With this first edition of the new year, we are beginning a year-long celebration of 125 years of the Whidbey News-Times, which was launched as the Island County Sun and evolved through the decades under different names, including the Farm Bureau News and Oak Harbor Times.
One of the roles of a community newspaper is to serve as a historical record. In our office we have volumes of back issues that serve as snapshots into our history.
To launch a celebration of the News-Times’ 125th, and the City of Oak Harbor’s 100th anniversary — yes, the newspaper is older — we will publish a retrospective each Saturday called “Looking Back.” In it we will include news that happened that week years ago.
During 2015 we are planning other exciting features and surprises, but for now, we invite you to enjoy Looking Back.
100 years ago
Oak Harbor Fruit Growers & Cannery Association received the incorporation papers from the secretary of state. The association became authorized to transact business and go ahead in the construction of a cannery building.
The (Richmond) Hobson resolution to submit a constitutional amendment for national prohibition to the state legislatures was defeated in the House. Representative Hobson then presented an amendment, which was adopted, giving to “the congress and states concurrently” the power to enforce the prohibition by needful legislation.
The Oak Harbor News launched a month-long subscription contest. The contest was open for “ladies and girls, young and old, married or single, residing in Island County.” Women were directed to cut out the nomination coupon in the Friday, Jan. 1, 1915, issue of the paper and mail it to the contest manager of the Oak Harbor News, or they could purchase a subscription and enter that way. A one-year subscription cost $1. Prizes included a $75 Edison Phonograph, jewelry, scholarships and more.
75 years ago
A street lighting change asked for by Oak Harbor dads was authorized. The change would affect the lights near the Jack Wood and Howard Maylor residences and the pedestrian crossing near the Burrier corner.
Mayor Ray Maylor, councilmen John Draft and Bill O’Shaughnessy, Treasurer Barney Riksen, and Clerk Pat O’Leary were sworn into office.
Island County farmers participating in the soil conservation program ordered 225 tons of triple superphosphate, enough to fertilize 2,400 acres.
Lighthouse keeper Edward G. Clement was lost in a storm off Smith Island. The victim was the brother of Mrs. George Rodgers of Oak Harbor.
50 years ago
Island County Fair was set to receive $6,500 in state pari-mutuel funds from the state fair fund, which totaled $416,080 to 46 major state fairs. The allocations were derived from the state tax on pari-mutuel betting at the state’s three horse racing tracks. Island County Fair received $2,000 more than it did in 1963.
The snow caused several minor accidents in Island County. The sheriff’s office estimated that roughly 50 cars came to their attention after slipping into a ditch. There were two accidents that involved more than just sliding off an icy road. One was when Barbara Kendall, 18, driving her 1963 hardtop, went out of control and left the road at a high rate of speed. She was reportedly “enjoying a roller coaster effect.” Mrs. Kendall was treated with minor injuries.
Board of County Commissioners received a letter from the General Services Administration stating, “The outlying field, detached component of the U.S. Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash., has been determined to be surplus government property and available for disposal. Included in the attached notice are a description of the property and procedural instructions to be followed if any public agency desires to develop a comprehensive and coordinated plan of use and procurement for the property.” Island County commissioners John Vanderzicht, Ed Christoe and Frank Guest would tackle the airport problem the following week.
25 years ago
Preparations began for the arrival of the Navy’s A-12 stealth bomber. Officials at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station were reluctant to release estimates on the total number of people expected and the exact arrival date of the aircraft.
Almost a year after the body of Oak Harbor teenager David Wayne Wilson was found in a heavily wooded area of North Whidbey, authorities said the boy’s death was an accident. Wilson’s friend, David R. Liston, said he and Wilson went into the woods to target practice. Liston said Wilson was walking in front of him when Liston slipped and his shotgun “discharged accidentally.” His version of how Wilson was shot was corroborated by evidence at the death scene.
Oak Harbor City Council unanimously voted to increase Mayor Al Koetje’s salary by $500 per month. Koetje protested, saying the 33 percent annual increase would be too much. The council approved it, saying Koetje’s salary was still less than that of the mayors of neighboring cities and that Koetje’s work as mayor “has been worth many millions of dollars” to the city.
County Commissioner Gordon Koetje went fishing on the beach at Lagoon point. Dallis Ferguson, owner of a home directly north of the road-end, complained about recent road-end improvements ordered by Koetje. Koetje said, “I stay between these damn poles,” which mark the road-end, a 40-foot swath — that’s the only public property at all tides.
Non-union county employees were unhappy about their pay and paraded before the county commissioners to ask for more than a 3 percent cost-of-living increase.
At the recommendation of the school district’s Facilities Planning Committee, Oak Harbor school board members voted unanimously to move the ninth graders to the high school.
