Here’s what was happening in the news this week:
100 years ago
Oak Harbor residents concocted a preventative tincture for appendicitis which doubled as a cure for an upset stomach. It consisted of blackthorn bark and glycerine, as mixed in Adlerika.
Messrs. Lovejoy and Ezra, representatives from the Island Navigation Company, planned a meeting in Oak Harbor to hear citizens’ opinions on the proposed South Whidbey ferry and a jitney service to connect with the Utsalady ferry.
75 years ago
A group that called themselves “a collection of the best Goofs in Western Washington” were to hold a Goof Parade in Oak Harbor as a part of the Holland Days festivities. All goofs, “would-be or otherwise” were invited to enter the parade.
A detachment of 25 soldiers joined the normal complement stationed at Fort Casey. The detachment was sent over from Fort Worden. The soldiers were assigned to do certain tasks which could not be revealed due to military regulations. They were expected to stay at Fort Casey for 10 days.
50 years ago
Police urged parents to stop leaving children unattended in public spaces such as the beach or residential neighborhood streets. Aside from the burden on the police department, Police Chief Fred Murcray said parents should be more cautious due to the dangers of traffic. He also noted that there had been several instances of parents leaving groups of children unattended at Beach Park.
Oak Harbor Coin Club president Jim Neil defended coin collectors, saying that they are not responsible for the current U.S. coin shortage. Neil said that the real culprits are the promotional efforts of businesses and investor and speculator interests, rather than hobbyists. The U.S. had a shortage of quarters and half-dollars.
The Senate Armed Services committee was expected to give final approval to a $3,754,000 military construction appropriation for the Whidbey Naval Air Station. The fund was to prepare the base for a buildup of air activity scheduled to begin in 1966.
25 years ago
An Oak Harbor man was arrested and charged with first-degree arson in a blaze that burned Island Thrift to the ground. He was accused of pouring gasoline and lighter fluid on merchandise and deliberately setting fire to the building at 1 a.m. He was scheduled to undergo a mental competency evaluation to determine if he was fit to stand trial. He was committed to Western State Hospital for up to 15 days following his preliminary appearance in Island County Superior Court.
Plans to construct 300 multiple-family housing units at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station were in the works. There were approximately 800 families awaiting base housing at the time.
