In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Wednesday, May 2, 1956, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about investigators ruling the death of Centralia resident Walter Norquist a suicide after he was found dead with “three shots into his head.”
This edition also featured a front page photo of a new “motor-toboggan” the U.S. Forest Service Randle Ranger District had received for timber surveys.
Thousands of locals attended hydroplane races at Mayfield Lake, according to the Monday, May 2, 1966, edition of The Chronicle.
And in the Saturday, May 1, 1976, edition of The Chronicle, it was reported that Ed and Elizabeth Chan, owners of the last commercial egg farm left in East Lewis County, were preparing to finally shut down their operation and retire.
The Sunday, May 2, 1976, edition of The Chronicle was not in the archives, so stories from the Saturday, May 1, 1976, edition have been featured instead.
A Look Back in Time is compiled using Chronicle archives stored at the Lewis County Historical Museum — located at 599 NW Front St. in Chehalis — along with digital archives on newspapers.com.
Saturday, May 2, 1936
• After the Centralia Fire Department stated a “record fire loss of zero for the month” of April had been set the previous day, the Centralia Police Department announced it had set two new April records as well, The Chronicle reported. “Far from letting the fire department get away with all the glory, the police department, in its monthly report, today announced that TWO records had been broken in the department for the month of April. Total fines paid hit a new high for the present administration during the month, with $685.11 being collected from offenders. And arrests for drunkenness reached a low for the same period, of 12 … Of the total fines, $416 was derived from forfeited bail, while $269.11 was assessed by Police Judge W.H. Cameron. A total of 60 arrests were made, of which eight were for drunken driving and six for reckless driving.”
• Centralia resident Simpson Milton was arrested and accused of driving under the influence after a short, but destructive, car chase in downtown Centralia, The Chronicle reported. “After pursuing for several blocks a careening car which, they said, had run over two stop signs, the police prowler crew of George Waterman and Pat O’Brien last night finally succeeded in stopping the machine and arresting the driver, Simpson Milton, 40-year-old Centralia resident. Milton was taken to the city jail, where he was booked on a drunken driving charge. He was being held without bail at the city jail today, pending trial. According to the two policemen, they watched Milton’s car run over two stop signals, and then followed it as it traced an erratic course to First and B streets, where it was finally overhauled. Milton appeared intoxicated at the time of his arrest, they stated.”
• A three-room home with a “bath, garage and woodshed in Centralia” was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $325.
Thursday, May 2, 1946
• Representatives from both the Montesano-Elma-Oakville (M-E-O) and Lewis County soil conservation districts held an inspection of various areas around the Chehalis River and an informal conference in Montesano to discuss flood control measures, The Chronicle reported. “The conference was necessitated by numerous requests by supervisors of both districts for assistance to individuals and groups of farmers on stream bank erosion, flooding of crop lands, supplemental irrigation and drainage of areas affected by rivers in the districts. According to Harry Swensen, chairman of the board of supervisors of the M-E-O district, and Ray Bullock, secretary of the Lewis County district, a much better understanding of agricultural damage and probable benefits from flood control activities was arrived at by all agencies participating … In addition to the flood situation existing on the valley lands, consideration was given to the condition of watershed areas which are contributing to the field problem. Visits were made to areas that have been denuded by fires following logging operations, as well as to cultivated hill land areas.”
• A six-room home with a garage, hen house and barn on 19 acres of land “just 1½ mile from Centralia” was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $8,500. A 160-acre dairy farm was listed for rent for $650 a year.
Wednesday, May 2, 1956
• Centralia police investigators ruled the death of Centralia resident Walter Norquist a suicide after he was found dead in his room with multiple gunshots to the head, The Chronicle reported. “Walter Norquist, 24, took his own life early Wednesday, using a small calibre automatic pistol to fire three shots into his head. Dr. R.B. Maddox, Lewis County coroner, said the shooting occurred in Norquist’s room, which he rented at 816 North Pearl Street. The coroner said the victim left no note or explanation of his act. Friends said, however, he had been deeply despondent over personal affairs for a long period of time. The shooting occurred between 5 and 6 a.m. The body was found by Chuck Hudson, employed by the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company with Norquist and with whom Norquist rode to work daily. (Centralia) Police Chief Otto Rucker, Sergeant Wendell Tipton and Patrolman Harold Bell aided in the investigation.”
• The U.S. Forest Service Randle Ranger District had a new “motor-toboggan,” or snowmobile, to use to conduct timber surveys in areas still covered with snow which was featured in a photo on the front page of The Chronicle. “The machine, which looks like a device more for pleasure instead of work, will carry two men and 100 pounds of supplies on a towed sled at about 20 miles an hour over packed snow. Walter Tokarczyk, above, assistant district ranger at Randle, says the machine will give the timber survey teams a great advantage in mobility through the deep snow. The rig is powered by a 10 horse air-cooled gasoline engine. An endless belt with cleats provides traction over snow.”
• The cost of milk rose for Twin Cities residents by one cent per quart according to “industry spokesmen,” The Chronicle reported. “The increase, both at wholesale and retail, will mean an increase from 23 cents to 24 cents for delivered milk from most distributors, they said. Milk, skim milk and buttermilk were all affected. The price of milk has gone up one cent in most of Western Washington in the past few weeks, including (the) Everett, Seattle and Aberdeen areas. Sharply increased labor costs was given as the principal reason for the price increase.”
• Chehalis High School band and choir students were preparing to perform together in the school’s annual spring concert on Thursday, The Chronicle reported. “Ronald Simpson, new Chehalis schools’ music director, will direct the concert as the 68-piece band opens with John Philip Sousa’s ‘King Cotton’ march. The only solo of the concert will be a trumpet solo by Robert Harper. Another highlight of the concert will be the presentation of ‘Viva Mendez,’ a composition written and directed by Simpson. Other numbers include such selections as ‘Begin the Begine’ by Colee Porter, and the band, and ‘Onward Ye Peoples’ by Jean Sibelius, and the 55-voice chorus. The concert is presented free to the public and Simpson emphasized everyone is invited to enjoy the evening.”
• A five-room home furnished with an electric range, refrigerator, washing machine, hot water heater, table and chairs, a bed, a dresser and more located at 827 Highland Ave. in Centralia was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds at an “offer good only a few days. Alaska bound. All this for only $2,475.” A four-bedroom home in south Chehalis with a yard and garden was listed for rent for $55 a month.
Monday, May 2, 1966
• Thousands of locals lined the shores of Mayfield Lake the previous day for hydroplane races, The Chronicle reported. “A huge throng of Lewis County residents was on hand Sunday at Mayfield Lake for the first appearance of limited inboard hydroplane racing. The fast craft, such as the Scamp’s Ghost driven by Jerry Armstrong pictured above being lifted into the lake, thrilled the crowd as they sped around the course. The crowd, which numbered in the thousands, lined the banks of the lake and perched atop gravel stock piles to watch the action. A total of 40 boats (were) on hand to open the 1966 racing season.”
• Centralia teenager Bruce Thorson escaped from two men who attempted to abduct him on Friday, The Chronicle reported. “A 15-year-old Centralia youth was abducted by two men Friday night and later jumped out of the car and fled on foot, Centralia police disclosed Monday morning. A complaint was filed by Jerry Thorson, Centralia, father of the boy abducted, police said. Investigation was continuing Monday. According to the complaint, Thorson said his son, Bruce, 15, and a companion, Joel Hall, 10, were near a used car lot in the 800 block of West Main Friday at about 9:50 p.m. when they were approached by a car. Thorson said two men, about 18-20 years old, called out to the two youths and cautioned the boys about bothering autos on the lot. Then they jumped out of the auto, the complaint said, and seized Bruce Thorson, forced him into the car and drove off. Police said the auto circled back into the area a short time later. Meanwhile, Bruce opened the car door and fled on foot. He was unhurt, police said. The youths described the car as an older-model green sedan.”
• A three-bedroom “new ranch style home” with a fenced training coral and creek access on 15 acres of land was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $25,000. A two-bedroom home on Old Highway 99 south of Chehalis was listed for rent for $100 a month.
Saturday, May 1, 1976
• Owners of the last commercial egg farm in East Lewis County were preparing to finally shut it down after running it for over a quarter-century, The Chronicle reported. “Ed and Elizabeth Chan operate the last commercial egg farm in Eastern Lewis County. For more than 25 years, the Chans have supplied area stores and restaurants with eggs as well as selling to the many customers who stop by. Once, six egg farms operated in Bear Canyon, where the Chans reside, with scores serving customers throughout the county. While today’s typical egg farm houses 100,000 or more birds, the Chans support themselves frugally on 4,000 hens. Every four months, the Chans have been buying 1,000 pullets and selling an equal number of 16-month-old hens as stewers, to keep their flock at a constant level … A few weeks ago, however, when the old hens left, no pullets came to take their place because the Chans are phasing out of the egg business to the regret of the many customers and friends they have made through their egg sales over the years. Although retiring from chicken farming, the Chans don’t intend to retire from their active life. Ed plans to begin a hand-crafted pottery business. When he was in high school, he worked in a pottery plant near Los Angeles, where his family owned a farm. He had developed an interest in pottery in an art class in high school and remembers, ‘I got to see all the facets of the pottery operation at the factory and I still remember what I saw. Ed has built two pottery wheels from material he had around the farm and will soon either build or buy a kiln. He is enrolled in a pottery class at Centralia College. His daughter Mary is also taking the class. The Chans have had only two weeks of vacation from their flock in the past 25 years. ‘If we do go away overnight it takes us two days to catch up,’ explains Elizabeth … Ed remembers that back in the 1950s other chicken farmers were telling him, ‘get big or get out.’ Says Chan, ‘Most of them got big and got out. We have a small operation, don’t need to hire help and have low overhead.’ The Chans also raise Christmas trees, a crop which will augment their retirement income … Elizabeth served as a Lewis County home economist with the Extension service before she married Ed in 1950 and became an egg farmer. In exchange for making a farmer out of his wife, Elizabeth made a concert-goer out of her husband. Ed wondered what he was in for the first time Elizabeth took him to a concert. He was surprised to find he enjoyed it and they are now both ardent community concert supporters … Although the Chans have had several tough years financially in the farming business, they say they have never regretted being farmers. In 1940, Ed decided to be a farmer rather than a mill worker. He explains, ‘I was working at the McKnight Mill near Morton and making $16 a day, a fortune compared to what I was making farming. The doctor told me I was burning the candle at both ends and I’d have to make a choice. The next day I told the mill boss I was through.’ Elizabeth says she, ‘will miss the contact she has had with the many friendly people we have met through our egg sales.’ Ed agreed, smiling, but added, ‘soon I will have a little time to go fishing.’”
• A “nice” three-bedroom home with a garage, barn and access to two creeks in which a person could “kill your elk out of the kitchen window,” on 40 acres of land at the end of a blacktop road near Mossyrock was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $50,000. A two-bedroom duplex with a range, refrigerator, dishwater and hookups for a washing machine and dryer in Grand Mound was listed for rent for $175 a month.
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To submit a historical photo or news item to The Chronicle, email reporter Owen Sexton at owen@chronline.com.
