Topics
Local History
Summary
How things have changed
Every Monday in The Spokesman-Review we bring you a new installment of Then & Now, a photo feature showing historic and modern images of places around Spokane.
See more of Then & Now online.
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Jim Kershner’s ‘This day in history’
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This day in history: Coors beer makes Spokane debut; Attempted recall Spokane public safety commissioner enters petition phase
From 1975: Spokane beer drinkers had something to celebrate: Coors beer was finally coming to the Spokane area.
This day in history: Major fog and a haven for ‘vice and immorality’ made headlines in Spokane
From 1975: Fog closed in on Spokane International Airport, causing flight delays during the busy Christmas Day schedule.
This day in history: A former mining tycoon shared his sad tale of financial ruin, offering some hard-earned advice
From 1975: The Spokane Chronicle told the riches-to-rags story of Frank N, Marr, 68, a former mining tycoon, now dying of cancer and barely surviving on Social Security.
This day in history: Controversy leads to dismantling of city trainee program. Local doctor proclaims ‘Take-a-Bath Day’ in Spokane
From 1975: The city of Spokane “deliberately built failure” into its controversial firefighter trainee program, said Ann Dewey, president of the Spokane chapter of the National Organization for Women .
This day in history: Two-week strike grounds United flights; Spokane leaders call for Hedger recall in connection with Prohibition
From 1975: The United Airlines desk at Spokane International Airport was back in business after two weeks of inactivity.
This day in history: Commission predicted energy crisis would spark downtown Spokane rebirth. Feds raided establishments without local police help
From 1975: The City Plan Commission predicted that an increasing number of families would be moving closer to downtown, and as a result, the city center should be oriented toward …
This day in history: Spokane stamp collector said he was tortured in Moroccan prisons. Pioneer died after he drove off Kettle Falls ferry
From 1975: A Spokane stamp broker, John L. Benzie, 27, said he was tortured by Moroccan police until he confessed to “smuggling.”
This day in history: An unexpected boon in Spokane tourism and a gruesome discovery made headlines
From 1975: More than 500 air travelers made an unscheduled stop at Spokane International Airport after flights were diverted from foggy Seattle and Portland.
This day in history: Davenport Hotel’s new attractions? Cheap beer and apple grunt
From 1975: Louis D’s, the newly revamped restaurant in the Davenport Hotel, had an enticing offer in its saloon.
This day in history: New Vietnamese refugees welcomed baby in Spokane. Safecracker found guilty in Paulsen Building burglaries
From 1975: A Spokane Chronicle reporter visited a Vietnamese refugee family and found that they had a new addition: Joseph August Nguyen, age 4 days.
This day in history: Maxey called prosecutor’s decision a ‘whitewash.’ Boys accused of stealing goose were jailed
From 1975: “Whitewash.”
This day in history: Christmas tree seekers trespass for evergreens; Paulsen heist witnesses testify suspect couldn’t have pulled off crime
From 1975: It was beginning to look a lot like … misdemeanor trespassing?
This day in history: Gonzaga students snuffed out the ‘glow of life’ in the name of science
From 1975: Five Gonzaga University undergrads said they had found the scientific explanation for the so-called photographic “glow of life.”
This day in history: Could a passion for pinball land three local kids in the Guiness Book of World Records?
From 1975: The Spokane Chronicle was monitoring the progress of three local pinball wizards who were attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Record’s mark for continuous pinball play.
This day in history: Mother of teen killed by cop criticized coroner inquiry. Also, UW and Oregon said they were departing an athletic conference. Sound familiar?
From 1975: Carrie Jordan, mother of the late Craig S. Jordan, issued a statement through her attorney, Carl Maxey, “strenuously objecting” to the way the coroner’s inquest into the death …
This day in history: Coroner’s jury cleared officer who shot teen. Attorney representing accused safecracker suggests inside job
This day in history: Spokane officer testified he thought teen had gun when he shot him. He held a glove
From 1975: When Craig S. Jordan, 17, crashed through a glass storm door, the thought that flashed through the mind of Spokane police officer John D. Moore, was, “Oh, God, …
This day in history: Coroner’s jury picked for police shooting review. Temperance group condemns displays
This day in history: Man was in the hospital after getting lost in whiteout on Mt. Rainier. Father and son were accused of car theft
This day in history: Symphony and ‘guitar pickin’ melded genres for a show that divided critics
From 1975: Guitar legend Chet Atkins headlined a pops concert at the Spokane Opera (Opry?) House, and Atkins opened by saying, “I hope you like guitar pickin’, because that’s all …
This day in history: Spokane judge proposed banning divorce. 2 men arrested after shots fired from downtown hotel
From 1975: A two-block area of downtown was cordoned off after at least four shots were fired in the vicinity of the Globe Annex Hotel, 225 N. Division.
This day in history: Teen escaped before having to testify against his mom. Hunters shot 3 cougars in Stevens County
From 1975: A Spokane judge presiding over a grand larceny case declared a mistrial for an unusual reason: A witness escaped from custody on the way to the courtroom.
This day in history: The investigation into a controversial police shooting continued under prosecuting attorney Donald Brockett
From 1975: Prosecuting Attorney Donald Brockett announced that the coroner’s inquest into the controversial shooting death of Craig Jordan would be presided over by Dr. Robert Harman, a deputy coroner.
This day in history: Winds likely caused crash killing professor near Cheney. Boytown elected leaders at A.M. Cannon Park
From 1975: A massive windstorm raked the Inland Northwest, killing an Eastern Washington State Colleger professor.
This day in history: ‘Portly gentleman’ Isaac Stern impressed S-R reviewer. Salvation Army staff successfully evacuated smoke-filled shelter
From 1975: World-famous violin virtuoso Isaac Stern “filled the (Spokane) Opera House Monday night with some of the most superb violin music this generation is likely to hear.”
This day in history: WSU head coach Sweeney resigns. Gonzaga looks to add new buildings to its campus
From 1975: Washington State University’s head football coach Jim Sweeney resigned “after a long week of reflection.”
This day in history: Man sits on cross on St. Aloysius cross at Gonzaga; new arena was proposed
From 1975: Passersby on East Boone Avenue were startled by an unusual sight: A young man was sitting atop one of the crosses on the twin spires above St. Aloysius …
This day in history: This Oscar-winning songwriter had ‘high hopes’ his donation to Gonzaga would be appreciated
From 1975: Songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, a four-time Oscar winner, donated many of his musical manuscripts to Gonzaga University’s Crosby Library.
This day in history: The tales of Thanksgiving humanity, live from Riverside Avenue
From 1975: A Spokesman-Review reporter decided to hang out on Riverside Avenue on a cold Thanksgiving Day and watch the pageant of humanity pass by.
This day in history: Prosecutors asked for redo of Liberty Lake sewer vote. Match company bought more timber land
From 1975: Election fraud!
This day in history: Spokane mayor suggested he opposed forming police review board. Rules at local college ban smoking …. by women
From 1975: The American Civil Liberties Union asked Spokane Mayor David H. Rodgers to form a Spokane Police Review Committee to investigate the fatal police shooting of Lewis and Clark …
This day in history: Stay Alive at 55? WSP was strictly enforcing the new nationwide speed limit, but its intent was not what it seemed
From 1975: The Washington State Patrol said it would have all available officers, including inspection men, on the highways to enforce the national speed limit: 55 miles per hour.