75 years ago
May 28, 1944
Sunday, no newspaper published
May 29, 1944
Christian (Chris) Zauner, 88, who as Westport’s first lighthouse keeper used to light a kerosene lamp each night to help guide ships approaching Grays Harbor, died last night at his home at Westport after a several months’ illness. He was born in Austria and came to the United States when he was 11 years old.
He entered the lighthouse service in 1886 as assistant lighthouse keeper at Tillamook Rock, Oregon. Later he served as head lighthouse keeper at Destruction Island and 46 years ago opened the lighthouse station at Westport. Until electricity was installed, he operated the fog siren with steam. He retired 19 years ago.
50 years ago
May 28, 1969
Crews yesterday began unloading the first shipment of huge caissons that will form the structural foundation for Hoquiam’s long-awaited Sixth Street Bridge, key link in the one-way couplet complex.
The caissons — 38-ton tubes which will be embedded in the river’s bedrock to support the footings of the $1.25 million span — were shipped to Hoquiam via rail from Texas.
It will take about three months to place the 51 caissons in the riverbed. The ones on the east side of the river will be placed 104-106 feet deep while the west side tubes will go down 168 feet.
The contract for the bridge calls for construction of a 465-foot steel truss vertical lift span with steel girder approaches. The bridge will have two 14-foot traffic lanes, with a pair of five-foot sidewalks.
May 29, 1969
The vestibule of the city hall was designated last night as the location of the memorial bust of the late Mayor Ed Lundgren by the city council, and the memorial committee announced conclusion of its fund drive and work on dedication programs.
“The committee is very gratified with the gifts that have been coming in and the interest shown,” said Mrs. John Keaton, chairman of the memorial committee. She said that Everett Dupen, Seattle artist commissioned to cast the life-size bust, is nearly ready to begin work.
25 years ago
May 28, 1994
A once-drab warehouse on Aberdeen’s east side is now the brightly lit, freshly painted home of four brand new businesses and a relocated veterinary clinic. Called the Wishkah Plaza, it’s just spitting distance from the new Wal-Mart store.
Greg and Linda Hunt bought the building last November. Hunt reports they’ve spent about $650,000 so far on the purchase and subsequent makeover.
Considerable local interest has been stirred by signs of a Subway franchise to open there soon.
Already open is Video Tonight, owned by Rocky Wharton of Cosmopolis and the Figaro’s Italian Kitchen take-out franchise owned by Don Swier of Cosmopolis.
The sign is up for the Blo-Outs styling salon. It will be owned and operated by the Hunts.
May 29, 1994
The Elma Eagles, held hitless for five-plus innings and guilty of two errors in the first three innings, managed to piece together a championship-sized victory.
The Eagles used another pitching gem and aggressive baserunning to win their first ever state baseball championship with a 4-1 triumph over Kiona-Benton Saturday night at Yakima County Stadium.
How did the Eagles, who managed just three hits in the entire game, do it?
Have good pitching and just keep battling, said Elma coach Jim Hill, who stood teary-eyed and happily weighed own by the bulky championship trophy immediately afterwards.
Michael Weld took care of the pitching part for Elma. The junior struck out 10, walked just one and scattered four hits in halting Kiona-Benton’s 21-game winning streak.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
