75 years ago
December 10, 1944
Sunday, no newspaper published
December 11, 1944
The army air corps needs 4,000 more troop carrying gliders for its knock-out punch at the axis.
Grays Harbor mills and logging camps steadily engaged in the production of Sitka spruce for the aircraft industry since before the war had thought the program virtually complete.
Then came the recent demand which will tax to capacity, at least during the winter months, every firm engaged in filling such orders. T.B. Stinchfield, Posey Manufacturing company executive, said, “As it is now, we expect the demand to carry over into next fall, but that will depend upon progress of the war.”
In the logging end of the project, Polson Logging of Hoquiam is among the half score of camps in western Washington and Oregon, which will buck the winter elements in high altitudes to get out as much spruce as possible to meet the urgent demand.
50 years ago
December 10, 1969
Grizzly Coach Jerry Anderson’s 5-11 jump-shooting whiz, Doug Bitar, peppered the hoop for 25 points last night in Chehalis as the Redmen opened the 1969-70 campaign with an otherwise lackluster 55-48 win over Chehalis.
“We weren’t very impressive, were we?” Anderson glowered at the conclusion of the non-league fracas witnesses by an estimated 911 fans. “Doug did a fine job, and Scott Shay really hustled on defense. But Pat (Quigg) wasn’t shooting enough and we weren’t aggressive enough under the boards. ”
December 11, 1969
Standing idle for some 10 years and deemed unsuitable for any other use Raymond’s once ornate Tokay Theater in the 200 block of Duryea Street, was in the process of being razed this week.
Now owned by the estate of the late A.G. Basil, Raymond, the theater was built in 1919 by George Reizner at cost estimated at $178,000.
Reizner was a Californian with vineyards in that state and he named the theater the “Tokay” after the grapes of that name. In 1923, he built a theater in South Bend, and also named it the “Tokay.” It also fell victim to the decline in movie patronage and was razed about two years ago.
25 years ago
December 10, 1994
The little girls loved the Snow White play set, and the boys eyed the toy truck.
Then they gave them away.
Wearing big smiles, they donated treasures that might be on their own wish lists so a few needy children would have gifts to open.
“So other kids can enjoy Christmas like we do,” said Ashley Kohlmeier, 9.
The group from Sandy Calica’s in-home day care, Timber Tot’s in Hoquiam, donated the presents to the Salvation Army Friday. They dropped off the gifts they helped pay for and pick out.
Calica wanted to do something to teach the children the real meaning of Christmas.
“It’s not just about ‘get, get, get,’” she said. “It’s about giving and loving at Christmas.”
The children each donated $1 — though most of them admitted borrowing it from their parents — and raised $10. Calica matched the amount and the group went shopping.
December 11, 1994
The first opera ever written for television — and in English, no less — will be performed at Grays Harbor College’s Bishop Center in Aberdeen this holiday season.
“Amahl and the Night Visitors,” has become an enduring holiday favorite since its premier on NBC on Christmas Even in 1951.
Kayli Parker of Humptulips, the 11-year-old daughter of Larry and Holly Parker, sings the role of Amahl.
The role of Amahl’s mother will be sung by voice instructor Christine Hill of Aberdeen. Carl Carter of Aberdeen is Kaspar; Ken McDonald of Hoquiam, a school teacher, is Melchoir, and Bob Neisinger of Aberdeen, retired GHC music instructor, is Balthazar.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
