It is surprising how little things have changed in the last 125 years on the Harbor. The names and dates may differ, but under it all there is a certain sameness to the issues and actions of Aberdeen and Grays Harbor. A hundred-plus years ago peoples’ concerns were bridge traffic, the plight of small business, coal shipments, violence on rapid transit, and even crowd-source funding — all issues that we still grapple with. Here are some tales that reflect how little things have changed in our corner of the country.

THE TENDERS OF THE HERON STREET BRIDGE show small consideration for the traveling public in the matter of the swinging bridge. This morning the bridge was opened to allow the steamer San Jacinto to pass through, 16 minutes before the steamer reached the bridge. In the meantime traffic on each side became congested to an extent that it is safe to say that twenty dollars would not cover the lost time of individuals, teams and streetcars, unnecessarily. The bridge tenders should be given to understand that the bridge belongs to the city, to accommodate street traffic and that it should not be opened a minute longer than is absolutely necessary for vessels to pass through. — Editorial, Aberdeen Herald, December 20, 1909

HUOTARI BARGE CUTS AUTO TIME — Due to improvements made in C.D. Huotari’s automobile barge, plying between Tokeland and the Willapa Harbor side, the trip to Raymond and South Bend now may be made in 3½ hours. Increased auto traffic between the two harbors is expected this summer, as a consequence. — Aberdeen Herald, March 24, 1916

FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS Harry Dillon has kept a little harness shop on H Street, making an honest effort to earn an honest living for himself and family at the trade at which he served an apprenticeship when a boy. The writer had occasion to pass that shop four times daily, and knows that Mr. Dillon was always ready, and did do promptly whatever work he could get, but through lack of confidence in the promised prosperity sufficient work was not obtainable to live and pay rent, so the little shop was closed. Mr. Dillon will continue to do harness work at his home. — Aberdeen Herald, July 15, 1897

UNION PACIFIC HAS ABERDEEN IN SIGHT — Plans to Make Grays Harbor a Big Shipping Point for Coal – In order to make Aberdeen a shipping point for its vast holdings in coal deposits, the Grays Harbor and Puget Sound Railway, the Union Pacific is making arrangements for the erection of immense coal bunkers on the waterfront on the north side of the Chehalis River west of Anderson & Middleton mill, near the site of the proposed passenger depot of the road.

The road owns about 10,000 acres of valuable coal lands near Centralia which are now being worked at the rate of about 1,500 tons daily. This output it is planned to increase greatly when the road is finished to Aberdeen. The coal will then be stored in the great bunkers and shipped to San Francisco and other ports in the company’s own boats. It will then be possible to receive from ten to twenty cars of coal each day.

This report comes from an authoritative source. — Aberdeen Herald, November 18, 1909

TROUBLE ON THE TROLLEY — As a result of a fight which occurred on a street car Tuesday night in Aberdeen, Conductor Drake was taken to the Aberdeen General Hospital in an unconscious condition, while his assailant made his escape.

Just how the trouble started is not known, but as the car was leaving Aberdeen two men got aboard. Some words were exchanged and one of the men suddenly struck a vicious blow, felling him. Drake was the given a terrible beating as he lay across a seat. His face was badly bruised and cut.

The car was stopped and then run back to Aberdeen. While Drake’s injuries are very painful it is not believed they are serious. — Aberdeen Herald, November 18, 1909

W.A. HARNED — Testifies in His Own Behalf — Tells of Trouble with Conductor Drake — W.A. Harned, the man who maltreated Street Car Conductor Drake on last Wednesday evening, testified in his own behalf in Judge Phillips’ court Saturday morning as follows:

I was about to get off the car on West Heron Street on Wednesday evening, on my way to the river to float some logs to the Union Mill. I was going down the steps when the conductor ordered me back and told me to get off on the other side. He did not say there was any ordinance regulating the matter of sides. He caught hold of me to pull me back, and my hat fell off. I asked him to stop the car that I might get my hat. At the crossing he ordered me off and as I was getting off he caught hold of my shoulder and he struck me. We both fell off and in self-defense, I gave him a few, and went down to the log boom to my work.

Several present testified to the good character of the logger, stating that he was known as a peaceable man who attended to his own business. — Aberdeen Herald, November 22, 1909

BENEFIT FOR STRANDED ACTORS — A testimonial benefit will be given at the Empire Theater tomorrow evening, for Edward Moncrief and Harry Hallen, who were stranded in this city, when the LeRoy Osborne Musical company hit the rocks. The shows promises to be a good one. Members of the profession in the city will all assist in the program. — Aberdeen Herald, December 14, 1911

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and would really like to know how the streetcar incident involving Messrs. Drake and Harned was resolved. Alas, the Herald offered no further reports.