This week in 1907, a "large concourse of the citizens of Chehalis" gathered to honor John Dobson, a pioneer Chehalis banker who had died in March after being thrown from a moving car during his winter vacation to California.
Dobson had come west in a wagon from Illinois, a 3,000-mile trip, in 1864. He rose from a Chehalis-area farmer to one of its most prominent men of finance.
He and partner N.B. Coffman built up Coffman, Dobson and Co. bank in downtown Chehalis (it is now a branch of Wells Fargo).
William West Sr., another pioneer, said, "He was energetic, capable and social and more than all these John Dobson was an honest man, the noblest work of God."
Violently Insane
From the first year of The Centralia (Weekly) Chronicle, in 1890
A woman named Mrs. White was arrested and taken to Chehalis on a charge of insanity. "She was violent," The Chronicle noted.
Young Solo Pilot
75 years ago, in 1932
A 16-year-old boy from Chehalis recently received his pilot's license, making him one of the youngest people in the nation to be certified by the government to fly solo.
Wyman Middaugh, who was attending school in Phoenix, Ariz., had long been fascinated by flying. His father was contemplating buying him a plane in which he could fly north to Chehalis to spend summers with his mother.
Timber Town Sold
50 years ago, in 1957
Harbor Plywood Corp. of Aberdeen announced it had sold the entire town of National on the southwestern slope of Mount Rainier to the Weyerhaeuser Co. for an undisclosed amount running into "six figures." The town site was seven miles west of the Nisqually entrance to the park
Included in the sale were the town with its 70 dwellings and store, a vast system of logging roads, a short railway line, logging camp, buildings and some private cutover land.
Survival is Fun!
25 years ago, in 1982
"Survival Can Be Fun" was the watchword of a "Survival Fair" this weekend in Winlock. The two-day fair at the Winlock Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included a survival cooking demonstration over an outdoor fire by Boy Scouts, demonstrations of gluten making, bread making, recycling of old clothes, food storage ideas, dehydrating foods and first aid buckets.
The lighter side of roughing it included clown face painting and a fishing pond for the kids.
Hunger Strike in Jail
10 years ago, in 1997
Ten federal inmates being held at the Lewis County Jail on a contract basis ended a four-day hunger strike with lunch. The 10 inmates were protesting a lack of access to newspapers, televisions and medical exams, among other grievances, according to an unsigned letter from the federal inmates.
They were also upset that they weren't allowed to participate in the jail's trusty program or work release program, which had privileges attached to them.
Dr. Pope Honored
Five years ago, in 2002
Dr. Isaac Pope, pediatrician and founder of Pope's Kids Place, was one of six Washington residents this week to receive a Jefferson Award honoring "service above self" during a Seattle ceremony.
Pope had sold his profitable 16-year-old pediatric practice to open Pope's Kids Place in 1997. The Fords Prairie facility offered medical care and respite to children with special needs and their families.
Haven for Animals
One year ago, in 2006
An animal welfare group planned to open a new animal refuge on an 80-acre tract near Chehalis. Patricia Mullens recently donated the 80 acres of pasture and wooded land to Pasado's Safe Haven near Monroe.
The Chehalis property would be developed to "an aviary, a cattery and barns and fields for livestock," said co-founder Susan Michaels.
From the Files of The Chronicle is compiled by Brian Mittge, who can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com or by calling 266-0568.
