the major portion of the work,” said the speaker of the delegation when he was in the city two weeks ago, and he added, “we think that we can secure a ten per cent grade up that canyon.” This assertion was found to be correct when the members of the county board made their trip to this section Tuesday.

The county engineer after he had run a test line found the grade to be 9 ½ percent.

The commissioners were surprised to find the amount of work which had been done by the taxpayers of this section. Large quantities of rock had been blasted out of the new road way and more than sixty five men were at work on the road way. It took no time to convince members of the board that some financial help should be given to such an earnest, active body of men and $2,000 was pledged to aid in constructing the grades and building a bridge across the canyon.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

June 13, 1941

Farmers of this district were urged to avail themselves of the Washington State Employment Service by R. J. McBreen of the Spokane office this past week. While in town he explained the special emphasis the service is placing on assistance to the grower this year. “Crops must be seeded and harvested with all possible aid to the farmer who is finding it increasingly difficult to reach qualified workers.”

The service maintains 20 offices located throughout the state. Spokane serves this and surrounding areas. No charge is made by the service and employers and workers alike are free to use its facilities. Each will find trained personnel ready to assist.

***

Increased production of pork, dairy products, eggs, poultry and tomatoes, peas, snap beans and corn for canning is needed to assure ample supplies of food for the United States, Great Britain and other nations resisting aggression, says F. E. Balmer, director of extension at the State College of Washington.

Washington farmers can do their immediate part in the nation's program by breeding now for fall pigs, feeding cows to produce larger butterfat supplies, filling hen houses to capacity and increasing plantings of the canning vegetables needed. In order to stimulate production of the needed foodstuffs, the government has announced that prices of those commodities will be supported over a period ending June 30, 1943, at levels remunerative to producers.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

June 16, 1966

Colfax volunteer firemen voted Tuesday night to continue ambulance service although their campaign for funds for a new ambulance is still between $1,000 and $2,000 short of the $13,000 goal announced in January.

Fire Chief Dan Maier said the volunteers will buy a new ambulance with funds available and may have to put part of the cost of the new vehicle “on the cuff,” although they are hopeful more contributors may be received within the next few weeks.

“The firemen are very grateful to the people that have helped us and would like to thank every donor personally,” he said. The firemen were especially appreciative of the generous support from outlying communities in the county.

Substantial donations were received in recent weeks from campaigns in St. John, Endicott, Garfield and other communities.

“If we don't have sufficient money to buy the ambulance we want, the department will pay the balance due out of the 15-cent-per-mile depreciation fund which we intend to set up immediately upon receipt of a new ambulance,” he added.

If the firemen have enough money to pay for the ambulance in full, the entire 15-cents-per-mile will be placed in reserve so that funds will be available when the new ambulance is worn out.

***

Summer swim fun has started at several town pools around the county although St. John, Tekoa and Colfax pools are having trouble holding water. The Colfax pool has failed to hold water despite a week of attempts, according to John McInerny, city park board member.

Four attempts were made to try and fill the pool during the week, but in each case the pool failed to hold its water level after the filling valves were shut off, McInerny said.

One leak was discovered near the deep end drain of the pool and a tar patch operation was attempted over the weekend. Water was placed in the pool Monday, but it had drained again by Tuesday morning.

McInerny and Jerry Cluckey worked near the deep-end drain Tuesday night attempting to seal the leak with an epoxy plastic substance. When the plastic material dries another attempt will be made to fill the pool.

Swim pools in Tekoa and St. John were also having trouble keeping a full level of water. St. John's pool was slated to start operations Monday but a few leaks were discovered and are being repaired by Ralph Morris and Larry Harrington.

In Tekoa, Jerry Enders, summer recreation chairman, is aiming at a Monday opening after a few “small leaks” delayed the original opening date.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

June 13, 1991

A verdict is expected next week in the lawsuit against the county by E & L Stout Farms and George and Ray Bauer, Inc. Expected to set precedent on county policy in the future, the suit is over the maintenance of an approach bridge on farm land. Stout maintains the county is backing out of an agreement to maintain an approach bridge on his land.

Testimony in Asotin County superior court lasted “one day long,” according to Prosecutor Jim Kaufman, starting at 9 a.m., breaking 45 minutes for lunch and continuing until 6 p.m.

The case involves “a lot of complex issues which are confusing to even lawyers,” Kaufman commented.

A bridge across Thorn Creek connects Stout's land to the East Cutoff Road, according to documents filed last year in the case.

The county first built the bridge and then maintained and repaired it several times, the last time being 1982 or 1983, the document states.

The complaint alleges the county had agreed to maintain the bridge then refused when it needed repair, saying they couldn't afford it. Financial hardship is not a legal defense, the complaint states.

Subpoenas were issued last month to commissioners Maggie McGreevy and Nora Mae Keifer and former commissioner John Henley, Jr.

Commissioner Bill Schmick is not included in the action because he was not in office during the period covered by the lawsuit.

The county has similar agreements to maintain dozens of approach bridges.

The county has begun a review of more than 350 bridges, field approaches and “draining structures” in the county to determine which should be repaired or abandoned. The county did the same thing with about 30 to 35 bridges a couple of years ago.