75 years ago

April 29, 1944

The widow of Sgt. Mike Hess, Aberdeen soldier who wiped out an enemy machine gun nest at the cost of his life, will be presented the Silver Star in ceremonies at Fort Stevens, Ore.

The citation credited Hess with crawling 200 yards through fire to attack a machine gun nest which had cut off the advance guard of his company. Tossing hand grenades, he destroyed the nest, but were fatally wounded.

The war department gave the date of Hess’s death as October 9, 1943, but did not identify the theater where the action took place.

Mrs. Hess lives at 1015 Thomas St.

April 30, 1944

Sunday, no newspaper published

May 1, 1944

Sam Whitacre, torpedoman second class, is mighty thankful that the gunners aboard Peter Clark’s destroyer, are good shots.

Whitacre, who has served the past year in the South Pacific on a PT boat, was in the same flotilla as Clark’s destroyer in a dozen or more engagements in the New Britain and New Guinea campaigns.

During landing attacks the PT boats darted and swerved close in shore, strafing the (enemy) with their heavy machine guns while Clark’s destroyer stood farther out and pitched five-inch shells over their heads onto the beach.

Frequently the destroyer and PT boats were almost within hailing distance yet Clark, a water tender third class, had no inkling that Whitacre, a lifelong pal was only a few yards away.

Whitacre is home on sick leave as a result of injuries suffered when five dive bombers and three Zeros attacked his PT boat while it was patrolling on January 14.

50 years ago

April 29, 1969

Shopping center developer David Morgan of Auburn breezed in and out of Hoquiam city hall last night before the council met, leaving in his wake nothing more informative than another ambiguous report from the Urban Renewal director, who said things are “encouraging.”

“Mr. Morgan was here earlier this evening, said UR director Ted Walden. “He met with the mayor, the Urban Renewal Committee and myself. He brought us up to date and had some very encouraging and interesting information on the project.He will be in touch with us quite frequently now, and will keep us up to date on new developments. He expects to be back down in one or two weeks.”

The contract for the sale of the UR property to Morgan stipulates that construction must get underway by July 15.

April 30, 1969

Jack L. Stoddard, Grays Harbor College basketball coach for 17 years and head of the Physical Education Department for 10 is forsaking coaching to stop up into the newly created position of GHC athletic director.

Named as the new basketball coach is Bob Basich, who is completing his second year as GHC baseball coach, assistant football coach and PE instructor.

May 1, 1969

Four ninth grade boys in Paul Cozutto’s art and crafts class at Hopkins Junior High School are carving the letters in a sign for Samuel Benn Park.

The project was proposed by Rev. J.B. Brandt, of the Aberdeen Park Board, which supplied the materials. The sign is made of laminated Douglas Fir. Blueprints for the sign were prepared by Roy Lundgren. The words “Samuel Benn Park” are being carved into both sides of the sign by Douglas Knutson, Jeff McPherson, Greg Nelson and Dan Nyman. When carved, the letters will be painted with gold paint supplied by Landberg Paint and Glass. The rest of the sign will be preserved by a dark stain and the sign will be mounted on a concrete base. It will be located in the park at the “L” Street entrance.

25 years ago

April 29, 1994

A fire that started in a broiler drip pan caused $22,500 damage to the Blue Beacon Restaurant and Lounge in South Aberdeen Thursday afternoon, fire officials reported.

Battalion Chief Steve Mitchell said the “blaze could have been prevented with better grease removal.”

The restaurant section of the building at 406 S. Boone St. will be closed for the next two weeks, but if the State Liquor Control Board allows him to serve sandwiches and other food in the lounge, it could reopen in a few days, owner Don Grimblot said.

The fire began as fry cook Jeff Dawkins was cooking a hamburger on the flame broiler. The drip pan under the broiler ignited, then the fire spread to the duct system above the broiler, Mitchell said.

April 30, 1994

Aberdeen’s First United Methodist Church Adult and Youth Choir will present a benefit concert to raise funds for its pipe organ restoration fund Saturday at the church at the corner of Second and Broadway.

The organ, built sometime around 1910, was originally used in the Straddler Theater in Seattle. It was brought to Aberdeen in 1937 and was installed in the church, which was then located an Second and I streets in Aberdeen (the present parking lot of the Whiteside Funeral Chapel).

May 1, 1994

Aberdonians Kim Ann Cole and David Edwards were married Saturday, Feb. 26, 1994, in the Grays Harbor County Courthouse at Montesano. Paul Strittmatter officiated.

The bride, daughter of Jerry and Rae Cole of Aberdeen, is a paralegal for the Hoquiam law firm of Strittmatter Kessler.

The groom is the son of George and Gert Edwards of Bourbannais, Ill. He is an attorney with the law firm of Edwards and Hagen in Aberdeen.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom