125 years ago
September 8, 1893
Misses Eliza Wilson, Amanda Quimby and Bertie Mooney left last Saturday for Ellensburg to attend the state normal school. Miss Mary Zeebuyth left Sunday for the same place.
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Kamilchie lodge, No. 140, I.O.O.F., was organized at Kamilchie last Saturday. The new lodge starts with excellent prospects. It owns its own hall, a new structure just completed and admirably overlooking the bay.
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The fat men of Aberdeen have organized a ball team and issued a challenge to the fat men of Montesano for a game. Sheriff Graham is organizing a team here, and will soon be ready to meet the Aberdeen team. Members of each team must weigh 190 pounds or over. A great game is looked for.
100 years ago
September 6, 1918
The new term has opened at Montesano High School and one of the most popular innovations is the morning half hour in the auditorium which corresponds with the “Chapel Hour” of most colleges. Mr. Wheeler explained to the pupils of the high school that the effort would be made to make that half hour one of the dearest memories of their lives. Twice a week the half hour will be spent in chorus — or community singing as Mr. Wheeler calls it — led by Mrs. Robt. Hartley.
The morning sings will be devoted, almost entirely to patriotic songs — the best songs and the dearest songs as well as all of the good old ones. Parents and friends who can spare the time are invited to the sings and urged to take part in them.
75 years ago
September 9, 1943
Tech. Cpl. George Wisegarver works with huge searchlights along the North African coast, making many a pretty picture for our fliers against the deep blue sky but he isn’t satisfied with sky pictures, he wants a camera to make pictures of a more permanent nature. His mother, Mrs. Fred Kuny, on Star route, has tried, but without success, to buy a small, folding camera. Do you know where she might locate one? If so give her a ring.
Here’s a chance to make a lad who has been in the service three years, happy.
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The development of a cascara orchard either on the Wishkah-Wynooche divide or on Deep Creek was proposed last Tuesday by Cecil Callison of Chehalis to the Grays Harbor county board of commissioners. This step is along the lines of effort which have been taking place for the past year for the utilization of forest products remaining in the Grays Harbor area. Another location for a cascara farm on the East Humptulips river was suggested by Commissioner Glenn Sheeley. The detail have been taken under advisement and further action is promised.
50 years ago
September 5, 1968
It is not the policy of the Vidette to editorialize on the front page, but when the situation warrants it, then the policy must change to conform with the problem.
Last Friday evening we had the privilege of riding on patrol with one of the deputies of Grays Harbor County, and our eyes were opened wide.
Believe it or not, these men literally risk their lives every night with the protection of our lives and property for a measly pittance in the way of monetary compensation. A remuneration of which we as citizens should be completely ashamed. A prime example is a man who has approximately 13 years continuous service in the department (with a family of three to support) who has a net income of $339 a month.
25 years ago
September 9, 1993
Martha “Max” Torrens, 24, is the International Buckskin Horse Association’s Miss Buckskin, 1993. She earned the title during the association’s “Dunarama” in Columbia, Mo. last month. Formerly of Montesano, she is a 1991 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, she is an Air Force first lieutenant and is deputy director for public affairs at Lowry Training Center, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo.
The young equestrienne began riding at age 12.
“I started out on a horse borrowed from the Montesano school district’s bus superintendent,” she recalled. “I rode as much as possible and just really became addicted to horses.” She graduated from Montesano High School in 1986. An international and national champion, Torrens brought her love of horses to the Air Force Academy in the late 1980s.
10 years ago
September 4, 2008
Rick Rakevich, an Elma High School physical education teacher and former longtime wrestling coach, will be inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, the Elma School Board learned at its Aug. 27 meeting.
Rakevich led his Eagles to the school’s first state wrestling championship in the 1994-95 season, in addition to coaching numerous individual champions along the way in his impressive career as a wrestling coach.
The year Rakevich’s wrestlers won the 2A state title “was also the first time in the history of the State of Washington that any team has won the team state championship as well as the team state academic championship,” the school’s athletic director, Steve Bridge, said Friday.
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Gray skies did not frighten away festival goers over Labor Day weekend as crowds descended on downtown Elma for the annual Outlaw Days festival planned in conjunction with the return of the World of Outlaws racing series to Grays Harbor Raceway.
Raceway drivers and community members joined forces to entertain folks along Main Street for a parade Monday afternoon to the delight of many youngsters who had fun grabbing the candy tossed from parade participants.
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Charles McShane, a former linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks who now lives in Montesano, will be inducted into California Lutheran University’s Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, Sept. 13.
McShane, a member of the university’s Class of 1976, is one of six alums being inducted to the Hall of Fame “for their outstanding contributions to intercollegiate athletics,” according to a news release from the university.
McShane and his partner, June Bongirno, developed a subdivision off McBryde Avenue in Montesano and now live on a corner house they built. He’s a general contractor, one of the owners of Mac Built Inc., and also operates AAA Abatement and Demolition, a company specializing in hazardous waste removal.
Compiled from the archives of The Vidette by Karen Barkstrom. She can be reached at kbarkstrom@thedailyworld.com or 360-537-3925.
