Monday, August 13, 2007 “Looking Back” is a regular feature of the Modoc County Record, published weekly in Alturas, California. The following is transcribed from the August 2, issue. Looking Back 113 Years Ago – 1894 J.M. PIERCE, proprietor of the hotel in Likely was in town last week and he claims Likely will soon rival Alturas in size and spunk….The farmers of Goose Lake are about these days peddling some of the finest vegetables to be grown anywhere….W. J. Coombs left for Fall City for a load of furniture for his hotel. He is taking two, four horse teams, so it can be expected that a big change is due at the Alturas Hostelry….It has been fretfully hot in Alturas this week. One report is that it reached 98, which surely must be a record for our town. 93 Years Ago – 1914 WENMARK BROTHERS and others are building a boat to ply Goose Lake. It will be 65 feet in length and carry 200 passengers and will deem the lake one of the nation’s navigable waters….A branch high school will be established in Adin and two teachers will be employed, Miss Neva Charles and Prof. O.F. Barth….The atmosphere in Modoc has been very Smokey lately, caused by numerous forest fires. 73 Years Ago – 1934 A FOREST FIRE threatened the town of Lake City this week before being brought under control by 100 firefighters….Nelson Monroe has been named to whip up the entertainment for the annual Modoc Fair August 24-26. Music for two dances will be furnished by the Happy Five and the Night Owls….The Alturas 20-30 Club has been reformed in Alturas with 17 members. Officers will be named after holding eight trail meetings….Ross Stephens has been elected commander of the Clifford Harter American Legion Post and Nolan Smith is vice commander….Editorial: What kind of ball team does Alturas have? They had two games scheduled and failed to show up for either game. Lakeview gave the fans their money back; Cedarville put on a game between themselves. Three Alturas players showed up at Cedarville. Poor management? Yes indeed. 53 Years Ago – 1954 ALL IS READY for the biggest Alturas rodeo this weekend. Ed Ivory and Charles Demick will lead the big parade. The famed Likely Roping Club bucking stock will be featured in the two day rodeo….Mitzi Yamagata has been made queen of the Modoc fair. Cash Lightner and Gene Egle have purchased a ton of watermelons for the kids at Memorial Park following the parade….Temperatures have been cool in the 70’s all week. 40 Years Ago – 1967 JIM AND MABLE Strickland of Merced have purchased the three year defunct Alturas Bowling Lanes and plan to reopen in September….Kid’s summer recreation program is underway at City Park and is headed by Griffin Palmer, Douglas Rupe and Kathy Woodward….The last rural schools in the county were closed for good this week when Surprise Valley Unified board of announced that Cedarville will be the only attendance center in the valley this fall. Since unification in 1965, schools in Eagleville, Ft. Bidwell and Lake City have been closed….The Board of Supervisors has approved plans for the new county office building to include welfare, probation, veterans and justice court. See you all again next week. Ron Morgan