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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s first Red Cross organization was formally established in a meeting of 50 women at the Davenport Hotel’s Elizabethan Room.

It was the Spokane women’s response to the ongoing humanitarian disaster unfolding in the European war. The American National Red Cross, as the parent organization was known at the time, also was committed to helping out in natural disasters at home.

The Spokane organization adopted the following mission statement: “To collect and accumulate money and material, and devote the same to private nurses and assistants, drugs, etc., in time of war and in case of other calamity, such as famine, pestilence, floods and fires.”

They also were committed to “care especially for the families of active participants in time of war.”

Mrs. C.S. Albert was elected president. Miss Gertrude Huntington and Mrs. George P. Hardgrove were elected first and second vice presidents.

From the restaurant beat: The multinational character of the eating establishments on West Main Avenue near Washington Street was illustrated by the 29 people who were on the police docket on charges of serving liquor without a license in their restaurants.

The defendants were all Greek, Japanese or Chinese.