125 years ago
August 11, 1893
Several Montesano bicyclists rode their wheels to Elma last Sunday but were compelled to return by train on account of the rain.
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A number of Montesano’s young men, who are evidently attracted by the fair ones of Elma, attended the dance at that place last Saturday night.
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The Aberdeen newspapers felt highly elated and spread themselves accordingly over the defeat of the Montesanos by the Aberdeen ball club recently. Neither of them even mentioned the game of the week previous in which Montesano defeated Aberdeen by a score of 10 to 5, when both teams were playing good ball.
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Mrs. G.W. Fosnot had a narrow escape from death last night She is subject to violent attacks of headache, and one of these coming on a couple of days ago, she took a number of doses of an opiate. Yesterday afternoon Dr. Story was called in, and not knowing of the medicine previously taken, prescribed a light dose of morphine — not more than half that he had prescribed in previous attacks. About half past seven last night, Mrs. J.W. Bunn happened to drop in to see Mrs. Fosnot and found her little daughter trying to awaken her but with no effect. She saw that something was wrong and at once sent for assistance. Drs. Story and Bush, with the assistance of others, worked for fully two hours before getting her out of danger. Had her condition not been discovered at the time it was, she would soon have been past all help.
100 years ago
August 9, 1918
Kenneth McNeill, was gassed June 24 and is in a base hospital in central France. His letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. McNeill, was the first word they had of it.
“Well, have been up to the war and back. I got mine on the 24th, along with a bunch of comrades. Got gassed with mustard gas and it wasn’t nice stuff. I couldn’t open my eyes for three days and then they were awfully weak. They feel much better today. Lately I am developing a bad cough and sore throat. … I asked one fellow how long it took to get rid of the effects. He said from six weeks to six months. Rest and sunshine are the greatest factor I guess, and we are in a world famed resort.”
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About twenty Lady Macabees drove out to the E.C. Robers home at Shafers camp Wednesday evening, They carried their supper with them and had a picnic supper at the Roberts home. It is useless to say a fine time was had.
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Some of the greatest spruce logs in the world are coming out of the Elk river works according to a Montesano man who was down there this week. He says:
“It is the finest spruce I ever saw with many big logs. As I came away from the dumps I measured one log that was 42 feet long, 63 inches through at the big end and with only a two inch taper in the 42 feet. It was a perfectly straight grain, and they tell me that there are many such coming out of the camps.
75 years ago
August 12, 1943
“In compliance with the pre-induction training program of the war department and the U.S. office of education, the work in the schools this year will be more definitely coordinated with the war effort,” said school Superintendent Ernest Cash. “English and social sciences will be modified to meet new requirements. Where the greatest changes will be made, however, will be in science, mathematics and physical education.
“Fundamentals of machines, radio and electricity will be given greater emphasis in the physics and mathematics courses. Modifications will be made so that chemistry, physics and mathematics will be taught with more direct reference to their applicability in war. Tumbling, elements of military drill, wrestling, military track, rope climbing and boxing will be added to the physical education courses.”
50 years ago
August 8, 1968
The VFW will sponsor its annual zoo trip for boys and girls between the ages of eight and fifteen on Thursday, August 15. The 40 lucky Montesano youngsters will meet in front of the VFW hall that morning at 8:30 for a journey to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and a day of fun.
The well-supervised junket will be sponsored by William Rosier Post No. 2455, VFW, as an integral part of its ever-expanding youth activities program.
According to Bill Cookston, parents will put down a flat $5 fee for the roundtrip chartered bus. They will be encouraged not to allow trip-takers to carry along any extra spending money. The $5 fee will include transportation, one meal and rides at the zoo. The children should bring a sack lunch. They will return to Montesano about nine o’clock that evening.
25 years ago
August 12, 1993
As far as the county commissioners are concerned the Central Park Neighborhood Church can go ahead with plans to construct their new church on a residential neighborhood just east of Deer Park and adjacent to Highway 12. The board, Monday, denied an appeal by residents of the neighborhood that the church be required to submit an environmental impact statement in view of the fact that residents believed that such a facility would dramatically increase traffic count, especially on Sundays.
The commissioners took the position, that after having viewed the property firsthand and hearing Department of Transporation officials say that traffic impact would not be a major issue, that an impact statement would not be needed.
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In what was an otherwise ‘ho-hum’ session Tuesday evening, the Montesano City Council opted to approve a police interagency resolution that would, in some cases, combine the expertise of the Montesano, Westport and Ocean Shores police departments.
Chief Bill Brookshire explained to the council, “the only time that the proposed three-man team, one from each department, would be called into service would be in the event of a rape, armed robbery or homicide in one of the three communities. Financially, this would help a great deal in these days of tight city budgets. The problem would have to be a major crime scene,” he added.
10 years ago
August 7, 2008
The Montesano Fire Department has three new volunteer paramedics, Roger Causey, Brad Frafjord and Trevor Wheeler.
Causey and Frafjord attended Tacoma Community College’s Paramedic Program and completed field training with the Hoquiam Fire Department. Wheeler completed his studies at the Oregon Institute of Technology and his final training at the Aberdeen Fire Department. Each has spent more than 1,500 hours in the classroom, hospital emergency departments and in the field learning life-saving skills.
Compiled from the archives of The Vidette by Karen Barkstrom. You may call her at 360-537-3925 or email her at kbarkstrom@thedailyworld.com
