Good Old Days: June 25, 2020

125 Years Ago

June 14, 1895

Theodore Buck, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Buck, was thrown from a buggy at the corner of Thorn and Main Street, in Colfax, about 8 o'clock Thursday morning.

He was picked up unconscious and live only a few minutes. He was in his eighteenth year.

The accident was a particularly frightful one. The young man was in charge of his father's livery stable during the latter's absence at the G.A.R. encampment in Spokane. Early Thursday morning he hitched up Mrs. Erford's horse, a recent purchase, to a single top buggy. As the animal seemed a little fractious, Mr. Buck got in the buggy to drive the horse a few minutes until he quieted down.

As soon as Mr. Buck took the reigns the horse began to run, and before he could be stopped had climbed the Main Street hill to a point near the Niblock residence.

Here the horse becoming winded, was gotten under control.

As Mr. Buck turned him around, he said to Newt Saxon, standing on the sidewalk, “I wonder if I will get safely down this hill.”

After starting down the hill, the horse again began to run, and by the time Thorn Street was reached, was beyond control.

Swinging into Thorn Street, when the wheels struck the crosswalk the buggy was overturned and Mr. Brock thrown out.

He was thrown about 10 feet, his head first striking the hub on one of the wheels of a hay wagon standing by the side of Hulin's stable.

The horse, after running a few steps, was thrown and afterwards caught, neither the animal nor vehicle being hurt.

100 Years Ago

June 18, 1920

There are seven buildings now under construction in this city and the cost of construction will run close to $200,000. Every one of the buildings are business blocks except that of the community building, which is being constructed on the schoolhouse grounds.

Workmen are now employed excavating the basement of the community building, a structure that is to be completed by the first of December at an expense of $75,000.

This is the largest and costliest structure that is now under construction.

R.L. Collins, who was convicted of third degree assault in the superior court last week was sentenced to serve a fine of $500 out in jail.

The county prisoners are allowed three dollars a day and board while working out their fine, and according to this rate, Collins will be in jail nearly six months.

The prisoner, who is a man about 40 years of age, seriously cut another man by the name of L.F. Litzow. The two men were working at the college grounds at Pullman excavating a basement for a new building. They had a dispute and Litzow objected to Collins calling him names. Collins whipped out a dangerous knife and started after Litzow, who tried to run away from danger.

When Collins overtook his victim, he slashed at him with his knife and slit a gash from Litzow's head to his wrist.

75 Years Ago

June 22, 1945

First of the Colfax freed prisoners of war to return from Germany with the United States Army, Pfc. Henry E. Grogan, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Eager, who was so anxious to see his family that he hitchhiked from Spokane early Wednesday morning, June 20, reaching here before the first bus. Waiting to greet him also was his wife (Virginia Ann Eager) and his three-year-old daughter, Georgia Ann, who have been making their home with the Eagers during the war.

Private Grogan was so happy he could scarcely talk Wednesday. From the time men of his 106th Infantry had been taken prisoners by the Nazis last Dec. 16 in the famous battle of the Belgian “bulge,” he hadn't heard a word from any of his folks, although they had written repeatedly. Nor had he been able to get word from them.

Colfax's lone identifiable “house of illfame” was ordered closed this week by Police Chief Harvey Lee as aftermath of a visit to the city council meeting Monday night of a civilian representative of the United States public health service who reported that in Colfax and all other towns prostitution must be stopped for the war's duration to safeguard men of the armed forces.

The federal representatives told of Spokane's current drive to eliminate vice and asked Colfax to do the same. Mayor W.B. Hutcheson and members of the council agreed this should be done, as requested.

50 Years Ago

June 25, 1970

The president of WSU, Glenn Terrell, spoke at a meeting in Colfax called by Mayor Donald Deen.

After about 20 minutes of “introductory remarks,” he fielded questions from an audience of about 50 on a multitude of subjects ranging from a “black athletics study program” to the morality of co-educational dormitories.

The meeting was suggested by Terrell, who said he would like to clear up any misunderstandings about student unrest and other problems at WSU. The mayor invited men and women representing a variety of occupations and shades of opinion.

The questioning from the start indicated that the roomful of listeners were equally as concerned with student unrest as was Dr. Terrell, and that there was a general feeling among most of those who spoke that the problems concerned with unrest are not being solved.

25 Years Ago

June 22, 1995

Images of Main Street's past may hold the key to its future. At least this was a starting point for the handful of Colfax Main Street Enhancement Project members who met Thursday on the second floor of the Public Service Building.

Mayor Norma Becker, project head Dick Stanton and Chamber of Commerce President Dave Buri were among those who sorted through dozens of slides depicting Main Street in various stages of history.

Design aspects include sidewalk and curb design, possible landscaping, street design, flood control and the possibility of bringing back lampposts of the early 1900s.

10 Years Ago

June 24, 2010

After two pit bull attacks bloodied a woman and nearly crippled a 31-year-old mare, the Tekoa city council Monday night outlawed new pit bulls in town.

The council also approved a new code enforcement officer position who will enforce Tekoa city codes, especially any more issues with pit bulls.

In addition to banning more pit bulls in town, the council voted in strict guidelines for residents who already have pit bulls in Tekoa.

On June 4, a woman lost control of her pit bull as she tried to move the dog between her car and her mobile home.

Night baseball officially came to McDonald Park in Colfax last Thursday when the field lights went on for the first time. The first night game featured two Seattle elite teams who are in town for a Palouse Summer Series weekend. A senior girls softball game has also been set for Friday when the light standards around the softball field will go into use for the first time. Lights have been a goal since the first baseball game was played there in the spring of 2000.