75 years ago

March 7, 1944

Italian children have learned a new song — “God Bless America.”

And it is the most popular tune in Nazi-freed Italy, Captain Warren H. Alden, former Aberdeen doctor, now stationed with the army medical corps in Italy, said in a letter to his wife.

Italians start singing when they are still babies, Captain Alden wrote, and sing while both at play and at work. Their voices are unusually beautiful. He compared a group of youngsters singing at play to the music of an opera.

German tents which were left by the retreating Nazis have been made into dresses, coats and other apparel for the Italians, he said.

Captain Alden sent his wife yards of elastic — a U.S. scarcity but easily obtainable in Italy.

March 8, 1944

The ABC’s of Fortress building are being taught some 100 employes of Boeing Aircraft company subassembly plant enrolled in “up-grading” classes sponsored by the Boeing firm at Weatherwax high school.

Seven two-hour classes are conducted weekly in riveting, blueprint reading and aircraft inspections in this newest addition to Director Carl Johnson’s vocational training course.

Men and women enrolled in the classes wear the Boeing identification badge and are employed from eight to 10 hours daily at the plant. Their extra hours in the classroom workshop are to improve the particular job they do in the factory.

The factory is manufacturing tail pieces, wheels caps, main entry doors, emergency exits, wing noses, tail turrets and bomb rails.

50 years ago

March 7, 1969

Two Grays Harbor College representatives will be among 110 American educators who leave Saturday for a European tour which includes a visit to a Soviet metropolis whose principle industry is learning.

Dr. John Smith, a biology instructor and Lawrence Weinstein, a member of the board of trustees, will spend two days in Novoslbirsk, a Siberian city dotted with scientific laboratories, libraries and other academic facilities.

Dr. Smith and Weinstein will meet the ministers of education of Russia, Austria and West Germany before they return April 1.

March 8, 1969

Saturday, no newspaper published

25 years ago

March 7, 1994

By the time the doors opened at 8 a.m. today, about 150 would-be Wal-Mart employees — make that “associates” — lined the halls and walls of the State Employment Security Department in Aberdeen.

And the line didn’t get any shorter as new applicants brought up the rear as quickly as those in front completed their “pre-interviews.”

The first to turn in applications were 16-year-old Salina Shaw and 20-year-old Roger St. Louis, both of Aberdeen. The pair arrived at about 6 a.m. St. Louis reported.

March 8, 1994

Weighing neighbors’ concerns against the need for affordable housing, the Hoquiam City Council Monday night approved plans for a Lincoln Street apartment complex.

The Lincoln Commons Apartments are being constructed under a federal program to increase affordable housing.

A one-bedroom apartment will rent for $325 with a maximum income of $14,470 allowed; a two-bedroom will rent for $380 with a $17,700 income cap and a three-bedroom will rent for $40 with a $20,460 maximum income.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom