125 years ago
June 10, 1892
Seldom has this paper undertaken a more painful duty than to chronicle the death of M. Z Goodell, which occurred yesterday afternoon at 2:15 o’clock, at his home in this city, at the age of 54 years, 7 months, 3 days.
While the deceased had been in declining health for nearly a year, and during the past few weeks had failed rapidly that death was known to be inevitable, yet when it was announced that he had passed away the expressions of grief were universal and sincere.
Several times during the past winter and spring, Mr. Goodell had been confined to his home by sickness sometimes of only a few days duration, but each succeeding attack was and prolonged. About a month ago he was taken with severe hemorrhage of the lungs, which his broken constitution and weakened condition could not withstand. It became apparent to himself as well as his friends that but a brief time was granted him to live, and h very calmly and resignedly began to “set his house in order” for his departure, which he did not dread further than it separated him from his loved ones and cherished friends.
It is not a feeling inspired by a knowledge of personal loss, or the too common custom of recounting the virtues of a departed citizen, that prompts us to declare that the death of no one in our midst should e so deeply felt by the community at large; no one whose presence could be so greatly missed in public councils, social, church and political meetings. He was always ready to lend a hand towards any public enterprise, either by public speech or financial aid—and usually by both.
100 years ago
June 8, 1917
Moved to a realization of the great worthiness of the Y.M.C.A. work among the soldiers and the crying need for funds for this organization by the stirring address of Clark V. Savidge the audience at the patriotic meeting in the high school auditorium Wednesday evening responded so liberally with their donations that the city’s apportionment of the three million dollar fund being raised in the nation for this work was well exceeded. It had been hoped that $250 might be subscribed, but when the work of the clerks of the meeting was tabulated the receipts were slightly in excess of $331. Of this about $300 was in cash and checks and the balance pledges for immediate payment.
The address of State Land Commissioner Savidge was a forceful presentation of the work of the Y.M.C.A. among the soldiers and of its importance to the country now that our own boys were going to the front. The Y.M.C.A. represents practically the only force for good that the soldier boy encounters and it is doing great things for the uplift of the boys when on leave from duty in the trenches.
The Y.M.C.A. offers recreation of a clean kind to the men at the front. The organization maintains numerous headquarters where idle hours may be spent in a manner that will bring the thoughts of home and mother that do so much to keep the young solider clean in mind.
75 years ago
June 11, 1942
Despite difficulties in obtaining materials for construction, improvements at Sylvia lake are well under way under the direction of the state parks committee.
Construction of a public kitchen, on the west side of the lake, and a bath house, on the east side, has progressed steadily. Approximately $5,000 is being spend on these two improvements.
The bath house, a structure 60 by 15 feet, will provide dressing rooms, showers and comfort station facilities. Both of these buildings will be completed this season, it is expected.
They were inspected last Friday by E. A. Carroll, director of State parks, who said these are the first of many permanent improvements contemplated by the state. In time, swimming facilities on the east side, adjacent to the bath house, will be greatly improved, including a protected wading pool for youngsters. Twenty new picnic tables also have been provided.
Right now, the bridge across the lake has developed into a problem. Carroll said the state, under rulings by the attorney general, cannot spend money on county roads and bridges, even if they are inside park boundaries. The county, on the other hand, has indicated that it does not have any available funds.
The bridge, meanwhile, is in a bad state of disrepair. Carroll, in a letter received by the county commissioners on Monday, declared his belief that the bridge should be closed to public traffic, except foot traffic, because of its dangerous condition.
50 years ago
June 8, 1967
Army Capt. Paul C. Fournier, 32, of Montesano, who was seriously injured May 22 when the plane he was piloting crashed after take-off from a Viet Nam airstrip, is still listed in critical condition at Brooke General Hospital at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.
Capt. Fournier, son of Mr. And Mrs. Paul B. Fournier, 517 Broadway West, is showing “slight improvement,” according to Mrs. Martha Cooney of the Eastern Grays Harbor Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Mrs. Cooney said this week that she had been told that the doctors at Brooke Hospital feel that it will be three to four weeks before the brave young Montesanan’s condition has passed the critical phase.
According to official information Capt. Fournier sustained second and third degree burns over 50 per cent of his body when his plane crashed near the Saigon air base.
Capt. Fournier is a 1953 graduate of Montesano High School.
25 years ago
June 4, 1992
Montesano’s Festival of People heads the list of Montesano Community School programs which may have to be cut starting next year because of the failure of last month’s Community School levy.
At the first formal MCS council meeting after the vote, Chairperson Nadine Sargent said the executive board “met and did some hashing” of what options to present to the community. The festival takes a lot of volunteer hours and doesn’t make much money, the board noted.
Other possible cuts presented by the board through secretary Diane Stewart and a report from MCS Coordinator Marjorie Johnson included the Summer Day Camp for children and Children’s Theater. The option to “just shut down during the summer,” also exists. That would mean Summer Camp, Festival of People, all enrichment classes and staff hours.
Councilmembers are floating these ideas pending input from the community on the options. The board hopes people with thoughts or suggestions will attend the next meeting, set for July 13 at 7 p.m. in the old Montesano High School bandroom.
Sargent reflected briefly on the failure of the $25,000 levy. “It wasn’t because we didn’t work hard or that the Levy Committee didn’t include us. We just didn’t do it.”
10 years ago
June 7, 2007
The Elma city council voted Monday to join the city of McCleary and Grays Harbor Fire District 12 in rural McCleary in an ambulance study.
In light of troubled finances, Grays Harbor Fire District 5, which has been providing emergency medical services for the three areas and its own, decided in April to immediately begin charging the other entities an “availability fee” for the service. Now the cities and District 12 must figure out how to fund ambulance service to their citizens.
Because it’s the middle of the budget year, Elma council members agreed there was no money in the current expense fund to pay the more than $99,000 that District 5 is asking for the remainder of the year.
Another way for Elma to pay for ambulance service is to bill its residents as it does for other services such as water and sewer. But by law a city must have a rate study done first. The study would determine how much the service would cost and where the money to pay for it would come from.
