125 years ago
Dec. 2, 1892
There is a pathetic story which has never been told attending the death of James T. Leighton, of New Haven, who fell dead in Monument square, Portland, Wednesday evening. It appears that he had a son who, in a fit of rage, induced by an altercation with his father, left home and mysteriously disappeared. The months went by and the father and mother received no tidings of their boy. Learning that he was employed in Portland, the mother and father went there on the Boston boat Wednesday morning and registered at the Preble. He searched the city all day with no success, and though ill and weak he resolved to start out again that night.
He met a man who informed him that his son was stopping in a boarding house on Free street and offered to lead Mr. Leighton there. The latter was overjoyed, but after crossing the square became so weak that he leaned against a building and was unable to proceed. He asked his guide to hurry to the boarding house and fetch his son. The man hurried, and when he returned with the son, they saw a crowd surrounding a prostrate form on the sidewalk. They hurriedly pushed the bystanders aside, and there they found the father a corpse. Heart disease brought on by excitement, the physician said. —Bangor (Me.) Whig.
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Artic. Correspondence to Vidette
John Barker has been seriously ill the past few days.
E.L. Morgan will have music in his home, having purchased a new organ.
As a result of the high water all the bridges in this part of the county have been carried away.
A social gathering at the home of J.T. Dillard last Friday evening was largely attended.
100 years ago
Nov. 30 1917
Seattle has awakened to the fact that she cannot fool with the United States government. Some days ago General Greene, head of the cantonment at Camp Lewis, served notice on the city that it was too immoral a place for his soldiers to visit and that unless a real cleanup of the undesirables was made at once he would issue an order prohibiting further visits. Mayor Gill, through his police department, attempted to make a showing which he thought might satisfy General Greene, but the latter threw a bombshell into the city by placing an embargo on Seattle and henceforth no soldiers will be permitted to come here except by special request and those requests will not be granted except to soldiers who come to visit relatives and then only with the understanding that they do not take any part in Seattle’s gay life. The financial loss to Seattle will be considerable for each week end close to a thousand soldiers have come here for the purpose of enjoying themselves. But the worst phase of the situation is the black eye which the city receives by being posted throughout the United States as an undesirable place for soldiers to visit. A movement is now on foot to do some real reforming in the city which will include the removal of the chief of police, and if necessary the ousting of Mayor Gill. So long as these two men are at the head of the city administration it is generally acknowledged that the city will have no real reform.
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The Sophomore English class put on the court scene from the Merchant of Venice before the assembly, Wednesday. There was displayed some valuable material for the future Senior play.
75 years ago
Dec. 3, 1942
Montesano voters will go to the polls this Saturday, December 5th, to cast their votes for city officials on a straight republican ballot. All candidates are unopposed and all are running on the republican ticket. They will elect a city treasurer, city clerk, three councilmen for three year terms and three councilmen for two year terms, and one councilman at large.
Gaston Moch is the candidate for city treasurer, Mrs. Margaret Baker Dibbern for city clerk, Carl Schaffer, Lloyd A. Foss and F.L. Nethery for three-year councilmen, E. Harry Pickering, Edward Engen and John H. Kirkwood for two-year councilmen, and Claude H. Vanderpool for councilman at large, are the other candidates.
Voters are to cast their ballots at the following polling places, according to City Clerk Dibbern: Precinct 1, Eagles hall; precinct 2, Scaramouche Richfield service station; precinct 3, Shorey building; precinct 4, American Legion rooms; precinct 5, Congregational Christian church.
50 years ago
Nov. 30, 1967
William Rosier Post No. 2455, VFW, which has won a number of other accolades over recent years, has just qualified for a top VFW award — a permanent life membership charter.
To apply for such a charter, a local post might boast 25 life members. The Montesano unit has reached that pivotal goal.
Life members of the Monte post include: Robert Bell, Homer Brumfield, Louis Butin, Bill Cookston, Bob Daniels, Mike Gleeson, Clarence Esses, Gordon Jones, Phil Hooper, Jack Kemmerlin, Otto Knoph, Jack Mempa, Charles Mero, Henry Moore, Frank Pennel, Dan Pennick, Horace Reavis, Boyd Rozen, Juan Ruiz, Art Scheer, Dan Sopko, Vern Wincewicz, Don Swinhart, Stan Wincewicz, and Nick Zvono.
According to Rozen, quarter-master-adjutant of the post, Pennick is the only charter member of the Monte post who holds a life membership card.
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The Montesano High School industrial arts classes, being larger in size this year, have begun enthusiastically fulfilling their objectives.
The program for the two freshmen woodshop classes includes a little background of basic drawing. This background will help the students read plans of projects as well as being able to draw them correctly. Two projects, which will give the students some training on almost every machine and tool in the shop, will be required. The second semester will be used to design, draw, and construct individual projects of their own choice ….
25 years ago
Dec. 3, 1992
John F. Hannukaine and Majorie Emard will be the featured artists at the Hank Taylor Gallery at 110 W. Pioneer in Montesano through the month of December. Gallery hours during the month will be 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The gallery will also be open during the Festival of Lights.
Hannukaine is a native Montesanan and has won awards at the Frye Museum, S.W. Washington Fair, Lakewood Artists Show and the Western Washington Fair.
Ms. Emard is a native Aberdonian and has won numerous blue ribbons and ‘Best of Show’ awards. She is also a photographer and works from her own photos.
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A proposed 110-unit Olympic National Forest Campground in the South Shore Lake Quinault area has been discontinued due to environmental concerns and options for other opportunities.
“My decision to halt further planning for this facility is based on public input and a thorough interdisciplinary planning approach,” said District Ranger Tom Beddow.
The Julas Campground proposal was first identified in a Forest Service environmental impact study for the south shore of Lake Quinault. As initial planning got under way, it was recognized that the area was very complex and environmentally sensitive. Beddow explained that significant issues included water quality, soil stability, economic and social concerns and sensitive wildlife species.
10 years ago
Nov. 29, 2007
Fewer students, revenue shortfalls and cost over-runs in several categories during the 2006-07 school year eroded the Montesano School District’s cash reserves from $312,000 to just $60,086, according to a report presented to the board at its Nov. 20 meeting.
School Board President Lori Blanchard expressed shock, saying “You would not have wanted to be around” when she first read the report. She was clearly displeased when it seemed answers to her questions about what happened in the various funds weren’t available at the board meeting. For example, the food service program spent $101,255 more than the funding and revenue available, according to a memo to the board from budget director Bev Gobles. Other major categories that drew down the reserves include: transportation, $62,000; extracurricular, $64,000 and utilities, $97,000.
