Harrington News

Last week the Harrington Lions Club repainted the large meeting room of the Memorial Hall, replaced damaged ceiling tiles and made other cosmetic repairs. The club now consists of 16 members as compared to the 90 original charter members on March 22, 1946 when they organized.

History of Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall was created by 1949 when the American Legion Post #95, with community donations of money and labor, gutted and rebuilt the entire inside of the old brick building previously known as Judge Lighthizer's Empire Block. One large room was created for meetings, and there was a kitchen and restrooms. F. L. Lighthizer had purchased the lots in Block 38 on May 31, 1902. By fall businesses were filling up the new structure and in 1903 were identified as the Empire Drug, Chism & William's Saddlery, a gift and stationery store, the U.S. Post Office and the law and land offices of Judge Lighthizer. In 1909 the building from north to south contained a cobbler and harness shop, a confection store, a soft drink and pool hall and a grocery store. Harrington Historic Preservation Commission or Harrington City Hall would be pleased to receive copies of photos of the early businesses that occupied this location.

Francis Marion Lighthizer came to Lincoln County from South Dakota in May of 1892 and immediately became employed as an agent for the Harrington Townsite Company. He had two sons. In 1894 he was recognized in the Harrington Kicker (newspaper) as a judge. In December 1897 he married Josephine Anderson at his Spokane residence, but by 1900 he was divorced. In 1898 he became Justice of the Peace in Harrington, which added to his list of occupations such as real estate, insurance, Northern Pacific Land Agent, deeds, mortgages, lawyer, notary public, loans and postmaster (1898-1905). He belonged to the Masonic Lodge and Elks.

In 1899 his namesake, a 13-year-old son, died in Spokane from measles complicated with appendicitis. His mother was Lucy Vance Lighthizer. In June of 1900 Mr. Lighthizer married Nora E. Baugh of Sprague. By the 1902 census, F. M. Lighthizer is again alone on the census and reported to be widowed. His son, Lloyd, often worked the post office for him and was also involved in banking.

F. M. Lighthizer moved from Harrington about 1908 and died in Spokane in December 1917 at the age of 65. He was survived by his son Lloyd and a former wife, Mrs. Coleman of Ohio.