100 years ago (1917)

Sam McGee, local agent for the Maxwell automobile, has received a carload of six machines, which will be placed on display for the edification of prospective gasoline plutocrats. The cars sell for $725, having been raised $50 recently due to increased production costs.

90 years ago (1927)

“The 5th Ward residence of Miss N.M. Petty, chicken dinner purveyor to local pleasure seekers, was the scene of a tea-time visit by sheriff’s deputies Tuesday – which resulted in the arrest of Miss Petty and her subsequent trial before Justice Nix, who fined her $200 for possession of intoxicating liquor. More than a dozen bottles of beer, ostensibly for use of resort patrons, were found cleverly concealed in hidden wall panels of the establishment.”

70 years ago (1947)

The Port Townsend City Council accepts a bid of $55,477 to build a new fire station on Lawrence Street.

45 years ago (1972)

Port Townsend is drenched with 1.62 inches of rain on April 27, causing significant flooding and gravel washouts on F Street, Hastings Avenue and along the Water Street bluff [near the present-day Bayview Restaurant]. One lane of Water Street is closed until the mud debris can be removed.

35 years ago (1982)

Art McLarney Day at Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field includes former teammates of the PTHS grad and 1932 All-American baseball player who was named the previous autumn to the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. McLarney tosses the first pitch in the high school game between Port Townsend and Chimacum.

20 years ago (1997)

“It wasn’t your typical Port Townsend City Council meeting. Taking place was a re-enactment of a near assault initiated earlier in the day by a person believed to be a transient.” Last year, an increase in panhandling complaints attributed to “street people” developed, and downtown business owners and customers are noting a similar problem developing this spring.

“Last week in the largest gathering for a Port Townsend School Board meeting since a closed campus was debated last fall, dozens of librarians, teachers, parents and students showed up to protest the cuts in school libraries.”

The clubhouse at Chevy Chase Golf Course has a new kitchen, remodeled pro shop and new paint as part of the $1.3 million project that has turned the 72-year-old golf course from a nine- to an 18-hole course.

In response to personal concerns, a group of parents in Quilcene has, in recent weeks, asked the school board to create a drug-free zone around campus, pushed for a “closed campus” and now, have been hanging around evenings in front of the grocery store to deter teenagers and young adults from doing the same.

Quilcene Fire Department award recipients are Laurie Wolford, firefighter of the year for Quilcene station; Patty Broderson, district secretary and fire department auxiliary president; James Arsulich, district officer of the year and Coyle driver of the year; and Arlene Obtinario, former fire district commissioner.

(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)