School Time in Colville

School news from Colville, Washington! A little info on Colville here.

I'm not sure when school started in the area, but from this ad, I can assume not August…

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

Though it appears high school, at least, was already in session. (Also interesting to see how few boys were in those classes that elected female officers.)

The High School Classes Elect

That woman suffrage gets its start in the seats of learning, particularly in the high school, was fully demonstrated during the past week when the different classes of the Colville high school held their annual election of class officers. Of the three class presidents elected, the freshman class being the only class which failed to elect all its officers, two were girls. Of the remaining offices, eight were awarded to girls and seven to boys.

Margaret Taylor was elected president of the senior class, making it the third consecutive time that she had directed the affairs of the '21 class as its president. Enos Rice, president of the student body, was elected vice president; Wilbur Copp, secretary; Christine Kimple, treasurer and Alice Conner to the social committee.

Following the seniors, the juniors elected Emma Hofstetter president. Miss Hofstetter has successfully served as president of the '22 class in its freshman and sophomore years. Huburt Page was chosen as vice president; Theis Johnson, secretary; Harold Baird, treasurer; Dorothy Diffenbacher was elected to the social committee.

Gerald Exley was elected president of the sophomore class, making it the second time that he has directed its affairs as president. The other officers elected were Charles Wilbur, vice president; Velma Hackett, secretary and treasurer; Bernie Schwerdfield was chosen to represent the class on the social committee. William Caldwell was the only freshman elected, the first year students electing him to represent them on the social committee.

Instead of having their class advisors appointed, the different classes elected their own class advisors. The seniors elected Miss Eleanor Wilbur, the juniors Miss Marjorie Heaton, the sophomores Miss Muriel Anderson and the freshman Miss Lelah Burgess.

According to the figures compiled by H. A. Scarborough, high school principal, there are 141 girls in the high school and 104 boys. Twenty-one girls are members of the seniors class; 28 belong to the juniors; 38 to the sophomores while 54 claim the freshman class. More boys belong to the freshman class than any other class, there being 44 first year boys; 30 claim the sophomore class; 21 pride themselves on being juniors. Only 9 boys are in the senior class, making it one of the smallest number of boys to be in the senior class in recent years.

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

This ad amazed me--it sounds like they're saying, sit your kid in front of the record player to entertain them and keep them out of your hair!

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

Funny little ad about appliances for "the young lady who is attending school away from home." Note the electric iron is "Indispensible to the girl who is fussy about her appearance."

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

I find it fascinating that the eye doctor only comes to town every 3 months, if you don't want to get your glasses at the jeweler....

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

In other news, there was a socialist, vegetarian, Russian commune 60 miles from Colville; you can read about it on Page 2.

One could totally steal that for a society in a fantasy story, I think. "We are all brothers, and we believe in Jesus" seems to be the basic expression of the Dukhobor belief….The Grand Forks Dukhobors may be crazy to content themselves with the simple life which they lead, but they are demonstrating the human ability to work few hours and yet have more than plenty, and to live and rear families without the spectre of poverty continually facing them.

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

And I wish banks were like this nowadays.

--The Colville Examiner, Saturday, September 17, 1921

Quietest Fourth - July 9, 1921 - Colville, WA

Just scanned the Library of Congress website for interesting articles. I have a soft spot for small-town newspapers.

Colville Has Quietest Fourth

"The quietest fourth Colville ever had that I can remember," said G. B. Ide, idly stretching himself in his real estate office "And I have seen a good many in this town during my 37 years residence. As for myself, I went up to Mill creek and did some fishing."

"It was too quiet for me" stated Justice of the Peace J. H. King. "While I did not go any place outside of Colville, it seems most of the town wont to Chewelah to attend the celebration. I came down town once and then went back. Again later in the afternoon, I came down attain to see if there was anybody around but one look convinced me that the lakes, Chewelah and Inchelium had been the mecca for the most of Colville's citizens."

Most of Colville divided in spending the fourth. A small number stayed home. Part went to Inchelium to attend the regular Indian celebration being held at that place. But the largest part by far went to Chewelah where the Colville band and baseball team were the leading attractions.

Those who did not go to either of the above named places went to the different streams and lakes in the county on camping and fishing parties. County Engineer T. M. Onet (???) and his assistant Fred Thomas went out to the lakes but when the fish refused to bite they turned to other diversions.

"Home looked good to me, so good in fact that I spent the fourth there"
responded Justice A. L. Knapp when questioned as to his whereabouts.
"Speaking of quiet fourths, Colville had the quietest that I can remember," and Justice Knapp must be taken as an authority when the fact becomes known that he has lived in the vicinity for the past 32 years.

Led by the Colville band and augmented by fourteen members of the Frank Starr Post Noi. (sic?) 47 of the American Legion, the celebration at Chewelah easily attracted more people from Colville than any other single celebration. The Colville band was the only band of three advertised to appear that actually put in an appearance.

Much favorable comment was heard on all sides on the new cap adopted by the Frank Starr Post. The cap is modeled on the same pattern as the cap worn overseas by doughboys in the late war, and is blue with gold trimmings.

The individual features of the parade was the beautifully decorated automobile floats, with the comedy being furnished by the clowns. Eight former ex-sailors from Chewelah in their white uniforms also came in for their share of the attention. In the parade, the post flag of the Frank Starr Post was carried by Color Bearers Bob Lee and Abe Denson. Jack St. Clair and Warwick Stewart acted as color guards. John V. Folsom post of Chewelah also took part in the parade and later acted as host to the Colville post at a dinner.

The ball game in the afternoon between Chewelah and Colville attracted its share of the crowd attending the celebration. In the evening dancing was the chief form or (sic?) amusement offered. Numerous automobile parties made little side trips into the country.

--The Colville Examiner, July 9, 1921

I had no idea Colville even existed before this article...it seems to have a population around 5,000. Couldn't find any good sources but Wikipedia says there were less than 2,000 residents in 1920.

Interestingly, Chewelah is even smaller than Colville. Wikipedia (again, not the height of accuracy, but couldn't find any better in limited time) said Chewelah's population in 1920 was 1,600--pretty close to Colville's.

And to my surprise, Colville is about 23 miles away from Chewelah! I wonder if they had any transportation, or if everyone was just driving...

And an ad from JC Penney!



I love old clothes, of course. This might be noteworthy due to the early 1920s corset (not exactly an hourglass figure).



--The Colville Examiner, July 9, 1921

Now, JC Penney has over 1,100 stores.