Out of the Past: 01/14/2026

100 Years Ago—

Stevens County has 2,643 farms, according to the revised estimate Jan. 1 made by the Department of Commerce. This is 84 less than in 1920.

Jamaica ginger is to be removed from the list of intoxicants available to the thirsty. This tragedy is to occur April 1. The order provides that Jamaica ginger of double strength shall thereafter be handled the same as alcohol.

An ore sample showing wire silver has been on display at the Bank of Colville this week, brought from the Old Dominion Mine. So far as is known, this property is the only one in Stevens County which has shown any amount of wire silver.

75 Years Ago—    

The Gotham twins, Merle and Verle, enlisted on Jan. 2 in the Army Air Force. The two youths, both graduates of Colville High School in 1948, signed up for four-year enlistments with Capt. Robert Campbell, Spokane Air Force recruiting officer.

The Colville city council this week passed an exhaustive taxicab ordinance. The ordinance limits the number of taxicabs permitted in the city, establishes fares and sets up rules concerning drivers and licensing.

The county jail held a total of 166 prisoners during 1950, a total summary compiled by the sheriff’s office this week.

50 Years Ago—  

Northwest Alloys, Inc., on Jan. 7, began heating its large ferrosilicon furnaces as a first step toward the production of magnesium and silicon, two major alloying agents used in making aluminum.

Stevens County Commissioners will hold a hearing on Monday on an ordinance raising the salary of the county commissioners to $12,700.

A workshop to help Colville plan bicentennial events and activities is set for Thursday at the Colville City Hall, according to Marian F. Garvey, festival hostess committee chairwoman.

25 Years Ago—

A proposal to create a wide-ranging national monument that would cover most of the Colville National Forest in Ferry County has been unveiled by a consortium of conservation and recreation organizations. The proposal, which was unveiled last Thursday, would create the Columbia Mountains National Monument in northeast Washington.

B. E. “Bushy” Norberg, 84-years-old and a native of Stevens County, has had quite a life. He remembers meeting John F. Kennedy during World War II. He also served as an Honor Guard at the casket of President Roosevelt.

10 Years Ago—

Anyone traversing the Colville Main Street corridor and perusing the shops along the way will eventually find themselves at an intersection they have to cross. In an attempt to make their journeys from one side of State Highway 395 to the other side safer, Colville city council approved a pilot project that will implement crosswalk flags along specific sections of Main Street.