May 3, 2005 Looking Back is a regular feature of the Modoc County Record, a weekly newspaper, published in Alturas, CA. The following is transcribed from the April 21, 2005 issue. Looking Back 91 Years Ago � 1914 John Sly OF Cedarville reports that the road over Cedar Pass will soon be ready for auto machines�. The high school boys have contracted with the NCO to fare them to New Pine Creek in May for a few days of fishing. Prof. Rose will guide them and the NCO will charge $2 apiece for the found trip ticket�. Fishing season opens Saturday and the County Clerk is dispensing fishing licenses at $1 each for all over 18. 71 Years Ago � 1934 THE CALIFORNIA Public Service has painted the street lights on Main Street a dazzling white. The installation of street lights have been one of the most protective devices Alturas has had in a preventing street crimes� Fishing season opened Saturday and there are many reports of how easy it has been catching the 25 limit�. Three candidates are contesting Sheriff Sharp for his job and include Cahn Fogerty, H. Payne, and Homer Beeson�. Dr. Paul McKinney has indicated (the story stops at this point). 51 Years Ago � 1954 ROGER JESSUP, a Modoc rancher and Los Angeles supervisor, has donated $10,000 to the Alturas Swimming Pool fund because of the �fine treatment received while a patient in the Modoc Medical Center��. The Newell area has given a 3-1 majority to a bond issue to build a new $130,000 school house�. Ken Horton will open Cedar Plunge baths in Surprise Valley this week�. Temperatures have been in the 80s in Alturas all week�. The Alturas Tigers took a 6-1 decision over the Mt. Shasta Eagles Sunday at Bowers Field in Alturas. Fishing and hunting was a way of life in Modoc. The high school closed on the opening day of fishing season, deer season, and a half-day on the opening day of duck hunting. It was not a generous gesture on the part of the school trustees, it was just a fact that so few students would show up that it was better to declare those days a holiday. There were many tardy students during those hunting and fishing seasons because we would go hunting bright and early in the morning, before school, and if we killed a buck, or got into a hot fishing hole, or had a gaggle of mallards to clean, we just got to school late. The principal made us make up double the time that we missed, but it never did stop any of the early morning hunting. Heck, all we had to do was clear the city limits and we were in prime hunting country. John Sharp remained Sheriff for many years until replaced by Buck (Daggert) Server. Cahn, Jim, nor Homer had any chance at all in defeating John Sharp. I attended school with his youngest daughter, Donna Mae, who was a delightful person. Bowers Field is new to me. �Shorty� Bowers was a saloonkeeper and a gambler and one of the biggest sports nut that you might meet. He started the Alturas Tigers and sponsored all of the uniforms, travel, and equipment for this team. Shorty owned a big Chrysler sedan, but he never learned to drive so he needed a chauffeur. I got the job for one summer. I was also the batboy, equipment manager, reserve catcher (I only got into the final inning of one game, Bud Brown never seemed to tire nor get hurt), and disperser of cash to some of the players, on behalf of a grateful Shorty Bowers. Shorty was not the most popular man amongst many of the Alturas matrons, but he did a lot for Alturas, in his own way. See you all again next week, I hope. Ron Morgan