A Harbor New Year — January 1911

Nothing New — By Roy Vataja

January 13, 2021 6:00 pm
Built in 1911, the Fairmont Hotel at 215 East Heron Street was better known to locals as the Smoke Shop building by the time this photo was taken in the 1970s. On the corner of H Street stood Aberdeen’s first skyscraper, the five-story Finch Building. The small building squeezed in between with the ornate cornice was a theater for years but by the ’70s was a taxi stand. The Fairmont building burned in a spectacular fire in August 1996 while being renovated into apartments and retail spaces. (Roy Vataja Collection)
Built in 1911, the Fairmont Hotel at 215 East Heron Street was better known to locals as the Smoke Shop building by the time this photo was taken in the 1970s. On the corner of H Street stood Aberdeen’s first skyscraper, the five-story Finch Building. The small building squeezed in between with the ornate cornice was a theater for years but by the ’70s was a taxi stand. The Fairmont building burned in a spectacular fire in August 1996 while being renovated into apartments and retail spaces. (Roy Vataja Collection)

The Jan. 2, 1911 issue of the Aberdeen Herald was chock-full of news from around the Harbor. They were welcoming a new decade full of great hope, unaware that the planet would see its first World War in just a few short years. Here are some items from 110-years ago.

AEROPLANE PUBLICITY IS ABERDEEN’S PLAN — Publicity by aeroplane is the unique method which may be employed by the Aberdeen chamber of commerce during its advertising campaign for 1911. Within the next 60 days a Demoiselle monoplane will be built by Richard L. DeForest in this city. It is understood sufficient capital to warrant the building of the machine has been subscribed.

DIED OF CONSUMPTION — Charles Niemi died Thursday night, at his home, 111 North B Street after a long illness, with tuberculosis, leaving a wife and two small children, the eldest 3 years of age, to mourn his loss. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from the Whiteside undertaking parlors, under the auspices of the Finnish society which accompanied the remains to the grave.

HELD ON SERIOUS CHARGE — Elma — C.E. Smeister was arrested and had an examination before Justice Porter on Friday, on a charge of accepting the earnings of a fallen woman. He was bound over to the superior court in $500 for trial.

HOQUIAM POLICE WORK — A total of 777 arrests were made by the Hoquiam (in 1910.) The arrests as shown on the police blotter, were largely for drunkenness and vagrancy. There are, however, a number of important criminals who were arrested during the year. In fact, the percentage of arrests for important crimes far exceeds the percentage of those who have so far escaped the law’s clutches.

WEIGHTED DOWN BY CHAINS, MAN DROWNS — Montesano, Dec. 31 — Leaping from a log, carrying a heavy chain to which was attached two log dogs, J. Parker, employed at the Montesano mill, Wednesday night lost his balance and plunged to his death in the chilling waters of the Chehalis River. Parker was an expert swimmer and it is believed the heavy chains carried him to the bottom and he could not free himself after being carried down. Parker leaves a wife and two children. The body has not been recovered.

PLANING MILL OFFICE BURNS — Montesano, Dec. 30 — The office of the planing mill of the Syverson Lumber Company at this place caught fire at 4 a.m. this morning and was destroyed. This cripples the bookkeeping department of this mill but the loss is immaterial otherwise.

EMERY WHEEL BREAKS — Montesano, Dec 31 – George R. Rudesill, a filer, and but three days in employ of the Syverson Lumber & Shingle Company, was doubtlessly mortally injured Thursday morning, by the sudden breaking of an emery wheel, while revolving at tremendous speed and on which Rudesill was grinding a saw.

The unfortunate man was hurried to the Montesano General Hospital, where Dr. Carr attended him. A fragment of stone about an inch square, was imbedded in his brain, having shattered both walls of the skull. The fracture was extensive and although the victim was resting easier yesterday afternoon, his recovery is doubtful.

Rudesill is a married man and came here from Hoquiam last Monday. He is well-known among the sawmill fraternity and was considered a good, upright man. He is about 27 years of age.

NEW YEAR’S ROW — Hoquiam, Jan. 1 — Mob violence on the streets of Hoquiam at an early hour this morning was averted by the arrival of Night Sergeant Johnson, who took in charge two Austrians, the objects of the mob’s anger, and place them in the city jail for safe keeping until this morning.

A crowd of about 150 New Year’s celebrators and gathered on Eighth street near the corner of J, and in some way one of the number became involved in a quarrel with the two Austrians. A scuffle followed and when the men were separated the Austrians were accused of having used a knife on their adversary, as he had received a slight wound in the hand.

Immediately the crowd became a mob and set upon the two men, gesticulating and shouting threats. At this moment Sergeant Johnson arrived and rescued the Austrians.

DAMAGED AUTO — While Maurice Fuller and a couple of friends were going to Hoquiam, in the Fuller auto Saturday night, they met a buggy team, and in turning aside the wheels of the machine skidded on the wet planks, ditching the machine. The occupants were uninjured, but the auto had two wheels knocked out. The damage is covered by insurance.

NEW YEAR WELCOMED — The down town streets of Aberdeen were thronged Saturday night with merrymakers bent on giving the New Year a jolly reception. All were good natured, and received showers of confetti with return salutes in kind. The rough horseplay of a year ago was cut out strictly by order of the new chief of police Archer, who assumed his position at midnight, and the throwing of flour and talcum powder was not repeated.

At midnight the air was filled with the sound of mill whistles, bells, firecrackers, torpedoes, firearms and explosives as the merry crowds bade farewell to 1910 and welcome to young 1911.

THE FAIRMONT — M.V. Snyder, proprietor of the new Hotel Fairmont, is rushing the furnishing of the new building, and expects to have the house open to business before the close of the month. The hotel will have 81 rooms and the furnishings to be first class, and will cost about $20,000. The building, erected by J.B. Dabney and W.B. Mack, represents an investment of more than $100,000, covers 100×130-feet of ground and is three stories high.

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and wishes everyone a Happy and Healthy 2021!