Out Of The Past 05/27/26

100 Years Ago—

The sawmill of Diehl & Co. near the dolomite quarry east of Colville was destroyed by fire May 28 at noon. The loss was around $10,000, nothing was saved. R.D. Kruckman, a dairyman living just west of the depot, this week completed a modern cooling and sterilization plant on his ranch. The walls of the building and the floors are cement. WANTED – Ambitious men. A good reputation, some talent, and $6 a month for a short time will secure for you a real education in electrical engineering at home with tools and materials furnished by us under written guarantee of a good position or a prompt refund of the entire amount paid. P.O. Box 322, Seattle.

75 Years Ago—

An event of importance to the future development of this area was the announcement today of the opening of the Colville Branch of the National Bank of Commerce of Seattle, succeeding the Guaranty State Bank. The Colville branch will open for business on June 11. Les Clark of Northport and northern Stevens County Chamber of Commerce has been advised by J.R. Tillman, state highway district engineer, that one-way, light traffic will be allowed across the new Northport bridge effective Wednesday morning, June 13. Ground was broken for the 50-bed Mount Carmel Hospital here Thursday morning.

50 Years Ago—

Colville joins the nation Sunday with the start of its eight-day Bicentennial celebration. Sunday, June 13, opens the celebration with a pioneer picnic, dedication of a new museum and a state musical production. Voters from three county school districts passed two special school levies and turned down another during last Friday’s election. Colville voters passed a $144,700 levy with a favorable ballot of 60.6%. A total of 1,685 went to the polls, 1,006 voting “yes” and 652 “no.” The 9,000 to 10,000-year history of man in the Kettle Falls area was on display in the city library during Town and Country Days. A total of 180 artifacts were accompanied by a tape recording prepared by Chief Archaeologist David Chance, outlining three main periods of habitation.

25 Years Ago—

An 18-hole golf course is closer to reality in Colville. Work is well underway on construction of the remaining seven holes of the approximately $1 million Dominion Meadows Golf Course project. Onion Creek School District #30 is a small school with a big history that reads a lot like “Little House on the Prairie.” Commemorating its 85th year, students and staff alike are taking a look back on what brought them to where they are today and celebrating what’s remained constant: the community. Former Colville High School softball pitcher Terrah Brown has been named to the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) All-American team. A junior at Cornerstone University in Michigan, Brown received the honors announced on May 22 in Decatur, Ala. She is the only All-American named from the state of Washington.

10 Years Ago—

VALLEY – Valley School District has received a Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant award in the amount of $128,796 as part of the state legislature’s Healthiest Next Generation Initiative.