FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

January 18, 1899

New jewelry store

J.A. Humphrey, a well and favorably known railroad man and telegraph operator, has just purchased the jewelry stock of O.R. Haight and will build adjoining the post office where he expects soon to open up an elegant and full line of such goods.

Local and Personal

H. F. Klaas, head miller in the Ott Flouring Mills, is moving his family into one of the Greene-Prouty cottages on College hill.

Louis Walton, ex-county clerk, moves to his farm eleven miles northeast of town and will hereafter keep about 160 acres of land in a constant state of eruption.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

January 17, 1924

Changed bearings caused breakdown

The water famine in Ritzville ended early Friday morning when the water department got the old well in the coulee running again, which supplied water over the city until the new pumps were repaired and set to running on Monday.

E. W. Clark, district manager for the pump manufacturer, said, "The Layne and Bowler pumps are standard pumps of the very highest grade. The trouble here was not with the installation, nor with the water superintendent, Mr. Stafford, who did everything possible to keep the pumps running. The pumps were originally designed with ball bearings. Later the plate type of bearing was introduced...the trouble was simply that the weather got very cold and the plate bearings were not adequately lubricated and then burned out the same as an automobile bearing when a car gets out of oil. I have replaced ball bearings in these pumps and they are now running perfectly smoothly."

At the Rex Theater:

Charles Chaplin in "Pay Day."

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

January 20, 1949

Upholstery shop is moved to Ritzville

A new business came to Ritzville last week when H.R. Hatch moved his upholstery equipment from Lind to the Womack building near the intersection of Division Street and the highway in Ritzville.

"Peak Prosperity" is reflected in bank deposits

Adams County has reached an all-time peak of prosperity which may never be surpassed, the Journal-Times' annual economic survey disclosed this week. When the county's three banks opened their doors this morning, they had a total of slightly more that $13,500,000 in cash deposits. An estimated 6,000 persons live in Adams County. That figures out to approximately $2,250 on deposit for every man, woman and child. Thus, the average family of four in Adams County has about $9,000 in cash deposits.

Harder purchase of 3,072 acres recorded here

The purchase of 3,072 acres of grazing land by John Harder, Ritzville rancher, is the largest of 20 real estate transactions recorded recently at the county auditor's office. Harder bought the land, lying just to the west of the S.P. and S. right-of-way, from John Melville of Sprague.

At the Ritz:

"Duel in the Sun," starring Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck and Joseph Cotton.

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

January 17, 1974

Add 10 cents per gallon

Although motorists driving into the lot at Norm's American might think regular gasoline there-at first glance-costs only 43.9 cents a gallon, it doesn't. Norm Rambow, station owner, must use the lower price and then add 10 cents per gallon to arrive at the true price. The pump will only go to 49.9 cents per gallon.

55-mile signs go up on county highways

The state highway crew stationed in Ritzville has installed the new 55 miles per hour maximum speed limit signs on Interstate 90 and Highway 395 in the county. The installation work followed by about a month the installation of new 50 miles per hour maximum speed limit signs on all avenues of the state highway system.

Matmen win basketball match

The Ritzville high school wrestling squad showed a few fancy moves on the basketball court last Monday night in defeating the "C" basketball team by a 38-33 count. For the "C" squad, coached by assistant varsity coach Roger Melior, it was a case of too much fitch n' bush. Scott Fitch had 15 points and Jody Bush 10 points for the winning wrestlers. Don Dirks had 17 points and Brian Webley 11 for the "C" squad, which was made up of promising young hoopsters generally smaller than the varsity wrestlers.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

January 21, 1999

Paint ball shot at garage light

Vandalism was reported to the Adams County Sheriff's Office by a Lind resident on Jan. 12 after it was discovered the complainant's garage light had been hit by a paint ball. The complainant said an earlier incident, perhaps on Jan. 10, had occurred when his son's pickup had been spit on and a paint ball shot at the garage. Deputy Keith Thompson contacted the complainant who was advised to call the sheriff's office if the problem continues.

- The Journal