Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Lewis and Clark High School was flung open at long last – after a fire had destroyed the old school, after long delays in construction, and after three days of “dedicatory ceremonies.”

Students and the public crowded the new auditorium to hear formal speeches by school board members and other officials.

The city was crowded with educators that week because Spokane was also the site of the annual convention of the Inland Empire Teacher’s Association. The convention had been planned to coincide with the new school’s opening. 

Hundreds of teachers were arriving by train, and the main meetings were scheduled for Lewis and Clark’s new auditorium.

From the business beat: The Spokane mayor and city council declared May 1, 1912, to be “Buying at Home Day” in Spokane.

This was part of a campaign to convince consumers to buy local goods instead of mail-order goods.

The occasion would include “special store displays” of Spokane-produced goods.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1942: During World War II, Japanese forces began their final assault on Bataan against American and Filipino troops who surrendered six days later; the capitulation was followed by the notorious Bataan Death March.