125 years ago
April 28, 1893
Editors Divilbiss and Radar of the VIDETTE and Economist, were in the city Wednesday, shaking hands with their numerous friends. They seldom appear in Elma, but when they do come, receive a right cordial welcome.
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The three Montesano dentists were all down the harbor the past week, doing professional work, while the people of this place were compelled to endure toothache and vent their displeasure on the absent doctors.
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While working in the sash and door factory a few days ago, M. Waples was hit with such force by a board as it came from the planer, that he had to be taken home, but he is now out again.
100 years ago
April 26, 1918
The Montesano High Seniors put their colors in decorative places in the auditorium the first of the week. The Juniors didn’t do a thing. The Sophomores, noting the apathy of the upper class, and to keep up the reputation of the school, took them down and cut them up as souvenirs.
The Senior colors are old rose and green. The Sophomore colors are purple and gold.
Monday evening the purple and gold streamers fluttered in the breeze from the top of the school flag pole, and underneath, until long after the official timekeeper said it was dark, stood guards from the Sophomore class.
Later — about the time spooks began to roam — dark forms appeared from various parts of the city. The purple and gold came down, the old rose and green went up.
75 years ago
April 29, 1943
A survey of farm labor needs in Grays Harbor county will be conducted by a committee recently organized to consolidate all agencies and individuals interested in solving the seasonal labor problems of crop harvests, Floyd Svinth, county extension agent, said today.
The labor committee is comprised of representatives of farm organizations, dairy groups, cranberry growers, employment services, the farm security administration, soil conservation service and the schools.
“The committee will do everything in its power to recruit and supply all available farm labor in the county to harvest crops this summer and fall,” Svinth asserted. “Farmers should sow their fields to maximum capacity this year with the assurance that crops will be harvested.”
This means that women and high school youths must carry much of the burden. Farmers also must cooperate with each other by trading labor crews.
An effort is being made to obtain school buses for transportation of workers to the fields. Feeding and housing at the harvest site also will be provided when necessary.
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Montesano, along with Elma, Cosmopolis, Oakville and several other community sections in the rural areas of Grays Harbor county will soon receive emergency fire-fighting pump tank units of equipment as the result of arrangements which were made by Bruce Hood, county defense director, while attending a meeting of southwest Washington fire chiefs and state officials Tuesday.
Defense units have been asked to turn in all of the training type gas masks which were issued last year and the new type of civilian gas mask will be furnished in its place. The new gas mask is designed to last at least 48 hours of use, an improvement over the training mask, according to Hood.
50 years ago
April 25, 1968
Opening Day for the trout fishermen went over with a bang at Lake Sylvia last Sunday. Nearly 200 children participated in the annual V.F.W. sponsored ‘Fishing Derby’ from 5 to 9 a.m.
According to Washington State Game officials, a total of 3,051 Rainbow trout were landed by the 789 registered fishermen who visited the lake. Of that total, 131 juvenile limits were caught and 55 adults went home with limit catches.
Last year the ‘Fishing Derby’ was held in a snowstorm and though Sunday started off as another foggy, drizzly day, the sun finally came through and, much to everyone’s delight, continued through the remainder of the day.
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James G. Eddy, a Washingtonian who pioneered forest genetics in the West in the early 1900s, will be honored today, April 25, when a 16,000 acre forest named in his memory will be dedicated to tree farming.
Port Blakely Mill Company, owner of the tree farm area, has invited more than 200 persons to the dedication ceremony which will be held in McCleary, Wash. at the V.F.W. Hall beginning at noon.
In addition to the dedication ceremony Thursday, the family owned company which has been in the timber business for more than 100 years will rename the Blakely Tree Farm, near McCleary, the John W. Eddy Tree Farm in memory of another leader in the company’s forestry programs. Tree Farm certificates and signs will be presented to fifth-generation heirs during the ceremony.
25 years ago
April 29, 1993
While the export of logs is down dramatically from last year, shipments of lumber from Port-owned terminals in Grays Harbor this year are 101 percent above 1992 figures, according to an activity report that Port Marine Terminal Manager Leonard Barnes presented to the Port commissioners last week.
The report noted that lumber cargoes from Port facilities totalled 35,530 board feet so far this year. During the first three months of 1992 the total amounted to 17,647 board feet. Shipments of lumber from the private terminals this year has amounted to 42,481 board feet, down from 56,311 board feet last year.
10 years ago
April 24, 2008
Pat Clemons, the i-dotting, t-crossing retired school teacher who keeps “Monte Pride” alive through her love of the city and its history was named the 2008 Citizen of the Year at the Montesano Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet Saturday, April 19.
Sterling Savings Bank was named Business of the Year while the Montesano School District honored teacher Barb Diaz and school volunteer David Luark.
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Using an overwhelming offensive attack, Montesano dispatched Toledo, 8-4, and 14-5, in a 1A Evergreen League fastpitch double header Thursday, April 17, at Toledo.
The Montesano battery did much of the damage in the opening game, as pitcher Makayla Shumate and catcher Aubree Pocklington each pounded out three hits for the Bulldogs, with Shumate collecting three RBIs and Pocklington two.
In the nightcap it was the same duo tormenting Indian pitching. Shumate knocked out three more hits, while Pocklington accounted for four RBIs. Monte’s Devyn Baker came in to pitch in the second inning and authored five innings of scoreless relief.
