On Aug. 11, 1961, Earl Hagseth, a 13-year-old Onalaska boy, was recovering in Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital following a tractor accident.
“One minute I was driving my tractor down the gravel road near our farm,” Hagseth said. “The next thing I remember is that I woke up here in Tacoma. The only difference is that I woke up two days later.
“I don’t know what really happened. I’ve been driving a tractor around our farm for four or five years and I never had any kind of an accident before. I think the brakes broke loose.”
“No matter how the accident happened, Earl landed — beneath the heavy machine at least momentarily before it continued flipping and finally came to rest in a ditch alongside the gravel road in the rich Lewis county farming area,” The Daily Chronicle reported.
“Besides losing an unusually large amount of blood, Earl suffered numerous cuts, bruises and a fractured pelvis. His side and stomach appear as if they had been scratched severely by sandpaper. Doctors and nurses worked over six hours in surgery in the desperate effort to help save his life.”
Woman Falls Down Stairs
125 years ago, in 1886
A local Winlock woman fell down her stairs.
“Mrs. Geo. Deuber met with a very serious accident last Monday by falling from the top of the stairs to the bottom,” The Lewis County Bee reported. “She stepped on a small stone on the stairs, which rolled throwing her to the bottom and injuring her very badly. She is doing as well as can be expected.”
Woodmen of the World Celebrate
100 years ago, in 1911
A local fraternal organization celebrated its 21st anniversary in the city park in Centralia.
“The Woodmen of the World will hold a celebration commemorating the twenty-first anniversary of the founding of the order, Aug. 11,” The Centralia Weekly News reported.
“The use of the city park for that day was granted to the order by the city council last night. The order has had the use of the park on previous occasions and has always left everything neat and clean afterwards, so the request was granted by the council without any hesitancy.
Rodeo Riders Wed in Fort Borst Park
75 years ago, in 1936
During the annual Centralia Pioneer Days, a cowboy and cowgirl were to be wed in front of the Borst Park grandstand during the night show.
“The principals in this, the first cowboy wedding of any celebration here, will be Chester Howell, of North Hollywood, and Juanita Hackett Spohn, of Long Beach, California,” The Centralia Daily Chronicle reported. “They are both trick riders and ropers who will compete in these events in the Pioneer Days rodeo opening this afternoon. ...
“The queen of the Pioneer Days celebration, Miss Jane Garrison, will be the maid of honor, and the pair will also be attended by all the cowboys and cowgirls who are taking part in the celebration. The wedding ceremony will be performed on horseback.”
Salkum Library Opens
25 years ago, in 1986
The Salkum Library opened for the first time in the old Salkum School Building. The librarian was Eddie Waller, who had worked at the Chehalis Timberland Library.
Mayfield Lake Park Closed
10 years ago, in 2001
Kathleen Eussen, director of the Lewis County Public Health Services Department, closed the Mayfield County Park swim area because the water was contaminated with fecal coliform.
Mellen Street Options Narrowed to Three
Five years ago, in 2006
The Washington Department of Transportation narrowed the options for a new Mellen interchange to three.
As Interstate 5 was to be widened to six lanes from Grand Mound to Mellen, the following options were highlighted — the current location, south of the Peppertree RV park and Alder Street.
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From the Files of The Chronicle is compiled by Edna Fund, a Centralian who describes herself as a “history sleuth.” She can be contacted at Dutch@localaccess.com or at 269-7515.
