Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Spokane: Irish celebrate, and bowling match by telegraph planned

At a St. Patrick’s Day event at the Hotel Spokane, Alonzo Murphey spoke about the “hyphenated American” and said there was nothing wrong with Americans having pride in the country of their ancestors, The Spokesman-Review reported on March 17, 1916. “I believe that the great mass of our citizens, including the much abused German-American, will be found loyal to the country when put to the test,” he said. (The Spokesman-Review)

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s top bowlers were planning to be part of a new kind of athletic competition: a telegraph match.

They were planning to compete against teams in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Butte and other Western cities.

The teams will all “roll separate matches in the championship contest and the scores will be exchanged by telegraph.”

From the St. Patrick’s Day beat: The Spokane Irish-American Society gave its annual St. Patrick’s Day banquet to a large and appreciative crowd at the Hotel Spokane. A number of Spokane’s Irish-American attorneys gave talks, prompting the emcee to quip that the legal bar was now the only licensed bar in Spokane, which explains why so many of its members were in attendance.

Many Irish songs were performed, including “Rose of My Heart” and “The Shannon.”

One orator said he “prayed that God would hasten the day when every shackle on Irish freedom should be stricken off.”

Meanwhile, about 400 people attended the St. Patrick’s party at the Sacred Heart Church.

The event included a dinner prepared by the women of the parish.