Monday, July 02, 2007 “Looking Back” is a regular feature of the Modoc County record, published weekly in Alturas, California. The following is transcribed from the June 28, 2007 issue. Looking Back 113 Years Ago – 1894 LAKEVIEW BEAT Alturas and Bidwell teams in baseball Sunday by remarkable scores. The win over Alturas was 35 to 32 and over Bidwell 47 -11….The Granger sawmill eight miles south of Alturas was destroyed by fire. All of the equipment and lumber scored there went up in flames and should cost the owner, Mr. Stanley, two thousand dollars in damages….Miss Anne Williams closed the school at Madeline and it was with tearful eyes that residents there surrendered her to her home at Likely. 100 Years Ago – 1907 FROM THIS day hence, men who hunt the wilds of Modoc will be required to pay for the pleasure. Legislative enactment last year requires that one dollar be sent to the county clerk effective July 1, 1907….Miss Bertine Mulkey will read the Declaration of Independence to the gathering at City Hall following the July 4th parade. The reading is always an exciting part of the festivities. 93 Years Ago - 1934 THE ALTURAS Fire Ladies have taken over the plans for July Fourth celebration and it promises to be the best ever. Shooting galleries and booths for street attractions have been erected and it’s frm these galleries that expenses for the event will be defrayed….Republicans outnumber Democrats 1151 to 986 in Modoc County….The petition to acquire a new post office and forest service building now has 400 signatures and 1.000 are required before it can be sent onto Congressman Raker. Modoc is only asking $25,000 for the building and towns no larger than Alturas are getting much more….D.H. Lighty is now 89 years old but he still rides his horse into town (Cedarville) every week or so….J.U. Gentry has organized a baseball team in New Pine Creek. In their first game with Davis Creek they lost 16 to 15. 73 Years Ago – 1934 LILLY BAGNOUDA of Pittsville was giving demonstrations on how the wild bronc should be ridden when the big Alturas Rodeo is held July 4 and 5. Name riders here will be Perry Ivory, Leonard Johnson, Jess and Charles Russell, Ed Hess, Jack Southerland, Wild Cat McCarthy, Alec Townsend, Didgy Walls, Buck Dygert (Server) Shirell Wells, John Grief, Don Taylor, Everett and Evan Riggs….The four daughters of Ernest Cook of Eagleville will sing cowboy songs for the settlers and pioneer reunion on July 4…. 53 Years Ago – 1954 MODOC PROPERTY owners have been billed $99.41 per capita for the operation of local government. Statewide the average is $84.49….The ninth annual two-day rodeo will be held with $2,000 offered in cash prizes this weekend….Alturas businessmen have decided to organize under a sobriquet of Alturas Merchants Association with the prime goal to promote business activity in Alturas….Jim Landry, Mayor of Klamath Falls, has challenged Alturas’ Mayor Jim Reid to a cow milking contest at the Klamath Rodeo….Alturas automobile representatives appeared before the board of supervisors tyo protest their buying new trucks in Oregon without giving local dealers a chance. “Miss Annie” Williams was the Carnegie “Free” Librarian in Alturas when I was growing up. She knew every body in town by their first name. She counseled all of the children that came into the library upon what they should be reading. She was a tall, spare, quiet woman whose authority no one ever challenged. Miss Annie lived just across the street and across the field between our homes. She drove a Model T Ford that looked as if it just came out of the showroom. She has quite an influence upon all of the Alturas people. I am ever grateful for the advice that Miss Annie gave to me on many occasions, and some had nothing whatsoever to do with books to read. Lily Bagnouda was a real rodeo rider and the bronc none came too tough for her. Her manner and her speech were just as rough and tough as her riding. She never asked for favors in competition and nobody wished to cross her. She was one of a kind, and I appreciated knowing her. She was a real Modoc Character. You may note that severala of the riders in that 1934 rodeo later went into the hall of Fame for rodeo riders. Hope to see you all agaian next wee3k Ron Morgan