Waldo Rosebush is probably most widely known in the Spokane area for his historical writings. In the early 1930's, he edited two major series of articles for the Spokesman Review Newspaper named "The Valley of the Sun". The articles In each series detail Spokane Valley history and are either written by early valley settlers themselves or by someone who had interviewed an early settler. In 2000, this collection of articles remains one of the most Important sources of Spokane Valley history available. At the time of his death In 1961, Mr Rosebush was a member of the board of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society.

Mr Rosebush was an avid gun collector, amateur gunsmith and inventor. This "modest man provided valuable counsel and assistance in assembling, restoring, and preserving" The Eastern Washington State Historical Society's Gun Collection which was on display for many years In the Cheney Cowles Memorial Museum, Spokane, Washington. (Dedication, "American Firearms and the Changing Frontier ") He presented his personal gun collection to the University of Wisconsin Historical Museum sometime around 1961.

His interest In history and guns lead naturally to his two major books "Frontier Steel," tells the story of military weapons used in the conquest of the west. It talks of the Black Hawk war through the Mexican war and the Northwest Indian battles. It Includes a stirnng account of Colonel Steptoe's defeat Near Rosalia, Washington in May 1858. "American Firearms and the Changing Frontier" explains the basic principles of firearms in general. It then follows the improvements and advantages of specific weapons and the impact these had on United States history up until about 1900. Although these two books have long been out of print, judging by their price and availability as used or collectors books, they continue to be appreciated in 2000.

Mr Rosebush's old hometown of Alfred also benefited from his civic mindedness and generosity. In his will, Waldo Rosebush left a small bequest saying, "I Wish this income to be used for a music festival In the Village of Alfred, N Y on some suitable day each year, say about commencement time".

As the 1930's depression progressed, financial pressures on The Inland Empire Paper Company reached a point where reorganization was necessary to keep it in operation. In April, 1936, Waldo Rosebush resigned as general manager. He went back to the military for a vocation and served the army as a civilian in Alaska and the Pacific before retiring to Appleton, Wisconsin. He would not, however, sell his beloved house in Millwood. He rented it to a local family and maintained his voting residence there. He returned to Millwood annually to vote and visit with his many friends in the area.