125 years ago
August 18, 1893
We have seen big gooseberries, but none have eclipsed those we saw on the ranch of John Est, in the Wynooche valley, a few days ago. Some of them measured three by three and three-fourths inches in circumference.
100 years ago
August 16, 1918
Leonard Preston of Ford’s Prairie who formerly worked for Dan Gleason in the Satsop valley writes Mrs. Bernard Law of some of his experiences in the war.
“I am with a wrangling section and I like the work fine. All I have to do is go out and mend broken wire when Fritz is trying to blow us off the map. It isn’t very dangerous work, but still those shells get to falling pretty thick some times.
“I’ll tell you what it is like: Just imagine yourself lying on the ground about eight or ten feet from about twenty bunches of dynamite scattered around in different places and exploding and throwing dirt and rocks and steel and most everything else you can imagine in your direction and making holes you could throw your bungalow in and you will have the experience down pat.
“And once in a while if your head happens to get too far above a trench — that is a front line trench — you will hear a little bee buzz over your head and believe me it isn’t a honey bee either.”
75 years ago
August 19, 1943
In the Ocosta-Westport-Grayland areas, Superintendent Paul Hitchcock has made arrangements to open the schools there on August 31st, this coming Monday. Then as soon as the cranberries are ripe and pickers are needed in considerable numbers, the schools in that area will close down daily until the cranberries have been picked.
It is reported that government agencies have purchased the entire crop of cranberries this year.
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In the eastern sections of the county the immediate concern among farmers and packers is to have enough blackberry pickers to gather the crop as soon as the berries are ripe.
In case enough children large enough to pick berries are needed, those interested can ask to have the school close at 2 p.m. on each day, according to Superintendent Pinnick’s office. In exceptional cases, larger and older children the thought was expressed that arrangements could be made for their absence for several days on the condition that their school work can be made up later in the school year.
50 years ago
August 15, 1968
Fireman Apprentice Clyde D. Blakely, USN, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto C. Blakely of Route One, McCleary, is serving aboard the major communications relay ship USS Arlington in the Gulf of Tonkin.
As a crewmember, he helps provide communications services to units acting in direct support of Navy and Marine combat operations in both North and South Vietnam.
***
Computer programmers do not find it necessary to leave Grays Harbor for their training. If they are high school graduates or are 18 years of age or older, they may be given the programmer’s aptitude test to see what their chances of success might be in this new and well-paying field of employment.
Grays Harbor College’s laboratory is equipped with the 1401 IBM computer, disk storage, collators, key punch machines, verifiers and other unit record equipment.
Excellent pay and working conditions await the computer programmer, according to Gordon F. Simmons, Director of Adult and Vocational Education. Programmers may become an important part of the management team that direct the affairs of modern business, government and industry.
25 years ago
August 19, 1993
Due to weak lumber markets in both Japan and Southern California, the Weyerhaeuser Lumber Mill in Aberdeen will temporarily shut down for upward of two weeks beginning Monday, August 23, according to Bob Andrews, mill manager, who noted that this shutdown is the first time since 1980, when the market then forced temporary closure.
It is estimated that some 40 percent of the mill’s output is shipped to California, while 25 percent goes overseas to Japanese ports. Some 170 mill employees will be effected. Andrews said he hopes the workers will be back by September 7. “But that’s something we can’t guarantee,” he added.
10 years ago
August 14, 2008
Three people who have spent many years and untold hours working on behalf of Grays Harbor County were recognized during the opening ceremonies at the Fair in Elma last Wednesday, Aug. 6. Honored were County Commissioner Bob Beerbower, who is stepping down after three terms; the fair director, Debbie Adolphsen, who had hoped to retire but who is proving hard to replace; and Nadine Sargent, the master gardener/volunteer extraordinaire who moved away due to ill health but who “still has a place in our hearts.”
This year, the fair recognized the work of the WSU Extension’s master gardeners, especially Nadine Sargent. Beerbower said, after he became a commissioner, it didn’t take long before he encountered the full force of WSU Extension Agent Don Tapio. He soon realized Tapio and Sargent were tag-teaming him because “not far behind Don, a day or so later, would come Nadine. She popped up on a regular basis to make sure I was on the straight and narrow. … She’s done a great job for the community and especially for the Master Gardeners.”
“Nadine moved away from us, but she’s been in everybody’s hearts,” Beerbower said. “She’s deserved this for a lot of years.” He stepped off the platform to present Sargent with a plaque dedicating the 2008 Grays Harbor County Fair to her. Apparently, this is one time Tapio didn’t keep her in the loop. She knew something was up, or why else would she be there? But the fact that the fair was being dedicated to her was a surprise. “Don, you stinker!” she said, as everybody laughed and gave her a standing ovation.
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The summer picnic sponsored by Montesano Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2455 last Friday was much more than hot dogs and ice cream, games and spending time with friends and family. About 80 National Guard soldiers stationed at the Armory near Montesano, who are preparing to head out for a year’s duty in Iraq, were the VFW’s guests of honor at their Montesano picnic grounds.
About 40 of the soldiers’ families also attended. There were games, great eats and an afternoon with loved ones, but there was also the added feature of folks wanting the members of Alpha Battery 2-146 Fºield Artillery to know how very much they are appreciated. For some members of the unit, which had returned the day before from pre-deployment training in Yakima, it won’t be their first tour of duty in Iraq.
Compiled from the archives of The Vidette by Karen Barkstrom. You may call her at 360-537-3925 or kbarkstrom@thedailyworld.com
