100 Years Ago in Spokane: Chroncile warns of hazard of mill ponds

Riverside mill ponds were one of the most dangerous summertime hazards in 1920 Spokane.

Why?

The floating logs sometimes proved fatally attractive to children.

The Spokane Daily Chronicle published an editorial headlined: “Playing in the Tricky River is Fooling With Sudden Death.”

Several lives had already been claimed by this dangerous pursuit. It was all too easy for a child to slip between the rolling logs and become trapped underneath. The Chronicle noted approvingly that Spokane police were now “on the trail of children who are in the habit” of playing on those logs.

“Good, safe swimming pools are provided by the city, where the youngsters can enjoy to their heart’s content the summer sport of swimming,” the Chronicle said.

From the Hutton Settlement beat: The Hutton Settlement was opening its doors to “all the well-wishers of this new home for children.”

The orphanage was planning a public reception to thank the community for its overwhelming support.

“Seldom has a public institution met with such a hearty and instantaneous welcome in contributions of all denominations and gifts of every nature,” the president of the board said.

These gifts were not all monetary. Several dentists gave one day a week of care. Many of the workmen who built the compound voluntarily offered one free day of labor. Schoolchildren donated their pennies.

On this day

(From Associated Press)

1829: William Austin Burt received a patent for his “typographer,” a forerunner of the typewriter.