Out of the Past: 09/24/2025

100 Years Ago—

The number of students enrolled in high schools this year greatly exceeds that of last year.  There are 274 students in high school and 109 in junior high.

The student whose grade comes in the lowest 10% of his class will have the pleasure of meditating on his sins during the eighth period for the next six weeks. 

In the post office window has been displayed an interesting replica of the days of Fort Colville on Mill Creek. A barber chair in use at the fort has miraculously been preserved; its appearance marks the contrast between pioneer and present days. The chair is nothing but a rough board altar on which the tonsorial victim was seated until his hair could be sheared. For some reason or other, it was painted green and brown.

75 Years Ago—    

Governor Arthur Langlie opened the Saturday afternoon program at the Colville fair. Gov. Langlie lauded exhibitors and fair officials for the type of show presented.

Two Colville businesses plan opening events in Colville Saturday. Scamahorn’s Studios will hold an open house all day Saturday, in a new studio in the Vinson building. Tykie Cox and Skinny Painter will welcome patrons at Burger-In, north of the city beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Colville’s 1950 Northern Washington district fair was termed “the best in history” by exhibitors, spectators, and fair officials alike as the show closed Sunday.   

George Hofstetter, who can lay claim to being the oldest white child born in Stevens County, celebrated his 80^th birthday on Thursday of this week. Hofstetter is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hofstetter, and was born in Pinckney City, three miles northeast of Colville. Pinckney City was located across Mill Creek from the Fort Colville garrison.

50 Years Ago—  

The city of Colville received approval Sept. 17, of its proposed relocation site for the Colville Municipal Airport.

The Stevens County CowBelles met Wednesday at the Fort Colville Grange. Officers for the coming year were elected as follows: president, Jean Urhausen; vice-president, Sara Lilienthal; secretary, Evelyn Bolt; and treasurer, Phyllis Fuhrman. 

25 Years Ago—

One of the major stories to come out of last Tuesday’s primary election in Stevens County was the number of registered voters opting to vote absentee. Four years ago, there were only about 1,500 registered absentee voters in Stevens County. This year, about 5,300 ballots were mailed to voters.

The Goodwill Industries Store at 168 N. Main in Colville, sustained an undetermined amount of damage as a result of a fire in the building Saturday.                                                                                                                                       

10 Years Ago—

As of last Thursday, 12 deer were confirmed dead in Colville from an insect-borne, viral disease called bluetongue, which has been exacerbated by the statewide drought.

CHEWELAH—The Chewelah Performing and Cultural Arts Center Board has adopted the title of “Chewelah Center for the Arts” as the name of the new facility located in the old city shop building on 3^rd St. E. in Chewelah.