125 years ago

Jan. 6, 1893

For two weeks or more the people of Centralia have been much stirred up over an operation performed on an old gentleman named Alfred Wright, who died on the 23rd of this month. …

On December 6 Drs. U.A. Gile and J.D. Minkler performed an operation on Wright, without the knowledge of his friends. The operation was to have been for placing the hip joint in position and stretching the cords, but, finding this impossible they proceeded to make an incision and cut off a piece of the bone. A few days after, and while Wright was still suffering they succeeded in extorting from him a check for $250 in payment for the operation . …

Wright lingered till the 23 of December when he died and his guardian notified M. D. Wood, justice of the peace and acting coroner, demanding that an investigation of the cause of his death be had as it was thought circumstances tended to show a conspiracy to bring about the death of Wright. A jury was impaneled and an autopsy held. The jury then adjourned to the 26, since which time it has been in session every day, a large number of witnesses being examined.

100 years ago

Jan. 4, 1918

The retail merchants of Montesano, Elma and other East End towns will adopt and live up to the economy board resolutions for shorter hours, fewer deliveries, closer credits and more attention to pushing necessities and holding back on luxuries. This was decided at a meeting held in Montesano, Thursday evening of last week, and although there were some who felt that the new rules will very materially reduce their business there was no open objection.

The hours of business will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week.

Credit will not be allowed anyone for more than 30 days. Accounts will become due on the first of each month. Failure to pay on or before the 15th of a month will result in all credits being withdrawn from a customer.

Elma, McCleary, Malone and Satsop were represented. In all about 50 merchants were present. There were also several Aberdeen merchants there, including Geo. J. Wolff and Mr. Brock, who spoke briefly. …

The National Council of Defense requests all retailers to go on a wartime basis January 1, 1918.

75 years ago

Jan. 7, 1943

The war was brought close to Montesano this week through the Red Cross when notification was received that Mr. and Mrs. Lynn L. Crist are now prisoners of the Japanese and are confined at the Santa Thomas internment camp at Manilla.

Mr. Crist was born and raised in Montesano. For 12 years prior to the war he was an electric appliance man in Manilla. He is the son of Mrs. Ella Crist, now residing in Seattle with a daughter, Mrs. Ophelia Teale.

•••

Announcement was made late Wednesday by Governor Arthur B. Langlie that he had appointed Harold B. Kellog of Montesano to the Washington State Defense Council. Kellog, who is now chairman of the board of county commissioners of Grays Harbor County is also president of the Washington State Association of County Commissioners.

The appointment is definite indication of the Governor’s appreciation of the work performed in this county and of the importance of civilian defense work in the coastal county regions. The state defense council includes responsible civic leaders of the highest calibre throughout the state who operate in direct contact with Governor Langlie in all civilian defense matters.

Kellog has received the governor’s commission and will meet with the state council this coming Saturday.

50 years ago

Jan. 4, 1968

Grays Harbor County faces a financial crisis in the year ahead — and the only way to overcome is for departmental chiefs to “hold the line.”

That was the word put out last Friday afternoon by Leighton Powell, chairman of the county commissioners’ board, who officiated at a special session of his group, mightily concerned about the monetary plight of the county.

“There have been more and more demands upon county government,” Powell said. “The legislature constantly asks us to do more, but it doesn’t send the dollars to do the job.”

Both Powell and fellow Commissioner John Pearsall asked all department heads to cooperate in limiting expenditures during 1968. Specifically, they asked that capital outlay items be eliminated — except those already under contract — and that costs for operation and maintenance be reduced by approximately 10 percent.

•••

“We complained a lot before Christmas about the expected vandalism, so I think we should congratulate our kids because destruction was held to a minimum this year.”

So spoke Officer Charles Mero of the Montesano Police Department as the men in blue counted their post-Yule blessings.

“I believe we had only three complaints during the whole holiday period,” Mero said. “And they weren’t serious infractions. All in all, it was a joyous time of year.”

The Monte police officer predicted that more local families will go for outdoor Christmas decorations next year. Some had been scared off this past Christmas due to extreme vandalism here in December of 1965 and 1966.

25 years ago

Jan. 7, 1993

Unemployment in Washington state jumped sharply to its highest November level in six years moving from 6.9 percent to 7.7 percent of the labor force, Employment Security Commissioner Vernon E. Stoner announced this week.

“There hasn’t been a bigger October-to-November change in the rate since 1982,” said Stoner. “Ironically, it seems to have been fueled by improved national economic news, which has caused discouraged job seekers to start looking for work again. Moreover, the state continues to attract workers from other states.”

•••

After 23 years on the Harbor, Dr. J.R. and Susan Fuller, owners of the Blue Cross Veterinary Clinic in Central Park, have decided to call it quits, stop playing baby sitter for small pets, pack their suitcases and retire to a community near Eugene, Oregon, in the Willamette valley. “That’s it,” Dr. Fuller said this week, “We don’t plan on doing anymore boarding of animals, diagnosing, operating or any of the other jobs and worries that go with a veterinary service.” Dr. Fuller and his family arrived at the Central Park clinic on December 15, 1969, after having sold their clinic in Walla Walla, where he had practiced his profession along with his father, also Dr. J.R. Fuller, for several years.

10 years ago

Jan. 3, 2008

For 130 years or more, an English walnut tree growing in a hay field in the Wynooche Valley weathered floods, drought, snow, ice and everything else Mother Nature could throw at it.

It thrived despite the gouging it sustained from the bull a former owner used to tie to it.

In modern times, those traveling the Wynoochee Valley Road would pull over to enjoy the peaceful, pastoral scene.

Elk found shade and shelter beneath its branches.

It took the “December to Remember” storm to topple it — arguably the worst wind and rain storm to hit this area since 1962. (That’s not to mention storms that were even worse earlier in the century. The 1930s in particular had several record-breaking weather events.)