An Easter basket full of news

Nothing New By Roy Vataja

April 19, 2019 6:00 pm
The J.J. Kaufman store located in the Keith Block at 212-214 E. Heron Street, near H Street. The Kaufman storefront would later become the location of Woolworths, and in the 1970s the Spar Arcade before being razed following a fire in May o, 1980. Today it is part of the Arby’s property. An interesting detail of the photo, besides the wood plank sidewalk, is the reflection in the window of the site that would become the location of Aberdeen’s first skyscraper, the five-story Finch Building, in 1910. (Roy Vataja Collection)
The J.J. Kaufman store located in the Keith Block at 212-214 E. Heron Street, near H Street. The Kaufman storefront would later become the location of Woolworths, and in the 1970s the Spar Arcade before being razed following a fire in May o, 1980. Today it is part of the Arby’s property. An interesting detail of the photo, besides the wood plank sidewalk, is the reflection in the window of the site that would become the location of Aberdeen’s first skyscraper, the five-story Finch Building, in 1910. (Roy Vataja Collection)

The April 19, 1909 Aberdeen Herald was jam-packed with stories of local interest. As the ham bakes in the oven and the Easter egg hunt gets underway, enjoy the news that had the town abuzz 110 years ago.

CARELESSNESS ALLEGED — Some rather startling charges of careless navigation are made against Capt. Jacobsen and Mate Holmes, of the schooner Charles E. Falk, by William Gohl, Agent at Aberdeen for the Sailors Union of the Pacific. The Falk went ashore on the beach near Copalis Rocks, twelve miles north of Grays Harbor, on the morning of April 1. She will be a total loss.

The little schooner was uninsured, and it is stated that no one can profit by the mishap. However, Agent Gohl has forwarded to the authorities at Washington statements made by members of the crew, asking for an investigation of the accident, in which no one was injured, Gohl characterizes the wreck as “peculiar.”

In his statement Agent Gohl states that the master was below when the schooner ran into dangerous water. Only the man at the wheel was on deck, although the mate was supposed to be on watch. Able Seaman Frederickson ran aft to the mate’s room, reporting that he heard breakers. The mate is alleged to have replied, “Nonsense, we are way off shore.”

Agent Gohl also criticizes the master for failing to quarter his crew at a nearby hotel. Instead he is accused of marching his tired, wet and hungry sailors two miles to a barn where they camped.

CHURCH BURNED — Fire was discovered in the roof of the Scandinavian Church, Market and L Streets, Saturday morning, and the fire department was quickly on the scene, although the alarm was sent in from Hume and M Streets. When the apparatus reached the ground it looked as if the building was doomed, but by some excellent work the flames were extinguished before more than $300 of damage was done.

The fire originated from a defective flue in the apartments occupied by Pastor Larson and family, and their household goods were damaged by being hustled to the street. The losses are covered by insurance.

AN ABERDEEN BUSINESS MAN SUES FINN PAPER AT ASTORIA FOR $5,000 DAMAGES FOR LIBEL — Andrew Kallunki, a Finn who conducts a meat market in South Aberdeen, has begun an action, through his attorney, Wilson Buttner, for libel against Vaino Riippa and Richard Pesola, proprietor and editor of a Finnish paper published at Astoria, called the “Toveri.”

The alleged libel is contained in an article which denounces Kallunki for his coolness towards socialism, and proceeds to cast reflections upon the quality of meats sold by him, also accuses him of lack of sympathy with unionism which, Kallunki alleges, has damaged him in his business to the extent of $5,000. The action is brought in the federal court for the district of Oregon.

In the article complained of Mrs. Janhunen, who keeps a Finn boarding house, is accused of feeding her borders on dog meat, and she will also begin action against the proprietor and editor of the paper.

A DISTRESSED FAMILY — A family named Stanford, who have a sort of ranch on South Bay, is in distress, and their position was called to the attention of the Associated Charities this morning by Officer Gilbert Dean. A widowed daughter, who is mentally deficient, is now in St. Joseph’s Hospital, where the Associated Charities sent her for treatment.

The family came here from South Bay a few weeks ago and secured housekeeping rooms in East Aberdeen. The owner of the house, wishing to use the rooms, gave family notice to vacate, to which no attention was paid. Last week Mr. Stanford returned to the ranch, and this morning, Mrs. Stanford went out to do a day’s housework, and the landlord emptied their rooms into the woodshed, leaving three children, all of them of weak mentality, out in the street. Dr. MacLafferty, secretary of the Associated Charities, informed Officer Dean that the case would be looked into and relieved.

MAIL ROBBERS CAUGHT AFTER THREE YEARS — Raymond — Two men named Meier and Stroherbeck, who are charged with robbing United States registered mail at Aberdeen three years ago, were arrested by United States Marshal Blossom and his son, of Spokane, near this city, yesterday and taken on a Northern Pacific train to Spokane this morning. Both prisoners have been working in logging camps near Raymond for some time. Stroherbeck put up a strong fight, attacking Blossom with an axe. Young Blossom came to his father’s rescue. The marshal has been tracking the criminals for three years.

Elma — The Elma Fuel Co. received Tuesday evening a steam drag-saw, capable of cutting 30 cords of wood per day. This will give that company a complete outfit for cutting stove or cord wood.

Montesano — A.P. Hess sold the past week three Studebaker four-cylinder thirty-horsepower automobiles, A.D. Devonshire, of Montesano, and W.B. Mack and John C. Hogan of Aberdeen, being the purchasers.

Montesano — In future, meetings of the city council will be held every Tuesday night, instead of twice a month, as heretofore. The amount of official city business is increasing. Its volume is now so great that R.H. Fleet, who is acting as city clerk, declines the appointment unless the salary is raised.

A SUCCESSFUL OPENING — The spring furniture opening of the J.J. Kaufman Co. Saturday afternoon and evening was one of the most successful affairs of the kind in the history of Aberdeen merchandising. About 1,500 persons visited the store, which was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and all were proud of the magnificent display of furniture — a display that would be a credit to a city many times the size of Aberdeen.

A splendid musical program was rendered all the afternoon and evening, and prizes valued at $135 were placed for distribution, ranging in values from a $40 Turkish rocker (won by Mrs. W.L. Roberk) to Jardinere stands worth $1.00. Prizes worth $103.35 were found, while 10 coupons, calling for articles worth $31.75 were not located by the holders.

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and wishes everyone “Hyvää Pääsiäistä” as we celebrate Easter Sunday.