125 years ago
March 4, 1892
The first leap year ball ever given in Montesano took place last Monday evening under the management of the Woman’s Guild. It was a great event socially, the verdict being unanimous that it was the most enjoyable party ever given in Montesano. For this the credit is due the ladies having it in charge. Gamage, whose music is always enjoyed by all, excelled on this occasion, and “all went merry as a marriage bell.”
Perhaps forty ladies escorted as many gentlemen, some of the latter being among the most admired of the blushing beauties of the sterner sex. To all appearances the ladies did not find it in the least embarrassing to assume the role of escort, but the gentlemen were extremely modest and retiring, especially those who formed the dado of the room.
Hints to the blushing young creatures were contained in the following mottoes which adorned the room:
“Gentlemen never chew gum.”
“Gentlemen are not allowed to cross the room unattended.”
“Wall flowers will please look pleasant in order to preserve a cheerful dado.”
“Ladylike gentlemen never smoke.”
“Gentlemen will please remember their engagements.”
The costumes of the ladies were generally attractive, and were noticeably more elegant than those ever worn here at a social gathering.
100 years ago
March 2, 1917
Last Thursday evening the boys’ and girls’ teams of the Montesano high school again administered defeat to the Shelton teams at Shelton. The girls’ game was very fast and interesting. Although they won by a score of 15 to 6 the girls had to do some hustling to defeat the game Shelton team. The only reason that the score was not much closer was because the Shelton forwards could not find the basket — they had the ball their share of the time.
The amusement of the evening was furnished by Florence Bergstrom, of the Monte team, and Doris Grisdale, of the Shelton, opposing side centers. Both being short in stature and fighters from the first whistle to the last, they naturally stayed close together and when one got the ball and fell the other did also. Falling at least ten times during the game, they resembled an acrobatic stunt in a circus. The Montesano forwards, Christian and Parsons, worked well together as the score will show. The centers, who are described as “Mutt” and “Jeff” did their work well, keeping the ball moving when they had it. The two guards Phillips and France, had the difficult task of checking the Shelton forwards who were on their home floor and they did it with credit.
The boys’ game was fast and furious to the finish with a final score of 20 to 19 with Monte on the long end. Shelton had two excellent guards that kept the score so close; the forwards missing many chances to win the game by unlucky shots.
75 years ago
March 5, 1942
Montesano’s civilian defense council, appointed by Mayor Elvin Byles, will meet weekly to coordinate all local defense efforts, Chairman Joe Schlegel announced following an initial meeting last Friday night at the city hall. The council set 7 o’clock Friday nights for its sessions.
Meanwhile, air raid wardens have prepared to distribute to every home in Montesano a defense folder dealing with curbing of incendiary bomb fires. Already the evacuation committee has been distributing evacuation maps which, Schlegel said, should be kept in the home or place of business. Dr. Frank T. O’Brien, in charge of the medical unit, is selecting first aid stations and when these all are chosen householders should mark their location on the maps.
50 years ago
March 2, 1967
Continuing his dogged fight against tough odds, 29-year-old Montesano logger Dave Colton—seriously injured in the woods February 13—finally regained consciousness Sunday.
“I was almost ready to give up hope,” his wife, Judy, said. “But then, suddenly, he recognized people and began talking coherently and I knew he was lots better. What a relief!”
A spokesman for Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, where Colton was listed as “poor” a week ago, reported this Tuesday that he had improved to “fair” condition. It was indicated that recovery is still a long way from being accomplished.
“His vision remains cloudy and he has headaches all the time,” Mrs. Colton said. “His coordination is lacking, too, but we’re just so glad he seems so much better.”
Colton, who lives at 516 West Pioneer, suffered fractures of the head and neck while felling a hemlock in the Lake Quinault area. A 20-foot cedar “sucker” caught him by surprise.
25 years ago
Feb. 27, 1992
After many months of negotiation the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has made a tentative financial commitment to help the city of Montesano convert the old sewage treatment plant into the only westbound rest stop between Olympia and Aberdeen.
Rest stop point man John Tennefoss read a letter from Gary Demick of DOT saying the state will provide $5,000 for a feasibility study of the project. He said Elma has also been lobbying for a rest stop and the state would make that city the same offer. If Elma decides to forgo their plan, Monte would get the $5,000 slated for them in addition to the money allocated for Montesano.
The money will be forthcoming as soon as the council accepts a revisiting of the scoping analysis completed in January by the city’s ad hoc engineering firm, Skillings and Chamberlain of Lacey.
“DOT wants the numbers on the alternative (plans),” Tennefoss told the council. Although no new rest stops have been built in Washington for seven years, a proposal in eastern Washington still has first priority for the anticipated $1,000,000 the legislature will appropriate for rest stops this year.
10 years ago
March 1, 2007
Residents of Grays Harbor awoke Wednesday to an unexpected blast of snow with accumulation of up to an inch in some East County areas.
This snowfall flies in the face of what the nation’s famous groundhog—Punxsutawney Phil—predicted Feb. 2 when he failed to see his own shadow on Gobbler’s Knob and said, “On Gobbler’s Knob I see no shadow today. I predict an early spring is on the way.” Go phigure.
Grays Harbor’s mild snowfall caught meteorologists off guard as well. The National Weather Service had predicted that rain showers were likely for Wednesday, tapering off to a 50 percent chance of rain with temperature highs in the mid 40s and overnight lows in the mid 30s.
That’s still the forecast through Friday, then over the weekend temperatures are expected to rise with the highs in the low 50s and overnight lows near 40 degrees. The predictions call for an end to the rain on Monday, but showers are expected to pick up next week. More snow is unlikely according to the Weather Service forecast.
