John McNeil, a mining man of Denver, Colo., was touring the Upper Hanaford Valley, buying up more than a dozen large farms to mine for coal. He spent nearly $100,000 buying land and took out options on much more.
The intention was to build a railroad east from Centralia to develop the mines in the near future.
"The great development of the coal lands at least assures Centralia's future, as cheap fuel will mean much to industries that come to the coast in the next few years and coal around Centralia can be mined as cheaply as anywhere in the state and the quality is very good," the Centralia News-Examiner wrote.
Health suffers
From the first year of The Centralia (Weekly) Chronicle, in 1889
The Chronicle was repeating its belief that Centralia urgently needed a water supply system to furnish water for drinking and protection against fire.
"So long as the residents of the thickly settled section depend upon well water, so long will the health of the city suffer," The Chronicle wrote, vowing to "quicken the general conscience until we have an abundant water supply.
Moonshine sting
75 years ago, in 1931
A sheriff's team found a 20-gallon barrel of whiskey in the woods eight miles east of Toledo and hid out all day to arrest the owners.
At five p.m. three men appeared with a truck to load up the moonshine, and were promptly arrested. The trio was turned over to federal authorities for prosecution under Prohibition laws. Officers planned to go searching for the still, which they thought the three had recently moved to another hiding place.
Nudists at drive-in
50 years ago, in 1956
The Twin City Drive-In was showing several "Adults Only" movies, according to an illustrated advertisement in The Daily Chronicle this week.
"Garden of Eden," in color, was "Photographed in a REAL NUDIST PARK under the supervision and with the approval of the American Sunbathing Association," according to the advertisement. Its co-feature was another color film, "Naked Amazon," a "Raw! Real! Shocking!" story of a "White girl explorer among naked savages!!"
The Fox Theatre, meanwhile, was showing "War and Peace" with Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda.
Renewed Oakville bank
25 years ago, in 1981
Oakville would have a bank again. Harbor Security Bank of McCleary announced it had received permission from the state Department of Banking and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to open a branch office at 201. E. Pine St. in Oakville.
Bank President Richard Olin said they planned to restore the historic Oakville Bank building to its "turn of the century" appearance for its new branch location.
Stately Father Christmas
10 years ago, in 1996
Father Christmas wore a green robe when he visited downtown Centralia during its "Dickens of a Christmas" Victorian-themed celebration.
"You see, technically, I'm not Santa Claus, I'm Father Christmas," said Scott Tootell, who played the part and waved to parade watchers from the back of a horse-drawn carriage. "I represent the spirit of Christmas, not the guy who brings gifts down chimneys."
Still, many children recognized his white beard and rushed to him, calling out, "Santa!" For each, Father Christmas had a candy cane and some kind words.
History on parade
Five years ago, in 2001
The 52nd annual Chehalis Christmas Parade had the theme "Christmas in the USA". The grand marshals had seen many such parades; Margaret Shields and Margaret Langus were volunteer historian-librarians at the Lewis County Historical Museum. The longtime friends had put in a total of more than 40 years organizing the museum's files.
The day was rainy and windy, turning at least one umbrella inside out and prompting many in the marching band to wring out their Santa hats after finishing the parade.
Downtown stabbing
One year ago, in 2005
A Centralia woman was stabbed in the thigh while unloading items from her car behind the 12-Step Club on North Tower Avenue at about 6:30 p.m.
The woman, who was in her early 40s, at first she thought she had been hit, and she fell to her knees. She saw a male in a black-hooded sweatshirt heading east over the railroad tracks, then realized she had been stabbed.
From the Files of The Chronicle is compiled by Brian Mittge, who can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com or by calling 266-0568.
