75 years ago

Dec. 3, 1941

The U.S.S. Amber, navy patrol vessel which was formerly the private yacht of Actor John Barrymore, will spend three days at Aberdeen recruiting men for the Naval Reserve M-2 classification, it was announced today by the commanding officer of the 13th naval district in Seattle.

The M-2 class provides for appointment of experienced en to duties in the coastal defense force depending on their abilities and experience. Men, who are cooks, yeomen, radiomen, seamen, engineers and other special groups will be given immediate and permanent ratings in the reserve. Without further naval training, they will be put into service with the defense forces.

Members of Guild No. 6 of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and members of the Aberdeen Active club are sponsoring the appearance here of Sam Gordon, the “common sense bridge” expert. The lessons will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings at the Emerson hotel.

Sam Gordon, otherwise known as the “Kibitzer” lives in Portland and is busily engaged in traveling about Oregon and Washington giving lectures and advice on the proper manner in which to bid and play a hand of contract bridge.

Dec. 4, 1941

Approximately 50 elderly persons formerly on WPA projects have been assigned to private employment through the division of training and re-employment, Oscar Hermans, assistant supervisor announced today in Hoquiam.

One man now is a police patrolman outside the Harbor. Others have found employment as service station attendants, carpenters, butchers, cabinet makers, truck drivers, office and library workers, building contractors, mail carriers and Christmas tree cutters.

50 years ago

Dec. 3, 1966

After 19 years of serving coffee, doughnuts and dairy goods to neighborhood businesses, Hay’s Dairy Fountain closed its doors in Hoquiam this week, putting three employees on the job market.

Dec. 4, 1966

Sunday no newspaper published

25 years ago

Dec. 3, 1991

• In this day and age, new sawmills are almost unheard of. Old ones that are still running are rare enough. But on Monday, Mayr Bros. Logging Co. announced plans to build a new mill on its property just north of Hoquiam.

The mill will cut small, second- and third-growth logs as the company makes the transition from logging and milling old-growth timber.

It won’t mean many new jobs initially, but it will keep the company’s current 185-person crew working and may add another 10 jobs or so, company president Tom Mayr said.

The company’s existing sawmill cuts old-growth and large second-growth lumber, mostly for door and window frames produced elsewhere. That mill will continue to operate, said Mayr, although on one shift instead of two.

• Brad Fuhrer takes over Aberdeen’s basketball team this season, only the third coach in more than a quarter century. He succeeds Randy Hancock, who retired following his 11th season last year. Hancock’s predecessor, Dick Dixon, spent 15 years in the head job.

Fuhrer was Hancock’s assistant for all 11 years, which were highlighted by a state AA championship in 1982.

Ten years earlier Fuhrer played for the Bobcats under Dixon. He went on to play at Grays Harbor College and Western Washington University.

Dec. 4, 1991

The Port of Grays Harbor’s nationwide search for a new director of marine operations ended at home.

Leonard L. Barnes, with the Port since 1984, will succeed Karl Wallin, who is retiring after 25 years.

Barnes, a graduate of East Bremerton High School, came to Grays Harbor in 1975 to attend Grays Harbor College on a basketball scholarship. Before coming to the Port, Barnes worked as marketing representative for Mason Timber Co. and as shipping supervisor for Mayr Bros. Logging Co. for seven years.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom