125 years ago
June 22, 1894
Dr. Cruikshank and his wife are preparing to remove from Montesano to a suburb of the city of Denver, where their daughter now resides. The removal of this excellent family will cause a feeling of deep regret by all our citizens, among whom no one is more highly esteemed and generally beloved, both for his culture and warm-hearted christian spirit, than Dr. Cruikshank. His pastorate in the Presbyterian church in this city the past five years, has endeared him to all.
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In reading matter why not have the best, especially when it can be obtained for less money than any other. We will send you THE VIDETTE (the best paper in the county), the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (best weekly in the state), and the New York Tribune (the leading paper of the United States), all for $2.75 a year.
100 years ago
June 20, 1919
Tuesday evening — accompanied by the Montesano brass band, a male quartet and a lot of fun makers — about 40 auto loads of Monte boosters, made a trip to Satsop, Elma, White Star, McCleary and Malone. They planned also to go to Porter and Oakville, but were too late in starting.
In each community the cars came to a halt and the band and singers got out and gave a concert. Meanwhile, business men were meeting their friends that turned out on the street to meet them and the fun makers were handed out, and also Baby Videttes published for the occasion and posting advertising Montesano’s Victory Celebration.
75 years ago
June 22, 1944
The electric storm which swept Grays Harbor county Sunday caused considerable damage, killing a valuable cow and destroying part of a barn, and also came near to hitting a farmer and his wife.
The electrical storm hit the eastern part of the county about 6:30 o’clock and the first flash of lightning tore down part of the new barn of Clinton Willis, Star route, Montesano.
A prize cow owned by Oscar Metzker, Star route, Montesano, had taken shelter under a large tree and was instantly killed when lightning struck the tree. Lightning struck within six feet of Mrs. and Mrs. Metzker; however, they were not injured.
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Machinist mate S.F. Anderson, who was an original member of the U.S. Destroyer Wilson when that ship was commissioned in July 1939, and has since been with it all over the world. Records show that during the first two years Anderson made 45 ports starting at Bremerton and ending around the world at Auckland, New Zealand. During that time he crossed the equator four times, the Arctic Circle once, the Cape Cod Canal twice and the Panama Canal twice. Anderson wears a silver star for five battle engagements and two bronze stars for two more battles in which his ship participated in various parts of the world. He is the son of Mrs. Mabel Anderson, Star route, Montesano.
50 years ago
June 19, 1969
The contract to build Wynoochee Dam in Grays Harbor County will be awarded in July according to the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The combined contract will be for the construction of the entire project, which includes a multi-purpose concrete gravity dam with earth embankment, a 1,140-acre reservoir, visitor facilities, access roads, forest service road relocation and an upstream fish passage facility about 2 miles below the main dam.
The project, located 45 miles northwest of Montesano, in the Olympic National Forest, when completed in 1972, will supply industrial water for the City of Aberdeen, which will repay to the federal government about 80 percent of the fund advanced for design and construction.
25 years ago
June 23, 1994
Tiffany Maki, 14-year-old daughter of John Maki (leader of Aberdeen’s Electric Park Jazz Band, has been accepted to attend the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp, August 8-14. The “Greater Olympia Dixieland Jazz Society” of Olympia has awarded Tiffany with a scholarship of $500 to pay for her camp fees and transportation to and from Sacramento.
Tiffany was selected from hundreds of applicants from all over the U.S. and Canada, one of only 60 that could be accepted due to enrollment limitations. She will attend the camp as a tenor banjo student. She began her musical career seven years ago as a piano student of Marilyn Redding, then began learning the clarinet in her grade school band under the direction of Rick Lundstrom. She then took technical instructions on the tenor banjo from Myron, Ron and Linda (Hinkle) Hall and now plays and sings with the GH Banjo Band, as well as being an active member of her school bands, under the direction of Bill Dyer.
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Although not a pilot, longtime local veterinarian Donald H. Mustard has a lot of memories about riding in both B-24 and B-17 bomber aircraft. Mustard, who owns the Crestview Farm Veterinary Clinic and also raises registered Clydesdale draft horses on Brady Loop, Montesano, served as a veterinarian in the air force during World War II.
According to Mustard, veterinarians were in great demand in the service during WWII, and not just for treating dogs and cats, Veterinarians were used to check all the food that came onto base, to make sure it met the contract standard. They checked live cattle and carcasses for disease and inspected sanitary conditions anywhere military personnel are.
Mustard definitely plans to visit the B-18 Flying Fortress when it comes to Bowerman Field on June 28 and 29.
10 years ago
June 18, 2009
A portion of the McCleary School’s gym ceiling crashed to the floor during lunchtime last week, bringing with it two construction workers who’d been in the attic.
About 45 kindergartners and first graders, some 50 feet away escaped injury about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, though a fire alarm conduit detached from the width of the gym and fell on a table near where the students sat munching ham, egg and cheese “breakfast” sandwiches and fruit.
