100 years ago in Spokane: Mechanics needed for war effort

About 300 soldiers were headed to Spokane to learn a vital wartime skill: auto mechanics.

The Modern Automobile School, 11 W. Indiana Ave., had just signed a contract to train at least that many soldiers.

“The immediate need of automobile mechanics and drivers in France has resulted in our getting this contract,” said the head of the school.

Contracts were also pending to house and feed the soldiers.

From the Catholic beat: New statistics showed the Catholic population in the Spokane diocese was growing fast.

In 1914, the number of enrolled Catholics was 25,000; in 1917, it had increased to 25,392. In 1914, Spokane had nine Catholic churches; in 1917, there were 11. There were three parochial schools in Spokane in 1914; seven in 1917.

The increase was even more striking in the rest of the diocese. The entire diocese had 41 churches in 1914; that had mushroomed to 93 in 1917.