Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Temperatures topped 100 degrees in Spokane, prompting an increase in the sale of beer.

The president of the Inland Brewing Co. said sales were up 20 percent over a comparable period the year before. 

The president of the Schade Brewing Co. said he had seen an increase in beer sales, too. In addition, the Schade brewery also produced soda pop. Consumption of pop was almost double during the heat wave.

Local ice men – delivering blocks of ice for ice boxes – also reported a much busier week than normal. 

The region’s lakes and public swimming pools were jammed. The paper estimated that 12,000 people visited nearby lake resorts on the previous Sunday.

From the war beat: As Europe rushed into war, a local minister reminded his congregation about war’s savagery.

“There is a feeling in the hearts of many that a general European war will bring to this country prosperity,” said Rev. W.C. Hicks, dean of All Saints Cathedral. “But God forbid that any such feeling as this should ever lead us to hope for war.”

He also said that “the next great war of the world, we believe, must, in the nature of things, be the last.” He was, unfortunately, mistaken about that.