Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

Wed., Dec. 21, 2011

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

From our archives, 100 years ago

A “social survey” of Spokane, conducted by a group called the Men and Religion Forward Movement, provided a statistical snapshot of Spokane, circa 1911:

• Protestant churches, 95

• Catholic churches, six

• Saloons, 233

• Lodge members, 23,270

• Largest lodge, Loyal Order of Moose, 3,200, followed by the Modern Woodmen of America, 1,725, and the Free and Accepted Masons, 1,525

• Musical organizations, 76

• Arrests made during the year, 6,103, of which 1,100 were women and girls

• Top cause of death, pneumonia

• Union workers, 7,000 (the survey-takers pointed out that, in general, Spokane had a favorable view of organized labor)

• Dancing academies, four

The Men and Religion Forward group warned against the questionable influence of these dancing academies. They pointed out that the dances usually ended at midnight.

“Actions on the street after the dance are very suggestive,” the survey noted.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1988: Two hundred seventy people were killed when a terrorist bomb exploded aboard a Pam Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, sending wreckage crashing to the ground.

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