From the Files

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

November 30, 1922

Veteran flagman concludes service for N.P. Railway

John Sponcler, faithful guardian of the Adams St. crossing of the Northern Pacific, will conclude his service for the railway company on Thanksgiving Day, the last day of November. He has been working for the company 15 years, the last ten of it steadily as flagman at the crossing here. On account of his age, he is being retired.

Despite his 78 years there are few men half his age who put in the hours of work that he does. He gets down to the station at five in the morning and starts in the day with tending the furnace and then cleaning up the station. With his co-worker, Frank Fowler, they mop the floor, wipe off the woodwork and brighten the depot so that it is one of the most attractive stations the N.P. has. Then he goes to his station as flagman where he guards the crossing until six in the evening.

Still found by officers near Ralston

Deputies McCollom and Lambert made a trip to Ralston and found at the home G.G. Gisler near town, a still. They also found about 3 gallons of moonshine and 45 gallons of mash. He was tried before Justice W.D. McCollom and given a sentence of 30 days in jail and a fine of $100 and costs.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

November 27, 1947

District gets new fire wagon

Fire Protection District No. 1 received a new fire truck Sunday; a smaller outfit than their other 1000 gal. capacity truck but especially useful in rough scab-rock country where the heavier truck cannot go. The new outfit is on a Ford 1½ ton truck with two speed transmission. The water tank has a capacity of 300 gallons and there is 200 feet of 1½ inch hose and 150 feet of booster hose. At present the outfit is being stored at the Ott Motor Co.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

November 30, 1972

Tax billing now on machine

Automation last week began helping two offices in the Adams County courthouse as a large accounting machine was installed and programmed at the offices of the County Treasurer and County Assessor. The machine will do all the calculating and most of the printing of the county's tax roll and tax statements. Where deputies in each office, working with thousands of complex tax accounts, formerly used calculators, typewriters and pen and pencil, the machine now is doing the job.

Flames destroy rural house

The Dennis Greenwalts lost almost everything in their home when fire destroyed it Thanksgiving Day. The rural home, belonging to Herb Steffen, Odessa, was about 20 miles west of Ritzville and about 14 miles south of Odessa. Salvaged were three albums of photos, the covers severely scorched, the Thanksgiving turkey cooking in the oven of the electric stove, and pork meat placed just a day or two earlier in the family's freezer...The family took the partly-cooked turkey to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Finkbeiner where Dennis had been employed last summer.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

November 27, 1997

Open house set for library's 90th

Ritzville Public Library is marveling in the past and future of the library and the City of Ritzville and its surrounding communities. Ninety years ago, the Carnegie Library was built and still continues to provide library service to the public. The library has seen several changes during its first 90 years including some remodeling, a larger collection, special collections, more use time and equipment. One step into the future was advanced recently when the library received a grant (Off The Shelf Initiative) from the Washington State Library. The grant brought the facility a new computer, monitor, printer and desk for patron use.

--The Journal