Town happenings and events to look forward to

HARRINGTON – Crisp air and a slight breeze lets one know that the seasons are changing as does the aroma of burning leaves in various piles about town. New fencing can be seen going up to enclose a yard, while trenches are being dug in other yards in an attempt to get these types of projects completed before the ground has a solid freeze upon it. Weather has been ideal for preparations of Christmas decorations, lights being raised, inflatables growing to full size and nativity scenes appearing before the Thanksgiving holiday. With the increase of COVID in eastern Washington, citizens were not surprised, albeit disappointed, with the governor’s edict to restrict activities. Harrington Public Library is allowed to remain open with guidelines in place regarding distancing and masks. That being said, current events seem nil. The pre-Christmas rummage sale has been canceled, with volunteers working on the 2021 calendar year for the next event.

Saturday, Nov 21, did bring out about 50 automobiles to the Harrington Food Bank, which served 50 families with an ample supply of staples, produce and pies. God’s Closet, located at the Harrington Community Church, had a noticeable amount of visitors with an unending supply of clothing, footwear and coats. This is a well-organized boutique with a great variety of styles awaiting local patrons, infants through adults.

Harrington Lions Club is sponsoring a Christmas lighting and decoration contest. Judging will be Saturday, Dec. 19, with a first place award of $100 cash, second place $50 and third place $25. The club’s poster reads, “We want to see your lights and yard decorations for Christmas and make things merry and bright in Harrington.”

The Harrington School District’s FFA chapter under the direction of Betty Warner is seeking local support for the FFA Christmas Extravaganza, where chapter members offer Christmas trees and wreaths for sale, Nov. 28 through Dec. 5, by the greenhouse behind the school from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Harrington Tree of Sharing, which for years had been located in the US Bank lobby, will be located at City Hall this year. Elves are busy working behind the scenes to make lists and create tags with names on them. Citizens can come in and remove a tag from the tree and purchase the item specified on the tag. Once the gifts are wrapped and the tag is placed on it, they are taken to the Post and Office business for distribution.

From our olden-day files, a Thanksgiving “ball” was given at the Turner & Plough’s Hall in 1894, with the music by Walter Knapp and his daughters. That location was on the corner of 3rd and Willis, a huge building that appeared in most of the early day photos of the business district until it was removed in 1925 and replaced by Davis’s Harrington Service Station. Similarly in 1895, the Edwall Orchestra provided the music.

The menu advertised for the California Restaurant for Thanksgiving Day in 1898 was: “For 25 cents. Menu: Salads: Potatoe, Cole Slaw. Soup: Fresh Oyster. Roasts: Choice Ribs of Beef, Brown Gravey, French Sauce; Turkey, Cranberry Sauce. Entrée: Chicken Fricassee. Vegetables: Celery, Olives, Cream Corn, Mashed Potatoes, French Cabbage. Dessert. Pies: Cranberry, Apple, Mince. Cakes: Chocolate, Marble, Cocoanut. Apples and Oranges. Tea, Coffee, Milk, Chocolate.” (Citizen: 11-18-1898) Pre-1900 photos of 3rd Street show the California Restaurant near where the Floyd building currently stands.