Friday, September 01, 2006 Looking Back is a regular feature of the Modoc County record, published weekly in Alturas, California. The following is transcribed from the August 24, 2006 issue. Looking Back 97 Years Ago – 1909 THE NEW captain of the steamer on Goose Lake arrived this wee and later took charge of his boat. We understand some trouble is experienced in navigating the lake on account of rank weeds growing in the waster. They tend to foul up the propeller and it takes a skillful pilot to navigate the same…. Alturas has been chosen this week as a substgation to generate power by wireless aero planes. The planes will be of the Wright Brothers type, according to the announcements. But we laugh. Who in his right mind believes the aero plane or any of its attendants are anything more than a mere fad of the times. 95ears Ago – 1911 LST STAURDAY the Alturas Tigers defeated the Fandango Giants from Davis Creek, 16-4 in a baseball contest…. The Board of Supervisors has gone on record favoring a half page ad in Sunset magazine, advertising Modoc County each month at a cost of $75….Gilbert Armstrong, mascot for the Tigers, was hit on the head with a batted ball up at Davis Creek last week. 90ears Ago – 1916 CPMMENCEMENT OF construction of 90 miles of railroad of the Western Pacific into Surprise Valley on the NCO line has been rumored in San Francisco this week, but W.L. Graver of the Western Pacific confirms us that the Frisco notice is slightly twisted. He informs us that the NCO is contemplating a railroad from Gerlach to Cedarville in the near future, but it is not financed by the western Pacific…. Two condemned cannons and an assortment of harmless cannon balls have been assigned to Modoc County. 85 Years Ago – 1921 A DELEGATION of people from New Pine Creek met with the Modoc High School trustees this week seeking a branch Modoc Union High School for that place. The trustees agreed that it would be a fine thing and that they would finance its construction…. Alturas is woefully short of housing facilities this year. The shortage will be felt more keenly as the out-of-town people move back into town…. Governor Stevens has agreed to visit Alturas and Modoc County and has figured an itinerary that will take him to Fort Bidwell and Cedarville. 50 Years Ago – 1956 MODOC COUNTY Fair Queen Jane Ann Bucher will represent the fair with her court, Marietta Milligan and Darlene Henderson…. Alturas Elementary School will open August 27 at 9 a.m….. An additional delay of some six weeks is expected before Alturas will know whether or not it will have a new post office next year…. The colorful Surprise Valley Union High School band under the supervision of Herman Johnson will lead the gala fair parade at Cedarville Sunday, followed by the VFW color guard composed of members from the various posts in the county. Some $19,000 worth of cash prizes will be doled out to county entries in all classes, from Afghans to Angus, at this year’s three-day fair in Cedarville…. Modoc County has been ranked the 42nd leading barley producing county in the U.S. Modoc harvested 1,780,973 bushels from among the 39,790 planted acres. Fresno County was the leader. All of this news in this column up to the 50 year mark was before my time and I had left Alturas by 1946 except for two summers prior to 1950 so there is little that I can comment upon. Hope to see you all next week. Ron Morgan