FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

December 21, 1898

Local and Personal

H.E. Gritman is enlarging his drug store extending it back 20-32 feet making it into a wallpaper room, also adding an ice house using the addition for oils and similar goods.

Messrs. Jay Webley and J.C. Hounshell have assumed the management of the Olympia restaurant opposite the N.P. depot.

Doc R.H. Lee has changed his mind about going east, therefore will remain and take his chances here for a while longer.

The "bold bad men and traveling hobo gentry" are having hard sledding "doing" Ritzville while under the surveillance of Marshal Sam Hutchinson and the watchful eye of Policeman Rettig. The toughs have about concluded they cannot run "one side of the town" for whenever they have undertaken to do so they have been promptly taken care of and doctored to the Queen's taste.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

December 20, 1923

Local Brevities

Earl Heater left last Thursday for Palo Alto, California, where he will finish up this week his course in Leland Stanford University. He then expects to find a job in the field. He has been studying engineering.

Henry Wellsandt started work Monday for the Standard Oil Co. Karl Rosenoff resigned, which made a vacancy in the force.

Albert Dehnel has resumed charge of his old ranch on Rattlesnake Flat which has been farmed by R. Seaton for several years. Mr. Dehnel is assembling an outfit so as to be ready for work in the spring. He is disposing of his interest in the plumbing business to William Schwisow, who with his brother-in-law, John Smith, will continue the business.

An altercation between a couple of young fellows which arose in a pool hall Saturday afternoon was settled behind some cars in the railroad yards by the resort to bare knucks. There was quite a ringside of spectators who interfered and stopped the procedure when one of the combatants had demonstrated his superiority.

At the Rex Theatre:

"The Pilgrim" with Charlie Chaplin.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

December 16, 1948

Local stores get "new look" in remodeling

The downtown intersection of Main Avenue and Washington Street took on a "new look" early this week as workmen tore down canvas windbreaks from the Gritman building to reveal a modern concrete exterior for Pfann's Pharmacy and the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company office. The work isn't complete yet-particularly the interior work in both establishments-but by-passers agreed the remodeling project will do wonders for the appearance of the downtown intersection.

At the Cozy Theater, Lind: "Driftwood" starring Ruth Warrick and Walter Brennan

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

December 13, 1973

Roof run-off floods

sewer in city

Recent protracted rain, reaching sanitary sewers from the roofs of business buildings, have backed up into basements in homes on the flats. These tidings were brought at Tuesday night's meeting by Gordon Rehn, city superintendent of works. Rehn said he and Councilman Roy Langenheder had checked the drains during a heavy rainstorm and found that 15 of them leave no trace of water running away on the surface. A main sewer line leading from the business district to the northside residential area hasn't been able to carry the load, reported Rehn, and the water backed up in manholes.

Dear Santa Letters

Dear Santa...

I would like a four-ten shotgun. Then I would like a remote-control crane. I want a mini-bike, and most of all I want a hug and a kiss. From your friend, Bo Gingrich, 8.

Please send me a Barbie Fun in the Sun set, and swimming suits for the Barbie. And say Hi to Rudolph for me. And send me a big candy cane, please. Love, Heidi Undeberg, 8.

How are you? I would like a new black cowboy hat. I guess I should get a pair of harness boots, size 5D, and an electric plane. Randy Wahl, 8.

Please give me a Cuddle Puppy, a Barbie Friend Ship, and a walking Doll. Your friend, Cecilia Reimers, 8.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

December 17, 1998

Development proposal presented to city council

An approximate 150-acre development east of Wellsandt Road was proposed to city council members at the council's Tuesday night meeting. Planning Consultant Jim Stravens and members of the Wellsandt family met with the council to briefly outline the proposed project which would eventually be annexed to the city. Elements of the proposal include a 10-hole addition to the Ritzville City Golf Course, three multifamily retirement-type complexes, 32 single family homes, a manufactured home park with room for 12 homes and 47 RV sites with visibility from Interstate 90.

At the Ritz:

Adam Sandler in "The Waterboy"

-The Journal