75 years ago
October 26, 1942
The Colonel Gerritt V.S. Quackenbush, first big vessel built on the Harbor since World War I took to the waters of Grays Harbor before a crowd of 5,000 spectators.
A fast-running flood tide almost spelled bad luck for the launching, but actually turned out to be a favor for the shipbuilders. After the ship slid into the water, the upstream surge pushed it against the yard dock and then, while tenders quickly swung the West Bridge draw, the vessel floated upstream through the opening and was brought under control by tugs near the Schafer mill dock.
October 27, 1942
With gasoline rationing due November 22, Southwest Washington basketball schedules must be revised to conform to curtailed travel, Principal R.R. Balkema predicted today.
However, according to the president of the SW Washington Principals’ Association, it is probable the hoop setup could be carried on by transporting players in private cars. Or there is the possibility the whole conference setup may be abandoned for the duration of the year and schools playing only neighboring teams.
50 years ago
October 26, 1967
“What I envision for Hoquiam is an enclosed mall shopping center with about 120,000 square feet of floor space. We’d have about 40 tenants, including a major department store and a chain variety store. Everything has got to be first class.”
The man doing the talking was Walter J. Kraus, a Lake Oswego, Ore. land developer with graying curly hair, a somewhat flamboyant manner and a white Rolls Royce.
Krause wants to transform Hoquiam’s four-block downtown Urban Renewal parcel into a million dollar shopping center.
“We want to have a super drug store and a quality food market, plus numerous specialty shops — a book store, men’s and women’s clothing, a gift center, family shoe store, and perhaps an art shop and travel agency,” he said yesterday as he made doodles on a restaurant table placemat.
October 27, 1967
A delegation of Seattle business and professional men were recently feted by the Montesano Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon in the VFW club.
In the morning, the group had visited the E.C. Miller Cedar Lumber mill in Montesano and the Post & Powell shake mill at Melbourne, described as typical of a single small unit in a large local industry.
During the afternoon, they went to Weikswood in the Clemons Tree Farm where Bill Schmidt, rehabilitation forester for Weyerhaeuser, explained his company’s concept for the “high yield forest.” For most of them, this was their first visit to the nation’s No. 1 tree farm.
25 years ago
October 26, 1992
For Ben Taylor elk skins and deer bones are backyard classroom materials.
This fall, Taylor took his love of Indian crafts, combined it with teaching talent and became a drum-making instructor.
Students get three credits for the 30-hour, three day class. They learn how to scrape the hides, dry them and stretch them across a drum’s cedar frame.
Taylor lives surrounded by his art. Across the walls of his living room in Tokeland hang 11 large drums and numerous small ones. Between the drums he has hung his paintings, pipes and ceremonial sticks.
October 27, 1992
Being a good principal is like being a good teacher, the best way to learn how to do it is by doing it.
That’s what Wishkah Valley School’s new principal Cale Bowen, 39, has been learning this year.
Bowen, who had been at Ocosta/Jr. Sr. High School for two years, still lives in Grayland so he has about an hour commute. Next spring he hopes to look for a home in the Wishkah Valley area.
While in Ocosta, he taught U.S. history and health, was the athletic director, part of the restructuring team, was an alternative school teacher, and coached junior high football and track.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
