Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane merchants and manufacturers were elated over the success of “Home Industry Week,” which is what today we would call “Buying Local Week.”

Merchants were making special window displays of locally manufactured goods. For instance, there were displays touting Western Soap Works, Northwest Harvester and the Inland Empire Biscuit Co..

The goal of the promotion was to encourage people to buy local goods instead of buying mail-order and other out-of-area products. Apparently, it worked. Local producers said they were “besieged with telephone and personal inquiries.”

From the accident beat: Cody Lewis, 4, was playing on the street when he ran backward away from his playmates. Unfortunately, he ran across the streetcar tracks at the moment the Altamont streetcar was rumbling through.

He was struck by the fender. A 5-year-old playmate tried to pull him off, but was unable to grab him. The boy rolled off and under the moving streetcar. His mother and the motorman were both inconsolable.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1886: At Haymarket Square in Chicago, a labor demonstration for an eight-hour workday turned into a deadly riot when a bomb exploded.