125 years ago (1892)

Prominent taxpayers are discussing the advisability of planking Water Street.

“The second mate, deck night watchman and three of the crew of the City of Kingston have been discharged on account of an accusation that they had something to do with bringing the five Chinese to Port Townsend a few days ago. The Chinese were found in a lifeboat, the canvas covering having been unstrapped and then strapped over them.”

85 years ago (1932)

Contrary to rumor, floods on the Lower Hoh River have not washed out the county’s new suspension bridge, but the river flow is the highest ever recorded.

45 years ago (1972)

“With the increased competition for waterfront property in Jefferson County, the county commissioners have been faced with the problems of sewage wastes and water development. To this end, the county in December established a Department of Public Works.”

35 years ago (1982)

The Quilcene High School girls’ basketball team places fifth at the State B tourney, the school’s first such trophy. Team leaders include Connie Frank, Darlene Bloomfield, Lindy Crawford and Shelitha Burton.

The first bronze medal ever presented by the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society is awarded to Anita Lockhart for her many years of educational contribution and other work with rhododendron culture.

25 years ago (1992)

“South County’s pouring rain is gone, but the damage continues to property and rich oyster beds at the mouth of the Big Quilcene River.”

Volunteers plant 100,000 chinook in Tarboo Creek about a mile and a half from Dabob Bay.

20 years ago (1997)

“Port Townsend has a national reputation as a Victorian Seaport where wooden boats and old buildings are cherished and preserved. That’s why the Port of Port Townsend’s apparent effort to phase out boathouses used to protect classic wooden motor craft is being assailed by some boathouse owners.”

The South County Medical Clinic in Quilcene celebrates its first anniversary.

Ned Schumann, Alex Fowler and Bobby DuBois are featured in a story on Internet access providers. “Most towns this size don’t even have one.”

The water level at the pond on the Port Townsend Golf Course is the highest it has been in the 10 years since Mike Early has managed the facility. In the past four years, in particular, the pond’s size has increased.

The Port Townsend High School Vocational Club’s electric vehicle team defends its national championship in Arizona with Chip Hanauer, professional hydroplane racer and a former teacher in Port Townsend, behind the wheel.

Lewis Plumbing (10-0) wins the regular season title in the six-team Age 35 and Older Men’s Basketball League, while Eldridge Homes (10-0) wins the seven-team Fastbreak League championship.

(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)