100 years ago (1917)

The Civic Club conducts a sale to raise half the money needed to buy an additional half block for Chetzemoka Park. America’s entry into World War I has slowed development plans for “the most famous little park in the Northwest.”

William Daly Jr. is the first local boy to answer the county’s call in time of emergency, having recently enlisted in the coast artillery reserve, which is expecting orders to active duty.

“A great success was scored last Monday evening by the artillerymen of Fort Flagler, the occasion being the annual ball, which will hereafter be made an event at the post.”

60 years ago (1957)

The state Parks and Recreation Commission has negotiated the purchase of the remaining 500 acres of Fort Flagler for a sum of $17,538.75 from the General Services Administration.

45 years ago (1972)

Dave Barnes eats 377 littleneck clams in eight minutes to win his second consecutive clam-eating contest. Barnes had set the record of 342 clams the previous year. The Port Townsend Elks Club has sponsored the contest since 1966.

Demolition begins on the vacant Marine Hospital building in Port Townsend, which opened in 1896 to replace the original seamen’s hospital, which had burned. The hospital was last used for military purposes during World War II and has since been empty, except for a caretaker.

35 years ago (1982)

“The drooping economy has the Port Townsend City Council and Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce thinking along the same lines: better hitch onto the state’s coattails, and spend some money to promote tourism.”

For rent: Three-bedroom family home, double garage, Chimacum Creek Estates. $350 a month. Village Apartments, Hadlock, two-bedroom, $265 month plus deposit, no pets. Lovely waterfront condo, $300 a month.

20 years ago (1997)

“The Jefferson County Farmer’s Market reopens April 19, with changes and improvements that manager Lucy LaRosa hope will be welcome.” First step: Volunteers are asked to help clean up the lot next to the police station at 607 Water St., where the market operates weekly. Extended hours this season are 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. every Saturday.

Early signs are that paramedic service should be coming to the county this summer in a cost-sharing agreement between the Chimacum and Port Ludlow fire districts.

“A Port Townsend woman [Madge Wallin] has lost her appeal of a city ruling requiring the abatement of a fence/wall on her Fillmore Street property.”

The Port Townsend and Southern Model Railroaders lay their N-scale tracks with a free show April 19 at the Jefferson County Rural Library in Port Hadlock.

(Compiled by Patrick J. Sullivan. Sources: Leader Collection; Jefferson County Historical Society Museum and Research Center, 13692 Airport Cutoff Road, Port Townsend; Jefferson County Historical Society, 379-6673, jchsmuseum.org; jchswa.org, the online search site)