75 years ago
January 1, 1944
Earle Woodland, soundman, third class, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earle Woodland Sr. of W. Fifth St. in Aberdeen, has completed the first course in underwater sound at the Materiel school, West Coast Sound school, San Diego, and has now enrolled in the same school for additional training. He attended Weatherwax high school and enlisted in the navy on his 17th birthday. He received his “boot” training at Farragut, Idaho, this fall.
January 2, 1944
Sunday, no newspaper published
50 years ago
January 1, 1969
Jan. 1, 1969 is a big day for Mr. and Mrs. Craig Tingley, and for St. Joseph Hospital — the first Harbor baby of the new year was born there at 2:17 a.m. today.
The new Harborite is Preston Walter Vinson Tingley.
The baby’s father is a management trainee for the Kress Department Store in Aberdeen.
The New Year’s Day birth had the hospital buzzing with excitement; no one could recall the last time St. Joseph was the scene of a New Year birth. Last year’s first Harbor baby was born at Mark E. Reed Hospital in McCleary.
“We’re going to give them a complete write-off on their bill,” said Sister Jerome Mary, the delighted hospital administrator. “Both the mother and the baby.”
January 2, 1969
The Wirta Hotel, 104 South F St., has been sold to Arne Jones of Hoquiam and Louis Moore of Elma. The two, neither of whom have been in the hotel business before, assumed ownership last week.
The purchase was made from Clarence (Red) Gamat, who’s owned the Wirta for eight years and has done extensive remodeling and improving to the broiler, cafe, and coffee shop in that time.
Sales price was $145,000 Grays Harbor Realty of Aberdeen handled the transaction.
25 years ago
January 1, 1994
Raymond High School senior Kalin Makaiwi, a state champion in wrestling and the most valuable player on the Seagulls’ state B-11 championship football team, was the unanimous choice of the Daily World’s sports department for the 1993 Athlete of the Year honor.
Coach of the Year award went to Brent Whittaker, Montesano football coach, who guided his team to the South Central League championship and state semifinals.
January 2, 1994
• Aberdeen residents Charles and Susan Erwin celebrated their silver wedding anniversary Saturday, Dec. 18, at their home. The event was hosted by the couple’s two sons.
Charles T. Erwin and Susan Joan Dunsire were wed Nov. 30, 1968, at the Aberdeen home of the bride’s parents.
Erwin is employed by the Simpson Door Plant at McCleary. Mrs. Erwin is the office manager for Dunsire Printers Inc. at Aberdeen.
The couple’s sons are Steven, who attends WSU and Mike, who is a student at WWU. The celebration was timed so that both sons could be home from college. They party was also to celebrate Erwin’s 50th birthday.
• South Bend bowler Diana Williams enjoyed a golden climax to her year with Team USA.
Williams collected three gold and two silver medals from the inaugural Friendship Matches earlier this month in Japan.
Bowling five matches in as many cities during a 10-day tour that included stops in Tokyo and Nagoya, Williams shared in two team gold medals and took a third in trios competition. She added silvers in team and trios.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
