Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane was mobilizing its resources to help people made “homeless and destitute” by the Big Burn.

The Spokane Chamber of Commerce sent 40 tents, 75 mattresses, 150 blankets and tons of food to Newport, Wash. Many ranchers and farmers in the area lost all of their possessions.

The chamber determined that Wallace was in desperate need of money to care for the hundreds of injured firefighters and other victims. The chamber announced an urgent collection for Wallace. Several prominent citizens, including Jimmie Durkin and Patsy Clark, made large donations. The chamber immediately raised $1,757.

From the society beat: Meanwhile, life went on with little disruption in Spokane, judging from the society pages. The paper reported that “Miss Helen Jones celebrated her 18th birthday anniversary” by entertaining 20 friends at Natatorium Park, the area’s amusement park.

Miss Ruth Hand celebrated her “12th birthday anniversary” with a house party, including games on the lawn “including a peanut hunt.”

And a newlywed couple were going on their honeymoon – in Hayden, not too far from the fires’ devastation.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

2005: Hurricane Katrina hit Florida with 80 mph winds and headed into the Gulf of Mexico.