In 1967, Westport Aquarium has interesting specimens

From the archives of The Daily World

75 years ago

May 20, 1942

• Completely remodeled and equipped with the most up-to-date equipment, the Cathay House, located in the Fairmont Hotel building on East Heron, will be opened formally tomorrow.

The new restaurant will be operated by Benjamin Lock and Pete Wong, both of whom have had more than 15 years experience in restaurants in San Francisco and other California cities.

• Expansion of all departments of the Aberdeen First Methodist church, including a marked increase in membership and improvement of finances were reported at the church’s fourth quarter conference.

Eighty-one new members have been received and attendance at morning services increased some 20 percent over the last year. The mortgage will be burned next year during the church’s 60th anniversary celebration.

May 21, 1942

Two walking, talking and very enthusiastic advertisements for life in Uncle Sam’s army — in the persons of Corporal Bob Wake and Private Bill Caldwell — arrived at Aberdeen this week.

The two soldiers, dressed in the air corps’ natty summer khaki, are spending furloughs on the Harbor with their parents.

Both have been stationed at Stockton field, California. Bob is serving as a clerk for the air corps engineers. Bill is on 60-day furlough awaiting appointment as an aviation cadet. He already passed physical and mental tests and soon will be learning to fly.

50 years ago

May 20, 1967

Some local commercial and charter fishermen have developed a sideline to their regular fishing operations this spring, and as a result, the Westport Aquarium has added several specimens to its collection of creatures from the sea.

The rarest catch brought in by local fishermen are two basket starfish. A delicate, pinkish tan in color, the deep sea animals have long, branched “arms” with delicate curlicues in an intricate design around the central body, rather than the five or more thick arms of the common starfish.

Another interesting specimen at the aquarium is a young sea lion with the wanderlust. This spring before his enclosure was roofed, the restless sea lion, several times, climed out of his tank, then over the building walls, spending the night strolling on his powerful flippers around the streets of Westport.

May 21, 1967

Sunday, no newspaper published

25 years ago

May 20, 1992

The Quinault Indian Nation Dancers have been invited to participate in this weekend’s Northwest Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center.

“We’ve made the big time,” said Reggie Ward of Hoquiam, director of the dancing group, composed of six males and six females. They will be doing five dances — Paddle Dance, Welcome Dance, Whale Hunt Dance, Elks Dance and Wolf Ritual, led by head wolf dancer, Jerry Hyasman.

“This is the biggest thing since Hawaii,” Ward pointed out, noting that the group had performed at the American Festival in Kauai three years ago. They also were involved in the Welcome Ceremony for the Goodwill Games in Seattle a few years ago.

May 21, 1992

With music playing and muskets firing, Grays Harbor extended a warm and boisterous welcome to the passengers and crew of the Sun Viking luxury cruise ship as it docked in Aberdeen early this morning.

About 700 passengers and more than 300 crewmembers seemed a little surprised but very enthusiastic about the grand reception as about 300 Harborites gathered dockside while the largest cruise ship to ever visit the Harbor pulled in.

The Hume Street Preservation Jazz Band and the Hoquiam High School Band took turns entertaining the crowd.

Executive Manager of the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce Leroy Tipton presented Capt. Leif Otto Bang with a pair of bright green suspenders advertising Weyerhaeuser’s Clemons Tree Farm and a blue baseball cap from the Grays Harbor Paper Co.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom