Good old days: Nov. 23, 2017

125 years ago

The Commoner

November 25, 1892

The member of the Colfax fire department are considering the project of holding a grand masquerade ball on New Years eve. No definite arrangements have thus been made, but a relative proposition will be made at the next regular meeting of the fire department. A meeting was to have been held last evening, but on account of the theatrical attractions, a quorum of members failed to materialize. The public will assist with hearty good will in any enterprise of the kind calculated to benefit the excellent and efficient fire department of which Colfax proudly boasts today.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

November 23, 1917

S. J. Schoening who was apparently happily married for life nine months ago to Mary Schoening has filed papers with the county clerk, asking the superior court to grant him a divorce from his bride. He claims in a sworn affidavit that his bride cursed him and that she called him vile names. He also swears that Mrs. Schoening chased him away from his house with a butcher knife. He claims that he paid a number of debts contracted by his wife before their marriage and that there is no community property. All Mr. Schoening wants, according to the affidavit, is his freedom from the woman that he married less than nine months ago.

75 years ago

The Gazette-Commoner

November 20, 1942

The council Monday evening referred to the county commissioners the request of F. L. Stotler that city open a drain ditch that parallels the Colfax golf course and the North Palouse river road. Clogging of the ditch causes surface water from the hill above the golf course to overrun in the vicinity of the clubhouse. Mr. Stotler said in asking the city to do the work because title to the course rests in the city.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

November 23, 1967

A butchering bee was held at the Gene Hilty ranch Monday. Pork sausage was made at the time.

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A former LaCrosse woman, Mrs. E. A. Mann, Portland Ore., celebrated her 100th birthday at the home of her brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Scott, over the weekend.

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Two major generals who were both downed during World War II, who are still active in the Air Force and capable of flying the latest jets―and who are brothers-- can be considered one of the more unusual claims to fame for Rosalia residents.

While the military career of State Rep.

Robert Goldsworthy is familiar to many persons in Whitman County, few outside his hometown know the career of Robert's brother, Maj.

Gen.

Harry E. Goldsworthy.

Sons of Mr. and Mr. H. E. Goldsworthy, both graduated from Rosalia High school and Washington State university before starting service in the Air Force prior to World War II. Each went his own way during the war years, yet both were shot down behind Japanese lines in the Pacific and survived.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

November 26, 1992

Palouse Chief Phineas Haglin Saturday morning was swamped by motorists who went into the ditch with the worst section of the highway south of Palouse. Haglin found a lot of the motorists who went off the highway were fans from Seattle who lacked experience in driving under snowing conditions. “It was an Apple Cup to remember in more ways than one.” Haglin commented. The Palouse chief counted at least 16 wrecks in the segment of highway 27 which extends six miles south of Palouse.

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Next year's anticipated cutback on fair funds that are generated by the state's horse racing track surfaced Monday night at the Palouse Empire Fair board meeting. A letter from Roger Roberts, administrator with the state Department of Agriculture, reported the state this year would eliminate the grants program which has been used for improvement projects.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

November 22, 2007

With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, the farmers of Whitman County can count their blessings in inches. After a dry autumn, storms finally swept over the Palouse, dumping nearly an inch and a half of rain in places late last week. As the temperatures dropped early this week the rain turned to snow in some parts of the county and deposited as much as two inches.

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Police and fire officials Monday officially labeled cause of the four fires that rocked Pullman early last Thursday morning as arson. The fires destroyed an apartment, and a garage, damaged a duplex and seriously injured on resident.

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Efforts to preserve the habitat of migrating salmon and steelhead along the lower Snake River may mean a future with both dams and healthy fish population. The Snake River fall chinook population has risen from 78 in 1990 to more than 20,000 today. Conservation efforts have been focused on major spawning areas,streams that hold as much as 500 fish. Most of those streams are in Asotin, Garfield, Columbia and Walla Walla Counties.