Out of the Past: 10/08/2025

100 Years Ago—

CHEWELAH—The Congregational Church of Chewelah last Sunday celebrated the 46^th anniversary of the founding of the first protestant church in Stevens County, Sept. 14, 1879. The occasion also marked the anniversary of the first public address made in Washington by the Rev. Cushing Eells, missionary, who on Sept. 16, 1838, spoke to a gathering of Indians at Chewelah on his first tour in the state.

Between 50 and 100 families are to find homes on the rich bench lands south of Kettle Falls, according to plans which have been under way for some time, and which are now announced. The lands south of the town of Kettle Falls, which are watered by the irrigation ditch of the Fruitland Irrigation Co., have never been entirely utilized, although they offer some of the finest home, farm, and orchard sites in the northwest.

75 Years Ago—    

Next year should see the breakthrough on the new highway between Kettle Falls and Republic, over the Sherman Creek route. The completion of this road will make a direct route between the two towns. The distance will be 28 miles.

50 Years Ago—  

A new, $225,000 grocery store construction was started this week on the north city limits of Colville. Bob Porter, owner of Porter’s Polka Dot, along with Sasquatch Local Development Corp. of Spokane, contracted Bryan Construction Co. of Colville to build the 9,600 square foot food store.

Colville has been selected by the Washington State Bicentennial Commission as one of the cities to host the performance of the State Traveling Festival “Spirit of 76.”

Gracing one of the rustic old walls of the Kettle Falls Railroad Depot is an old clock. The antique, which according to Kettle Falls Depot relief agent Alton Sanders keeps impeccable time, has an interesting story behind it. The clock, which is an original piece of equipment of the Northern Railroad, will, according to a notice located inside the clock, be granted to the Stevens County Historical Society, if and when it is replaced. (Burlington Northern donated the clock to the Historical Society, where it has been on display since 1977.)

25 Years Ago—

Modern firearm whitetail and mule buck season opens Saturday in most areas of eastern Washington. A three-point minimum is required for mule bucks in most areas, while any whitetail buck with visible antlers is legal. 

A total of 2,617 veterans and dependents turned out for the third annual Tri-County Veterans Stand Down last week.

David Tonasket rushed for a career-high 309 yards and four touchdowns as Inchelium cruised to a 64-14 win Friday afternoon over outmanned Curlew.

10 Years Ago—

Washington state’s minimum wage will stay the same in 2016 – $9.47 per hour – because the national Consumer Price Index did not increase.

Vern Vaagen of Colville recorded his first-ever hole-in-one last week when his tee shot on the 190-yard, par 3, 11^th hole at Dominion Meadows Golf Course found the bottom of the cup. Vaagen, a regular with the Wanderer’s Senior Golf Group, was using a Nike driver.