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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Spokane: Good Government League requests to hold dances in City Hall

Jim Kershner

From our archives,

100 years ago

Spokane’s Good Government League formally requested that the city government get into the municipal dance business.

This league, made up of the city’s club women, wanted the city to hold regular dances in Spokane City Hall.

This was the culmination of a long debate over whether dances should be allowed at all. The club women were convinced that people wanted dances, and it was best to hold them under controlled and well-chaperoned conditions. The league had just held three dances on its own and said that “all serious objections that were raised to the projects have certainly been removed.”

“We have had big crowds and and everyone who has witnessed was pleased with the outcome,” said one of the women.

They wanted the city to hold the dances in the City Council chambers. The league would provide chaperones.

From the prohibition beat: Pete Benstol of Tekoa won the doubtful honor of being the first person arrested as a bootlegger under the new statewide prohibition law.

Benstol, proprietor of Pete’s Cafe, was arrested for selling a quart of whiskey to Nancy Lawrence.

Meanwhile, the Spokane city chemist had a new task. The mayor asked him to analyze all “so-called soft drinks” to make sure they had no alcohol in them.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1896: Utah was admitted as the 45th state.