125 years ago
Dec. 25, 1891
A lady in subscribing for the Vidette to be sent to friends in the east, stated that it was the most appropriate Christmas present she could think of. We would also add that a year’s subscription to this paper would be just the thing as a New Year’s gift.
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The citizens of Oakville are to observe Christmas with a tree in their church Christmas Eve and a shooting match on Christmas day. The talk is that the other towns near there are to join with Oakville on that day and they are to have a celebration New Year’s.
100 years ago
Dec. 22, 1916
Scarlet fever in school not serious
Three cases of scarlet fever have developed among the children in the two primary rooms of the public school, but each case was promptly quarantined on discovery of first symptoms and Monday evening the primary rooms were thoroughly fumigated. A conference of the health officers and school authorities was held and the opinion expressed that there is little danger of any further spread of the disease if proper precautions are observed by parents and children are not taken to public gatherings for a short time.
The following statement prepared and signed by Supt. Wheeler and Drs. Marcy and Thomas was sent to the parents of all children in the primary grade:
“To the Parents of Children of First Primary Room:
“We regret to say that during the past week scarlet fever in mild form has broken out in this city. The three cases which we have are from the rooms of Miss Fahey and Miss Plummer.
“These children have all been out of school on the discovery of the first symptoms and each immediately quarantined.
“The City Superintendent, Eldridge Wheeler, County Health Officer Dr. Marcy and City Health Officer Dr. Thomas in conference over the situation would advise that there is no immediate danger in continuing the school until the end of the week, after which will follow a school vacation of two weeks. The rooms are well ventilated and also thoroughly fumigated. Extreme care will be taken on the part of the health and school authorities of any symptoms of illness.
“We desire and believe it is just as safe to keep your child here, if in normal health, as at home, yet we will not urge you to do so if you feel that its health would be better conserved at home than at school or we would advise if child has cold or cough not to send it the remainder of the week.
“We would kindly urge that the children of these two rooms do not attend public gatherings until danger of the spread of the disease is passed.”
75 years ago
Dec. 25, 1941
Tonight, all night and every night, the people of Montesano and all Grays Harbor county are protected by an never-ending vigil.
As result of the cooperation of the Grays Harbor county defense commission, local city defense councils and law enforcement agencies, constant watch is kept for air raid warnings and emergency blackouts.
It’s a lonely watch, waiting for the emergency that everyone hopes will never come. But, if it does come, Grays Harbor residents will have reason to be thankful that many of their fellow citizens have gladly volunteered for this service.
If the call comes — probably originating with army authorities — an elaborate system of warning will get into immediate action. Officers of the county sheriff and of police departments will be immediately notified. More than 20 air raid wardens and other agencies strategically located throughout the county will be given the alarm from headquarters here.
Through these local centers, every party of the county will be notified of the emergency. Test calls are being made to discover means of improving the system and to get the warnings broadcast with a minimum of delay.
This system is in addition to the air raid warden service, also a 24 hour job, which is on the lookout for planes.
50 years ago
Dec. 22, 1966
Yule thieves steal tree lights
Montesano’s police officers are having a tough time seeing that lights about town — Christmas tree variety and otherwise — are kept on. And, if the trend continues, they plan to give responsible juveniles just as tough a time.
The seasonal theft of Yule lights from outside trees and the exterior of homes has become a real problem again this year, according to Patrolman Charles Mero. On top of that, vapor lights on street corners — principally in the northeast section of Monte — are being knocked out with increasing regularity.
“We hate to recommend that residents take down or not put up outdoor Christmas decorations,” Mero said, “but the vandalism incidence is quite high against this year.”
The officer reported that youngsters of ages nine and above have been spotted bulb-snatching from Christmas decorations around the city. “If apprehensions are made, these youngsters will be turned over to the juvenile authorities for action,” he warned.
To help prevent these particular incidents, the police have requested that parents know the whereabouts of their children after dark — and keep them in tow.
Destruction of the street lights is even more serious, and older boys apparently are involved, according to Mero. So far, most of the lights demolished have been concentrated on Church and Academy streets near the Wheeler school building.
Since November 1, about 15 vapor lights have been destroyed, police reported. The PUD has warned that, if sufficient damage is effected, most of the lights in the northeast area could go out.
“We have provided with a list of suspects in these incidents,” Mero said, “and we expect some positive action before week’s end.” He indicated that a few of the suspects have been involved in similar acts of vandalism in the past.
25 years ago
Dec. 19, 1991
Someone has to draw the line somewhere, and that’s exactly what Grays Harbor’s county-wide elected officials are trying to do. But redistricting in the wake of the most recent census is providing to be more of a chore than they had hoped.
Most of the county’s nine elected commissioners said they consider themselves representatives of the entire county, and the artificial lines which divide their districts do not play significant roles in their day to day duties. But state law requires each of the three districts to be as equal in populations as possible.
Talk of redistricting is immeasurably aided by maps, but the three districts can be generally described. District #1 is the eastern portion of the county from the Jefferson County line down through Oakville and includes Cosmopolis and part of Central Park. District #2 is Aberdeen and the southwestern portion of the county including everything south of the Harbor except Westport. District #3 takes in Westport and everything North of the Harbor including Hoquiam.
The county commissioners, who must adopt new lines by the end of the year which meet state population requirements, have developed several plans, but only two are being seriously considered.
The main issue is how to increase the population represented by District #2, which has fallen behind the other two districts by about 2,000 people since the last census.
10 years ago
Dec. 21, 2006
When a pitched roof atop the Masonic Building at the corner of First and Pioneer in Montesano flew through the night during a raging storm last Thursday, it came crashing down on Sterling Savings Bank next door and then into the street. A woman who had just arrived to clean the bank thought the bank’s roof had flown off.
But actually, “poor Sterling was just an innocent bystander,” said another woman, Peggy Hamblin, who lives on Third Street. Mrs’ Hamblin’s son, Derek, was also an innocent bystander — though he came close to being more than that.
Derek Hamblin, 29, who works swing shift for the Westport Shipyard in Hoquiam, said he’d left work early because of the rising wind. After checking on his parents, sisters and nephews in Montesano, the Elma resident was headed home to his wife and 3-year-old son just after 11:40 p.m. But when his 2000 Ford Taurus was passing in front of the Montesano Post Office, I stopped because I heard a lot of banging noises,” Hamblin said.
Looking up to the right at Whitney’s tire shop, Hamblin said, “the whole roof, like one big section, just came off and blew upside down. It was airborne pretty good, really good,” he said. “It was freaky.”
