Looking Backward

The north

10 years ago

Feb. 4, 2000:A campaign by U.S. Mint officials to market the Sacagawea dollar at Walmart stores across the country has been almost too successful in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties. The gold-colored dollar coin has been out of stock at Watertown's Walmart on Arsenal Street Road. The store in Massena also was sold out.

25 years ago

Feb. 4, 1985:Frederic Remington was not known to have visited the house that now stands as a memorial in his name. Located at Washington and State streets, Ogdensburg, the home was left to the public library board in 1920 by the family of George Hall, founder of the coal firm that became the Augsbury Corp., and John Howard. The museum today houses the largest collection of Remington works in the world.

50 years ago

Feb. 4, 1960:Norwood and Potsdam telephone users will be able to dial each other direct without a toll charge beginning Sunday. The direct dialing feature has been made possible by additional dial equipment installed in the central offices in these communities.

75 years ago

Feb. 4, 1935:As a result of the local plumbing union charging the master plumbers of Watertown with code price violation, two field adjusters from the office of the state director of the National Recovery Administration held a hearing. The union believed that most of the master plumbers of this city were paying their employees only 90 cents an hour, instead of $1.20 an hour, which is the minimum code price.

100 years ago

Feb. 4, 1910:The Lewis County Board of Supervisors convened in special session in the courthouse in Lowville. The resolution introduced relative to the construction of the state highway the coming season was adopted by a vote of 16-0.

125 years ago

Feb. 4, 1885:The New Haven automatic fire extinguisher which has recently been placed in the Watertown Spring Wagon company's works will be tested there tomorrow. Manufacturers and others who have an interest in the event are requested to be present.

The world

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Thursday, Feb. 4,the 35th day of 2010. There are 330 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 4, 1783, Britain's King George III proclaimed a formal cessation of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War.

Thought for Today:"Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." — James Michener, American author (1907-1997).