Friday, April 20, 2007 “Looking Back” is a regular feature of the Modoc County record, published weekly in Alturas, California. The following is transcribed from the April 12, 2007 issue. Looking Back 113 Years Ago – 1894 WE AFE publishing the births, marriages and deaths under anew column titled “Yells, Bells and Knells”. We think its unique but some have informed us that the belles’ should precede the yells….With the invention of the writing machine, some new words are being developed. A typer is a man who writes on this machine and a typess, a girl or woman who writes on the machine…. Three fishermen returning from Lassen Creek this week with over 100 pounds of trout….During the repairs going on at he Courthouse an air hole has been constructed in the ceiling of the courtroom to offset Court Reporter Wormley’s objection to having the windows and doors of said courtroom open during a session of the court. 93 Years Ago – 1914 RENSHAW AND Close have received their carload of new 1914 Overland automobiles. They have attracted much attention and admiration from all beholders…. R.R. Baker has consummated one of the the largest land sales in many years hereabouts. It involves the acquisition of the Bucher Stock Company by George R. Parman for a consideration o about $50,000….The board of supervisors announced they would re-advertise for bidders to construct the new courthouse. Six bidders all went over the $84,000 allowed for the building and ranged from a low of $87,000 by C.G. Selman of Reno to a high of $129,000….there is an epidemic of small pox in Cedarville. Dr. Coppedge has quarantined all the homes that have the disease and most of the school children have been vaccinate. 73 Years Ago – 1934 THE NATIVE Daughters are sponsoring a contest among school children asking an essay on “What will the world be like in 30 years (1964)….The Roundup Association has purchased the Sweeney Hall and will move it to the rodeo grounds for use as a dance pavilion….Brewster Ebbe pulled a big upset in the grammar school track meet when he beat out Don and Warren Flournoy in the pole vault with a leap of 9‘….assessor John Davis has been traveling about the country lately and says that while everything is green and beautiful today, the drought is bound to have a telling effect before long and it looks like a hot summer. 53 Years Ago – 1954 NEAL PHILLLIPS and Rex Riley have been elected to the Alturas City Council. Phillips collected the highest vote ever in a city election with 621 in his favor. Riley had 401…. Construction has started on 16 new veterans homes in Modoc Manor…. Margaretha Cook has won the Recipe of the Week contest sponsored by the Cattlemen’s association….Drace Fountain will be installed as the Exalted Ruler of the Alturas Elks….Hich Yamagata has been elected President of the Modoc Union High School student body. 44 Years Ago – 1963 THE SCHOOL Election had an extremely light voter turnout Tuesday of only 321 in Alturas and only 406 in all of Modoc County. The Summer Recreation program in Alturas figures to be eliminated this year because the school district has withdrawn financial support due to its own lack of funds. Brewster Ebbe was a short but very powerfully built man. He was a star in high school football. His younger brother, Junior Ebbe, was killed in the Philippines when his airplane crashed. Brewster had a coupe of days R & R in the Philippines and came to visit me. I was dramatically surprised that he came and was really tickled to see someone from my home town. He had to travel over 60 miles to find our own rest camp at Lipa, Luzon Island. Unfortunately, he is now deceased too. Ron Morgan