This week in 2006, Augustine Msiska, a guest professor from Malawi, began teaching a quarter-long course in African history at Centralia College.
Augustine (as he had his students call him), 63, was the librarian at the University of Livingstonia, where Henry Kirk, former president of Centralia College, was serving as vice chancellor. Augustine brought excerpts from seven history texts with him from Africa.
"An entire bag of luggage was those photocopies," he told students. "It was heavy."
He invited students to ask him to explain words they might not understand through his thick African accent.
He also urged his students to read widely.
"Read many books. To read just one can be misleading," he told his class.
Glorious Weather
From the first year of The Centralia (Weekly) Chronicle, in 1890
"The uncertain glory of an April day was illustrated … when we had rain, hail, wind and bright sunshine by turns," The Chronicle reported.
Before Antibiotics
100 years ago, in 1907
Paul Salzer, while working recently in a logging camp near Grand Mound getting out poles, scratched his arm on a limb of a tree. Blood poisoning set in and he was taken to the Aberdeen General Hospital.
Modern Food Buying
75 years ago, in 1932
A heavy crowd attended the recent grand opening of Pay'n Takit. The North Tower Avenue business called itself "Centralia's newest and finest Food Store" and boasted that it was "the last word in modern food buying" with "modern self-service."
Its opening week advertisement promised tall cans of Darigold milk for 4 cents each and a pound of bacon for 15 cents (19 cents if you would slice it yourself). Milk cheese cost 13 cents a pound.
Volunteer Railmen
50 years ago, in 1957
Community members were finishing up work on the 3,450-foot industrial spur track serving the new industrial park south of Chehalis.
The volunteers spent the weekend lining, leveling and dressing up the spur track. There was a bit more work remaining for evenings over the next few weeks to completely finish the tracks to the new Goodyear Tire plant.
Dukes of Lincoln Creek
25 years ago, in 1982
A car on the run from the law "sped past two patrol cars filled with officers, its fenders flapping, radiator steaming and its driver making an obscene gesture at the deputies." The lawmen were on their way up Lincoln Creek looking for him, but instead he sped past them the other way.
After a five-mile chase they caught the 25-year-old from Tacoma. They charged him with possession of marijuana and obstructing a public servant.
Animal Killers
10 years ago, in 1997
Sheriff's investigators said someone using a high-powered rifle carefully took aim and fired two shots into a Napavine-area field during the night, instantly killing a donkey and horse.
Jim Guenther discovered the killings early the next morning when he came to feed his animals at Highway 508 and Coulson Road. The 18-year-old donkey, Jackson, was a pet, and the 4-year-old Appaloosa mare, Mandy, was his favorite riding horse.
Rusted Neon Glory
Five years ago, in 2002
The rusty neon Twin City Drive In sign was taken down this week. Duane "Duke" Roorda had a plan to restore its glory. The 1960 W.F. West High School graduate planned to renovate the sign, eventually setting it up along Interstate 5 as a permanent memorial to local graduates.
He looked back on many happy memories at the drive-in, such as watching Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe while enjoying a little private time with his future wife.
From the Files of The Chronicle is compiled by Brian Mittge, who can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com or by calling 266-0568.
