110 years ago (1907)

Authorities are investigating the report that one Ira R. Senior, timber cruiser and locater, may have been murdered by irate residents of the county’s West End, because he was seen as a threat to their way of life.

85 years ago (1932)

Chimacum Grange has finished a new meeting hall. “The Grangers expect the new hall to be a social center for the district.”

“The Port Townsend Leader is now in possession of its second straight carload of newsprint bought since the establishment of the National Paper Products Co. Kraft mill in Port Townsend. The first was received over a year ago and is now about exhausted.”

70 years ago (1947)

“In one of the greatest athletic victories in Port Townsend High School history, coach Bruce Blevins’ Redskins Saturday night defeated the Eatonville Cruisers 42 to 33 to give the high school here its first district championship. More than 1,200 screaming fans jam-packed the gymnasium for the district finals here Saturday to see the cool and crafty Redskins roar from behind in the third period and win going away over one of the state’s best Class B high school quintets.”

60 years ago (1957)

The Legislature approves $780,000 to buy and remodel Fort Worden for use as an institution, and $750,000 for administration and operations. The $750,000 is considered 40 percent of the program’s two-year cost.

The Port Townsend High School boys’ basketball team loses its second game at the state B tourney, but rebounds to win fourth place. PT was considered the tourney equal of eventual state champion Darrington, but lost 63-54 to Winthrop in a game “ruined by questionable calls” against PT’s star forward, Bill Gilbert.

45 years ago (1972)

The Port Townsend High School boys’ basketball team places fourth at the state Class A tournament. Coach Jim Kerns’ team (19-5 overall) beats Eatonville, falls to Cashmere, beats Morton in overtime and defeats White River. Senior guard Keith Harper is named to the all-state second team. PT players are Harper, Reed Gunstone, Rock Fountain, Paul Stroeder, Mark Prill, Jim Parker, Steve Kimball, Dave Hudson, Brian Murphy, Ed Haynes, Alan Adams and Mark Sandvig.

35 years ago (1982)

“What has happened to Port Townsend’s role in Paramount’s ‘An Officer and Gentleman’? Some claim the film has been scrapped. Port Townsend theatre owner Richard Wiley said he expected the film for July, but isn’t certain now what the dates might be. Another contact reports that Paramount public relations department says the film is alive and well; the soundtrack is being added and a fall release date will soon be set. Rolling Stone magazine reported the film could get an X rating due to a nude scene between Debra Winger and Richard Gere. Paramount had left word in Port Townsend that the film may get an R. The X sounds like media-hype for a film that so far has received little press, except in Port Townsend.”

20 years ago (1997)

The Port Townsend High School Vocational Club’s electric-powered vehicle places fourth in the national championship race in Arizona, after having won the main event for two consecutive years. An experimental controller was used this year, and the gamble did not pay off, noted instructor Jim Toyne.

Port Ludlow’s Burton Gabriel, a former fisherman and boatbuilder who five years ago became one of the first on the North Olympic Peninsula to focus on electric-powered cars and boats, places second in the Street Stock division at the Electric Vehicle Technology Competition in Arizona.

A public meeting on plans to create the Larry Scott Trail along a former railroad bed from Port Townsend to Four Corners is met with praise and criticism. Jefferson County government is encouraging the 22 landowners to allow public access, but it’s up to the property owners to decide.

Jefferson County Parks and Recreation is preparing to schedule a 21-team adult coed softball team season; 25 teams have expressed interest. Field availability is a concern.

The Quilcene School Board approves a switch from eight-player to 11-player football starting with the 1997 season. The change is required due to Quilcene’s increased enrollment.

(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)