85 years ago (1932)

The Port Townsend American Legion sponsors the popular musical comedy “The Beauty Shoppe.” Packed attendance “assured a successful beginning for the drum and bulge corps, which the Legion is sponsoring.”

“Port Townsend resident Columbus Hinton is the oldest white man born in Oregon. Hinton, who is married to Nancy Melvina Crow, was born at Rickrail trading post in Yamhill County on May 13, 1847. Hinton moved to Port Townsend in 1912. The Leader had previously answered Oregon’s call for such news by claiming the honor for city resident Frank Hastings, who was born Nov. 12, 1848 in Portland.”

City building permits issued in 1931 brought development valued at $41,945.

70 years ago (1947)

Chimacum High School students resume classes at the Irondale Church. Grade school students returned to class last week at the Chimacum school cafeteria, Chimacum Grange Hall, the Hadlock and Chimacum Methodist churches, and the recreation building of the Hadlock housing complex. The Chimacum school’s main classroom building burned Jan. 27.

“The Quilcene VFW came from behind in the final quarter to defeat Indian Island 33-29 in city basketball league action.”

45 years ago (1972)

For sale: “North Beach building site, 100 by 100, all city services available, cleared and ready to build on; sit and watch the shipping traffic from your new home. $5,500 terms.”

For sale: “Four-bedroom home with valley, bay and mountain view, warm carpeted living room with brick fireplace. Rosso oil furnace, lovely birch cabinets in kitchen, fenced back yard, too! $18,000.”

20 years ago (1997)

Petitions signed by residents of Brinnon, Quilcene, Coyle and Port Hadlock ask the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners not to close the solid waste drop boxes, fearing an increase in illegal dumping.

United Good Neighbors collected $180,000 in donations for 1996, just shy of the $185,000 goal but close to the record-breaking donations of the past several years.

“Port Townsend is not immune to an international money laundering scheme that has people in Nigeria mailing letters throughout the United States seeking bank account numbers.”

“Final permits and reviews were completed last week for construction at H.J. Carroll Park in Chimacum, and work is slated to begin in April or May. The park, on the site of a former county gravel pit, is made possible by a $300,000 gift from retired real estate magnate Jack Carroll.”

New members have joined the Port Townsend Arts Commission and restarted the idea of developing an arts center.

Key City Lanes features 85 teams bowling in eight leagues.

For sale: “Spectacular shipping lanes and Mount Baker views from this special North Beach home, just a few easy blocks to miles of beach. $265.000.”

For sale: “Wooded, private and room to grow! 100 by 200 lot buildable with buffer as a bonus. The sign is on Discovery, but access is on 16th and Logan. $25,500.”

(Compiled by Patrick J. Sullivan. 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)