100 years ago this week (1917)

“Herbert and Frank Walters, two well-known residents of Chimacum, Friday shot a 300-pound bear.”

A grip filled with one-drink bottles of Pebbleford whiskey was seized by Chief of Police Engelkes last evening as it was being handed ashore from the steamer Sol Duc. The man who received the grip was placed under $100 bail. (A “grip” is a suitcase.)

“The steamship Neils Neilson, returning from the Orient with 8,000 tons of cargo, struck the beach a mile north of Fort Worden in Thursday’s fog. She was floated off eight hours later.”

90 years ago (1927)

“The serious matter of the rapid increase of earwigs in the city of Port Townsend and many parts within Jefferson County was under discussion of the session of the Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday.”

“L.R. Stiger of Portland, construction superintendent who will be in charge of work on the Zellerbach kraft mill at Glen Cove, arrived here Sunday and is busy outlining his plans for starting activity at the earliest possible moment.”

60 years ago (1957)

“The Port Townsend Rotary Club, which has spearheaded activity to promote construction of a local swimming pool on and off for 20 years, Tuesday heard the latest developments from a committee recently formed to re-study the matter.”

The Chimacum High School homecoming queen is Carol Williams, with Sheila Thacker and Joni Whisnant as princesses.

“The sheriff’s office announced it has a big stock of used automobile hubcaps which were recovered from a home in Port Townsend this week.” The home’s owner said he had found the hubcaps along the highway while looking for bottles and other salvage material.

The state Department of Natural Resources recently completed a new fire lookout station on Skidder Hill above Discovery Bay.

These “Looking Back” news items are gathered from The Leader newspapers on file at the Jefferson County Historical Society Museum and Research Center at 379-6673.