Pages of the past, Aug. 3

A weekly collection from The Vidette’s archives

125 years ago

Aug. 5, 1892

An alarm of fire is always startling, no matter under what circumstances. It is doubly so coming at night, when no thought of such a calamity disturbs the mind of anyone. So it may be imagined that last Friday night, about 9:30 o’clock, when the cry of fire was raised, the people were almost panic stricken for a few moments. It has been so long a time since a blaze of any proportions has visited Montesano that the people hardly knew what course to pursue. But quickly recovering their equanimity, almost the entire town hastened to give what aid they could to check the flames and save the goods from burning buildings.

Many were attending Robinson’s circus, and quite a number of others had retired for the night when the alarm was raised. It seemed to those several blocks away that the whole central part of town was ablaze; and in fact it was only by almost superhuman efforts that this did not occur.

The fire started in the work shop in the rear of Kellerman’s jewelry store, where Mr. Kellerman had lighted a student’s lamp, placing it on a sewing machine, near the door. In entering the door he knocked the lamp off the machine, the oil catching fire, and igniting a can of oil which was close by.

100 years ago

Aug. 3, 1917

The strike situation in the lumber industry remains at a deadlock this week. One or two more mills on the harbor are in operation, but the majority of the plants are idle. The logging camps remain closed with the exception of a few operators who have never been completely down except for a few days. Shipyards at Aberdeen have closed, the men refusing to handle lumber cut in non-union mills.

No trouble has occurred at any point in the county, but picketing despite court orders to the contrary continues at several mills and logging plants. The I. W. W. on Monday morning attempted to renew their picketing of the two lumber mills in operation in Montesano, but a deputation of citizens met the picketing party as they came to their station at the end of the long bridge on South Main Street and prevented their talking to the men. Three of the men who seemed to be the leaders of the bunch were arrested and held on vagrancy charges. More serious charges have been preferred against two of the men.

75 years ago

Aug. 6, 1942

The ink had barely dried on The Vidette’s announcement when applicants began rushing to the Montesano Chamber of Commerce office to register for jobs with the Vancouver Sash and Door company which is moving to Montesano. Chamber officials were ready for them with forms to fill out and, with the assistance of Chet Whitner and Mrs. Marie Hasting, those applying got prompt service.

By Saturday afternoon when E. W. Lundgren, secretary – treasurer of the company, arrived to check on details involved in moving the company’s equipment, the chamber was able to submit nearly 100 applications of men and women who signified themselves ready to go to work. Up to noon Wednesday 136 have applied.

“These applications are extremely gratifying to us,” assured Lundgren as he studies each one carefully, “and your chamber of commerce is doing a fine job for us. In fact it was through your chamber’s efforts that we first heard about Montesano’s plant facilities and we are going to do everything we can to become a part of this kind little city.”

50 years ago

Aug. 3, 1967

When the poet wrote years ago about east being east and west being west, and the twain never meeting, he either didn’t know his baseball or he had no idea what sacrifices our businessmen were prepared to make to establish Montesano as the Pacific Coast’s answer to Cooperstown.

The bard’s opinion notwithstanding, would-be Hall of Famers from the Monte mercantile world will collide at 7 p.m. this Thursday in Nelson Field, shrine named for one of the community’s all-time great performers (in court as well as on the diamond), Fireball Nelson.

This will be the 16th edition of the east-west travesty, with no one certain how the record stands as of now. Veterans on the east side of Main Street, the telltale dividing line, insist they hold the edge in the series, but the west has wrested control of the official books and Ernie Anderson, a pro’s pro, has juggled them beautifully.

According to the Vidette files, the west forces won the baptismal battle back in 1952 by a lopsided 22 to 12 count. In 1957, the east began flexing its muscles, taking the game with no sweat, 16 to 5. And last summer computers were required to figure out another east triumph, an airtight pitchers’ duel which blew sky high—to an 18 to 14 final.

25 years ago

Aug. 6, 1992

The owners of the 335-acre Oakville Meadows development northwest of Oakville got some but not all of what they wanted from the county Monday. Instead of approval on all four of its road variance requests, P and D Development got only one, but it was an important one.

County Commissioner Bill Pine said the one will allow the company to build roads serving about 33 lots. Only a few more items stand in the way before lots sales can begin. Another 33 lots are to be developed later.

It was good news for Dan Youman, a partner of P and D and son-in-law of Gene Weaver, whose firm began the project. Youman told the commissioners the project is already three years old. “We are fairly desperate to get something on the market this summer.” He suggested that the sales would be mighty useful in completing a paving project which in the meantime is to be insured by a security bond.

Bonds have also been placed for a water system and for some concerns DNR has.

10 years ago

Aug. 2, 2007

Maryann Welch, a third-generation Harborite who came up through the ranks to become the director of the county’s Public Health and Social Services Department, will retire this fall. Her career in county government dates to the 1970s and she’s been a department director for more than 20 years.

“I have been very fortunate in my career with the county,” she said. “I couldn’t have planned it as well.”

The county commissioners suggested that the best way to handle her resignation is to refuse to accept it.

“I think very highly of her, and certainly she has done an outstanding job,” Commission Chairman Al Carter of Hoquiam, said. “She runs an excellent department.”

During tough budget years when cuts were necessary, “she’s always been a team player in anything we needed to do, and she’s always one of the ones to come up with ways to keep the general fund strong,” Carter said.

Commissioner Bob Beerbower of Elma said he trusts her, and that her integrity and management skills have proven invaluable to the commissioners in everything from labor negotiations to helping start new programs.