Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A.S. Cooper arrived at the city clerk’s office to register to vote, and it soon became clear that he was someone special. He had lived in Spokane for 34 years, having arrived in 1878.

That meant Cooper had continuously resided in the city longer than any other registered voter except James N. Glover (aka the Father of Spokane), who beat Cooper out by only a year.

Cooper said he had acquired a lot as a homesite on what is now Main Avenue, between Washington and Bernard streets, for $40.   

From the fair file: The Interstate Fair continued to pack in the crowd with a variety of irresistible attractions, including a fattest-man-on-Earth exhibit and – on a similar note – a hog-raising competition.

A roving reporter noted that when a hog “gets to be a third of a ton, he has to be somewhat deliberate in his movements and the owners don’t try to make him stand up hurriedly lest he break a leg.” No word on whether the fat man had a similar problem.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1863: President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day. … 1932: Iraq became independent of British administration.