LOOKING BACK: March 22,2017

Posted

110 years ago this week (1907)

The County Courthouse may need a new chimney. “The smoke outlet now in use is so defective that grave fears are entertained lest a change can be made sufficiently early to avoid a fire which might destroy the handsome county building.”

Major Z.W. Torrey, member of the staff of Major General MacArthur of San Francisco, has visited the forts contiguous to Port Townsend to inquire into the cause of so many desertions, so serious in this section of the nation to prove something of a menace to the successful artillery plans.

The Puget Sound Navigation Co.’s steamer Iroquois, en route from the East Coast for service on Puget Sound, has safely rounded Cape Horn. It should report in Port Townsend within a month.

100 years ago (1917)

The Port Townsend High School girls defeat the Chimacum High girls 9-8 in basketball action. “Although the usual amount of grabbing took place, the game was fast throughout.”

Advertisement: “$25 will be given to the person who poisoned my dog.”

“The handsome new modern reinforced concrete fire-proof garage of the Port Townsend Motor Company [later the Buhler Motor Co.] recently completed at Washington Street, was thrown open to the public at an old fashioned housewarming. Professor Anderson’s orchestra played and there was such a crowd not more than half of those present could get on the floor at one time.”

80 years ago (1937)

The Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce goes on record opposing Congress setting aside 634,000 acres on the Olympic Peninsula for creation of a new national park.

70 years ago (1947)

American Legion Post 26 members vote to purchase the Port Townsend USO Club from the Federal Works Agency for $15,000.

45 years ago (1972)

Miss Chimacum candidates are Gayle Kilmer, Colleen Coulter, Pam Olson, Angie Holstrom, Laura Crisman and Laura Swisher.

35 years ago (1982)

The Glen Cove Industrial Park, initiated by William Sperry and Neil Slater of Port Townsend, is proposed for 10 acres on the east side of State Route 20.

Chimacum High School Band Booster Club raised money for “sporting new blue and white uniforms.” The western-style uniforms are patterned after those worn by the University of Texas, complete with white cowboy hats and long white fringe down the backs and along the sleeves, said 28-year band director Duane Montgomery.

20 years ago (1997)

“Planners urged the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Monday to halt all subdivisions and some commercial development until a new comprehensive land use plan can be adopted.”

Robbie Roberts, Port Townsend High School teacher of the Current World Problems course who stages an annual two-day “United Nations General Assembly,” said the project was “the most intense ever.”

The Loft School’s three Odyssey of the Mind teams all placed in regional competition, along with a team representing Chimacum Middle School.

The renovation of Good Templars Hall in downtown Port Townsend earns “best renovation project” at the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development’s downtown revitalization awards.

“Rennie Bergstrom has retired from North Sound Bank, marking the end of more than four decades of service in the banking and credit fields.” Bergstrom came to Port Townsend in 1974 as president and CEO of First American National Bank.

(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)