Good Old Days Feb. 9

Potlatch public transit

First Potlatcher, affectionately called The Bug, was built in 1933 using a Studebaker car. It was retired five years later and was replaced with a custom made rail car. It was used on the Washington, Idaho, and Montana line.

Photo courtesy Washington County Library Rural Heritage, Roy Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum Collection.

125 years ago

The Commoner

Feb. 5, 1892

Steptoe Butte Lodge No. 419, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, have issued invitations for a grand ball, to be given at Traux hall, Tekoa, on the evening of Washington's birthday, February 22nd. Elaborate preparations are being made and a time of great enjoyment is anticipated. A large number of people will attend from Colfax.

***

On Monday morning last, while John White and John Ripley were removing some goods in the latter's express wagon, the vehicle upset near the South End schoolhouse, and the frightened team ran away down Mill street till they collided with a strong fence. The fence was broken down, but horses were brought to a standstill right there, nevertheless. Neither White nor Ripley were injured; but the wagon was somewhat dilapidated, with a ruined wheel and a broken tongue.

***

Mr. Greenville Holbrook, of Garfield, was in Colfax yesterday in the interests of a large new hardware company which will shortly be incorporated at that place. This, Mr. Holbrook said to a reporter, was only one of a number of new enterprises which are in contemplation in his town, which would this spring and summer enjoy the most prosperous season it its history. “Not only our own people but others are beginning to see the many advantages of Garfield, its splendid location and railroad facilities, and large investments in business and property interests will be made during the coming spring,” spoke Mr. Holbrook, warming up with enthusiasm at the bright prospects ahead.

The new hardware company, articles for the incorporation of which will be filed in a few days, is being organized by Messrs. Greenville Holbrook, Bryan Westacott, R. C. McCroskey, William Duling, and G. W. Nye, who will be named as trustees. The company will have a capital stock of $30,000, divided into 300 shares of $100 each, and will do a general hardware business. A two-story brick block, 50x90, will be put up at once by the company in which to do business.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Feb. 9, 1917

The vote to incorporate carried at La Crosse Tuesday by a majority of about two to one. Thos. H. Shobe on whose homestead the town is built was elected mayor of the city without opposition. A full set of councilmen were named and Chas. P. Moore won out in his contest for city treasurer.

The vote on incorporation will be canvassed next Tuesday by the board of county commissioners and if found favorable their findings will be certified by the secretary of state. As soon as the official findings of the commissioners are filed with the secretary of state the new officials of the city will take their oath of office and assume their official duties.

La Crosse has outgrown its village environments and the residents of that town are desirous of making some necessary improvements. Sidewalks are badly needed and local government was desired.

The results of the election left no doubt in the minds of the citizens of that city that incorporation was desired.

The election places the affairs in the hands of the local people and releases the county commissioners from this duty.

The five councilmen elected are all well known residents of La Crosse. They are D. E. Pickard, M. P. Cassedy, John Neiertz, Fay R. Pierce and Homer G. Williams.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Feb. 6, 1942

A county-wide civilian protection training school has been scheduled to be held in Colfax Thursday, February 19, by the county defense council, which announces that details will be made known later.

Plans are under way by the county council for the fingerprinting of all individuals participating in local defense activities, a procedure suggested by the F.B.I. Where defense groups will be able to record this means of identification will be announced as soon as special cards are received for the purpose.

Civilian defense had been the subject of discussion before 21 groups in the county up to the close of last week, according to R. P. Benson, county coordinator. Approximately 2600 persons have participated. Requests for speakers have been coming to the county office almost daily since the first meeting at Winona January 2.

***

Whitman county's Red Cross war relief quota has been raised 30 per cent, from $7500 to $9750, Mrs. H. W. Pugh, executive secretary of the county chapter, was informed by telegram from the national offices Thursday morning. Some towns and rural communities have already raised the equivalent of a 30 per cent increase and will not necessarily be called upon to give more, said Mrs. Pugh; others who turned in exactly their quota will have 30 per cent more to contribute, and those who were behind will have just that much more to raise. The general policy over, said Mrs. Pugh, will be to contact those persons who were missed in the $7500 drive.

***

In an open discussion at the Kiwanis club's luncheon Tuesday noon, each of three students of the Eastern Washington College of Education, Cheney, gave what he thought was the kind of a post-war world order the United States should support.

The analysis speaker, Miss Jean Gray, was followed by Lauren Stolp, Joe Wynecoop and James Painter, all being introduced by Prof. Lester L. McCrery, head of the college speech department, who stated that the views expressed were those of the speakers, not necessarily of any one else connected with the institution.

Miss Gray stated the problems in the establishment of a permanent peace, naming two, the relief of nations torn apart, and the foundation of international cooperation to eliminate war in the settlement of differences. Declaring the United States would be in the best position to lay the groundwork for world reconstruction, Miss Gray proposed three steps, the offering of a program, the providing of machinery, and the taking of preliminary measures immediately.

Mr. Stolp proposed that all nations believing in a democratic form of government join in an international union, with executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, which would create an international police force, and bureaus for the regulation of trade. He declared such a plan was already underway.

More radical than the other speakers was Mr. Wynecoop, who asserted that economic injustices were at the bottom of the world's troubles. He charged William Knudsen, former head of the OPM, and Jesse Jones, head of the RFC, with deliberately slowing up defense plans in the interest of big business, and complained that profiteering still existed. To remove economic injustices, he urged promotion of a world economic union, based on the machinery of the League of Nations, with an international court in which nations, not individuals, would be held responsible for violations of international law.

Looking at the administrative side more than the economic, Mr. Painter proposed a revised League of Nations, which, he declared was within practical reach. He showed what the old league had accomplished and gave his reasons for believing a revised league would be successful.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Feb. 9, 1967

The Army Corps of Engineers has purchased the elevator of the Colfax Grain Growers at Penawawa for $126,000, according to a warranty deed filed in the county auditor's office and a tax transfer affidavit filed in the county treasurer's office Jan. 18.

A second affidavit in the treasurer's office recorded the sale of a quit claim deed on the elevators from the Penawawa Boat Club Inc. to the Colfax Grain Growers for $1000, Jan. 18. A third affidavit listed the quit claim of the Union Pacific railroad on the elevator.

The warranty deed of the corps lists as exceptions, including much of the elevator equipment, a 30-ton truck scale a 10-inch auger.

***

The future of two of the county's non-high school districts, Malden and Pine City, will be on the line next Tuesday as voters head for the polls to determine consolidation proposals in four districts. Voters in Malden and Rosalia districts will determine whether or not to merge while voters in St. John and Pine City will cast ballots on consolidation of their district.

“There's much interest in this election and quite a bit of to-do about the whole thing,” C. A. Sprinkel, chairman of the Malden school board commented. “I really believe everyone will be at the polls.”

Sprinkel reported 65 school children now live in the Malden district with about 19 attending the Malden school. At most of the meetings on the coming measure, 14 of the children were reported attending the St. John school district and 10 are attending the Pine City school district.

According to County Auditor Pauline Lust, Tuesday's voting will be done at the school house in each district. Mrs. Lust estimates registered voters in the districts now number 675 in the Pine City school district, 1425 in the St. John school district, 215 in the Malden school district and 675 in the Rosalia school district.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Feb. 6, 1992

Colfax City officially closed its dog pound along the Walla Walla Highway at the end of January after contracting with Dr. Becky Elfers to shelter impounded animals. Dr. Elfers, who operates Colfax Veterinary Hospital, will receive $250 per month.

Police Chief Barney Buckley, who received council approval for the change, said the contract will replace a system which just has not worked. The city has often come under fire in the past for its handling of impounded dogs.

Buckley said the previous system often broke down because of a failure of communication. An officer would impound a dog at the city kennel, which was located at the sewer treatment plant, and then fail to inform caretakers that a dog was in the pound.

For the past several years, Dr. Elfers has operated a program to list the dogs for adoption after they are treated at her clinic. Buckley said in the past, Elfers would get inquiries about dogs without being aware that the city had impounded them at the kennel on the Walla Walla highway.

Under the contract, Elfers will house dogs at her hospital in the North Flat section of town. The contract calls for police officers to have keys to impound dogs at the clinic after its operating hours. Also, the city's dog pound can be used as extra space if the clinic runs out of space.

Buckley said the $250 contract fee is the same as the budget amount his department used to house the dogs. The sum was used for food, caretaker wagers, and other expenses, including euthanasia costs.

In the past, the city has been able to run a low cost dog impoundment program because of volunteer services by Lem Long, now retired, and other sewer plant operators. Recently, the city has had to pay staffers extra for caring for the dogs at the pound.

The dog contract also means the city will drop a practice of accepting “country” dogs at the pound.

***

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Feb. 8, 2007

Whitman County Parks and Recreation is taking steps to replace the informational sign at Elberton. They are expected to review a draft for the new sign at their next board meeting, Feb. 8.

According to Tim Myers, director of the park department, references on the sign are no longer accurate. He suspects the old sign is 25 to 30 years and knows it hasn't been updated during his 20 years with the department. It gives an out-of-date address and phone number for the department.

The sign was put up when the department wanted to make Elberton into a living historical site. Although that seemed to be an admirable idea, it was dropped years ago because of funding limits in the department.

“Long ago,” Myers noted.

“We don't want that sign up so people won't think that will occur,” Myers explained.

Many of the buildings the sign talks about have since been taken down due to safety concerns. Last fall, the parks department invited neighboring volunteer firefighters to burn some of the long-vacant houses which had remained on the scene in Elberton.

The present sign also tells Elberton visitors that the department is seeking artifacts for the site and that is no longer the case, Myers said.

“It just didn't make a lot of sense to have that sign there,” Myers said.

The first three paragraphs of the sign regarding historical facts are still correct and will be included on the new sign. Dated material will be removed or changed.