Friday, April 5, 1935
• Funding to repave North Tower Avenue in Centralia was secured thanks to the passage of state Senate Bill 340, The Chronicle reported. “Long a dream, resurfacing of bumpy-bricked North Tower Avenue and its troublesome car tracks is scheduled for early this spring, it was learned today.”
• W.D. Roberts, formerly of Centralia, died in Ontario at the age of 78, The Chronicle reported. She was a “charter member of the Round Table club here, and had a wide circle of Centralia friends by whom word of her passing will be received with regret.” She was survived by her husband and three sons, Fred Roberts of Ontario, Dr. E.C. Roberts of Centralia and Dr. Elden Roberts of Olympia
• The Chronicle featured an Associated Press story about four gunmen robbing a passenger train in Kankakee, Illinois. “The men carried out the bold raid in typical Jesse James fashion, even firing several wild shots to frighten passengers.” Armed with .45 calibre pistols, the gunmen took control of four passenger cars, stole at least $843 and shot one man. The man was shot in the hip and taken to a hospital for treatment after the train stopped. Following the train robbery, the gunmen escaped, first forcing another man to drive them away before dumping him and stealing his car.
• A slot machine was stolen from the Twin Gates Barbecue in Tenino, The Chronicle reported, by two men driving a black touring car with no license plates. “The two thieves were said to closely resemble the pair that held up the Music Box Theater in Tacoma last night and escaped with $271.49.”
• The Chronicle featured an Associated Press story about a teacher named L. Madge Woodley in Globe, Arizona, who barricaded herself inside her schoolhouse, defying efforts of local school board members and county officials to “dislodge her” from the isolated schoolhouse. According to the story, she had moved her bed, cooking supplies and utensils into the school and stated, “I will not come out until I collect my pay.”
• Lewis County commissioners called for bids for the construction of an additional building to the Rock Creek sanitarium, The Chronicle reported. The new 1,296 square foot building would need to include heating, lighting and plumbing, and commissioners estimated it would cost $10,000 to complete.
Thursday, Apr. 5, 1945
• Lewis County commissioners formally submitted a request to the U.S. Post Office Department to create a commemorative stamp celebrating the 100th anniversary of the county’s founding, The Chronicle reported. “The commissioners wrote Congressman Charles Savage, asking him to take the necessary steps to put the matter before the post office department. They emphasized the fact Lewis County, at the time of its establishment, including all the territory west of the Cascade Mountains and north of the Columbia River to the 54-40 line.”
• The Chronicle featured two Associated Press stories about happenings in World War II. The first was one concerning U.S. Navy officials, who reduced the number of selective service candidates being drafted for the war effort, going from around 132,000 men a month to a goal of around 16,000 per month. In the second story, U.S. Army Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s forces had made headway in Germany and were getting close to Berlin, having just broken into the Thuringian Plain, while the Russian Soviet Red Army had also captured Bratislava.
• The names of two locals killed in action during WWII were published by The Chronicle — Navy ensign Eugene Bowers of Chehalis and Army private Theodore Rickenback of Onalaska. An Adna High School graduate, Bowers was 21, and listed as missing in action in the South Atlantic Ocean. “No details were available related to Private Rickenback, but he is listed as having fallen on the western front in Europe.”
• Thurston County commissioners increased property assessments for 1946 by the legal maximum of 50% of a parcel’s true valuation, The Chronicle reported. “The increase was ordered in view of anticipated increased costs of county government.”
• Centralia woman Frank Yost was sentenced to 30 days in the Lewis County jail on charges of third degree assault following a tavern brawl earlier that week on Monday, The Chronicle reported. “Her husband, also arrested Monday evening on charges of being drunk and disorderly, was found guilty in police court and fined $50,” on top of also having to spend 30 days in jail.
Tuesday, April 5, 1955
• Logging and agriculture were leading the way as industries with the highest employment in Lewis County, The Chronicle reported, and had one of its best employment years in modern history. Additionally, construction of Tacoma Power’s Mayfield Dam helped contribute and created, and more construction jobs were going to come available with the planned construction of the Green Hill School in Chehalis along with finishing U.S. Highway 12 going out into East Lewis County.
• The City of Centralia was looking to install non-plug type parking meters to stop visitors who had been manipulating existing parking meters, The Chronicle reported. A total of 413 new “hurricane type” meters, which accepted pennies and nickels, were ordered. “Commissioners explained that is the type that can’t be plugged by a quick flip of the handle, as has been done with those now in use.”
• The Chronicle featured an Associated Press story about British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stepping down, and how British Foreign Secretary Sir Anthony Eden was likely to replace him. “‘I am now nearing the end of my journey,’ (Churchill) said in tones tinged with regret in his 80th birthday speech last November.”
• J.J. McDonald of Winlock was forced to announce a postponement for Winlock’s 1955 Boy Scout finance drive, The Chronicle reported. “Previous plans called for opening the drive on Thursday of this week.”
• Around $75 worth of damage was done by a fire which broke out in downtown Centralia’s Columbia Hotel, The Chronicle reported. “That old bugaboo of firemen — smoking in bed — was blamed by Centralia fire fighters for a blaze late Monday night.” The fire occurred in a room on the hotel’s second floor, and the mattress and bedding were destroyed.
• Plans for a new bathhouse at Alexander Park were approved by the City of Chehalis commissioners, The Chronicle reported. “Stan Hedwall, park superintendent, who appeared before the city with the project plans, said the new bathhouse and showers would adjoin the present concession stand and face the river.” The project’s cost was expected to be between $2,200 and $2,400.
• Hubert Carter of Tacoma was found guilty on charges of improper license plate displayed, no valid vehicle license and no registration, and was fined $30 by the Chehalis Police Court, The Chronicle reported. Kenneth Carver of Rainier was also fined $10 when he pleaded guilty to charges of destroying property after he lost control of his logging truck at Market and Main streets in Chehalis, driving “over the parking strip,” and causing “large ruts in the lawn.”
