LOOKING BACK: Dec. 16, 2015

Posted

120 years ago (1895)

“The search for the disabled steamer Strathnevis is now well underway, and it is likely that the big Britisher will be back to port by the middle or latter part of next week. There are four vessels out looking for the derelict vessel.”

100 years ago (1915)

The Vienna pool room was robbed early yesterday morning, with the biggest loss being some $60 in punchboard prizes.

80 years ago (1935)

The Port Townsend High School Redskins are given the Rotary Club sportsmanship trophy, which has been the object of competition in annual football games between Port Angeles and Port Townsend since the fall of 1930.

70 years ago (1945)

Four U.S. Navy seamen from an ammunition ship anchored in Discovery Bay are chased by police after having stolen their commanding officer’s Jeep, which had been parked near the Black Ball dock in downtown Port Townsend.

45 years ago (1970)

Sea Breeze Mart’s grand opening advertisement proclaims: “Serve yourself and save! Remote control – the newest concepts in gas stations.” Regular gasoline sells for 29 cents a gallon, and premium costs 39 cents.

20 years ago (1995)

“A flurry of influenza-A cases is racking up an increasing number of absentees in the county's public school system.” Port Townsend on Monday listed 353 absentees, while Chimacum counted 208.

After a free Thanksgiving Day meal was staged in 1991-1993, but did not happen for the past two years, a new effort was launched to serve a free Christmas Day meal.

“Joan Robinson became a member of the Port Townsend Elks Lodge on Dec. 7, the first female in the local organization’s 100-year history.”

Port Townsend so far this year has measured nearly 23 inches of precipitation, which is about 4 inches more than normal for an entire year.

Bill Curry, former captain of the Adventuress, “has taken charge of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Townsend as the 16-year-old school braces to tighten its ties to the local community.”

(Source: 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)