Compiled by Katherine Darrow

December 28, 1923

Welcome wagon

The Development of the Nordland district of Scow Bay has been one of the pleasing events of the last ten years. Mr. A.M. Hoidale, who is interested promises a rapid future increase in that district, and in a letter to The Leader asks that the new-comers be welcomed in every way possible.

“Port Townsend Leader: Lately I have sold two little ranches near your city to people from the east and more will come if you, who live here, will give them encouragement and extend the hand of fellowship to them. Make it your individual business to make them feel at home. The newly arrived one craves more than anything else a friendly hand clasp. Take a personal interest in him.

The first few months is the hardest for new people. Give them a word of cheer. Ask them to your entertainments.

These people all bring some money with them. They become your customers and if they receive right treatment will come again and bring others with them.

You have an incomparable climate and there is no reason why the Port Townsend district should not rank with the very best in poultry and fruit.

Poultry especially will do better here than any place to my knowledge, owing to the comparatively dry winters and cool summers.

Your Commercial Club should by all means get out some folders telling the rest of us your many advantages. I have looked in vain for anything of the sort.

Tight squeeze

That chimneys at Fort Worden are too small was demonstrated Monday evening at the Christmas program there when Santa Claus got jammed on his way to the fireplace opening into the hall where the program was being held. After superhuman efforts, old Santa succeeded in extricating himself, letting go with a suddenness that demolished the fireplace, landing him at his destination under the ruins. This part of the program, previously unheralded, caused an outburst of mixed emotions among the juvenile beholders.

37 Years Ago:
December 24, 1986

Peace demonstration

By Carolyn Latteier

In the early morning hours before New Year’s Eve Day, people all over Port Townsend will be rising early, leaving their homes and meeting in groups to pray, meditate, think and talk about world peace. At the same time people will gather in the Kingdome in Seattle, McNichols Arena in Boulder, and the Sikh Temple in New Delhi.

Estimates of world-wide participation vary from 50 million to two billion.

To coordinate the event throughout the world, noon Greenwich time was chosen for this celebration/demonstration. That translates to 4 a.m. Pacific time.

The time between 4 and 5 a.m. will be devoted to silent thought. ….

One of the organizers, Aaron Carver, said the idea for the meditation began about three years ago with the Quartus Foundation, a group that formed around John Randolph Price, author of “Planetary Commission.” But the idea has been picked up by many groups and appeared under names like “Day of World Healing” and “World Instant of Cooperation.” ….

Probably the largest gathering will be at the Masonic Hall, a meeting organized by Ruth Burns. She has no specific plans for the gathering except to provide a space for people to sit together for an hour of silence. ….

Burns suggests people clear their minds of negative thoughts and concentrate positive thoughts towards earth. “We need to help the earth which has given us so much,” she explained.

Note: The Quartus Foundation closed in 2018, though many people continue to dedicate thoughts to this concept each year on December 31st. Learn more about Quartus at this web page: https://www.johnrandolphprice.com/world-healing-day/

Excerpts from historic issues of The Leader were transcribed from Port Townsend Leader archives from the Collection of the Jefferson County Historical Society. JCHS accession #’s 1923 Leader, #1999.36.103 and 1986 Leader, #1999.36.286 were used for today’s column.