Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1914 | 7 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1916 | 3 |
| 1917 | 1 |
| 1918 | 2 |
18 stories matching destruct
- Volcano of Flame Threatens Columbia Slope Wheat Fields
A three-day prairie fire near Jump-Off Joe tested the mettle of local farmers, forcing them to plow firebreaks to save their harvest.
- The River Overflows Its Banks
A winter deluge causes catastrophic damage to Kennewick’s infrastructure, livestock, and irrigation systems.
- Kennewick's Close Encounter with the Great War
An editorial reflecting on the sudden, violent onset of World War I and the fear of its reach into a small Washington town.
- The War on Rotting Spuds
A state agricultural expert warns farmers that the 1914 potato blight is more destructive than ever.
- The Battle Over a Washed-Out Bridge
County Commissioner R.E. Pratt defends the county board against accusations of negligence regarding the Richland bridge disaster.
- The Bank Won't Count Your Trees
Federal land banks rule that orchards offer insufficient security for long-term mortgage loans, citing the risk of disease and neglect.
- The Moth That Ate the Valley: Kennewick’s First Scientific Defense Against Crop Destruction
In 1914, a Yakima entomologist launched an exhaustive three-year study of the codling moth, tracking its life cycle from Ellensburg to Kennewick. It was the Northwest’s first enterprise of its kind, aiming to save the region's fruit industry from ruin.
- The Colorado Beetle Arrives in Benton County
A district horticultural inspector warns local potato growers that a destructive new pest has been identified near Sunnyside.
- The Bee and the Blight
Fruit growers grapple with the scientific reality that bees, essential for pollination, also inadvertently spread devastating fire blight.
- The Blight That Swept the Highlands
As pear trees wither overnight, local orchardists warn that only immediate, coordinated action can save the region's agricultural heart.
- The 'Graveyard Bug' Threatens Kennewick Berries
Horticultural Inspector warns local growers that a destructive snout beetle is infesting regional strawberry patches and offers advice on how to eradicate it.
- A Close Call at the Teachout Residence
When smoke began to fill the bedroom walls, a quick-thinking resident saved her home from total ruin.
- The Caterpillar Club of Skagit County
A dedicated teacher organizes students into an orchard-saving force, illustrating the era's civic-minded approach to agricultural pests.
- Strawberry Root Borer Discovered in Local Fields
A dangerous pest has been identified in Kennewick and Richland, and authorities warn that immediate destruction of infested plants is the only way to save the industry.
- The Artisan Hotel Lost to Flames
A morning blaze leaves a local landmark in ruins, with early-rising travelers suspected of accidental negligence.
- The Paving Paradox: A Kennewick Infrastructure Headache
City council members scramble to find a way to connect sewers before paving streets, fearing the destruction of brand new pavement.
- The Blight Battle in Kennewick
When orchard blight threatened the region's economy, the local editor chose transparency over 'hush-it-up' tactics, triggering a fierce debate about the risks of public alarm.
- Suspicious Fire at Standard Oil Plant
A locked gate was forced open and three horses perished in a midnight blaze that local authorities believe was no accident.