Editor’s note: Due to space constraints, World Gone By did not run in Thursday’s edition. Here is four day’s worth for your weekend reading pleasure.
75 years ago
December 5, 1944
George J. Wolff Co. at the corner of Broadway and Wishkah in Aberdeen invites readers to “Add a Purple Heart gift to your list now!”
“We are happy to cooperate with the American Legion in this ‘Purple Heart’ Gift Campaign,” says their advertisement. “Come in and select a gift for some hospitalized Yank in one of the Washington hospitals. This gift will be sent by the American Legion to one of the many, many returned veterans spending Christmas in the hospital!”
December 6, 1944
• Staff Sgt. Clifford Hensley, whose parents live in Junction City, was seriously wounded in action on Peleliu island and has been awarded the Purple Heart.
• Pfc. James Gaddis, 19, son of Cpl. and Mrs. W.J. Choma of Aberdeen, is convalescing in a hospital in the Italian theater and has been awarded the Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds received in his right arm. Serving with Lieut. General Mark Clark’s 5th army in Italy, Gaddis has been overseas since May, 1944, and hospitalized twice for malaria fever. Gaddis is a former Weatherwax High School athlete and had received his letter in track before entering the army 18 months ago.
December 7, 1944
Harborites believe that it will take at least six months more to defeat Germany and another year or possibly two to knock out Japan, a Pearl Harbor attack anniversary symposium revealed today.
Individual opinions follow:
Walter T. Foelkner, Aberdeen mayor: “We should all dig a little deeper and buy more sixth war loan bonds to keep the bombs rolling. I think the European war has until next summer to go and the war in the Pacific about two years.”
Dean Lewis Tidball, Grays Harbor Junior College: “I think the principal responsibility of the people at home is to support the war effort and keep war production at peak. We should not look too much for minor criticisms in carrying on of the war, but should support the over-all grand effort that is being made.”
Lou Goldberg, of Goldberg’s Furniture company: “Everyone should just get to work and win the war. If we don’t talk about when it will be over, or try to set dates for its completion, there will be a lot less disappointment. If we all go to work it will end a lot sooner, and we can worry about the other things when the boys come home again.”
December 8, 1944
The Hayes & Hayes bank building, landmark at the corner of Heron and G streets since 1905, was purchased today by W.S. McKean from Mrs. Julie Smith of Elma for $6,000. Built by L.L. Maley and W.J. Patterson after the big fire in 1904, the building did not change owners until the Hayes & Hayes bank was closed in 1927.
50 years ago
December 5, 1969
Tonight at the D and R theater in Aberdeen, Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight star in “Midnight Cowboy.” No one under 18 — I.D. required. At the Aberdeen theater, Clint Eastwood stars in “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” as well as “Hang ‘Em High.” At the 7th Street theater it’s a motorcycle marathon with “Born Losers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.”
December 6, 1969
Saturday, no newspaper published
December 7, 1969
Sunshine Kids began back in 1926 when a young Active Club member named Harry Spence felt that a child welfare program would be an ideal project for his service club.
‘Sunshine Kids” started out on a small scale, with a street corner Santa distributing candy to children.
In the past 43 years, Sunshine Kids has collected more than a quarter of a million dollars and has delivered 50,000 Christmas packages and clothes to underprivileged children in Grays Harbor.
They are now in the midst of their 1969 drive to raise funds for their Christmas parcels and the coming years welfare program. To raise these funds, Sunshine Kids sell Christmas trees, have a Talent Show Broadcast and mail solicitation letters.
December 8, 1969
“It was supposed to be lovely, not uptight. What happened? What went wrong?” asked a forlorn Mick Jagger, leader of the Rolling Stones, of the monster weekend rock festival that drew 300,000 young people to the dry, brown hills east of Tracy, Calif. It left behind a blanket of litter, four violent deaths and four new babies.
It was Jagger who arranged the colossal turn-on as a “Christmas and Chanukah gift to American youth.”
Instead, he noted sadly, the four died, many freaked out on drugs and Hells Angels guards roughed up spectators and musicians.
25 years ago
December 5, 1994
An Aberdeen family fittingly named Noel is giving the community a Christmas tree.
Grays Harbor PUD crews removed a stately 30-foot noble fir this morning from the yard of Don and Marge Noel.
Soon the gorgeous tree will grace historic Zelasko Park along the banks of the Wishkah River — not far from where Aberdeen’s founder, Sam Benn and other pioneers celebrated Christmas in the 1880s with bonfires and caroling.
A five-foot tall youngster when the couple moved into their home on Montview Drive, the fir now has grown into power lines. “I hated to do it,” Don said, “but it’s got to go and this was a good way to do it.”
For years, the city has been accepting one donated tree every Christmas to brighten the park. Last year, the city tried a different approach and planted a giant tree in the park. Officials hoped they would never have to cut one again, parks director Wes Peterson said. But that tree didn’t do well in its new location and was recently removed.
December 6, 1994
Nine Twin Harbors players were named to Washington All State football teams announced Monday night.
Aberdeen tight end Anthony Mizin and Hoquiam linebackers Jon Rydman and Josh Graham were named to the all-state team in the AA classification. Wide receiver-defensive back Brian Winkelman, offensive lineman Andy Kahler and linebacker Todd Felton, all from state champion Montesano, and Elma kicker Michael Weld were Class A selections. Raymond offensive lineman Jamie Blevins and linebacker Tyrus Walker received B-11 recognition.
December 7, 1994
Overwhelming on both ends of the court, Wishkah shelled Forks, 81-33, in a non-league girls’ basketball game Tuesday night at Wishkah.
Sissel Pierce scored 25 points and blocked 17 shots to pace the Loggerettes to their third victory in as many starts. Melissa Bowen added 15, Abbie Pierce 12, and Crystal Teague and Mindy McElliott 11 apiece for the winners.
December 8, 1994
Elton Bennett personified the artist as populist and the American dream that you can be whatever you want to be if you persevere.
A former millhand and dredge worker for the Port of Grays Harbor, the Hoquiamite became a self taught master of the silkscreen process and the Pacific Northwest’s favorite painter.
In the 20 years since Elton and his bright and feisty wife, Flora, died in a plane crash on a their way to Pago Pago, the value of his works has increased many-fold, literally and figuratively. Recently one of his silkscreens fetched $1,500.
