Jim Kershner: This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

One of the twin steeples on the new St. Aloysius Church at Gonzaga University was nearing completion.

The steeple towered 160 feet above the sidewalk. As soon as the first steeple was finished, the scaffolding would be taken down and used to build the other steeple.

A gilded cross, 10 feet high, would be placed on each steeple. Sunken panels on each side of the cross would be illuminated with 20 electric lights.

The church would also boast life-size bas-reliefs of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, made from solid Italian Carrara marble.

From the parapsychology beat: A psychologist said he believed that he could photograph human thoughts.

He said he believed that if subjects put their heads near the photo developing tank, and started thinking hard, the developed film would “show extremely interesting results.”

He had not actually attempted it yet, of course.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1811: Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker were born in Siam (now Thailand), giving rise to the term “Siamese twins.” … 1950: President Harry S. Truman formally dedicated the Grand Coulee Dam. … 1981: The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Cats,” based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” opened in London.