125 years ago
Nov. 16, 1894
We regret that C.W. Arland and wife expect to remove to Chehalis in a few days to reside permanently.
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There has been some remarkably fine weather the past week. The man who would kick about it would growl if he had quail on toast for dinner.
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Mrs. C.V. Minkler has been suffering from a severe attack of the grippe the past couple of weeks.
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J.N. Locke, who lives up near Lake Quinault, was in town a couple of days the past week. He brought the returns from his precinct.
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Wm. Eliott and family, who have been living at Melbourne the past summer, are now living in Wynooche.
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There was a social dance at the rink Saturday evening.
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John Richardson, of Hoquiam, was a visitor at the county seat Monday.
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The candidates for city marshal are becoming more numerous than Jersey ’skeeters in a swamp.
100 years ago
Oct. 24, 1919
Harry Hollingsworth is one of the carpenters working on the John Taylor new barn.
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Frank F. Forth, recently a member of the Marines, was here the last of the week visiting his comrade, Gerald Cloud.
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Miss Florence Twidwell and little niece, Erva Simmons, were in Aberdeen Saturday afternoon.
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Houses are so scarce in Montesano that some people are worrying about the rainy season.
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Miss Delia Bergstrom made a visit to Centralia last Saturday.
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W. H. France, W.C. Birdwell, Fred Crook, Elmer Gibson and W. T. Drips represented Montesano at the meeting of the Scottish Rite Masons in Hoquiam Saturday night.
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Mrs. Connie Clark and son, Lewis Clark, Mr. and Mrs. George Elliott and son, Karl, spent last Sunday at Westport beach.
75 years ago
Nov. 9, 1944
The 51st annual ball of Montesano’s Volunteer Fire department will be held on Wednesday night, November 22nd, which is Thanksgiving eve, according to announcement made this Wednesday by Chairman Ray McColman and committeemen Clarence Hammock and Paul Fournier, who will have charge of the arrangements.
Dancing between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. will be the principal activity of the evening and provisions have been made for an eight-piece orchestra from Aberdeen under the direction of Aubrey Schmidt.
Tickets will be offered in a canvass of homes and business houses by Clarence Hammock during the three-day period including November 14, 15 and 16, and all are cordially invited to the dance event.
The funds to be secured through the sale of tickets will be used for the firemen’s fund as has been done for the past 51 years, Hammock said. Purchase of fire-resisting clothes, small apparatus, and other necessities incident to fighting fire which may damage or destroy any home or business building, is often necessary. Also the firemen’s fund is available for the relief of fireman who may suffer loss or injury in line of duty, it was said.
Everyone is urged to support the efforts of the volunteer firemen.
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Staff Sgt. Dale Dorning, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Richbow, who was reported missing in action over France last August, and who later made his way back to allied lines, is now home on furlough visiting his parents in Montesano.
Sgt. Dorning in relating some of his experiences, said, “We were on our way to Munich on August 9. Flak hindered our trip so we had to turn back and use a ‘last resort’ target. We dropped our bombs and on our way back to England we were hit by enemy flack and German fighter planes. Our navigator was killed and we dropped out of formation with one of our wings afire.
“The order was given to bail out but not before a piece of flak hit my right hip. Upon landing, I can’t say where for military security but it was somewhere in Belgium, I was greeted by hostile peasants. But when they learned that I was not a German but an American airman, they were more than kind to me.
“What happened from there on I can’t say. However, later I was taken prisoner by the Germans. Many details of my life as a German prisoner cannot be revealed at this time.
“I was later rescued by American and British forces and from there I was returned to England. On arriving in England I found that my buddies had also been saved and I met them all there.”
Staff Sgt. Dorning wears the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
50 years ago
Nov. 6, 1969
Jack Wharton, of Brady, was riding a bicycle last Thursday evening moments before being struck by an automobile from the rear on the Satsop Bridge on the old highway. The driver of the car was unable to see the cyclist. Mr. Warton died from injuries received in the accident, last Saturday.
Local police chief Bruce Curtwright in commenting on bicycle safety said, “It is a state law and city ordinance that bicycles, after dark, must be equipped with headlights and tail reflectors. All traffic laws must be observed by cyclists the same as by drivers of automobiles.”
The police chief also pointed out that a youngster may be cited for a traffic violation while riding a bicycle, and remanded to juvenile court.
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A total of 49 building permits were issued during the month of October by County Building Inspector Roy Lemming. The permits issued represent a valuation of $363,910 with fees of $1,203 that were collected by the county.
Largest single permit in valuation was that issued to the American Lutheran Church in Ocean Shores for construction of a church building valued at $55,000. The permit fee amounted to $145.
In total permits issued for a single area, rural Montesano led the way with 14 and a total valuation of $127,610, while the collections of permit fees amounted to $385. Two $23,000 residences were involved in Montesano construction.
Central Park had four permits issued during the month, with total valuation amounting to $74,500, one of which was for the construction of a $32,000 residence. Permit fees collected amounted to $229.
