08/12/26 Out of the Past

100 Years Ago—

The forest fire situation in Stevens County has somewhat improved, but no great relief can be expected until there is a heavy rain. The worst fires, not yet under control, are those at Black Lake and on Roger Mountain.

The state of Washington in 1925 produced gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc to the value of $1,902,464, compared with $948,490 in 1924, according to figures published by the United States geological survey. Stevens County, with $601,354, led all other counties.

An old-time dance will be given at the Arden pavilion tonight. Admission will be by invitation.

75 Years Ago—

Dale Morrison, 14-year-old youth from Gifford, proved again last week that boys have what it takes in the kitchen. The youth, for the second year in a row, was judged the best 4-H baker in the county and was chosen to represent the area at the state 4-H fair at Yakima.

Canadian forest fires continued to threaten Stevens County forests this week. At press time, state forest officials were still watching developments of a Canadian blaze near Waneta, across the Pend Oreille River north of Boundary.

NORTHPORT – Ground was broken for the new Union High School building Aug. 13. The excavation of the basement is now completed, the work being done by Frank Olmstead.     

50 Years Ago—

United States Senator Henry Jackson will be the grand marshal for the Northeast Washington Fair parade Sept. 11, according to John Egger, parade chairman.

A new local history book, Kettle River Country, by Mrs. Ruth Lakin of Orient, has been published by the Statesman-Examiner.

The Colville School Board awarded a bid of over $32,000 for a new garage during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday with one stipulation tagged with it. The stipulation was that the bid of $32,553 by Blue Street Construction be awarded pending approval of an architect.

25 Years Ago—

The old Fonk’s sign so familiar on Colville’s Main Street was removed last Wednesday and will be immortalized in the “Hometowns: Heart of the Inland Northwest” exhibit. The sign will help debut the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (Eastern Washington State Historical Society) in Spokane, opening Dec. 5.

This year’s Northeast Washington Fair marshals, Ken and Phyllis Ramble, are two local citizens who recall an era gone by for Colville. “We were both born locally, Ken and I; we’ve lived here our whole lives,” Phyllis Ramble said. “We remember being here before Colville had a stoplight or a McDonald’s.”

10 Years Ago—

 Another day, another logging job…not so this time. There was a definite air of enthusiasm when Vaagen Brothers Lumber recently celebrated the beginning of what is likely the most unusual logging effort in the company’s history: the North Fork of the Mill Creek A to Z project.

Two popular trout fisheries on the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge are being lowered to expedite construction projects. The fly-fishing only waters of McDowell Lake and Potter’s Pond are being drawn down so old water control structures can be replaced.