Pages of the past, June 22

A weekly collection from The Vidette’s archives.

125 years ago

June 24, 1892

The committee having in charge the management of the Fourth of July celebration have about completed all arrangements and prepared a program which will be carried out as near as possible. It will be seen that many of the features so common in demonstrations of this kind have been omitted. It is not the design to make a grand display, not to attempt to bring people to the city with a view of getting as much money out of them as possible. The cities of the county are invited to join with us in observing the day in a fitting manner, and with as little expense to our visitors as possible. Arrangements have been made to run excursions from different parts of the county on that day.

One of the leading features of the day will be the races on the new Montesano race track, which will be opened on that day. A number of good horses are here already preparing to enter the contest.

100 years ago

June 22, 1917

One of the best addresses ever made in this city was delivered at the high school auditorium Monday evening when Thos. P. Fiske, of Shelton, spoke on the mission of the Red Cross and the duty of American citizens in the great war that confronts us. The auditorium was crowded to its capacity with a most attentive and deeply interested audience. In addition to the address by Mr. Fiske, an excellent musical program was rendered.

Mr. Fiske is a very forceful speaker and has a control of his audience that is very marked. His talk was straight to the heart of the loyal citizen and he pointed the duty of Americans in no uncertain terms. He sketched the history of American in her fight for democracy and drew her course true from the past into the great struggle in which we are now engaged. This war is truly a fight for preservation of the freedom of the world and it is no picnic party in which we have become embroiled. England and France have been fighting for our liberty as much as their own in the last three years and we but took our rightful station when we ranged ourselves alongside of them in the great war.

75 years ago

June 25, 1942

A new type of strawberry, now being tested in this county, is regarded by County Agent Arthur F. Kulin as having great possibilities for this region.

It is a cross between a Marshall and another variety, developed by the United States department of agriculture in Oregon. About two years ago, Kulin obtained about 800 plants and these are now beginning to bear on the places of Frank Carson and Charles Stein on Strawberry hill and of Eugene La Breck near here.

The berries are described as sweeter and firmer than a Marshall, and the bushes bear luxuriantly. But their greatest merit, in Kulin’s opinion, is that they ripen later than the Marshall, thus minimizing danger of rain damage and reaching the market at a time when it is less likely to be gutted.

50 years ago

June 22, 1967

A three-year Montesano dream will become reality this Saturday, June 24, when Monte Villa—the community’s largest apartment development to date—conducts its official grand opening.

Delayed from an earlier opening by bad weather, developers have been working feverishly during recent weeks under clear skies to ready the 24-unit project in time for the Farm Festival’s influx of county visitors.

Speaking for West Coast Mills Inc. of Chehalis, designer and manufacturer of Monte Villa, Robert Thompson, secretary, said at midweek that “we’ll just about make it.” Two units already have been rented and nine others will be available for potential applications to rent Saturday, he noted.

When finished, Thompson said, Monte Villa will boast 10 one-bedroom units without fireplaces, six two-units with fireplaces and one deluxe three-bedroom unit with a family room.

Features included with all the units are wall-to-wall carpeting, appliances, storage space and utility rooms. Carports are available for persons wanting them.

25 years ago

June 18, 1992

New home construction in Montesano is on a pace to double last year’s mark and quite a bit more is on the way.

In all of 1991, permits were sought for six new homes in town. Though 1992 is less than half over, there are already seven new homes on the books.

City Building Inspector Doug Taylor said it’s all he can do to keep up with the various projects in town. Most of the homes are being built for the people who intend to live in them. The exception is a 1,640 square foot home being built on spec by Ron Pitman Construction on Talbot Street in east Montesano.

Other new homes are going up on Stevenson Lane, N. Nevills Lane, N. 7th Street and two on West McBryde. Mark Phillips of Phillips and Phillips Construction, is putting up a new shop on 3rd Street with a studio apartment upstairs.

By far the biggest new home is that of Paul Willis, being built at the end of W. McBryde Avenue by Locke Construction of Ocean Shores. The 4,500 square foot home will sit on a one acre site bisected by a seasonal creek. There will be a footpath over the creek between the four car garage and the home, which features an indoor swimming pool in the basement, a hot tub, recreation room, and sound studio.

10 years ago

June 21, 2007

We may live in a world that’s constantly changing, but when it comes to researching Montesano’s history, Pat Clemons of Montesano takes her time. Her painstaking attention to detail is practically legendary in these parts.

After all, you can’t change history. You may as well take your time and get it right. But when it comes to Bryan Park at the east entrance to town, Miss Clemons is in a hurry.

She’s worried some important Montesano history may get lost forever when the city uproots its aging stand of poplars at the city’s east entrance.

The poplars have helped define the visual landscape for decades and they tower over the other trees and shrubbery along the railroad tracks. But a storm toppled several trees this past winter, ruining the stately visual appeal, and Forester Ron Schillinger reluctantly concluded it was only a matter of time before the other aging trees topple, too.

The City Council agreed last winter to let them come out, and Asplund’s offered this spring to drop them for free. Now the city is seeking community ideas for new plantings at Bryan Park.

Enter Miss Clemons. The retired seventh-grade teacher wants to make certain the park’s history is preserved as improvements are planned.

There are no plaques or monuments denoting the significance of several trees in the park, she says, and she’s worried some valuable history might be lost or uprooted.

“If we don’t do something to preserve it who will in the future if they don’t know why some of these trees are here?” she asks.