Grays Harbor was humming 90 years ago. Mills were running three shifts, construction was booming, and Prohibition was in full swing with the dry squad making raids on a daily basis. The Great Depression was still 18-months away and carefree Flappers were dancing the Charleston, unaware that the Jazz Age was winding down. In the midst of this, the Aberdeen Daily World, the Harbor’s leading newspaper, was keeping tabs on local events, some of which are retold here as they appeared in early April 1928.

NIGHT DEPOSITS MADE POSSIBLE — Hoquiam, April 10 — A night depository system will be installed in the First National Bank here shortly, President Gaylord Adams announced today. By this means, merchants and other business people who wish to place their money in the bank after regular banking hours may do so.

Each patron of the bank wishing to use the service will receive a canvas bag. Moneys may be placed in this bag, which is equipped with a lock, and the bags may be turned into the night depository. In the morning the merchants may visit the bank, secure their bags and deposit the money regularly in the bank. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 10, 1928

BEACH MAN LOSES BATTLE FOR LIFE — Death last night claimed Thomas Little, 55, who has been battling for life the past week in the Hoquiam General Hospital as the result of injuries said to have been inflicted by August “Dutch” Long, reputed bully of the Oyehut district. Long is being held in the county jail pending the filing of murder charges against him.

Evidence obtained by deputy sheriffs indicates that Little was attacked while he was asleep Friday night in his tiny hut in the isolated beach community. The attack is said to have followed an altercation early in the evening at a drinking party.

Deputies believe that the assailant followed Little home and struck his victim while he was asleep. A broken beer bottle indicated that Little was struck over the head and then slashed about the face with the jagged ends of the bottle. The assailant evidently concluded his attack by kicking the prostrate form of his victim, breaking ribs and inflicting internal injuries which resulted in death.

Long had a reputation as a “hard man” and is said to have ruled the tiny village with an iron hand. Recently he is alleged to have attacked Little with a shovel, inflicting painful head wounds. Long is also said to have driven would-be clam diggers from the beach on several occasions, usually by threats and force if necessary. Oyehut residents are declared to have lived in terror of him for several months.

Little’s body was removed to the Pinnick Mortuary pending funeral arrangements. He is survived by three daughters and a son. He was a member of the Snohomish Aerie of Eagles.

Coroner Lawrence Hopkinson in a post mortem this morning, found that Little’s skull had been fractured in three places, a piece of the bottle having completely penetrated the skull in one place. Death resulted directly as a result of the skull injuries, the coroner stated. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 7, 1928

POLICE MISTAKE PROVES FRUITFUL — An error in numbers yesterday afternoon resulted in the arrest of five persons, one for possession of liquor and the other four as inmates of a disorderly house.

Police were dispatched to 311 South L Street in answer to a riot call. The officers hastened to the scene only to find a vacant lot where the house should have been. Seeking information, the officers crossed the street to 312 South L.

Through the door windows, officers said they saw three men at a table drinking, with two women with them. The door was opened in answer to their knock and police entered to arrest Alice Parker on a possession charge and Fay Brown, Albert Scott, William Melpath and Moses Thompson on disorderly charges. Miss Parker was fined $100 for possession shortly afterward and Miss Brown on the disorderly charge. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 4, 1928

RAID NETS BOOZE AT COSMOPOLIS — Cosmopolis, April 7 — Cosmopolis officers, headed by Chief of Police John Gillespie, last night seized 14 gallons of beer and one and a half gallons of moonshine whiskey in a raid on the home of Peter Voss, Third and I Streets. Both Voss and Mrs. Voss were arrested on charges of possession of liquor with intent to sell. Bail for each was fixed at $750.

The seizure is one of the largest in Cosmopolis this year, it was stated. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 7, 1928

STEPS INTO ARMS OF DRY RAIDERS — Harry Glavas made a mistake when he dropped in at 317 South G Street last night. As a result he is facing a charge of possession of liquor with intent to sell, with his bail set at $750.

Police were raiding the place when Glavas walked in. Dry squad members had issued orders that anyone might come in, but none should depart while the raid was on.

The raiders were about to depart when Glavas appeared. Officers claim that he had six pints of liquor ready for delivery when he was apprehended. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 10, 1928

LEAP OVER AUTO SAVES SPRINTER — Aberdeen has a colored man who could qualify in competition for the world’s high jump or vaulting record, according to Harry Andrews, local automobile dealer. The colored man demonstrated his prowess this morning by jumping or vaulting completely over Andrews’ automobile.

Mr. Andrews was driving south on K Street, by the Morck Hotel, and had just reached the intersection when the negro running at full speed to escape a downpour, met the car at the curb. Unable to check his speed or change his course, the colored man sprang in the air, touched the car’s top lightly with hands and landed on his feet on the opposite side.

Turning to grin broadly at the startled driver, the negro continued his race down the street. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 2, 1928

‘STRAIGHT TO L’ STRANGER TOLD — Hoquiam, April 6 — What residents along L Street may construe as an argument for changing the name of the thoroughfare from L to Lindbergh Avenue, as was recently proposed in the city council, was overheard today at Eighth and J Streets. A stranger asked a Hoquiamite for a particular location on the above-named thoroughfare. The man from Hoquiam scratched his head and rubbed his chin for a brief spell, looked at the stranger quizzingly and replied: “This is J Street. Start here and go straight to L — and then turn one block to your right.”

A rather astonished stranger stalked off down Eighth Street. — Aberdeen Daily World, April 6, 1928

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and has been told to go to “L” many times. At least he assumes that’s what they said.