75 years ago

October 16, 1942

Most of Aberdeen’s stores will remain open until 9 o’clock each Wednesday night, starting next week, the Aberdeen chamber of commerce announced today after a poll of merchants requested by Harbor loggers and millworkers.

The chamber’s mercantile committee said that 90 percent of the stores favor remaining open to the later hour Wednesday night and closing Wednesday morning.

The change in hours was adopted in response to requests by war workers who said most work a six-day week now and they haven’t had time to get downtown before stores close in the afternoons.

50 years ago

October 16, 1967

A delegation from Westport, headed by councilmen Ralph Boohm and Bob Rogers, virtually begged Grays Harbor County Commissioners this morning to permit the sheriff’s office to take over law enforcement in the beach community.

“We have no law enforcement in Westport,” Boohm declared. “It’s strictly harassment.”

Boohm and others centered their complaints on town Marshall J.E. (Tony) McLendon, who, they said, cannot be removed by the council, only by Mayor Byron Cramer. Various speakers cited instances of alleged harassment by the marshal.

Sheriff A.M. Gallagher said the would consult with Prosecuting Attorney L. Edward Brown, as soon as possible, and would also estimate costs of a contractual arrangement with the town.

County Commissioners said they would do everything within their power to speed the basis for such a contract.

25 years ago

October 16, 1992

With the future uncertain, some workers at the ITT Rayonier and Grays Harbor Paper Co. pulp and paper mills in Hoquiam are exploring the possibility of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

An ESOP is a way for employees to buy or become partners in the companies where they work. Locally Hoquiam Plywood and the Posey Manufacturing Co. in Hoquiam are under such plans.

The pulp mill and accompanying vanillin plant, owned by ITT Rayonier, and the paper mill, owned jointly by ITT Rayonier and International Paper, were put up for sale in June. The complex has drawn little interest.

About a dozen employees have met twice to discuss the ESOP idea, according to Al Smith, a pulp mill worker who has been at the Hoquiam mill for more than 20 years.

Ernest Hensley, Executive Director of the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council, has helped facilitate the meetings and arranged for state officials familiar with formation of ESOPs to be in on the discussion.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom