A.D. Wood’s house and other tales from May 1901

“Nothing New” By Roy Vataja

May 21, 2021 3:00 pm
The home of Alonson D. Wood from an etching in November 1888 issue of The West Shore magazine. The house sat on a small hillock located at the east end of Randall Street between C and B streets near the Sons of Norway Hall. Today the area is an open field. A.D. Wood was one of the founders of the early Emery-Mack-Wood Lumber Mill on the Wishkah River at the foot of B Street. In 1892, Wood spearheaded construction of Aberdeen’s first high school, the A.D. Wood School, above his home, on Terrace Heights. In 1901, following the fire that destroyed the top two stories of his home, he rebuilt the second and third stories on the remaining first floor. The house appears to have been used as a rooming house into the late-1930s then ceases to be listed in city directories. (Roy Vataja Collection)

A.D. Wood residence burned – About half-past four o’clock Friday afternoon smoke was seen issuing from the roof of the residence of A.D. Wood, and the fire signal given. Considering the distance, the fire department arrived in short order, but not before the upper part of the house — where the fire originated — was in flames. By as fine fire fighting as was ever seen, the department succeeded in saving the first floor of the house, the only damage to which was from the water. The two upper floors were so badly burned that they will have to be rebuilt. A good portion of the household goods were saved by the firemen and neighbors, although, of course, all were considerably damaged. The loss is estimated at $3,500, upon which the Patterson & Locke agency carried $3,000 insurance.

The Wood residence was one of the landmarks of Aberdeen, standing on an eminence, it had a very imposing appearance, and the interior was handsomely furnished. In addition to the furniture, considerable valuable wearing apparel was burned, and the Wood family have the sympathy of their neighbors in their loss. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is supposed to have been caused by a defect in a flue that passed through a closet filled with clothing. — Aberdeen Herald, May 30, 1901

The concrete foundation for the new brewery is nearly completed, and the plans for the building have been received from Seattle. The plans show a main building, four stories high, 54×65 feet, and engine house and office 28×32 feet and a 42×22 for the bottling department. Work will be pushed on the structure as rapidly as possible. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901 (The Aberdeen Brewing Company officially opened on June 22, 1902, at the corner of State and Lincoln Streets.)

City Council News — The limits of the tenderloin district were enlarged by on-half block, and now embraces that territory lying between the Chehalis River and the alley between Hume and Heron streets and from the Wishkah River to H Street. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901

Drake and Crites were arrested Monday for running the merry-go-round on Sunday. They had a trial before Judge Pearson yesterday afternoon, and the case was dismissed on motion of J.B. Bridges, attorney for the defendants. — Aberdeen Herald, May 23, 1901

The funeral services of the five-months-old child of Mr. and Mrs. John Lindstrom was held at their residence, on yesterday morning, the Rev. Chas. McDermoth officiating. Work in the shipyard was suspended during the forenoon as many of the employees wished to attend the services. Among those present were some of the city council, of which body Mr. Lindstrom is a member. The music under the direction of Miss Sexton was particularly adapted to the occasion. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901 (John Lindstrom owned the Lindstrom Shipyard at the foot of Lincoln Street on the Chehalis River.)

A scaffold gave way at the Cousins shipyard last Thursday afternoon, by which two of the workmen, Peter Hegg and Fred Burke, were severely injured, Burke having a leg broke, and Hegg being badly bruised. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901

Bert Mohler was brought to the Aberdeen General Hospital, Monday, from Ray’s shingle mill, above Elma, in a very badly bruised condition, and after an experience that might have been fatal. Mohler was working in the mill, and in some manner his clothing caught in the line shaft and he was whirled around several times before the engine could be stopped. Every particle of clothing, except his shoes, was torn from his person, yet, strange to say, no bones were broken, although he was severely bruised. — Aberdeen Herald, May 23, 1901

The American Novelty Company, composed largely of Aberdeen citizens, has began placing the Hepfinger patent map on the market. The first maps were placed on sale in a Montesano store, Saturday, and, without special effort, 52 were sold that day. The map is a very comprehensive geographical educator, and conveys a deal of information in an extremely pleasant way to the youthful mind. When properly introduced, the Herald predicts an immense sale for the map. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901

While coasting down the steep hill at Grays Harbor City, Friday, Ben Dean, of this city was violently thrown from his wheel and very seriously injured. He was picked up unconscious and taken to the hospital at Hoquiam, where he still in a precarious condition, having recovered consciousness yesterday for the first time since the injury. His injuries are altogether about the head and face, and it is feared the brain may have been affected. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901

The matter of building the road between Aberdeen and Montesano is now up to the county commissioners. Aberdeen has formally announced that it was prepared to do its part by building to the city line. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901

A small-pox scare – Aberdeen has experienced quite a small-pox scare, and for a time it looked as if it was going to become epidemic, but for the energetic action of Health Officer Smits, and the board of health, the disease has been confined to the locality where it started, and there is, practically, no danger of its further spread. — Aberdeen Herald, May 16, 1901

A family named Fielder, recent arrivals, brought the complaint from Duluth, Minn., and were promptly isolated, and have now recovered, and the time is passed for the spread of the disease through exposure from this family. The only case now in the city is that of Miss Cartha Ballew, who had been exposed while the Fielder family was sick. The block in which the disease is located is under strict quarantine, five guards being employed to preserve the isolation. As this location is in a sparsely settled part of the city, no further cases are anticipated. The school board held a meeting last evening, to consider the propriety of closing the schools, but, after consulting the health officer, decided not to do so, and the schools will complete the term, provided no new cases develop. — Aberdeen Herald, May 23, 1901

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and has been missing from the pages of The Daily World for a month while recovering from the effects of COVID-19. Get vaccinated today.