Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner, July 7, 1803

Colfax gave her 2,000 visitors Tuesday the benefit of a genuine, old-fashioned, patriotic Fourth of July. The city had been gaily decked out with flags, bunting and evergreen branches, and presented a most attractive appearance. The noise of bombs and firecrackers had awakened the people long before the sun arose, and from the early morning the streets presented a busy scene. The small boy made matters interesting to the people-at-large by exploding firecrackers in the midst of crowds and enjoying the general discomfiture of his elders. The lemonade and soda water stands were besieged all the morning.

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Judge Sullivan Friday morning placed a new and common-sense construction on the law concerning the payment of jurors. He decided that the intent of the law allowed talesmen $1 per day while appearing simply as talesmen, and before being sworn in as jurors. When a talesman is sworn in as a juror, then his pay becomes $3 a day, as in the case of a regularly drawn juror.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner, July 5, 1918

A crowd estimated at 2,000 people was in the city Thursday morning to attend the 4th of July program which was given on the chautauqua grounds.

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The case of the state against G. W. Slater, who was arrested last week, charged with wife beating, came to trial in Justice Larue's court Tuesday, and more than thirty of the North end residents were present as witnesses and spectators.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner, July 2, 1943

The small community of Penawawa on the Snake River took on the appearance of a marketplace in a large city Sunday as several thousand people picked many tons of cherries for which they paid 5 cents a pound, 3 cents being allowed in most cases for the picker's work. It was unquestionably the greatest assembly of pickers at a central point in the history of Whitman County's fruit industry, inspired by the S.O.S signal that if people this year did not help themselves the crop would be lost.

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A large make-believe thermometer was placed at the Old National Bank corner Thursday morning by the Junior Chamber of Commerce to record for Colfax contributions to supply cigarettes to men in the armed forces serving overseas. The "mercury" indicated that donations made since the drive started last week totaled $100, enough to buy 40,000 smokes. The goal is $250 or 100,000 cigarettes. When it is reached, the manufacturer will give a case of 100,000 cigarettes, each package bearing the name of the Colfax junior chamber of commerce.

50 years ago

The Colfax Gazette, July 4, 1968

Colfax city dads voted Monday night to accept the low bid of George Seubert, Cottonwood, Idaho, for installing over two miles of new eight- and six-inch water main in the city.

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Exactly 100 purebred sheep will be shown and sold July13 at Palouse Empire Fairground in an event sponsored by leading sheep producers who are interested in promoting quality breeding stock.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette, July 8, 1993

Colfax city council members Tuesday night declined to back down on removal of a billboard from Main Street.

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The Onecho Bible Church celebrated 100 years of existence in this area with a centennial celebration over the July 4th weekend. Members and visitors who attended the anniversary celebration numbered over 400.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette, July 3, 2008

One of the Springfield rifles which is believed to have made a stand in downtown Palouse for over a 100 years has returned to the downtown scene for public showing. Bob West, retired Palouse grocer, has donated the Model 1873 Springfield 45/70 rifle for display at the Roy Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum in downtown Palouse.