Looking Backward

The north

10 years ago

Nov. 17, 1999:Owners of the Spine Center on Washington Street Road plan to invest more than $1 million in a proposed addition to the building. James F. and Gail P. Pemberton, Mexico, have presented plans to the Watertown Town Planning Board for a two-story, 14,800-square-foot addition at the rear of the Spine Center.

25 years ago

Nov. 17, 1984:Ultrasystems Inc., the parent company of Ultrapower Inc., Irvine, Calif., designs payload systems for the space shuttle and missile systems for the Pentagon and handles engineering problems for the Navy's Trident submarine fleet. Now it wants to handle a $10 million wood chip-fueled electrical energy plant in Gouverneur, through Ultrapower Inc., its subsidiary that deals in renewable fuel development.

50 years ago

Nov. 17, 1959:Work has been started on the new building at Arsenal and Arcade streets that will house the J.C. Penney Co. store next year.

75 years ago

Nov. 17, 1934:Beverly Huntington, 2-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Huntington, 415 Moffett St., is in the House of the Good Samaritan with an obstruction lodged in the lower part of her right lung, believed to be a peanut. An operation was being performed this afternoon in an effort to have the obstruction removed.

100 years ago

Nov. 17, 1909:After several times being held up by trains at nearly every important grade crossing in the city and narrowly missing collision on a number of occasions, the fire department is to test an electric bell with a view to placing gongs at the several dangerous points. The bell will be placed upon the fire alarm pole on the American corner.

125 years ago

Nov. 17, 1884:M. Augsbury of Antwerp has completed $10,000 of extensive repairs on the gristmill in that village, making it equal to the most improved flour mills in the state.

The world

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 17,the 321st day of 2009. There are 44 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 17, 1800, Congress held its first session in Washington in the partially completed Capitol building.

Thought for Today:"Education is a private matter between the person and the world of knowledge and experience, and has little to do with school or college." — Lillian Smith, American writer and social critic (1897-1966).