100 years ago (1916 — Oak Harbor News)
One of Oak Harbor’s oldest settlers, Harm Otto Smith, was laid to rest in Oak Leaf Cemetery Aug. 1. The 82-year-old, who died of heart failure, had moved with his wife to Whidbey in 1903. Smith had been born in 1858 in The Netherlands.
The Mayor’s Milking contest, in which mayors from numerous area towns including Oak Harbor, Seattle, Marysville and Bellingham, was anticipated to be the highlight of the upcoming “America on Parade” pageant in Mount Vernon. As the name suggests, the contest consisted of each mayor manipulating “the business end of a bossie,” vying for the title of “Milkinest Mayor” of the district. The winner would receive a prize from “Miss America,” queen of the celebration.
Mrs. Verginia Hancock Crainger Herrmann, the first woman to be superintendent of the schools in Jefferson County, made a trip from her home in Okanogan to Whidbey to visit with friend Mrs. John Frostad. At “83 years young,” she possessed “a more thrilling history connected with her name than two or three of the history books she used to read to her Whidby Island pupils.” Before her career in Jefferson County, she had taught on Whidbey in 1877-79, with such pupils as Will Izett, Mrs. John Frostad, A.I. Smith and Will Frostad. Her uncle Samuel Hancock had owned the land that is now Fort Casey, having come to the country as captain of 40 wagons of pioneers.
75 years ago (1941 — Farm Bureau News)
A page-one article, published at the request of “a lady friend” of the News, detailed preventative measures to take should someone in the household be inflicted with infantile paralysis, aka polio. Several cases of the disease had been reported in Seattle, and it was thought likely to spread.
The News held a contest asking young people to present ideas for a slogan to be inscribed on a proposed sign across from the Reform church near Deception Pass. The sign was being considered as a means of diverting travelers toward Oak Harbor and Crescent Harbor. The contest winner was to be awarded a box of bon-bons.
The Democratic ratification meeting in Oak Harbor was deemed a great success, “one of the most enthusiastic and best attended political meetings ever held in this city.” Floyd Hatfield, of Langley, was the main speaker of the evening. He was also anticipated to be the sole candidate at the Democratic primary election for the position of Island County legislative representative.
50 years ago (1966 — Whidbey News-Times)
Oak Harbor’s Studio Tulle won a slough of awards at the annual Convention and Salon of Professional Photographers of Washington held in Seattle. The studio brought home a total of seven of the 19 awards presented during the convention, including “Best of Show.”
There were several reports of vandalism, robbery, drinking and general disturbances at Deception Pass State Park, and rangers were calling for aid. They had received help from the sheriff and state patrol, but were in need of a few more rangers, especially because the sheriff’s office did not have the personnel to spare to supervise the area long-term.
Patrons of Bill’s Jiff-E Mart could purchase fresh peaches at 15 cents per pound, six tomatoes for 25 cents, or a 46-ounce tin of orange or grape drink for 20 cents.
25 years ago (1991 — Whidbey News-Times)
A father, James G. Alexander, was charged with second-degree assault in the death of his son, who died of cardiac arrest thought to be connected to child abuse. The boy would have turned 2 in October. Island County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Hawkins said he planned to upgrade the charge to second-degree felony murder. Alexander was also charged with second-degree criminal mistreatment in connection with the alleged abuse of his 3-year-old stepson.
County commissioners voted to impose an additional real estate excise tax of one quarter of one percent. Most attendees of four public hearings had spoke out against the tax prior to the vote. The new tax revenues were to be earmarked for capital facilities such as parks, government buildings, sewers and water systems.
The third suspicious fire in less than one week struck an Oak Harbor apartment complex, sending two people to the Harborview burn center in Seattle. The two adults were transporter to Whidbey General Hospital with second-degree burns and then transported to Harborview in serious, but stable condition. As of press time, their conditions had been upgraded to satisfactory. One victim was burned over 11 percent of his body, while the other suffered burns to 7 percent of her body.
