Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane County provided the cook of the county honor farm with a badly needed set of false teeth. 

Yet there was a catch. The false teeth were engraved “Property of Spokane County” and must be returned to the county if the cook gives up the job.

A few days earlier, cook Pete McMillan had earned the sympathy of one county commissioner when he said that “he was forced to live on a diet of soft food.” The commissioner brought him into Spokane and had him fitted for the teeth.

The other commissioners weren’t so generous, however. They accused that commissioner of being “tender-hearted” and they demanded that the teeth be labeled as their property.

The cook didn’t seem to mind. He celebrated his new teeth with a lengthy “visit to local thirst parlors,” which rendered him unfit for duty for three days. However, he eventually showed up, apologized and began cooking better than ever.

From the jaywalking beat: The Spokane City Council was waffling over the new jaywalking ordinance, which had met with wide derision. Several commissioners were considering repealing it. They especially disapproved of the section that banned pedestrians from crossing diagonally at intersections.

But one commissioner pleaded for its continuation. He called it “a good thing,” and urged that it be given a fair chance.