125 years ago

Jan. 13, 1893

At the last day’s session of the commissioner’s term, a proposition was received by the board from the First National Bank of Montesano, that if the bank was designated as the depository of all or a major portion of the county funds, it would pay three per cent interest on the daily balances. The proposition of the bank was accepted, as will be seen by the proceedings in another part of this paper. This action of the board was not met with general approval. The opinion generally expressed is that if the county commissioners have any authority to take such action, the various reliable banks of the county should be given the opportunity to make a proposition for the handling of the money. There are very few people who will object to the county receiving interest on its money in the banks, if the law allows it (which is questionable) but all the banks should be placed on an equal footing. The new board of commissioners has called a special meeting at which the action of the old board will be reconsidered.

100 years ago

Jan. 11, 1918

Montesano can justly be proud of the volunteer fire department and the record the boys are making in discharging the financial obligations against the City hall building, erected by the fire boys. The payment of another $1000 note has just been made and this note was not due until 1920. The following letter from the vice-president of the Union Pacific Investment Co., holder of the notes and mortgages on the city building is very complimentary to the men at the head of the Fire Department:

“… The good people of Montesano certainly are to be congratulated on their very efficient fire department. Too great credit cannot be given to the members of the Montesano Fire Department for the manner in which they have handled their financial obligations. The payment of note No. 6, which this letter acknowledges, was not due until January 1, 1920. In other words, this obligation is discharged two years in advance of maturity. You, gentlemen, have established a record that I imagine would be mighty acceptable to any city in the state of Washington, and we certainly take pleasure in extending our congratulations to the officers and the Department.”

75 years ago

Jan. 14, 1943

The Montesano selective service board, of which Arthur M. Furnia is a chairman, announces that 15 men were inducted into the armed services here Jan. 13 through the Fort Lewis reception center. This board covers the county except for Aberdeen and Hoquiam and while the addresses of some of the inductees are outside the area, they were residents here when registration was required.

The registration of this district’s 17 and 18 year olds is complete with 71 names which will be published next week.

Like over civil service offices the selective service office is now open 48 hours a week, instead of 44, which means they are now open until 5 Saturday evening.

50 years ago

Jan. 11, 1968

“It’s still one of the best bargains in the world,”

That’s what Montesano Postmaster R. F. Wheeler said today about the six-cent stamp, and he recounted some interesting facts and figures from postal history to back up his claim.

Even though the five-cent letter rate has suffered the same fate as the nickel cigar, first-class postage is cheaper today than it was in many bygone eras when a few pennies meant much more than they do today, Postmaster Wheeler said.

In 1816, for instance, a single sheet letter cost six cents for delivery up to 30 miles. More sheets and more mile cost more money. A letter going 400 miles cost 25 cents per sheet.

In those days the recipient had to pay the postage, not the sender. And if the letter was actually delivered to the recipient, rather than picked up at the Post Office, there was an extra charge that was kept by the carrier.

•••

Montesano’s high school’s undefeated wrestling team goes after another win Monday, January 15, seeking their 7th straight mat victory, when they meet Charles Wright there at 6:30 p.m.

In their latest conquest, MHS wrestlers swamped the Hoquiam matmen 33 points to 19. It was the second win over Hoquiam for coach Mike Poitras’ charges. Tough little Jim Tisler, scrapping in the 114 weight division pinned his man, but it was Dale Hubbard who came up with a record, as he pinned his hapless opponent in .35 flat of the first round. Bob Leslie, Fred Southard, Gary Ritter and Louis Muller all won their matches on pins.

25 years ago

Jan. 14, 1993

Nothing concrete in regard to the proposed public rest stop at the site of the old Montesano sewer system plant on South Main Street has been decided in regard to the financing of the project. The State Department of Transportation (DOT) recently sent a letter to the council, asking for some kind of a financial commitment from the city.

DOT originally indicated that the agency would foot 60 percent of the total cost of the public rest stop with the city paying for the remainder. However, Tuesday evening it was revealed by council members that the city would not have any handle on the funding until such time as the Regional Planning Commission adopted their budget and allocated funds that were available. That allocation won’t become a reality until sometime next month.

Margaret Downey, a No. Main Street resident, appeared before the council Tuesday to ask if the city were going to try to tax city residents for the necessary funds.

10 years ago

Jan. 10, 2008

In an amazing chain of events liberally laced with serendipity, 19 treasures that originated in the Montesano area in the 1870s and had somehow made their way to Boise, Idaho, have come home to Grays Harbor.

Ledgers of various sizes, the earliest of which date from an Indian trading post started by John Esmond in 1871 in a shack on the bank of the Chehalis River in what is now “South Montesano,” have been acquired by the Museum of the North Beach at Moclips.

Incredibly, though the ledgers are from a pioneer Montesano business, entries include names that would become prominent all over the county. For example, besides C.N. Byles, the “father of Montesano,” the ledgers record purchases by Aberdeen founder “Sam’l Benn,” J.M. Weatherwax and “Alex” Young, for whom two Aberdeen schools are named; A.O. Damon, who once owned the land where Ocean Shores is today; folks named Markham and others from “Quinaielt.”