Out of the Past 6/17/26

100 Years Ago—

The annual gathering of the Stevens County Pioneers will take place on June 30 at Arden dam; notices are being sent to all pioneers by the secretary, Mrs. Clara Shaver. Water barrels placed by the Great Northern Railway on its bridges along the Marcus Branch of the Spokane division are frequently stolen, reported C.J. Dahl of the bridge and building gang. Mr. Dahl stated that he believes these thefts are perpetrated by moonshiners, who are either unable or are reluctant to buy them, fearing it would direct suspicion onto themselves.

75 Years Ago—

Colville will have a first-class post office on July 1. But, except for the name, the advance will have little effect on service in the community. Only immediate changes will be to reduce hours of money order sales and to boost box rent sales. Fireworks – just in case you’ve forgotten – are unlawful in Stevens County. County commissioners this week reminded county residents that a new county ordinance forbids the possession, sale, or firing of fireworks in the county throughout the year. Preliminary work has already begun by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada on the new power dam on the Pend Oreille River at Waneta, B.C., just across the International Boundary. Two couples tied for honors in the mixed two-ball foursome tourney at the Elks Golf Course Tuesday. Harry Nottingham and Mrs. Jean Charbonnel tied with Robert Paine and Mrs. Floyd White in the event. Both scored net 33s. Ross Corl and Tom Dodson placed second.

50 Years Ago—

R. E. Lee Ace Hardware will have a new home in November after 86 years in the same location at 1st and Main in Colville. The store, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Hancock, will be the second largest commercial retail store in Colville with nearly 21,000 square feet. Location will be in the fast-growing southtown area, and will be a half million-dollar project. It’s been two years this month since the Stevens County Pomona Grange made the decision to donate Douglas Falls Grange Park to the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to the DNR, in 1974 they were going to put over $85,000 in improvements into the 120-acre park with the development to begin in July of 1975.

25 Years Ago—

Last Tuesday’s city council meeting marked a small victory for Colville’s Main Street merchants. They will now be permitted to put items on their sidewalks during weekends and federal holidays, from July 15 to Oct. 21. The city of Colville will go forward with water main upgrades, primarily on Oak Street this year. Most of the work that will be done was included in plans for Phase Two of the Colville 2000 Project. Gloria Cooper has announced her resignation as CEO of Mount Carmel Hospital, effective Aug. 2, 2001. She has agreed to continue on a consultative basis with the leadership of the hospital as needed.

10 Years Ago—

The city of Colville is pursuing solar energy with the installation of the first city-owned solar array. For $15,000, the city hired Apollo Solutions Group, an energy service company who worked on Colville’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city will install 276 LG Electronic Solar Modules in an unused field at 180 degrees Degrief Road in Colville.