75 years ago
December 20, 1943
A warning that Harbor motorists must cut down even more on gasoline consumption came today from the OPA district office at Seattle.
“The gas situation in this area is becoming increasingly critical due to the cut in deliveries to service stations by oil companies,” the district office said in a wire to the local ration board.
Harry Spence, chairman of the ration board, brought out the need for more ride-sharing. “I am confident the people of Grays Harbor recognize the necessity of ride-sharing, which is evidenced by the willingness of men operating now through the war production transportation committee,” he said. “We are now urging that everyone do an even better job of ride-sharing.”
December 21, 1943
“Mother” Ida Fenwick Hiller, 81, pointed to the single service star in the window of her little home on North E. street and explained that she “couldn’t find a banner with 10 stars.”
It would take just 19 to account for the total number of sons, grandsons and great-grandsons serving in World War II.
“Land sakes, it’s quite a chore remembering all the names — they grew so fast it seems to me they still are babies — and a body is naturally upset about it, too,” she said.
She told of having just received word of her son, L.B. (Lloyd) Edinger, a chief carpenter’s mate in the Seabees. Because of outstanding bravery in the Atlantic, he has been transferred from the construction unit into the regular navy, retaining his chief’s rating. “It is the first time in the history of the Seabees that that has been done,” she declared. Her chin quivered and there was just a hint of tears in her eyes as she took Lloyd’s picture off the table. He is somewhere in the Pacific now.
50 years ago
December 20, 1968
Christmas 1968 finds 28-year-old Arthur Jones of Aberdeen fighting for his life.
He has a terminal kidney ailment.
Out of work for the last five months because of the progression of the disease, Jones has a wife and five children to support. And another child is due before the new year dawns.
Jones needs $10,000 to secure treatment at Seattle’s Artificial Kidney Center and will require “home dialysis” equipment” — a portable kidney machine.
The center has set up a special account in Jones’ name to accept contributions. A contribution of any size would help make Christmas a lot merrier for the Jones family.
December 21, 1968
A Grays Harbor College chemistry instructor, Eugene Schermer, has been awarded a major National Science Foundation fellowship to study and research at Louisiana State University from June 1969 to August 1970.
His research which he began during the summer months 1965 through 1968, will be in the area of the organometallic chemistry of the transition metals. He will also do course work to fulfill the requirement for a Ph.D. in chemistry.
25 years ago
December 20, 1993
Dr. Richard A. Lane, a teacher, debate coach, director, actor and writer who inspired thousands of Harborites during a 35-year career, is dead at 62.
Ill for the past few months, he died early Sunday, Dec. 19, at an Olympia hospital.
A man whose enthusiasm was contagious, Lane taught for two years at Aberdeen High School before succeeding the revered A.J. Hillier as debate coach at Grays Harbor College in 1961.
Lane was awarded the first doctorate in theater arts from Washington State University in 1974.
December 21, 1993
Washingtonian Print, which once propelled two Hoquiamites to the U.S. Congress, is closing after 105 years, a victim of last year’s shutdown of the pulp and paper complex in Hoquiam. More than half of his business came from the ITT Rayonier/International Paper mills.
Al McLeod, the print shop’s owner since Dec. 1, 1978, when he purchased the business from the late Joe and Ruth Randich, is liquidating the firm and retiring. He is 75.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
