125 years ago
October 13, 1893
While an engine with a train of logs was coming down a steep grade on what is called the H line of the P.S. & G.H.R.R. above Summit, last Sunday, it ran into a tree that had fallen across the track, being unable to stop. The train crashed through the tree, damaging the engine so the escaping steam filled the cab, but fortunately no one was injured. Superintendent George Simpson, with his wife and child, were riding in the cab and escaped with nothing worse than a severe scare.
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Two fishermen named John and Tom Beasley became too hilarious from an overdose of “tarantula juice” last Sunday and were taken in tow by Officer Pearson, and given lodging over night at Hotel de Pearson. They were introduced to his honor, Police Judge White, on Monday morning., who prescribed $10 and costs to each. Tom paid and was released but John will saw wood for the city a few days.
100 years ago
October 11, 1918
C.H. Clemons, pioneer logger of Montesano, and one of the best known operators of the county and one of the squarest in the world, received injuries Saturday that will make him an invalid for months, it is feared.
Clemons with four or five of his men was going in to one of his camps at noon on the speeder. Just before reaching camp the logging railroad was a sharp curve. As they rounded the curve at a high speed they discovered an engine stopped on the track, only a short distance ahead. Before it could be brought to a stop the speeder had crashed into the engine and Mr. Clemons’ foot was caught between it and the draw bar of the engine.
Although it is hoped to save the foot the accident is a serious one, and even under favorable conditions the doctors will not promise that the logger can be back at work short of some months.
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Many hunters and more who were not hunters stopped to look at H.B. Marcy’s hardware window display last week, for the central piece was a great cougar, which was kept company by two wild cats, and other stuffed beasts and birds — a display made by L.L. Doan, advertising Winchesters and other hunting season things.
75 years ago
October 14, 1943
Wearing ribbon bars of his recently awarded Distinguished Flying Cross and a well-earned Air Medal with 12 clusters over his combat pilot’s wings, 1st Lt. James M. Hollingsworth, P-38 combat squadron flyer, returned to Montesano this Wednesday from air battles in Sicily and Italy. The son of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Hollingsworth here, he is the first combat decorated flying officer to return to Montesano after having entered the service as a cadet since Pearl Harbor.
“We strafed and dive bombed enemy artillery and transportation units all over Sicily from our base airport in North Africa,” Hollingsworth said. “Later we became escort fighters guarding Boeing B-17s on their raids over Rome.” He downed three enemy planes during the Sicilian campaign which earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He has flown no other plane than the twin-engined P-38 since his training days at Luke Field. These machines are the most powerful and versatile fighter and dive-bombing aircraft being used by either side during this war, he says. They have tremendous firepower and are capable of fast climbing, quick and vicious in their responses to attack from any quarter.
50 years ago
October 10, 1968
The Sprouse-Reitz Company, well-known northwest variety store chain, will make its debut in Montesano this January when it locates in a 9,000 square-foot outlet in the Montesano Shopping Center.
Prior to the opening of the new variety store, Fabric and Fashions, the ladies store situated next to Valu Drug, will expand their operation so that the fashion outlet will occupy approximately 3,200 square-feet of space.
Chris Pickering and Glenn Townsend of Thriftway, Ray Meyers of Hill’s TV, Clyde Dahlin of Valu Drug and Robert and Gert Doyle of the Monte Lanes all concurred with Mrs. Sandberg of Fabric and Fashions in the opinion that the establishment of the Sprouse-Reitz outlet will greatly influence the future of Montesano.
25 years ago
October 14, 1993
“The final tallies are in for the Junior High Annual Magazine Drive,” said Ron Bennett, principal at Monte Junior Senior High School. “What an enthusiastic group we have — setting a sales record by over $3,000. This fundraiser is the only Junior High means of financing their activities throughout the year. The proceeds help pay for the expenditures of assemblies, awards, officials for contests and equipment.
“A special thanks for the enthusiasm of the Junior High Staff: promotion by Ms. Zillyett; Mrs. Betty Tagman, Karyle Perkins and Nora Calhoun for working to make sure the money balanced with the subscriptions; and most of all, to our junior high students for their great job.”
10 years ago
October 9, 2008
Green is not just the color of money at the new Anchor Bank branch in downtown Montesano.
It’s the new “gold standard” when it comes to designing environmentally friendly buildings. In Anchor’s case, the $1.1 million branch office which opened with fanfare and a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, is expected to receive a LEED certificate, which means that the design and the materials used to build it comply with standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” rating system.
All who were involved “should be very, very proud of that,” Jerry Shaw, the bank’s president and CEO, said Monday in opening remarks for the crowd that had gathered downtown for the celebration at the corner of Pioneer and Sylvia.
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Folks in the Pacific Northwest know how tasty Grisdale Goat cheese is. Now people in Dublin, Ireland, are aware of that fact too — and likely others in various other places in the world, as well.
Out of 2,400 entries, Grisdale Goat, produced by the Estrella Family Creamery in the lush Wynooche Valley, was one of only 174 cheeses from around the world to win a gold award Sept. 29 in the World Cheese Awards in Dublin.
Grisdale Goat, which won the gold in the “semi-hard goats’ milk cheese plain” category brought home a silver in the same class in 2007.
The Estrella Family Creamery, which makes all of its cheeses from raw milk, also won a silver medal this year for “Bea Truffled” a cheese make of cows’ milk with truffles. The website describes it as “locally foraged black truffles blended with the curds” and aged four to six months or more.
Compiled from the archives of The Vidette by Karen Barkstrom. She can be reached kbarkstrom@thedailyworld.com or at 360-537-3925
