Harrington news

100 years ago

Local history buffs were investigating a photo post card that had been donated to Harrington City Hall by Tom Wilson. The photo showed a portion of a parade going south on 3rd Street in Harrington. The post card had not been mailed and had no information at all on it. The old Adams and Mitchum building on the corner of 3rd and Willis could be seen showing a "Drugs" sign across the east side of the building. A portion of the Harrington Opera House could also be seen. Foremost in the photo is a steam engine pulling what "might" be a Harrington Harvester, built in this city at the Dunning & Erich Harvester Factory. With a potential range of years estimated to be between 1915 and 1930, the newspapers were pulled from their shelves to find the details to match the post card, One could only guess that the parade was a Memorial Day parade, 4th of July or some special event. The only year between 1915 and 1920 in which the town had a huge 4th of July celebration was 1916.

"Harrington was the scene on Tuesday of one of the largest crowds that ever assembled here to celebrate the glorious 4th of July, in the Harrington Wheat Belt. The day was perfect in every respect from the time the orb of day cast his first rays over the eastern horizon until it sank from sight below the western hills. Neither too hot nor too cold, and yet the temperature was such that those who dealt in iced delicacies and soft drinks did a good business and those who ate and drank them did so with pleasure. There was no dust to speak of, either in town or on the country roads, and automobiles swarmed the streets throughout the day."

"The big street parade took place at 10 o'clock. It was five blocks long and full of merit the whole distance. It contained many new features. Throngs of people on both sides of the street watched and commented favorably upon the pageant: some 25 little mothers, little girls, with decorated doll buggies containing large dolls; Mother Goose driving a real goose; the nurse girls wheeling real live babies; bicycle girls, Japanese girls, little boys mounted as cowboys on ponies, little Apache braves, Miss Harrington dressed as an Indian maiden; Uncle Sam, Miss Columbia and little girls representing the states of the Union, and all these followed by a large steam traction engine drawing one of Dunning & Erich's Harrington Combined Harvesters with its machinery running from power furnished by the gasoline engine mounted in front. The Harrington Milling Company had a very creditable float representing its many products from our bluestem wheat."

"The liberty car broke down just before the parade was ready to start. This was the only accident of the day. A number of the little girls were more or less scratched about the limbs by the accident, but no bones were broken. Those receiving the most severe bruises or scratches were Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Brothers' little girl and Mr. and Mrs. John Ness' little daughter. This necessitated the occupants of the liberty car joining in the parade afoot! The Harrington Knights of Pythias band marched and played during the parade and through out the day."

The festivities following the parade were encompassed about the old city hall on 3rd and Sherlock. At this location Mayor L.A. Dunning made introductions and the band played patriotic tunes. "At intervals throughout the day a troupe of acrobats and vaudeville performers gave free exhibitions upon the street." Sports teams and relay races were also enjoyed. "There were 108 couples in attendance at the dance at the Opera House in the evening." (Citizen: 7-07-1916)

Rummage

With the expected travelers for the Antique Auto groups, the Opera House Rummage Room was being organized Friday for the sale on Saturday; and then due to communication obstacles, since the sale had been advertised for Monday, July 4, the event stretched on. Friday's income was a mere $59, when it truly was not open for business, but rummagers were anxious to be "hands on" and sales took place. July 3, with the car traffic maximized, another $75 was taken in. Ed Haugan spent several hours giving tours of the Opera House, and allowed tourists to play the new grand piano. One gentleman played beautifully, and the music could be appreciated throughout the building. A young girl about 10 or 12 years of age played a Christmas tune from memory.

Monday morning from 9 a.m. to noon there were quite a number of traveling buyers as well as local traffic. Many commented on the beautiful cars parked by the Studebaker Garage, and others were asking about the Hotel Lincoln. A lull occurred after the 12 o'clock hour and business picked up again about 2 p.m. and continued until after the planned closing at 3 p.m. Another $300 was received by donation, and customers seemed pleased with their new possessions.

Reporting error

As the 4th of July approached, the town's excitement increased over the "reported car show." In the week prior to the event, it was revealed that the date was not the 4th of July, but rather it was on the 3rd, and it really was not a "car show" but rather an "Auto Touring Club" destination for their lunch hour. "Hush, hush, this is a secret." The Classic Chassie Tour occurs once every three years. This year is was sponsored by the Spokane group. At least two, but possibly three, groups were part of the tour, the Spokane Model T Club and the Lewis and Clark Club, traveling at about 35 to 40 mph. The tour began Thursday evening and was to end in Spokane Sunday evening at the Ramada Inn for dinner. Awards of some kind were to be given out at the evening banquet. Some of the vehicles that were a part of the tour were a 1947 black four-door Cadillac sedan from Moxie, Wash .; a 1956 green Studebaker from Sequim; a 1947 Ford convertible from Liberty Lake; a 1927 Moon Roadster from Olympia; a 1931 Model T two-door sedan from Wilbur (Charles Dyer); a 1965 Barracuda from Kuna near Boise, Idaho; a 1926 green Model T coupe from Spokane and a 2002 Mustang from Colbert, Wash. These fun-loving people visited the opera house, the Hotel Lincoln and the rummage sale.

Were this event in 1916 rather than 2016, one could envision that the high school band would have greeted the "touring cars" and the mayor would have given a brief historic description of the town. Harrington's Studebaker Garage must be on all the maps, as none of the visitors were lost en route. One auto failed to arrive, a 1926 Model T lost its brakes, and the owners continued the tour in their "modern" car. They were from the Green Bluff area. There were reportedly 51 automobiles present, each the trophy of its owner.