Good Old Days: Oct. 26, 2017

125 years ago

October 28, 1892

The Commoner

About 7:30 Monday morning the citizens were alarmed by the news of the explosion of the Lemly Bros.' boiler, belonging to the threshing engine on the farm of H.M. West, about a mile from Rosalia. All repaired to the accident and found that the accident had instantly killed Samuel Graham, the fireman, and slightly wounded David Edwards and A. Slinkard. One horse was struck with a piece of iron, which cut an ugly gash, but it is not serious. The deceased, Samuel Graham, resided six miles west of Cheney, where the body was taken for burial. No definite cause has yet been given for the explosion.

A team belonging to Mr. Hayes a farmer near Rosalia, created quite a sensation last Monday by running away from the front of the C. & C. Company's warehouse in that city. The team collided with two other wagons, a hay rack, the town pump, and other obstacles, demolishing everything they struck.

The horses ran through three barbwire fences and are not expected to recover.

A great quantity of stone has been hauled for the foundation of the new Catholic church. It will be a magnificent structure, costing several thousand dollars.

At 2 o'clock this morning an alarm was sounded from the convent bell.

In a few moments every inhabitant was upon the sidewalk of the main street, but not all in full dress.

Martin Meuli, proprietor of the Union hotel, who usually retires late and arises early in the interests of his guests, discovered a faint glimmer of fire in the vicinity of his premises, instituted an immediate inquiry and discovered the warehouses at the rear of Gaffeny & Alexander's extensive merchandise store well under headway toward a big fire.

He rushed toward the bell and alarmed the sleepers.

The members of the fire company at once fell into line, and by heroic effort subdued the flames after an hour's hard fight.

100 years ago

October 29, 1917

Colfax Commoner

Saturday morning, two small boys discovered smoke issuing from the basement of the Endicott high school building and they immediately gave the alarm. The volunteer firemen responded and the fire was put out. The coal that was stored in the basement of the school building had become ignited. The coal had been stored in the basement for more than a month and this is the second fire that has been reported from coal that has been stored for winter use.

While Robert and Charles Jordan were in Colfax Friday their farm home which is eight miles northwest of the town was badly damaged by fire. How the fire started is unknown. The building was erected last year at a cost of $4,000. It was partly covered by insurance.

Five apples were brought to Colfax Tuesday by W.J. Morrow that weighed eight pounds and a half. The apples are of a variety known as the Spokane Beauties and Mr. Morrow stated he has twelve trees of this variety on his ranch at Union Flat. Two apples were placed in the window of the Geo. W. Larue and Co's real estate office and they have attracted considerable attention. The five apples that are shown in the window are the largest apples that have ever been brought to this city.

75 years ago

October 23, 1942

Colfax Gazette-Commoner

Instructions for Washington's motorists on what to do about gas rationing which becomes effective November 22 have been released by the Colfax tire rationing board, based on information received from the state headquarters of the Office of Price Administration.

Whitman County farmers will not be permitted to operate their trucks after November 15 without a certificate of war necessity, announces the county U.S.D.A. war board in stating the purpose of registration is to assist in formulating plans for the conservation and better usage of farm transportation facilities.

50 years ago

October 26, 1967

Colfax Gazette

Shades of the Old West came to life at noon Monday when Bill Wallace,70, rode into Hooper on his big horse, Red. Wallace rode red out of Worland Wyoming, Sept 28, headed for the Northwest sheep country. Rain, hail, sleet, frost and dust were encountered on the journey, but people along the 800-mile journey were courteous and friendly, Wallace said. Wallace expressed disdain for the “Zipper highways”. He came down highway two from Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Wallace and his horse rested overnight in Hooper and continued on to Ephrata where he will be employed by the Lang Sheep Co.

Last Sunday night a barn loaded with more than 1500 bales of hay and a wheel tractor, all owned by the Hinderer brothers, burned from a fire of unknown origin. About 11p.m. passerby saw the blaze and went to the Blaine Hinderer home and the rural fire truck was called, but the fire had already gotten out of control, so nothing could be saved. Although the contents of the barn were insured, the hours spent last summer to cut the hay, bale it, haul and stack it, were all for naught.

25 years ago

October 29, 1992

Whitman County Gazette

Endicott grade school students Thursday got a sample of a house fire when the “fire safety house” visited the grade school. Volunteer Gail Larson conducted tours of the house and instructed sessions on smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Many classes participated.

The stat's 1993-95 gas tax distribution includes money for Endicott-Colfax road, known on the county grid as the Endicott East road, according to county engineer Brandon Cole. The project will widen and resurface the second three miles of the road which runs between Endicott and Highway 26 at the fairgrounds, according to the county's six year road plan. It will cost $735,000, with $435,000 in federal funds, $270,000 in state gas tax money and $30,000 in local funds.

10 years ago

October 25, 2007

Whitman County Gazette

The annual children's Halloween parade through downtown Oakesdale will be Wednesday October 31, at 1:30pm.

Following a notice from Labor and Industries, three Colfax School employees have been elected to a district safety commission. The employees are representatives of their respective bargaining units. L&I received a complaint that the school had not had a safety committee in place for two years. A review determined the district had a safety committee, but the schools were out of compliance because the members were not elected.