75 years ago

April 8, 1942

• Twelve workers are now employed at Barmon crab cannery on F street in Aberdeen with 15 cases of crabs being turned out daily, Harold Barmon, owner and operator, said today.

Although crabs are plentiful, lack of pickers is handicapping operation somewhat, Barmon said.

“We can double or even triple our output if we get more girls to pick the crabs,” he said. “We need about six more workers at least.”

• The war production board, turning stern stylist for American women, decreed today that for the duration of the war, dresses can be shorter and shorter or tighter and tighter — as fashion dictates — but neither longer nor fuller than those now worn. Voluminous sleeves will be eliminated, but long sleeves are permitted; all-over pleating is barred, although pleating if permitted as decoration.

The restriction become effective for wool clothing tomorrow while restrictions on cotton, rayon and other materials do not become effective until June 19.

April 9, 1942

• The 50th anniversary of St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Aberdeen will be marked Sunday by special services and a sermon by the Right Rev. S. Arthur Huston, bishop.

Fiftieth anniversary programs include a sketch, written by Mrs. Maude Perry Douglass on the history of the pioneer Aberdeen church, including a list of the pastors which have served it since 1891. Rev. Sylvester P. Robertson has served St. Andrew’s since 1928.

• Interurban bus service between Aberdeen and Elma will be offered by Grays Harbor Lines, Inc., on week days, Manager Jess Kuhns said today.

With automobile travel curtailed because of gasoline and tire rationing, Kuhns said the company decided to inaugurate the interurban service to accommodate east county workers employed in Aberdeen and Hoquiam industrial plants.

50 years ago

April 8, 1967

Hoquiam Police Lt. Robert Smiley and Patrolman Melvin Bartlett were making their rounds this morning at 6:32 o’clock when they spotted a ball shaped object estimated to be about 50 feet in diameter above and a little north of the Hoquiam Eagles building.

The object, that emitted no sound and was without the usual blinking lights, disappeared in a few seconds as it traveled in a northerly direction toward the Woodlawn area about 1,000 feet above the ground at from 75 to 100 miles an hour.

Hoquiam Police notified the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s office where the desk sergeant will dutifully forward the story to Civil Defense and the Civil Defense will in turn pass the information on to Air Force officials.

April 9, 1967

Sunday, no newspaper pubished

25 years ago

April 8, 1992

Worried about rumors that a Wal-Mart store might push a proposed waterfront inn onto land used by the Seaport, the Tall Ships board wants to sign a long-term lease with the city.

But Stan Lattin, director of planning and economic development for the Port of Grays Harbor, says rumors the Port is selling to Wal-Mart instead of the hotel developer aren’t true.

Talk that developer Wally Trace of Seattle had either lost or sold his option on the waterfront land on which he plans to build a hotel complex has sparked a firestorm of rumors these last couple weeks.

April 9, 1992

• A giant column of black smoke billowed into the sky over Hoquiam Plywood Co. Wednesday afternoon, and responding firefighters feared the worst.

But the pall in North Hoquiam — visible over most of Aberdeen and Hoquiam — dispersed as if by magic.

The firefighters said they weren’t the heroes — the automatic sprinkler system and quick action by crews at the worker-owned plant stopped the fire in its tracks.

“Firefighters like sprinkler systems,” said Capt. Ray Pumphrey, noting that damage might be as little as $2,000. Without sprinklers it could have been a disaster, he said.

The mill fire started is sawdust built up in the rafters over the veneer dryer.

• Aberdeen City Council members approved a $600,000 remodeling plan for the Community Center last night and decided the museum will make way for a new elevator.

The cramped quarters and the ever-increasing demand for the services provided by the Community Center enabled the city and Coastal Community Action Program to win a $500,000 community development block grant last year. The building is to be modernized and made handicapped accessible, thereby ensuring CCAP’s continued eligibility for government funding.

In addition to CCAP, the Senior Center, food bank and museum all compete for space in the former armory at 117 E. Third.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom