Pages of the past, Aug. 10

A weekly collection from The Vidette’s archives.

125 years ago

Aug. 12, 1892

From the Elma Chronicle.

An excellent crop of hay has been harvested in this vicinity and with every prospect of good demand. Farmers feel good.

The circus at Montesano last week was great—for the show people, and we might add under our breath a great take in for the other people.

The Town Council has agreed to buy the plant of the Elma Water Company, and will proceed at once to call an election for the issuance of bonds for this and other purposes.

As the time approaches for the commencement of school a statement from the board would be in order. We have repeatedly asked for a statement of the district’s condition, but have so far been unable to get it.

The honor of Elma is at stake in the matter of making the road to the county bridge. That it will be built there is no doubt, but we think that this is an elegant opportunity to distinguish between Elma’s friends and enemies.

100 years ago

Aug. 10, 1917

The complete list of drawings for the army draft in District No. 1, Grays Harbor County, is published in this issue of the Vidette, showing the order in which every man in the district is liable for call before the examining board. The district comprises all of the territory in the county outside of the cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, which places constitute District No. 2. The first call was issued last Saturday for 270 men to appear before the examining board in detachments of 90 men on each of three days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week.

The work of examining these men for physical defects has been a huge task and proved difficult to handle this number of men each day with only three physicians assigned to the work. The physical condition of the men called up has been surprisingly good and but few have been rejected on account of physical defects. The willingness to serve, however, has not been up to the physical standard, and the greater percent of the men examined have expressed intention to file claim for exemption on various grounds, mainly that of dependent relatives.

75 years ago

Aug. 13, 1942

Some time ago the Montesano Vidette editorially commented upon the need for the red light traffic stop signal at Pioneer and Main Streets. Before that the Montesano Chamber of Commerce went on record in open meeting by addressing a resolution to the Montesano city council asking for restoration of the traffic signal so that traffic would be slowed through the center of town to protect our school children.

The city council apparently could not restore the red stop light because the state highway authorities had insisted that it be removed.

This week a Montesano woman and her two children suffered an accident on Pioneer avenue, while riding in their coupe, which easily could have caused death because an enormous tank truck with an equally enormous tank trailer could not stop in time to avoid hitting them.

If that huge tanker had been required to stop at Pioneer and Main street, as it would have been before the state highway officials required the city of Montesano to remove the red stop light signal, the accident would probably not have happened. Another such occasion may result in death or disaster.

50 years ago

Aug. 10, 1967

Montesano, with 10 of 11 elective municipal positions on the line in 1967, will enjoy no primary battle, will witness only one November contest—for the top city spot—and will possibly find itself without legal counsel by the end of the year.

Those were the developments of note as a five-day filing period came to a close last Friday. And, only because of four late entries on the last day did it close with at least a lone candidate for each of the open seven City Council seats.

An interesting campaign for the mayor’s job shaped up 24 hours earlier, when Jack Mempa filed Thursday for that post. He will oppose Steve Lewis, who made his intentions known July 31.

As had been widely rumored, a mutual agreement was reached by Lloyd Metke, the present mayor, and Mempa, now a councilman. Mempa tossed his hat in the mayoralty ring and, simultaneously, Metke filed for Mempa’s Council post.

Mempa has resided in Monte for more than a decade, serving as General Telephone (formerly West Coast) manager here. Only last year, he and his wife, Velma, purchased the popular Bee Hive Koffy Shop.

25 years ago

Aug. 13, 1992

It was all a beehive of activity at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds this past Monday and Tuesday, as people involved in the annual fair, which got underway Wednesday, were busy judging entries, washing show animals and, of course, eating.

Dan Sharp, fair manager, is anticipating a much larger crowd this year during the five day run of the annual event, since warm, sunny weather has been predicted for the remainder of this week. Last year, the fair suffered from gray, dismal weather that affected crowd attendance.

10 years ago

Aug. 9, 2007

The Grays Harbor County Commissioners, with the blessing of the City of McCleary, have extended a development moratorium in the Wildcat Creek aquifer area another six months. The aquifer supplies McCleary’s drinking water and there has been concern that growth in the unincorporated area might impact water quality.

The commissioners extended the moratorium on new permit applications until Feb. 12. They’ve been told that usable information for decision-making purposes to craft possible development regulations for that area should be available in November, if not sooner.