With the Second Annual Historic Hoquiam Memories show being held today in the grand confines of Hoquiam’s Emerson Hotel, here are a number of stories, big and small, reflecting events in Aberdeen’s sister city from the early part of the last century as related in the pages of the Aberdeen Herald.

R.A. Wright, a young man 23 years of age, died at the Hoquiam Hospital, Saturday night, from loss of blood. The unfortunate man cut his leg badly with an axe while working in Lytle’s Hoquiam River camp. The leg was tied up and the injured man taken on a sled seven miles, to the landing on the river. Here he was met by a doctor from Hoquiam, who did all that was possible, but death resulted after arriving at the hospital. The remains were shipped, Tuesday, to Cove Creek, N.C., accompanied by a brother of the deceased. – Aberdeen Herald, April 3, 1902

MOTORCYCLIST TAKES PLUNGE OFF WHARF – Arthur Whisner, a crack motorcyclist, of Tacoma, plunged fifteen feet from the deck of the Eighth Street wharf in this city, with his machine Sunday evening, while doing exhibition riding. His heavy machine fell across him. Whisner escaped serious injury by the barest chance. He was cut about the head slightly and his right hip bruised. – Aberdeen Herald, August 1, 1912

FINED FOR GAMBLING – A.S. Dore, proprietor of the Log Cabin Saloon, and Charlie Bear, porter at the same place, plead guilty to gambling charges at 4 o’clock yesterday before Judge Philbrick, and each was fined $50 and costs. Dore paid his fine but Bear was unable to do so and was lodged in the city jail. The two were arrested on warrants sworn to by P.C. Paulson, proprietor of the Hammon Baths, who alleged that he lost money to Dore and Bear while gambling two weeks ago. Bear paid his fine late last night and was released. – Aberdeen Herald, December 22, 1910

BRIDGE OUT OF ORDER – The Northern Pacific railroad bridge across the Hoquiam River was out of commission for 24 hours yesterday, necessitating the transfer of all passengers, mail and baggage at Aberdeen to the street car, which brought them to this city. All incoming and outgoing trains were compelled to leave from Aberdeen, being unable to get to Hoquiam. – Aberdeen Herald, February 8, 1912

Geo. Erlenson, mate on the tug Cudahy, bet with a fatal accident Monday, while the tug was towing the schooner Sailor Boy to sea. The unfortunate man was crushed by the hawser slipping from the bit, and died at the Hoquiam General Hospital Tuesday night. Mate Erlenson was about 25 years of age, a native of Sweden, and he had a host of friends on Grays Harbor. The funeral took place at Hoquiam under the auspices of the Sailor’s union. – Aberdeen Herald, July 6, 1905

Finally we close with the tribulations of Joseph Woods and his interaction with Alex Polson’s car:

Joseph Woods, the well-known butcher of Hoquiam, had a leg broken in two places by an unmanageable automobile at Hoquiam, yesterday afternoon. A party was running down Eighth Street in Alex Polson’s auto, and at I Street became rattled, and ran the machine into the door of Andrew Bruce’s store, running over Mr. Woods and smashing up the store door. – Aberdeen Herald, October 17, 1904

Jos. Woods, who has been lying at the Hoquiam Hospital for twelve weeks, was up Monday afternoon. Mr. Woods is getting along nicely, but he gets very lonesome. He will be soon out on the street. – Aberdeen Herald, January 12, 1905

Joseph Woods of the Union Meat Market, has commenced an action in the superior court through his attorneys F.L. Morgan and Ben Sheeks, against Alex. Polson, for damages caused to Woods recently, when Mr. Polson’s auto which was driven by C.O. Cook, ran into him, breaking his leg. The damage asked for is in the sum of $25,000. – Aberdeen Herald, February 13, 1905

Joe Woods of the Union Meat Market is now able to sit up, but it will be some months before he is able to have the use of his legs. – Aberdeen Herald, February 16, 1905

Joe Woods, who has been laid up with injuries received some time ago in an automobile accident on the corner of 8th and J Streets was downtown Sunday for the first time in nine weeks in an invalid’s chair. It will be some time before Mr. Woods will be able to walk. – Aberdeen Herald, March 2, 1905

The case of Jos. Woods vs. Alex Polson was non-suited in the superior court yesterday. Woods was badly injured last year at Hoquiam by an automobile belonging to Polson and sued for damages. – Aberdeen Herald, May 25, 1905

MONTESANO – Jos. Woods was up from Hoquiam Wednesday. He is still unable to walk, using a wheel chair. – Aberdeen Herald, June 29, 1905

NOTE: Even though Joseph Woods’ court case was dismissed, he eventually did find some happiness when in 1908 he was healthy enough to visit his native England and returned with a bride.

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and will be exhibiting some of his historic Hoquiam doo-dads and what-nots at the Emerson Hotel from 1 to 5 on Saturday, April 21. Come on down!!