125 years ago

Dec. 30, 1892

Cosmopolis. Correspondence to Vidette.

The snow that the children ordered of the Gods of the Olympic mountains was greatly enjoyed by everybody.

Strand Morland has been very sick, but is improving. This is the only case of illness that we have known for some time.

There are many families here who have no place to live — not from poverty, but from lack of houses — so must move to Aberdeen.

We haven’t all gone to sleep here; we have only been so busy that we haven’t had time to “let our light shine” beyond our own little orbit.

The new town hall is almost finished; it will be a beautiful structure. The windows were put in the upper hall and a social dance given Monday night, which was quite largely attended and passed off pleasantly.

We have had a very merry Christmas all around. The Methodist church of this place was very tastefully arranged with two trees and an arch, all of which were loaded with beautiful presents. There was a fine program, which ended with the appearance of Santa Claus himself, with his sleigh and reindeers, who superintended the giving of presents, The deer were pronounced to be as good an imitation of the reality as was possible with straw and paint. They were made by Mrs. C. H. Gilbreath of this place.

100 years ago

Dec. 28, 1917

The police shake up in Seattle under the new Chief of Police Joel Warren is the only real one that the department has had during the past 20 years. Warren is cleaning out of headquarters, the old line of officers who have been in charge for years and who are generally believed to be responsible for the very bad condition of affairs existing in the city.

In times past there have been some slight changes but Warren, working with the Federal authorities, is going down the line and every officer who has not made good is being sent to the suburbs and smart, honest young policemen are taking their places.

While Warren does not say so it is generally understood that the officers at Camp Lewis are satisfied that a real clean up is in progress and it is likely that most any day will bring the announcement that the embargo on Seattle has been lifted and that soldiers will once again be permitted to visit the city.

75 years ago

Dec. 31, 1942

Chief James A. Pryde of the Washington State Patrol warned motorists that their 1942 vehicle licenses expire midnight, December 31st, and asked that renewals be purchased immediately.

New plates are not being issued for 1943 because of the shortage of steel but vehicle owners are being issued small green stickers shaped like the State of Washington which must be attached in the lower left hand side of the front windshield. The stickers bear numbers but will not necessarily be the same as those on the old license plates.

•••

In order to conserve gasoline and tires four local dairies have recently cooperated in a plan that will insure all of their Montesano and East Grays Harbor county customers a continued milk and cream delivery service. Of these the Fairview and Klasell dairies have divided their routes, and now the Arland and Wynoochee Home Farm dairies have arranged for deliveries of their patrons according to route.

Wynooche Farms, under the management of Robert Taylor will serve their own and Arland’s milk customers while Arlands will serve all former Wynooche milk consumers in the region towards Aberdeen.

50 years ago

Dec. 28, 1967

Boyd Rozen appeared Tuesday night before City Council to request that Montesanans be permitted to paint the town red New Year’s Eve, then spent more time explaining how red tape has hurt Montesanans in the current year. …

As chairman of the Montesano School Board, Rozen was asked by Councilman Lloyd Metke, acting as mayor pro tem, to report on the present status of plans for the new Beacon Avenue Elementary School. The city is particularly interested, since a proposed LID for a new sewer is being delayed until school construction bids have been let.

Rozen said the office of the state fire marshal has requested about 20 changes in plans for the school, regarded as an unusually high total. However, he added, the school board has been advised by its Tacoma architect, Gordon Norris, that these changes are not considered a serious obstacle to near-future progress.

•••

Turnabout being fair play, Councilman Lloyd Metke took a verbal jab Tuesday evening at Mayor Steve Lewis, who apparently hit Metke below the belt at the previous meeting of City Council.

Curiously, Metke, the ex-mayor, was not present December 12, the night Lewis announced abolishment of the Montesano Park Board as one of his first official acts.

Then again, Lewis was Christmas vacationing in California Tuesday, the night Metke — serving as mayor pro tem — declared that his recent successor had acted hastily and improperly in wiping out the board.

“The park board was established in city ordinance in 1924,” Metke said, “and can only be abolished by ordinance. I think the mayor should reconsider his action. The park board has served well through the years and has important work ahead of it.”

25 years ago

Dec. 31, 1992

An “unusual” deer killed by a hunter in southwest Washington was a sika deer, which is native to Asia, U.S. fish and Wildlife Service scientists have confirmed.

An investigation by the Washington Department of Wildlife indicates the sika deer may be one of two animals, or their offspring, that escaped from an Amboy farm approximately five years ago.

Curt Smitch, director of the Department of Wildlife, said the Nov. 23 incident near Yacolt underlines the need for regulations that will protect the state’s wildlife from disease, hybridization, competition for habitat and other threats posed by the fast-growing commercial wildlife industry.

•••

Limited casino gambling is coming to the Swinomish, Upper Skagit Lower Elwha and Chehalis tribal reservations under the terms of compact signed last week by tribal leaders and Gov. Booth Gardner. …

The compacts specify which games may be operated, hours of operation, wager limits, the number of gaming stations, and licensing and enforcement requirements. The approximate locations of the casinos are: Swinomish, outside La Conner; Upper Skagit, south of Bellingham near Interstate 5; Lower Elwha, near Port Angeles; and Chehalis, in Grays Harbor County near Oakville.

10 years ago

Dec. 27, 2007

Here comes the judge — the new judge, that is.

Aberdeen attorney David Edwards will become the new Grays Harbor Superior Court judge Jan. 2, replacing Judge David Foscue, who will leave the bench the same day to begin his retirement.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, Edwards’ friend of 25 years, will officiate at the swearing-in ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Grays Harbor County Courthouse in Montesano, “I’m very honored by that,” Edwards said.

•••

A Montesano establishment, where folks have headed when they were hungry for a hearty breakfast, a light lunch or a more substantial Friday dinner — or just to spend some time with friends and neighbors chatting over a cup of coffee — is closing its doors.

When the Main Street Eatery closes Friday, Dec. 28, it will be for the last time.

After owning and operating the business at 115 S. Main Street for eight and half years, Pam Boerner says she’s “just tired.”