Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Snoqualmie Pass formally opened for automobile traffic after “two years of unceasing effort.” A cavalcade of 30 autos made the trip from Ellensburg to the west slopes of the Cascades.

The road was declared to be in “first-class shape,” but it was not intended to be permanent. It was built to last two years, at which point an appropriation was expected from the state to improve the road and make it a part of the highway system.

The route involved a ferry ride over Lake Keechelus, which cost motorists $2.50 per vehicle.

From the police beat: The Spokane police officer whose mustache was burned off by a skyrocket on the Fourth of July ended up losing his job because of it.

The department didn’t have a problem with the incident itself. Officer Dan Millane was walking his beat when a skyrocket hit him and singed his mustache and his eyebrows. However, the problem came with what he said about it afterward.

Police officials claimed that he misrepresented the severity of the injuries and used them as an excuse to take the next day off. He said he was going to stay home in bed. In fact, he spent the day getting married.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1952: The Summer Olympics opened in Helsinki, Finland.