In 1967, M.R. Smith Shingle Mill’s whistle is quiet after 55 years
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 18, 2017
75 years ago
October 17, 1942
The first big vessel to be launched here is 25 years will hit the water of Grays Harbor Sunday, October 25, from way No. 1 of the Grays Harbor Shipbuilding company yard officials announced today.
The ship, a combination freight and passenger vessel, is 140 feet in length.
October 18, 1942
Sunday, no newspaper published
50 years ago
October 17, 1967
The throaty old whistle at the M.R. Smith Shingle Mill in Moclips blew for the last time Sept. 1. It had sounded regularly for 55 years, calling three generations of shingle weavers to work.
The three small saws that started whirring busily in 1912 had grown to 10 and many men were working at the mill the Friday that the saws stopped. The names are familiar ones: Jackson, Pickett, Nordman, Bailer, Matson, Stanger, Yates — they had carried their fathers’ and grandfathers’ lunch buckets into the house after the shift was over.
The Smith Shingle Mill cut about 100,000 squares of shingles each year. In 1942, a record cut was made — 177,332 squares.
October 18, 1967
• A 1963 graduate of Hoquiam High School has received one of the military’s highest honors for heroism, the Distinguished Flying Cross, for aiding in the rescue of a surrounded ranger patrol in Vietnam.
Army WO Alan Olsen, 22, received the award in recent ceremonies near An Khe, where he served as aircraft commander of a rocket artillery helicopter of the 1st Air Calvary Division.
On March 22, Olsen flew his helicopter directly into a hail of automatic weapons fire in order to place his rockets on Communist forces surrounding the beleaguered patrol.
• Southern California gave Notre Dame a taste of Orange Juice and the Irish almost choked, leaving the Associated Press to toast its college football Back of the Week with O.J.
O.J., of course, is none other than Orethal James Simpson, who combined speed and power to help No.1 ranked Southern California to a 24-7 victory over Notre Dame Saturday.
The nation’s leading ground gainer and a 9.4 second sprinter for 100 yards who holds part of the world record in the 440-yard relay, Simpson carried 39 times in all for 166 yards.
25 years ago
October 17, 1992
A homecoming as dismal as the Stewart Field elements in the beginning wound up gloriously for Aberdeen last night.
The Bobcats spotted Centralia the game’s first 14 points, then battled back to pull out a 20-14 victory over the visiting Tigers.
Charles Ladd gained 83 yards on 14 carries and added 28 yards on two receptions for the ‘Cats. Saul Heikkila got 30 yards on 15 totes.
Coach Ron Lonborg saluted Quarterback Pat O’Donnell for “another good game” and also the line play of Wayne Moenoa and Jason McEndoo. “I’m happy that we battled back from being down early. Give Centralia credit, though. They’re a fine football team.”
October 18, 1992
The delivery table is no advantage to women in labor. In fact, some may even benefit by having their babies underwater.
That’s the view of new South Bend gynecologist/obstetrician Dr. Jan-Erik Strole who in 1987 became the first doctor in America to assist in an underwater birth.
Dr. Strole, who was recruited to Willapa Harbor Hospital from Polson, Mont., began his practice here in June.
But his expertise is in more than the birth process. He will be presenting a free lecture Monday at the Pearsall Building in Aberdeen, addressing “Menopause: Not the end of the world, but a new beginning.”
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
