Out of the Past

100 Years Ago—
Operations were commenced on Monday in the sawmill of the Fred Draper Lumber Company for the season’s run, and the company’s plant is now the scene of much activity with the planing mill and dry kiln in operation, together with the sawmill.

100 Years Ago—
In dedication of the new central high school building, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Josephine Corliss Preston, will speak in the auditorium Monday evening.

100 Years Ago—
The annual county tax foreclosure sale, held last Saturday in front of the courthouse, was one of the largest sales of its kind, both in number of offerings and purchases made. This sale covered real estate for which the 1920 taxes had not been paid. The entire list was published exclusively in the Examiner recently.

118 Years Ago—
Hazing has been the recent popular sport indulged in by the members of the sophomore, junior, and senior classes of the Colville High School. Last week a number of cases were reported, and one member of the school carried the matter to the justice court, but was induced to give up the idea of prosecuting as this was the first case this year and the results were not serious.

This week’s “Out of the Past” looks back at Stevens County history from 100, 75, 50, 25, and 10 years ago, including St. Paul’s Mission, Colville businesses, the Colville Mountain cross, and local community leaders.

100 Years Ago—
Hunting season in Stevens County was officially ushered in last week with the opening of the season on native pheasants, blue grouse, Hungarian partridge, and waterfowl.

100 Years Ago—
Members of group one of the Washington Press Association, comprising men from nine Inland Empire towns, met in Chewelah last Saturday and went on record in favor of the recent movement of the association looking to an awakening of the state of Washington.

100 Years Ago—
At a meeting of the city council on Tuesday evening, building permits were issued to Jordon & Blair for the installation of gasoline pumps on the curb at Main and Aster, and to J.L. Diehl for erection of a $2,000 bungalow on the corner of Maple and Columbia.

100 Years Ago—
School work in the Colville schools commenced on Tuesday with the enrollment more than ever before. The new school building and the improved transportation facilities provided by the local school district have aided materially in increasing the enrollment, according to Superintendent G.L. Putman.

100 Years Ago—
J.A. Love this week purchased the equipment of the Lunchette and took over the lease of the building on West First Avenue, remodeling the interior and changing the name to the Davenport Café.

100 Years Ago—
A delegation of mining men of Stevens County will meet with the mining bureau of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce in Spokane Monday to create interest in the development of Stevens County’s mines.

100 Years Ago—
A distress signal for Noah’s Ark was in order in the northeastern part of town Wednesday afternoon when an avalanche of water from a cloudburst on Colville Mountain made a regular flood for a short time.

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.

Almost two-and-a-half million acres of national forest land in Oregon and Washington have been closed this summer as an emergency forest fire measure, according to a Forest Service statement just issued.

Members of the local chamber of commerce joined delegations from the chambers of Kettle Falls, Chewelah, and Addy in a drive to advertise the salmon jump at Kettle Falls Saturday.

100 Years Ago—
The colorful and helpful life of Mrs. R.E. Lee, who passed away July 19, is disclosed in a study of her many activities.

Coping with the worst forest fire situation in the history of the county, a force of over 300 men is combating at least 100 fires, stated John T. Raftis, secretary of the Stevens County Timber Protective Association.

An ordinance providing for a new ornamental and overhead lighting system, to take the place of the present system in Colville, was passed Tuesday night. The estimated cost is $7,085.45, and the system will consist of ornamental lighting standards on the business portions of Main Street, Aster Avenue, and 1st Avenue.

Gathered at Arden dam, on the historic site of the old Arden mill and shad- ed by apple trees over 60 years old, over 200 pioneers of Stevens County met Wednesday, opening their merry-making by the singing of “America,” led by H.J. Plumb. A.H. Raynor of Chewelah, who conducts a poultry farm, reports a three legged chicken a week old.

W.L. Biggar, county treasurer, gives the following figures regarding the collection of the current year’s taxes ending May 31

Courtesy Stevens County Historical Museum
700 North Wynne in Colville

The 40-horsepower electric motor at the city well burned out last week, and, while waiting for another motor, the water in the reservoirs became lowered to the extent that the mayor asked Colville users to temporarily refrain from lawn sprinkling.

100 Years Ago— The sawmill of Diehl & Co. near the dolomite quarry east of Colville was destroyed by fire May 28 at noon.

Courtesy Stevens County Historical Museum
700 North Wynne in Colville