Out of the Past: 10/29/2025

100 Years Ago—

The Upper Columbia Company is finishing picking and packing apples this week, having had about 50 people picking and 25 people in the packing sheds. The apples have been shipped as fast as they were packed. The apples will go into a diversity of markets, some to Sweden, some to England, a part to Georgia, and some to Chicago for storage.

“Barmans—Colville’s Economy Center”—9-ounce White King granulated soap, 10 cents; Holdfast mouse trap, each 4 cents; Spring clothes pins, three dozen for 19 cents; Shredded Wheat, 12 cents; Instant Postum, 43 cents; bulk macaroni, 4 lbs., 2 cents; 10-lb. White Crystal syrup, 93 cents; Hill’s Bros. Blue Can Coffee, 1 lb., 50 cents.

75 Years Ago—    

Barman’s new department store will open here Nov. 3, Louis Strauss, co-owner of the business with his son, Bob, announced today. The store, which has been under construction since April, will open with a complete line of new merchandise in every department, Strauss said.

The story of a 14-year-old babysitter who braved flames three times to save four children from a fire which claimed lives of four others, was told today by her parents, the only persons to talk with her since the tragedy. Margaret Frye, two-thirds of her body burned in the blaze, told the story between blackouts of pain and shock as doctors battled to save her life in the Mount Carmel Hospital.

50 Years Ago—  

Room rates at Mount Carmel Hospital increased by $5 a day effective Nov. 1, according to Sister Eva Sullivan, administrator. Semi-private room rates have increased from $59 to $64, and private rooms from $64 to $69. Mount Carmel’s rates are still among the lowest in the state.

Lee W. Cagle will be Colville’s new mayor, defeating his opponent Vern Hotchkiss in Tuesday’s General Election.

Colmac Coil in Colville has been named contractor to build three types of coils as standard equipment aboard the United States Navy’s new destroyers and logistic helicopter assault ships.

25 Years Ago—

The City of Kettle Falls is currently in the process of applying for a General Purpose Grant provided through the Community Development Block Grant Program. The federally funded grant provides smaller cities and counties with up to $750,000 of its $8 million available annually.

Plans for a successful Colville High School Project Graduation party for the class of 2001 are underway. Since 1988, Project Graduation has hosted drug and alcohol-free all-night parties full of games and entertainment for Colville seniors on graduation night.

10 Years Ago—

Colville High School (8-1, 7-0) beat Lakeside 41-28 last Friday night at Nine Mile Falls to annex their second straight Northeast A League Football Championships, and earn District 7’s top seed to the State 1A playoffs that will begin Nov. 13 and 14.

In the city of Colville budget draft for 2016, Mayor Lou Janke highlighted the need for technological improvements to the city’s departments. To start with, the police could use more equipment. “Police cars are going to be in need in 2017 and 2018,” Janke explained. “So it’s positioning to fill the pot to meet that need.”