FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

May 4, 1898

Saw the Soldiers

Ritzville people were fortunate to the extent that they had the privilege last Saturday of seeing with their own eyes some of Washington's real, live soldiers. Word was received about noon Saturday that the soldiers would pass through about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and the excitement and patriotism began to raise accordingly.

Although the gentle zephyrs were traveling at about a forty-mile gait, the citizens managed to raise about every flag in town that sports a pole, numbers of small flags were nailed to walls, fences, etc., till the town looked like a young Fourth of July.

3 o'clock found most of the population of Ritzville at the depot, when the news came that it would be 5 o'clock before they got here. A few of the country people, who had been waiting to see the soldiers, went home, but the majority of them settled down to stay all night, if necessary.

While this was going on, some of the G.A.R. men conceived the idea of serving some refreshments to the boys when they came along, so a contribution hat was passed and the needful secured. When the train came in at 5 o'clock it did stop and the soldiers said that although they had met with enthusiastic receptions at every station along the line, Ritzville was the only place that had served refreshments with the reception.

The train made a ten-minute stop, during which time the soldier boys and the citizens did lots of talking and cheering. All the steam whistles in the town kept blowing. A committee on salute, armed with blacksmith's anvils, dynamite, etc., kept up a continual bombardment, at which the soldiers would yell when a particularly loud report was heard.

There were about 200 men on board, being a company each of artillery and infantry. All were robust looking fellows and seemed to be anxious for a chance to show what they were made of.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 3, 1923

Ritzville is declared a clean city

Thanks to the co-operation of the Boy Scouts, the Commercial Club, the City Council and the householders of the city, Ritzville is officially declared a Clean City. A committee consisting of J.L. Cross, L.D. Emerson and V.A. Chargois went over the city Tuesday and found yards, streets and alleys had been cleaned up. At a cost of some $80 to the city the rubbish was hauled to the city dump grounds. Because of the good work of the Boy Scouts in patrolling and urging the clean-up, the Commercial Club voted $5 to each of the three troops.

Local Brevities

Pete Thiel is a delegate from the Zion church to attend the German Congregational Conference at Odessa this week.

The building at the corner of Railroad and Washington, formerly occupied by the Victory Theatre, is having the first floor remodeled.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

April 29, 1948

Emerson Drugs sold to

Pfann, local graduate

L.D. Emerson, who has operated a drug store in Ritzville for more than 40 years, has sold his business, the Emerson Drug Company, to Harold Pfann, recently of Richland but formerly of Ritzville. The change will be effective Saturday. The new owner is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Pfannekuchen. He was raised in Ritzville and graduated from high school here in 1931. Later he attended Washington State college, graduating from the school of pharmacy in 1936.

At the Ritz

Gene Autry, Champion (Wonder Horse of the West), and Lynne Roberts, in "Sioux City Sue."

Walter Pidgeon, Deborah Kerr, and Angela Lansbury in "If Winter Comes."

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

May 2, 1973

Big Bend Electric gets first loan

A loan to Big Bend Electric Co-op for $260,000 has been approved under the Rural Development Act. It will be used in needed plant improvement, said Manager Ed Collison. The loan to Big Bend was the first made after resuming the program under a new agency. Manager Collison said the original loan submitted in August of 1972 had been for $536,000. The Nixon administration, as part of a budgetary action just before the first of the year, impounded funds and killed the Rural Electrification Administration.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

April 30, 1998

Several items stolen from Lind residents

Several items, including cash, were reported stolen to the Adams County Sheriff's Office on April 23 from a Lind residence. The complainant said the theft occurred between 11:30 p.m. on April 22 and 8:10 a.m. on April 23. A car parked at the residence had a window broken with a wallet taken from the vehicle containing $9 in cash, various credit and identification cards and driver's license.

Also taken from the residence was a ladies' Duuney and Bourk brand purse valued at $400 containing a driver's license, various credit and other cards and $800 in cash.

- The Journal