100 years ago in Spokane, teachers help find jobs for less-affluent students

From our archives,

100 years ago

Two teachers at North Central High School were making great progress in helping out the school’s less-affluent students.

They launched a program to help students find after-school jobs. Miss Ida May Wilson had already secured positions for nearly 300 girls. J.O. Ecker, a math teacher, had found jobs for 25 boys. A few were making as much as $12 a week, but most considerably less.

“Some of the boys are working for just their room and board,” Ecker said. “They are putting themselves through school, and the business men of the city are willing to cooperate with us in placing the boys. … Among the positions secured are clerkships, laundry work, ushering in picture shows, janitor work and carrying newspapers. Many of the boys not only support themselves, but help support the family and one boy in school makes it possible for his younger brother to attend school.”

From the Hillyard beat: William McBride, Hillyard’s police marshal, was cleared of charges that he “used abusive language unbecoming to an officer” during an altercation with Charles Lewis.

Lewis claimed that he was drinking with McBride in a Hillyard saloon. Lewis paid for the drinks and apparently became upset when McBride did not reciprocate. Lewis claimed the marshal “called him a liar and used other bad language.”

McBride told the Hillyard City Council he was not drinking at all, although he admitted that he called Lewis a liar. The council dismissed the charge.