125 years ago
April 27, 1894
The N.W.L. Co. sawed the longest logs this week ever sawed on the harbor, being 108 feet in length. The timber which they sawed out of them were 24x24x108 feet, which are to go to China on the Volunteer.
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Herbert Smith, who was knot-sawing at the mill in Porter, split his great toe clear to the foot, Tuesday. He was standing on the platform, kicking down splats, when his foot came in contact with the saw.
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George Simpson, was over from Kamilche Wednesday. He states that the logging outlook is anything but encouraging, although their camps, which furnish the Pt. Blakely mills, will no doubt run right along.
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The Catholic society of this city will soon have a church in which to worship. The building is now being constructed. It is located on Third street, below Pioneer. The structure will be 26×40 feet. The frame work is already up.
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Yesterday was a memorable day in the history of Odd Fellowship in Chehalis county. From nearly every portion of the county the members of the order came to Montesano to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization of Odd Fellowship in America.
The first to arrive from other sections were the delegations from Elma and Satsop lodges who drove down. The harbor visitors were brought up by the Josie Burrows. They were met by a reception committee and the Vidette band and escorted to Odd Fellows hall where they were formed in line by Geo. W. Boyington, marshal of the day and marched through the principal streets of the streets.
100 years ago
April 25, 1919
“Moses” we used to call him — Ivan Caldwell — is home from France — sobered, leaner, more manly looking, but still as drool as ever.
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A very pleasant evening was enjoyed at the home of Mrs. Charlie Allen Friday when she was hostess to a number of the young ladies of the city in a joint miscellaneous shower in honor of Miss Doris Fox and Miss Ethel Twidwell. The guests hemmed dish towels for the brides-to-be.
75 years ago
April 27, 1944
Efforts to secure sufficient rope and cordage for the crab fishermen operating out of Grays Harbor were intensified as the result of a letter sent to the War Production Board by Congressman Fred Norman who acted at the request of J.A. May, executive of F.G. Foster & Company, Hoquiam.
Insisting that lack of sufficient rope is causing the loss of much valuable equipment including crab pots, such as are made in Montesano by Blacksmith J.A. Hall, Congressman Norman pulled no punches when he said: “It is a fact that the crab fishermen need this rope; it is a fact that without it they are losing and will continue to lose a very grave percentage of their crab pot equipment. It is a fact that this will result in a serious reduction of the amount of such seafood captured and processed this year … crab fishing is of extreme importance in the overall picture of food from the northwest waters of our continent … it would be a criminal waste to prevent these fishermen from obtaining the lines so badly needed.”
50 years ago
April 24, 1969
When school convenes at Montesano High next September,a familiar, highly-respected and much-loved face will be missing from the list of faculty members.
Mrs. Lola Guggenbickler will retire from the teaching profession when school is dismissed June 11.
Mrs. G., as she has been affectionately called by the passing parade of students through the years, will have completed a total of 25 years in the profession, 21 of which were spent in the Wheeler Building.
“One of the most pleasing times of my 21 years has been when a student has returned from the ‘big city’ and remembered to visit,” said Mrs. G., as she thoughtfully relived her past tenure. “You know I’ll really miss these kids. You feel a certain pride as you watch these little girls develop into real young ladies. It makes you feel as though all the frustrations, heartbreaks and misunderstandings are really worth it, after all.”
25 years ago
April 28, 1994
This Monday the county commissioners faced an entirely different group of people as opposed to the roomful of correctional facility opponents that appeared last week when they were boisterous and shouting down all those who supported the proposed prison that the state may construct off the Westport highway just west of the Nishkah Road.
The room this Monday held some 30 to 40 influential, prestigious and supportive people who all voiced their support of the facility.
Peter Shave, an Aberdeen council member said, “We need such a facility for the jobs that will be realized, and as far as I’m concerned, the fears that have been voiced are unfounded.
Bob Stewart of Aberdeen told the board, “In a check with prison authorities I found that only about one and a half percent of the inmates at Walla Walla had families who resided in the immediate area. I also have family in Monroe and friends in the Shelton area. None of them ever voiced concern about nearby prisons.”
LeRoy Tipton, manager of the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce, went on record saying that the chamber supported the concept of building a correctional facility here. “We need the added jobs and with the additional jobs will come a better economic system. And there won’t be any negative impact on our way of life as has been charged.”
10 years ago
April 23, 2009
The Montesano SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl team took first place in the state competition April 9-11 in Yakima. The win qualifies them to compete in the national competition in Kansas City, however they declined to participate because of financial considerations and conflicts with other activities, advisor Jeff Wetzel said. Members of the team include Jessica Reams, Hillary Lawrence, Jessica Reagan, Kelsey Whitney and Matt Woodruff.
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Elma pitcher Rachel Todd kept Black Hills hitters on their heels with 10 strikeouts, and her teammates provided more than enough offense to top the Wolves 11-1 in a 2A Evergreen Conference fastpitch match-up Monday at Eagle Field.
After the game, Elma coach Steve Luellen was pleased with more than one aspect of the Eagles’ play.
Todd pitched well; she had zero walks for the first time this year, while giving up only two hits, Luellen said.
The coach was also happy with the play of Sammie Sturges, who moved up from JV to play third.
Compiled from the archives of The Vidette by Karen Barkstrom. She can be reached at 360-537-3925 or kbarkstrom@thedailyworld.com
