125 years ago

April 1, 1892

People living in the vicinity of the court house were startled last Sunday evening about six o’clock, by loud outcries, which caused everyone to rush to their doors, under the impression that an alarm of fire had been sounded.

The cause was something even more serious than an ordinary fire, as the news soon spread that the two prisoners in the county jail had overcome the keeper, Deputy Pettijohn, and escaped to the woods north of town. There was a hurrying to and fro, and all sorts of rumors were soon afloat.

The particulars of the affair are as follows: Sunday evening, at the usual time, Mr. Pettijohn took the prisoners their supper. He passed through the corridor to the door of the steel cell in which were both prisoners; opening the door wide enough to pass the bucket through, he was about to place it upon the floor when Lewis came forward with his hand held out as if to take the pail. Instead of doing so, however, he suddenly raised his hand, which was filled with flea powder, which he threw into the eyes of the keeper. Henry at once came to his aid, and throwing themselves against the door of the cell, forced it open.

100 years ago

March 30, 1917

Erection of an extensive system of rearing ponds at the Satsop hatchery during the coming year was promised by State Fish and Game Commissioner, L. H. Darwin in an address before the Grays Harbor Rod and Gun Club in the council chambers at Aberdeen, Monday evening.

“These ponds,” he said, “will make the Satsop hatchery the largest and best equipped on the Pacific Coast.”

Among other things in store for this county during the coming year, he said, was the construction of a new $7,000 salmon and trout hatchery at Dryad, on the upper Chehalis, and the enlarging of the Stevens creek hatchery.

He predicted that as a result of the great fish propogating improvements to be made in this county, fishermen and canneries would have to increase their fish taking appliances within the next four or five years. As a result of the new hatchery improvements nearly 100,000,000 salmon fry, and millions of trout fry, will be hatched on the Chehalis and its tributaries next year.

Darwin’s scheme for improving fish propogating facilities on Grays Harbor was welcomed with applause by the 60 men who heard his talk.

75 years ago

April 2, 1942

Announcement was made this week by Mrs. Lloyd F. Pickering of extensive alterations and improvements to the Pickering grocery store here, work on which has already begun.

All interior fixtures are being replaced with new ones, of completely modern design, especially planned for the Pickering store.

The feature of the new fixtures will be the fresh produce department, with a special mirror display in the background. This department will be immediately to the right, as customers enter the store.

New shelving, new counters and new “sland” displays are being installed. All merchandise will be arranged conveniently for customers who prefer to serve themselves, and, for their additional convenience, commodious “buggies” will be provided so that no one need carry merchandise to the cash counter, which will be near the front of the store. The entire interior will be redecorated, resulting in a brighter shop throughout.

50 years ago

March 30, 1967

Should Montesano employ a full-time city engineer?

If so, where could the municipality expect to find the money with which to finance the continuing projects that might occupy him?

These two timely questions topped the list of related matters Tuesday night as City Council devoted almost two hours to a “bull session” regarding Monte’s future.

Councilman Ken Roberts injected the engineer idea into the somewhat informal proceedings as he presented a review of the City Planning Commission session held an evening earlier. He said the commissioners wondered why such an addition to the staff wouldn’t be wise.

According to Roberts, it is the planners’ belief that a licensed engineer might well push projects to their conclusion more rapidly and less expensively than a part-time consultant firm. Also, he could serve as city building inspector, with authority to order repairs and condemn.

If Monte is not in a position to hire such a person—the estimated figure for a competent individual ranged from $12,000 to $14,000—then perhaps the engineer’s time and pay could be split with Elma, the commission opined via Roberts.

Clerk Bertha Satterstrom reported that a total of $8,720 in consultant fees was paid during 1966 to John D. Swift & Associates, Olympia engineering firm. As the conversation wore on, she also noted that “we’ve never been so hard up for funds as we are now.”

Councilman Jack Mempa conceded that emergency projects in recent years have upped the consulting fees, but he urged his colleagues to think twice about the cost of continuing projects before deciding for or against a permanent position.

25 years ago

March 26, 1992

Montesano grew this week when the city council agreed to annex a portion of the county east of town. The area was much smaller than either of the proposals outlined in the city’s engineering study. As the moment of truth came, the council decided to scale back the annexation to the area originally proposed nearly a year ago.

Most of the people affected live south of Beacon Avenue and north of the old highway. Also included was the area along and east of Bender Road, Lake Sylvia State Park, Lake Hill Drive, a square section north of the eastern end of McBryde, an area south of the freeway and west of the on-ramp and down the boat launch south of town.

Opinions from new Montesanans on the changes ranged the spectrum. Gene Mero, one of the prime movers in the annexation petition and who owns a construction company which is now in Montesano, said “it’s about time (the city) got their act together.”

But Mero warned the city he didn’t like talk about changing sewer hook-up fees. “Let’s play fair,” he said. The low price was “one of the major reasons” he advocated the annexation to neighbors of his business. “If you change that, you make a liar out of me, and I don’t like being made a liar of.”

10 years ago

March 29, 2007

In the Nauman family, Eagles rule—in more ways than one.

Earlier this month, Jakiah Nauman, 18, a senior at Elma High School—and home of the Eagles—was formally presented with his Eagle Scout badge during a ceremony attended by his family, Scouts and their supporters.

Looking on was Nauman’s dad, Tim Nauman, an Elma grad who attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1971 after building a meeting hall and storage shed at the church.

In order to attain Scouting’s highest honor, Jakiah Nauman organized the repainting of the Elma Police station giving the faded blue façade a fresh green makeover with white trim.

One of his friends came up with the idea. “He told me he had heard about the police station and that it needed to be painted,” Nauman said. All it took was one drive-by to convince the Scout it was a worthwhile project. He spoke with Police Chief Jeff Troumbley who helped grease the skids with the mayor and City Council. The station was painted over two weekends last July.