75 years ago
December 14, 1942
Freda Wellbrook, who joined the WAAC in September, is now acting supply sergeant at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. She orders all clothes for a company, issues them and keeps a record of everything that goes in and out of the supply room.
“In my free time I find lots of things to do on the post such as bowl, golf, dance and go to the movies,” she said. “We have very good food in our mess hall, all the sugar we want.”
“The most impressive sight I’ve seen and have had the honor to participate in, is the parade. The band playing, the flag waving, marching in front of the grandstand, really makes tears come to your eyes,” she added.
Miss Wellbrook had attended Grays Harbor Business College and will be home on furlough for the Christmas holiday, visiting her mother, Mrs. Martha Holmberg, who lives on Emerson Avenue in Hoquiam.
December 15, 1942
Radical changes have been made in toys this year, partially because of a need to find substitutes for war-vital metals and because America has become military minded. However, there is no lack of toys. Mr. Clause with his usual ingenuity has found the answer to priorities and this year’s wooden playthings are sturdy and attractive.
Called “Milltoys” they are authentic models of tanks, commando cars, mosquito boats and anti-aircraft guns, and they are available at Toyland in the Aberdeen Sears store.
50 years ago
December 14, 1967
Pay n Save at the corner of Wishah and Broadway in Aberdeen — a “complete shopping center for Christmas” — is offering 100 % human hair wigs for $39.95; a Lady Remington shaver for $8.99; a 34-inch red metal wagon for $7.97; Lincoln Logs for $2.44 and Mattel’s Marauder M-16 rifle for $5.87.
December 15, 1967
The body of an unidentified young woman was found stabbed and burning on the Pacific Ocean beach four miles south of Ocean Shores about 9:30 o’clock last night.
The discovery of the homicide was made by Deputy Sheriff Bill Moorman, who investigated a call received by the Ocean Shores police headquarters concerning a fire on the beach. Moorman, alone at the time, extinguished the flames but the woman was dead.
Marks in the sand at about half-tide indicated a terrific struggle had taken place. Footprints and car tracks led away from the scene.
25 years ago
December 14, 1992
The wreckage of a single-engine plane that crashed early Sunday night in a wooded area of Herbig Heights in Aberdeen was found this morning.
Officials said neither the pilot nor a passenger, both of Silverdale, survived.
The plane was last heard from at 5:17 p.m. Sunday when the pilot reported they were flying at about 2,400 feet about three miles north of Lake Aberdeen. The plane had already been cleared for landing at Ocean Shores. Just minutes later the E-911 dispatch center in Aberdeen began receiving reports of a loud noise and possible crash in the Bel Aire-Herbig Heights area.
December 15, 1992
The Silverdale couple who died in a plane crash Sunday reportedly had planned a romantic get-away at Ocean Shores to celebrate the anniversary of their first date.
Barry Hughes, 56, a flight instructor in the Bremerton area, and his wife, Joanne, 46, were killed instantly when their single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza crashed in a wooded area off Herbig Heights in Aberdeen.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
