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1939 Vashon Island News-Record Summary (Mike Sudduth)

January 1939

January 5, 1939

• South End Club Gets Fast Action On Buses – Acceding to a request of the South End Community Club, the Tacoma city council obtained speedy action from the Tacoma Railway & Power Company in the matter of bus service to the ferry landing at Point Defiance.  Prior to the complaint made by the secretary of the South End club, busses were going only a far as the park entrance, necessitating a tedious walk, especially when one was carrying bundles, to the ferry dock.  The council received the request for the better service Monday morning, and in less than 24 hours busses were operating to the site of the old Nereides baths.  Incidentally, the complaint lodged by the Vashon Island organization resulted in better service for residents of Gig Harbor and contiguous territory.

• Man Injured On Highway Sunday – While on his way to the Vashon Methodist church where he serves as janitor, Ole Meland was struck by a truck, suffering a fractured collar-bone and a scalp would.  The accident occurred just south of the Fuller Service Station and was practically unavoidable.  Meland was walking along the east edge of the pavement.  Meland is reported to be making an excellent recovery and will return this week to the Goodwill Farm, where he is employed at general farm work.

• Hearing At Harper Friday – A hearing before commissioners of the department of public service will be held in the Grange Hall at South Colby Friday, January 6, beginning at 10 o’clock.  At this time evidence will be presented for and against permanent discontinuance of service between Vashon Heights and Harper.  A number of Island people are planning to attend.

• Property Sales At Tahlequah Mounting – Few More Sites Available – With the sale today of 74 feet of waterfront to H.E. Mooberry, who is occupying one of the Fry cottages, practically all the Puget Mill Company’s property at Tahlequah has been sold during the last ten months.  The Mooberry property is just west of the ferry pier, and is regarded because of its proximity to transportation facilities, and splendid tide lands, as one of the most desirable sites at this popular beach colony.  The only remaining property available is one parcel of land in the draw between the Mooberry property, and that owned by Dr. David B. Cook.  Mr. Mooberry plans to erect a modern home early in the spring and make Tahlequah his year-round place of residence. 

• E.J. LeFevre Opens New Office At Burton – E.J. LeFevre, owner and operator of the Vashon Milk Delivery, has leased office space in the Morrissey block at Burton, the room formerly occupied by the Burton restaurant.  This was necessary because increasing business demands made an office in Capt. LeFevre’s home impractical.  In addition to the Tacoma Milk Shoppers’ pasteurized mild which the Vashon Milk Delivery has distributed in the past a line of products from the famous Rosedale Farm has been added, including raw milk, butter and cottage cheese.

• Co-op Hatchery Has Early Season Start – The Vashon Island Co-operative Hatchery reports its first baby chicks of the season will hatch Saturday, January 7th.  This is a month ahead of last year’s first hatch and promises for a long and busy season.  The hatchery has orders for 4,500 ten-day old sexed baby pullets to be hatched before the 22nd of January, and full bookings for February of all available eggs, or orders for about 20,000 ten day old sexed baby pullets.

• Sportsmen’s Club News – As we watch 1938 pass on to the Never Agains, and turn to greet the upstart 1939 it is fitting that we pause and pay due honor to those members who have excelled in each of their chosen branches of sport.  After a careful search of the record of the past year we designate the following CHAMPIONS of 1938: Trap shooting-Frank Fuller. He did it with a borrowed gun; Hoofer-George McCormick. For exercise he ankles ‘round the Island.; Santa Claus-Al Roan. He traded his salary as game protector for pheasants, so the boys will have better shooting in 1939.; Deer Hunter-Elmer Harmeling. The big ones all fall for him.: Big game hunter-Dick Fuller. Score one elk, one buck, and several bare traps.; Chef-Martin Larsen.  He knows his beans when the gang is working.; Luckiest crib player-Gus Bacchus. He never has to count a hand of over six.; Pool player-Dave Canfield. He is always behind the eight ball.; Fisherman-Joe Green. Some smelt!; English student-Dick Harmeling. He always has the right cue.; Poet-William Shakespeare.  He goes in for the Golden Rule.; Turkey shooter-George Davis. He expects to win one next year.; Rifle coach-John Metzenberg.  His Junior Rifle Club team is on the bull’s eye all the time.; Swimming-Capt. Williams. He won the carnival long distance swim in…a motor boat.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – As told by JOHN R. RODDA - We came West to Seattle on a month’s vacation in 1906 where I happened to meet Tony Gossey of Vashon Island, on the day he sold the property to Mr. James at the old Vashon dock.  I made it a point to come over to the Island, but as Mr. Gossey was away at that time, Mr. Hines, the real estate man, met me.  In July I bought ten acres where the Rodda Store at Center now stands.  Two years later I opened up a meat market and we kept adding grain and groceries until we had to build another store. 

 January 12, 1939

• Accident Results In Fractured Vertebrae For Man – The injury suffered by Ole Meland who was struck by a truck New Year’s night proved more serious than at first believed.  In addition to scalp wounds and fractured collar bone as at first reported, Meland sustained a fractured vertebrae high in the spinal column which necessitated his being placed in a cast.  He suffers from the unnatural and uncomfortable position in which he must be rigidly held.

• Sells Interest In Service Station – Announcement is made this week of the sale by Frank Fuller of his interest in Fuller’s Super-Station to Al Spencer, his son-in-law.  Al has been managing the station for the past five years and is familiar with all phases of the work.  His pleasant personality and good management and judgment has made many friends who wish him the best of luck and good fortune.  The business in the future will be called “Al’s Super-Service.”

• Testimony Favors Retaining Harper As Ferry Terminal – Meeting At South Colby Draws Many – Vashon Island was represented at a hearing held in the Grange Hall at South Colby Friday by Paul Billingsley, R.K. Beymer and Agnes L. Smock.  Before members of the department of public service, transportation officials, residents of Harper, Manchester and other communities of that section, state employees and interested taxpayers gave evidence, the preponderance of which favored restoration of service to Harper, in accordance with the King County – Kitsap County Transportation Company contract.  Called as the first witness, the testimony of Capt. Alex Peabody, president and manager of the Black Ball lines, dealt at length with the impoverished state of the Kitsap County Transportation Company’s lines in general, and how there was neither credit nor funds to rebuild the dock at Harper, but that Puget Sound Navigation Company funds were available to build a new dock at Manchester, or some other point in the vicinity at which Kitsap County Transportation boats might land.  In the course of his testimony the captain outlined what he considered a feasible plan of operation of the company boats; one which would serve the many Island residents he stated were clamoring for a service direct into Seattle.  Fauntleroy would be one terminal and Colman dock the other, with boats leaving both points at the same time and meeting at Manchester, or some other point in the vicinity.  The route would be Fauntleroy, Vashon Heights, Manchester, Colman dock.  The time consumed would be Fauntleroy-Vashon Heights, 20 minutes; Vashon Heights-Manchester, 30 minutes; Manchester-Colman dock, 50 minutes.  Captain Peabody did not state when he planned to put this plan into effect, but he evidently was of the opinion that it would meet with the approval of a considerable number of patrons.  A number of Manchester residents testified to improvements which would be made in order to provide better parking facilities.  Practically all mentioned the benefits to the inmates of the Retsil Soldiers’ Home which results from the present service by bus to Manchester and ferry service direct to the city.  The remark by one of the attorneys that he did not believe the patronage of the old soldiers was one that need be considered too seriously brought forth a ripple of amusement.  Mr. Billingsley gave testimony that the Vashon Heights-Fauntleroy run had always been better patronized than the Vashon Heights-Pier 3 route; that the Harper-Vashon Heights-Fauntleroy route had been the most profitable run of the Kitsap County Transportation Company’s system.  This fact had been previously admitted by Captain Peabody.  Various Harper residents testified to the fact that any movement to permanently discontinue the service which has been in effect for more than 20 years would meet with general disapproval.  They were represented by Elton Jones, a Vashon Island summer resident.  The star witness of the day was A.C. Herron, a commuter of almost twenty years, and a patron who is absolutely and irrevocably opposed to any change from Harper as the terminus of the route.  Mr. Herron’s quick wit and level thinking succeeded in getting into the evidence a number of telling strokes.  A member of the state engineer’s department testified that both the Harper and Manchester docks were in such condition that they would have to be replaced.  Convincing arguments were presented to prove that the logical site for a dock, in case the department of public service permits the company to dispense with one of the two docks now in question, would be Southworth, where landing conditions under all weather conditions are said to be better. 

• Island Growers Receive Recognition – Vashon Island has again received honorable mention in the Sunset Magazine.  In the December number as a result of a visit last summer from Mr. Gillespie, one of the garden editors, the story of the beautiful growing of galtonias at the Sheffield gardens is told.  Mr. Sheffield is considered the largest grower of galtonias in the West.  In the January issue of Sunset the story of Peter Erikson’s development of the Olympic berry is told.

• Deputy Shattuck Arrests Entire Robbery Gang – Through the patient and skillful work of Deputy-sheriff F.J. Shattuck, Mrs. Ida Hansen, of Shawnee, her son and four other Burton boys were arrested last week and are being held in the county jail charged with grand larceny, first and second degree burglary.  It is alleged that those arrested were responsible wholly or in part for the looting of 15 houses and the dance hall at Burton, over a distance of four miles from Assembly Point to Indian Point on Quartermaster Harbor, and the theft of $500 worth of goods.  Returning to the Island late Tuesday night after taking the injured children of William Haack to Harborview, Shattuck and his deputy, Jerry Menees, walked along the beach at Shawnee and after entering a number of unlocked cottages investigated one on a side trail.  Although no lights were discernible the men could hear voices.  Shattuck’s demand that the door be opened produced no results, but after he broke down the screen and threatened to break down the door the occupants decided to accede, and opened the door.  Although the three boys in the cottage had a number of guns and could have used them they made no attempt to do so.  The boys were locked up for the night in the Island jail and taken to Seattle the next morning.  Questioning resulted in confessions, which involved Mrs. Hansen.

• Fix-it Shop Moves To New Location – The Fix-it Shop, which opened a few months ago in the old building at the rear of the Garvin building, has moved into the room recently occupied by Charles England.  J.H. Quinlan, owner of the shop, is kept busy, and at times has as many as twenty watches to be repaired.  Mr. Quinlan is also making a specialty of boat building.

• Sportsmen’s Club News – George Davis presented the Club with a beautiful cast bronze cup to be offered as a perpetual trophy for rifle matches between the Club and the Junior Rifle Team.  The Club will have to keep their sights well oiled as those boys of John Metzenberg’s have developed some keen eyes and steady nerves.

• It’s Spring…On Maury Island – It may be January by the calendar, but it’s spring in the gardens of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Hayes at Mileta Farm on Maury Island.  Primroses are in bloom; daffodils are up five and six inches; and one brave pink hyacinth blossomed, but was taken indoors by Mrs. Hayes as a fragrant reminder that Spring is not so far away.  Elsewhere on Vashon-Maury Island pussy-willows are in bloom; buds on trees and bushes are swelling and the grass will soon have to be cut.  The larks and robins are singing and doing all in their power to pipe in a new season.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – JESPER THERKELSEN – Introduction – Jesper Therkelsen who is near 92 years old and who thinks nothing of walking from his home at Center to Vashon and back again, tells of his recollections and of his coming to Vashon Island.  For years Mr. Therkelsen was a blacksmith but loss of eye-sight compelled him to give up his work.  After five years of complete blindness, his sight was restored to him last June, when he was operated on for the removal of cataracts.  “I was born in Skodberg, Denmark, in 1847.  When I was 23 years old I came to New Your, then west to Clinton County, Iowa and lather, through the States west of the Mississippi and in 1876 to Los Gatos, California.  On September 6, 1889 we came to Seattle.  I looked around, for I wanted to get a place in the country.  I heard about Vashon and I bought five acres here at Center where I am now living with my son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Therkelsen and family.  Of our five children, Mrs. Burt Edwards (Henrietta), Frederick of Sedro Wooley, Eric, a professor at the University of Bozeman, Montana, Otto and Albert, Albert is the only one born on Vashon Island.  My wife passed away November 15, 1930.  I remember when we landed at the Vashon dock on the east side of the Island, and how we walked up the trail past the Harmeling place.  At that time Frank Gorsuch had a store at Vashon and we stopped there to inquire about Reverand Doanes.  We looked at several pieces of property, then saw this place which we liked so we bought it.  Fullers had a store where Otto Therkelsen and family now live at Center, and P.L. Nye lived in a little house nearby.  Across the road stood a little school, the first school on the Island, where the children went three months out of the year.  Later, a new school was built one-half mile east of Center, a one-room building where Reverend Harris Ward taught school before he became a minister.  The children attended school here three months of the year, then they all went over to Lisabeula.  When the school at Quartermaster was built it was arranged so that all the youngsters attended the Center school for four months, then all went to Quartermaster for another four months, thus securing eight months of schooling per year.  After awhile another month was added, and so it has remained ever since.  I have seen many changes on Vashon Island and I have seen just about all of the houses built in and around Center and Vashon.  I will be 92 years old, January 25.  I have 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  My sister, Mrs. Helene Hansen who lives nearby is 97 years old.”

• Double Trouble For Haack Family – The William Haack home seems marked for trouble.  Wednesday Margaret Haack sustained a broken leg while playing at the Burton school, and her brother, Bobbie, almost severed the thumb on his left hand.  The children were taken to Harborview Hospital where their father was recently confined for several weeks.

• Spend Week With Families – Lucas Plancich and son, Lucas, Jr., and Fred Stuckey spent the past week with their families at Dockton, after a month’s fishing in California waters.  They left for the south on Saturday.

• Almost Like The Garden Of Eden – When Mrs. W.V. Covey wants a lemon she doesn’t have to go to the grocery store to get it for the Coveys have a lemon tree of their own, growing in one of their greenhouses.  This tree, which is about 28 years old, is of the Ponderosa variety which produces rough skinned lemons as large as grapefruit.  Mr. Covey bought the tree 27 years ago and three years later it bore one lemon.  It is now about eight feet tall and presents a pretty sight at this time of year when it has 36 large ripe lemons and a profusion of waxy, fragrant white blossoms.  Mrs. Covey says she is often in doubt when a recipe calls for the “juice and rind of one lemon”, for their lemons contain about three-quarters of a cup of juice per lemon.  Mr. Covey left a lemon and a spray of blossoms at the News-Record office, where they are now on display.  The Coveys also have a wonderful Muscat grape vine growing in their propagating house, trained along a high trellis it extends for 85 feet.  It produced 125 to 150 pounds of grapes last year.  There are three other varieties of grapes growing in the same house which produce fruit from May until Thanksgiving.  They have also a unique cactus plant which occupies a place of interest in the propagating house.

• American Legion To Hold Dance – Plans are being made by the Island post of the American Legion for a dance to be given at the Island Club Saturday, January 28.  This is the first affair of a public nature given by the newly instituted post.  The committee in charge have announced that music will be furnished by professional musicians who have not been heard previously on the Island.

• Blue Lodge Officers Installed – Those who attended the installation of the officers of Mark P. Waterman lodge Saturday evening enjoyed the excellent dinner which preceded the ceremonies and the social time which followed.  During the installation Digby Williams, retiring Worshipful Master of Mark P. Waterman lodge was presented with a beautiful Hamilton watch, engraved with the past master’s emblem.  The presentation was made by L.C. Beall.

• The Report of Condition of Vashon State Bank at the close of business on December 31, 1938 showed total assets of $251,504.16.

January 19, 1939

• New Royal Arch Officers Installed – The installation of officers of Robert Burns Chapter No. 48 R.A.M. took place at the Masonic Temple in Burton Saturday evening.  Officers for the coming year include Robert I. Polhamus, High Priest; Finn J. Shattuck, King; Axel H. Petersen, Scribe; Robert W.F. Martin, secretary; George P. McCormick, treasurer.

• Tahlequahites Pleased High Tides Have Passed – Residents of Tahlequah who own beach property are breathing more easily these days, especially as the real high tides are over for a spell.  Had either a southwest or southeast blow struck Tahlequah during the extreme high water damage would have doubtless resulted to the beach homes, and Main Stem, which skirts the water’s edge.

• Founder’s Day Program Planned February 20 – P.T.A. Will Sponsor – At a meeting of the Vashon High School P.T.A. held Monday evening Mrs. Ruby Morford gave an interesting paper on the subject of interior decorating.  Music was furnished by an instrumental trio composed of Mrs. Mae Judson, piano, June Hayes, cello and Nancy Sexsmith, violin playing several selections.  Vocal numbers were given by a trio of students, Margaret Spalding, Frieda Jones and Fransu Smock who were accompanied by the trio.  Plans are being made for an all-Island Founder’s Day program.

• Tahlequah Toulouse Goose Proves Too Loose For Gleb And Lewis – There’s a dandy domesticated but untamed Toulouse goose cavorting on the waters of Commencement Bay.  That is, unless some nimrod hasn’t already bagged the bird.  Edwin H. Gleb, sales manager of the Shaw Supply Company, and a Tahlequah resident, was presented with the goose on Friday, January 13, a hoodoo day in any man’s language.  He transported the feathery rascal to Tahlequah and Friday night constructed an inviting cage for it.  Well, anyhoo, Ed has two lively youngsters, Philipp and Millard, and they think every day is Hallowe’en.  And that, folks, in a measure tells of how the goose took French leave.  It sailed gracefully off the bank in front of the Gleb property, steered a course for the ferry pier, and, instead of flying the easy way across the dock, it maneuvered its way between the truss supports on the span.  The bird was sighted lighting near the entrance to Quartermaster Harbor.  So Bert Lewis, winner of the Vashon Sportsmen’s Club derby last fall, attached the motor he received as a prize, and started in pursuit of the elusive goose.  Gleb, armed with a trusty shotgun, kept a weather-eye peeled from the bow.  The “egg-beater” clicked merrily away, but an hour’s search failed to produce any sight of the bird.  And now Philip and Millard think it’s just too bad.

• Legion Post Will Be Instituted – Word was received this week by Commander Harry M. Janney that Vashon Island Post 159, Department of Washington, American Legion, will be instituted at the Island Club Thursday evening, January 26. 

• Jim Butler and Bill Haack left last week for a CCC camp at North Bend.

• The Big Lemons Of Vashon Island – Customers of the grocery department in the Bon Marche store in Seattle were a bit skeptical when informed that the unusual looking fruit on display was a lemon.  They were still more puzzled when they were assured that it was grown on Vashon Island.  J.M. Martinson, the new printer at the News-Record, as responsible of the bit of publicity given the Island.  Mr. Covey, the grower of the big fruit, furnished the lemon, which was placed on display in the Seattle department store by Mr. Martinson’s sister, an employee.  All of which goes to show that given the proper viewpoint Vashon Island has much to interest the outside world, which we at home tend to regard casually.  Be that as it may, there are a lot of people today who think of Vashon Island as the home of big lemons, (the variety that grows on trees we hope).

• The obituary of Mrs. Lillian M. Cristman was published.

• Bus Company Pleased To Assist Islanders – Will Take Action At Once To Improve The Service – Assistance was given Monday afternoon by the Tacoma City council and Curtis Hill, manager of the Tacoma Railway and Power Company, that every effort will be made to induce the Metropolitan Park board to surface the transportation company’s old right-of-way in Point Defiance park, in an effort to better service for residents of Vashon and Maury Islands.  Through the efforts of the South End Community Club bus service to the ferry pier at Point Defiance was obtained some time ago, but under the present routing it would work a hardship on persons desiring to use the Yankee Boy.  It would be necessary to walk either from the park entrance of the ferry pier to the pavilion, which is nothing short of a hard trek, especially if one is carrying bundles. 

 January 26, 1939

• Remodeled Store Credit To Island – F.A. Weiss Inc. will greet customers at their grand opening this Saturday with a store entirely modernized and which would be a credit to any city.  Operated for many years as a general store F.A. Weiss Inc. has discontinued its line of general merchandise and will operate as a “Surefine” store with a complete line of staple and fancy groceries, vegetables and meats.

• Almost, But Not Quite Lost… - To many people on the Island the radio and newspaper accounts of the big fire in the Maritime Building in Seattle Monday night was just another news story.  But at the News-Record it was the cause of some very uncomfortable moments.  It happened like this: Almost 50 years ago O.S. Van Olinda took over first the editorial, then the mechanical duties of the Island County Times on Whidbey Island.  He had previously owned and operated the paper at Stanwood and was well versed in the mysteries of the printing game.  Always an artist Mr. Van Olinda purchased, among other type, one designated as “Crayon”.  Just why such a beautiful face of type was given such a common name is hard to tell.  It was the type used freely in the McGuffey reader of our grandmother’s day.  When he gave up newspaper work Mr. Van Olinda kept much of his printing paraphernalia, among which was the afore-mentioned type.  Some months ago, when we began running Mrs. Clara Tonk’s stories of “Our Older Neighbors”, Mr. Van Olinda loaned the News-Record this type for the caption.  We finally decided we couldn’t go on borrowing the type forever and endanger it by constant use so last Saturday the printer took it into Seattle to have it reproduced in an electrotype.  He reached the Maritime Building too late to get it into the office of the Pacific Electrotype Company, so left the type with a friend in a near by garage.  Before returning to the Island he asked a relative to call the electrotype company Monday morning and ask them to pick up the type and make the electro.  Volumes could be written in praise of the service and consideration rendered and shown by the Pacific Electrotype Company over a long period of dealing with them, and it was with real regret when the News-Record folks learned that their plant had been gutted by fire.  But our greatest concern was in regard to that lovely old type, which we know couldn’t be duplicated.  The suggestion was finally made that perhaps the electro and type had been mailed Monday afternoon before the fire, but even though that didn’t sound possible we went to the post office.  Christmas packages may be fun, but we never received one that looked as good to us as did the one we found in our post office box, and which contained the precious type and electro.  So we hope that as our readers enjoy Mrs. Tonk’s stories of “Our Older Neighbors” they will take time to admire the lovely type in the caption, and sympathize with our concern when we thought it was lost forever.

• Drivers Tests To Be Held February 2-3 – According to F.J. Shattuck, deputy sheriff state examinations and tests for driver’s license will be held at the county building at Center Thursday and Friday, February 2 and 3.  This is the last opportunity for examination before the new licenses are issued.

• To Be Sentenced January 31 – In Judge B. Knott’s court in Seattle last Friday Mrs. Ida Hansen and five Island boys were found guilty of second degree burglary and petty larceny on charges resulting from their arrests early in January.  Mrs. Hansen pleaded not guilty, although she confessed knowing that articles brought to her home by the boys had been stolen.  Sentence will be pronounced January 31.

• Sportsmen’s Club News – Our much discussed and longed for club-house is now assured.  The tentative plan adopted is for a building 30 by 65 feet with two additions 12 x 20.  Construction will be of logs placed vertically, cedar shake roof and a large rustic fireplace.  The plans were submitted by Dave Canfield, and met with the approval of all present.  A committee consisting of Deb Harrington, Al Therkelsen, George David, Dave Canfield and Con Tjomsland was appointed, with full power to “go to town” in all matters concerning construction.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – MRS. FRANK JOHNSON – Mrs. Frank Johnson, who came to Vashon Island in the fall of 1903, tells her recollections which are woven around early days on the West side of Vashon Island – “I was born in Norway, December 21, 1861 and came to Grand Forks, North Dakota where I lived for ten years.  I then came to Seattle and in 1893 was married to Frank Johnson.  We made our home near Lake Washington, but later moved to Ballard.  At this time my husband’s health was so poor that the doctors had given him up.  Thinking that a change might help him, he decided to spend part of the summer on Vashon Island where his good friend, Reverend O. August Petersen was living, and to see for himself, a piece of beach property on the West side which he had purchased – sight unseen – ten years prior to this time.  That summer he visited Reverend and Mrs. Petersen and his health showed marked improvement.  He always declared in telling about it, that it was the salt air and August Petersen’s Gravenstein apples that cured him.  My husband was so well pleased with his timbered beach property and with the Island that he made up his mind that Vashon would be our home.  We moved to Vashon Island that fall (1903), with our three children, Agnes, Esther and Frank.  My husband had seen his land in the summer-time, when there was much underbrush and many tall ferns.  In describing our property to me, he declared there wasn’t a stump on the place!  But when he came that fall, the tall ferns were down and much of the underbrush bare of leaves, revealing many, many stumps that had been hidden from sight.  Altho our house was built within 200 feet of the beach, a dense growth of trees hid the water from view.  As there was no road down to our place all our food and supplies had to be brought from Cove by row-boat, and my husband often rowed across to Ollala to purchase goods at a little store at that place, and one Christmas he did all his holiday shopping there.  We both were charter members of the Cove Methodist Church and enjoyed the comradeship of our many good neighbors and old-time friends.  My husband passed away five years ago in September.  I am now living with my son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Ober, and my four grandchildren, Beverly, Beatrice, Eddy and Driky at Ober Beach, only a short distance from our original home.”  Mrs. Johnson’s daughter, Mrs. John Ober recently had a most interesting conversation with William Scales, an old friend of her father’s, when she heard for the first time about a little incident concerning their early day friendship.  Mr. Scales told Mrs. Ober that he and her father had batched together near Lake Washington, long before Mr. Johnson had married.  After Mr. Johnson’s marriage the two friends lost track of each other.  Mr. Johnson had been living on Vashon Island for about a year, when one day, when he was returning by boat from Seattle, he noticed that boxes and barrels on the little float which served as a dock for Cedarhurst people bore the name of “Scales”.  He inquired of the Captain about the Mr. Scales in question and discovered that it was his old friend, William Scales, who had married and was a Vashon Island neighbor, whose home was at Cedarhurst.

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February 1939
February 2, 1939

• Forty Four On H.S. Honor Roll – With interest in basketball at high pitch there was time nevertheless, to scan with a great deal of interest the names on the honor roll, announced at the Vashon Island high school last week.  Twelve seniors, ten juniors, ten sophomores and twelve freshmen won the coveted honorable mention.  Seven Japanese children out of the 44 students made an excellent record.  In the Blekkink, Harmeling, Larsen, Matsumoto and Livers families two members made outstanding records.  Those who received not less than three A’s and a B included: Seniors – Helen Margaret Anderson, Frances Eddy, Helen Harmeling, June Hayes, Elwood Kalland, Elsie Kimmel, Harry Livers, Jeanne Mace, Margaret Spalding, Elenor Spurgin, Margaret Wegener, Toyoko Yoshida.  Juniors – Doris Bitle, Shirley Blekkink, Mildred Griffin, Marie Johanson, Lawrence Larsen, Grace Matsumoto, Winifred McPherson, Jack Petersen, Wanda Robinson, Judith Shride.  Sophomores – Estelle Beall, George Fujioka, Jane Hoke, Dorothy Johnson, Julia Legg, Yonsichi Matsuda, Virginia Rand, Fred Stoddard, Marybelle Tonk, Helen Wegener.  Freshmen – Racheal Blekkink, Lorna Conrad, Kenneth Garrison, Bob Harmeling, Marioan Kolstad, Masa Kunugi, Edith Larsen, Helen Livers, Jimmy Matsumoto, Jim Robinson, Daigo Tagami, Berna Wick.

• Leave For East Coast – Howard Nichols and Edward Slagle, marines from the U.S. “Tennessee” visited their relatives here last week on their last leave before starting for the East coast via Panama Canal for New York.  The “Tennessee” riflemen hold the highest records of any of the battleships. Howard and Ed are graduates of the local high school.

• Ferry Route And Schedule Poll To Be Taken On Island - The Ferry Company has proposed a new schedule for our Vashon Heights service.  Instead of running between Harper, Vashon Heights and Fauntleroy, the ferries will run from Colman Dock, Seattle, to Manchester (or Harper), then to Vashon Heights and Fauntleroy, returning over the same route in reverse order.  The new schedule will make a longer interval between trips, hence fewer trips per day; and the rates into Seattle will of course be higher than those in effect to Fauntleroy.  The Ferry Committee desires an expression of your preference.  Do you like the new or prefer the old schedule? Or a modification of the old?  Please vote on the question and return the attached card.

• Crocuses In Bloom – Charlie Roediger, sage of Southern Heights says that although the barometer may be a little jittery, skies clouded and Jupe Pluvius dumping his briskets with great regularity, in spite of it all crocuses were in bloom Monday at the Roediger home.

• The Frys Are Building Apartment – Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth G. Fry are constructing a two-room apartment at their combination home and store at Tahlequah.  It will be glass enclosed in the main, and will jut out over the water at high tide.  The apartment will serve as guest quarters, as the Fry clan in the immediate vicinity numbers well over 40.

• They Tried, But They Couldn’t “Bring It Back Alive” Like Frank Buck – The goose that did a Harry Houdini two weeks ago from a cage in which it was ensconced at the home of Edwin H. Gleb, Tahlequah, was captured Sunday in Quartermaster Harbor, but not until a shotgun closed its eventful career.  Axel Johnson, whose home overlooks the Harbor just around the corner from the West side entrance, enticed the goose to the shore twice last week with grain, but somehow the bird just couldn’t understand Johnson’s line of reasoning.  After eating it, it flew into the bay.  Gleb and Bert Lewis were summoned.  The two Tahlequahites, emulating the tactics of Sheriff William B. Severyns trusty bloodhounds, figured to ensnare the goose.  No such luck.  Boom went Bert’s gun.  Ploppo went the goose.  And now Philip and Millard, sons of Gleb, who may possibly know a little something how the goose escaped in the first place, just can’t understand why their daddy couldn’t “bring it back alive,” like Frank Buck.

• Recovering From Injury – Charles Moore Jr., who suffered a head injury while playing on the Columbia school grounds last fall, is able to be up and about again.  Since he was hurt Charles has spent most of his time in bed.  Sunday evening he accompanied his parents to church, his first time out of doors in many weeks.

• Our Older Neighbor by Clara J. Tonk – WILLIAM SCALES – Mr. and Mrs. William Scales live at Scale’s Corner, which is located above Cedarhurst, near the main highway, about two miles from the Heights.  Altho Mr. Scales has lived in various parts of the United States, he is enthusiastic in his preference for Vashon as a homeplace.  “My birthplace was Lancashire, England, and the date of my birth, July 4, 1870.  I was always looking for a climate similar to my home climate, so I came west to Seattle.  I went into a real estate office, and was instructed to go to Happy Valley – located east of Lake Washington.  On my way to Happy Valley, I stopped at a Scot’s place.  This Scot happened to be a rapid-fire salesman and he took me around with him and showed me his 160-acre cranberry-bog which wasn’t alluring to me at all.  I asked him what he wanted for his bog and when I heard his price I asked him if he thought I was a millionaire!  Seeing that I wouldn’t buy his place, he said, ‘Well, if you don’t want to go that high, I have other property on Vashon Island.  He then gave me instructions as to how to find his Vashon property, and a few days later I came over on McDowell’s boat.  J.C. Gorsuch was on the boat and he took me up to his farm where he grew strawberries, and it was J.C. Gorsuch who sold me on Vashon Island.  The boat landed at the old Vashon dock on the east side of the Island and after seeing the Gorsuch place, he instructed me in the cowtrails that led me to George E. Lindley’s home for I had a letter of introduction to him.  At the Lindley home I first met E.J Mace and Sadie Lindley, who later became Mrs. Mace.  Mr. Lindley then showed me this 40 acres which I bought.  I then left the Puget Sound country for ten years and went to Yellowstone National Park and stayed in the Park working for the Yellowstone Park Association as lineman and caretaker of the hotel until 1897.  Then I drifted back to Vashon and took a look at my property but I did not stay but went north to Dyea, Alaska where I freighted on the Chilkoot Trail until the spring of ’98.  After two and a half years of chasing the elusive nugget I came outside, returning to Yellowstone Park.  While there I married Laura Stevenson, and we returned to Vashon in 1903 to live on our 40 acres.  At that time we were the most northernly residents on the Island, with the exception of Captain Andy Matheson who lived about a quarter of a mile north of us.  Another neighbor was my old friend, Frank Johnson who lived down at Colvos with his wife and three children.  Years before, Frank and I had batched together in Seattle.  When he married our paths separated and we both went our different ways.  By a queer twist of fate, Frand and I again met and renewed our friendship when we discovered that we were neighbors on Vashon – both having purchased Island property at different times, although neither of us were aware that the other had done so.  Three years after we came to the Island my wife passed away.  Our son Bill is now married and lives on Vashon Island, while our son Lawrence is a sailor.  Fourteen years later I married Jenny Brown.  In 1935, my son, Lawrence and I left for the north again to try to get rich once more, but we only got richer in experience.  Never-the-less it was a pleasant and profitable trip – pleasant to look at some of the sights I had seen 35 years before, and meeting some of the old sourdoughs.  My son and I had flown in from Anchorage 350 miles to Flat where we stayed all summer, fighting mosquitoes and gnats.  We returned, liking Vashon Island better than ever, if that is possible.  In the time I have lived on Vashon Island I have seen many improvements and it would take more than a team of oxen to get me off it now, because I am like the Old Settler in the “Old Settler’s Song.”

 February 9, 1939

• Ferry Bill Introduced To Senate Monday – Sponsored by Senators Pearl Wanamaker, of Island County, Lulu D. Haddon, of Kitsap, and H.I. Kyle, of King, a bill relative to state operation of ferries came before the Senate for its first reading Monday.  After the reading a motion for suspension of rules was unanimously adopted, and the bill brought back for three additional signatures.  The ferry bill, S.B. 253, was drawn up by Pat Winston, secretary of the State Toll Bridge Authority.

• W.P.A. Project Nearing Completion – It is anticipated that work on a $6,800 sluicing project now under way at Point Robinson will be completed about March 1st.  When the work is done the unsightly swamp back of the lighthouse will be filled in.  Four acres of ground which has in the past proved a menace to health and the breeding place for swarms of mosquitoes will be reclaimed and the entire grounds planned for later conversion into a public salt water park.  According to Don G. Abel, State Works Progress administrator, this is the first sluicing job ever undertaken by W.P.A. in Washington if not in the entire country.  It is proving to be one of the cheapest dirt moving jobs on record.  Already 16,000 cubic yards of earth have been moved at the cost of less than 9 cents a yard.  By the time the work is completed 35,000 yards will have been moved.  An average crew of less than ten men is handling the project.  Water for the sluicing is pumped from the Sound.  The work at Robinson Point has called attention to some interesting facts regarding the lighthouse.  The beacon on the Point first blinked its warning light to passing ships in 1885.  In that year a crude steam-powered lighthouse that guarded craft enroute from Seattle to Tacoma and Olympia was erected.  The present lighthouse was built in 1913.  Many weird and thrilling tales are told of this part of the Island.  It is commonly supposed that in the early days many Orientals were smuggled into the country from boats which were able to sail near the shore at this point. 

 February 16, 1939

• Storm Damages Bulkhead At Klahanie Beach – A thirteen foot tide, driven by high winds from the northeast, tore out about twenty feet of bulkhead at Klahanie Beach early Monday morning.  One of the finest bathing beaches on the Island was damaged as the turbulent water carried away sand and gravel.

• To Erect Fine New Building Here – Ground will be broken this week, on the lot between the post office and the Daily Needs for a new store building which will house the Vashon Pharmacy.  The new store is being built by Dr. F.A. McMurray.  The new building, which will be 25 by 70 feet, will have a concrete floor and frame construction.  The front, which will be almost entirely of glass, will be designed on modern lines.

• Apron Cable Breaks, Ferry Delayed Hour – When a cable holding the apron to the approach snapped sometime during the evening, the ferry leaving Point Defiance at 11:20 p.m. Saturday was delayed more than an hour in making the landing at Tahlequah.  It was impossible to unload cars or disembark pedestrians until repairs were effected, as the apron was so low that the ferry could not be warped into the pier.  Folks planning to make the trip from Point Defiance to Gig Harbor had an unpleasant wait in extremely blustery weather.

• Receives Appointment To West Point – David Swartz, of Ellisport, received notification Tuesday that he had been chosen a candidate for appointment to West Point.  He graduated from the Vashon Island high school in the class of ’96.

• Commercial Club Endorses Plan For New Plant – At a meeting of the Vashon Island Commercial Club held Monday evening endorsement was given to plans proposed by George Allen, of the Boysen Berry Corporation, to erect a plant for the production of fruit juices for canning purposes on the Island.

• Sportsmen’s Club News – The attendance and interest shown at the last meeting clearly demonstrated that the members have a real objective and are “going places” to attain it.  This objective is the new club house.  The committee in charge reported that the plan had been modified to better conform to the contour of the ground, by elimination of the two wings.  A full basement, 30 x 65 feet, will provide space for kitchen, dining room and indoor rifle range, leaving the entire main floor for the club room.

• Sea Lion Demonstrates How To Catch Its Prey – For mere mortals fishing at Tahlequah has been decidedly on the fritz for some time, but a fair-sized sea lion (not a seal, Gwendolyn) cavorting in the water off the Yankee Boy dock Monday morning proved beyond a questionable doubt that there really was at least one salmon in that vicinity.  The sea lion was sighted around 9:00 a.m. and, much to the delight of onlookers, made a dive and came up shaking a salmon weighing about 4 pounds.

• Community Committee Men To Assist Farmers In Vashon District – Farmers Must File “intentions Of Planting” With Committee – The Vashon Agricultural Conservation Committee, consisting of E.W. Lande, chairman, Richard Harmeling and C.J. Olson, have arranged to meet farmers of the Vashon District on Tuesday afternoon, February 21st at the Vashon Community Hall in Vashon from 1:00 to 5:00 o’clock, for the purpose of explaining the 1939 Agricultural Conservation Program and assist in preparing “intentions of planting” for each farmer for 1939.  “Intentions of planting” must be filed with the committee to obtain payment for 1939 farm practices.  A.E. Lovett, Secretary.

• Robinson Point Keeper Transferred – Captain C. Fillinger, who last week received notification of his transfer from Robinson Point Robinson lighthouse to the West Point station, near Fort Lawton, took over his new duties this week.  Mr. Hall, the keeper from West Point, with whom Capt. Fillinger is exchanging stations, is coming to Robinson Point for the second time, having been stationed here some years ago.

• Truck Lands In Ditch – Due to somewhat of a hairpin turn on the road leading from the Pohl road to the Edwin H. Gleb residence at Tahlequah, and oil truck owned by Digby Williams went into the creek Tuesday afternoon.  No one was injured.

 February 23, 1939

• Two Killed In Auto Accident At Burton – One of the most frightful accidents ever to occur on Vashon Island took the lives of Barlow Cowan and Elmer Hendrickson Friday evening.  Driving an old car at a high rate of speed down grade at the north edge of Burton the driver failed to make the slight turn in front of the McClintock home, the car crashed into a large maple tree and was reduced to a mass of tangled wreckage.  Cowan, who was driving, was killed instantly.  Hendrickson was still alive and was taken to Seattle on the 5:30 ferry.  Efforts to save his life were made, but he passed away a few hours later at Harborview Hospital.  Barlow, a member of one of the pioneer families of the Northwest, grew up here.  Hendrickson, his neighbor, had lived at the Heights for a number of years and was well-known in his community. 

• New Folders Will Be Printed Soon – Norman Edson announced last week that the publicity committee of the Vashon Island Commercial Club was planning to put out 5,000 new folders, similar to those printed last year.  Only a few of last year’s supply are now on hand.  The committee is also planning to have printed copies of the map of the Island, with a roster of local business houses.

• Public Hearing On S.B. 253 – Ferry Bill Outlook Quite Favorable

• Island Team To Appear On Air – It was announced by Dr. J.G. Bennett, at last Monday night’s Commercial Club meeting that five picked members of the Vashon Island Commercial Club would appear on the Fahey-Brockman “Knowledge College” program over KIRO in Seattle Tuesday evening, March 28.  The Vashon Island team will match wits with five members of the Bainbridge Island Commercial Club.

• The obituary of Alfred John Stuckey was published

• The obituary of Barlow Pinkham Cowan was published

• Daffodils and Carnations Blooming at Tahlequah – With blizzards recorded in Western Canada, and the citrus crop suffering severe damage in the widely-touted California territory, daffodils are in bloom in Tahlequah at the homes of Mrs. Sarah Holgerson and the Roedigers.  A carnation, too, was added to the list, and peach trees are already showing color.

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March 1939 
March 2, 1939

• Vashonia Takes Place Of Ferry Skansonia – With the M.F. City of Tacoma in drydock, the M.F. Skansonia has been moved over to the 6th Avenue run, and the M.F. Vashonia (the Diesel propelled cigar box) is now operating on the Point Defiance – Gig Harbor – Tahlequah run, with the M.F. Defiance.

• State Ferry Bill Given Okeh By Committee – Classed as one of the major bills S.B. 253 came out of the senate committee Tuesday.  The bill to have the state toll bridge authority issue revenue bonds and buy ferries in the state came out of the roads and bridges committee with three reports, the plurality favoring its passage.

• Old Chess Men Owned By Island Resident – Mr. and Mrs. G.M. Cress, of Colvos, entertained a group of friends at their home Friday night.  Chess provided amusement for the guests and there were four tables in play.  Of special interest were a set of chess men used during the evening which belong to Mr. Jenner and which he prizes highly.  They are black and white and official Stanton models.  They have been used during the past 20 odd years in competition with several masters of chess belonging both to this country and Europe on visits to Seattle.  Mr. Jenner has owned these chess men for over 35 years and values them not alone for the fact that they were once used in this particular contest, but because of the associations which come from their use with his legion of friends with whom he has played over the period of years. 

• Page from “Autograph Of Human Hearts” Here – A page from the “Autograph of Human Hearts” will be placed in one of the local stores in the near future, according to announcement made by Mrs. Ray Campbell this week.  This is a page upon which names may be signed, by the payment of a penny for each letter in a name.  The funds raised by this means will be used for work in orthopedic hospitals in Seattle, Denver and other cities in the United States.

• Extra Millage Needed To Keep Burton School Open, Directors Aver – Bus Will Have To Be Discontinued, Janitor Dropped From Payroll, or Teaching Staff Curtailed Unless More Funds Are Available

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – Last week will go down in the history of the Club as the one in which construction was started on our new club house.  Under the able leadership of the committee in charge the site was graded, the forms placed and the concrete poured for the entire basement.  The spirit of cooperation and the speed with which the concrete was mixed and placed would have made the engineers at Coulee Dam jealous.  Five barrels of cement, disposed of in five hours, is no boy’s play on any kind of job.  While the concrete gang was working some of the more experienced loggers landed out about one-third of the necessary logs on the job.

• W.C.T.U. Will Be Organized On Island – A meeting for the organization of and Island unit of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union will be held at 2:00 o’clock, Friday afternoon, March 3, at the home of Mrs. Chas. H. Smith.  Mrs. Smith lives at Yuletide Gardens, the first house north of the Pioneers’ monument on the right-hand side of the Dunn road.  All women interested and concerned about alcohol and narcotic problems and the welfare of youth are invited to attend.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – MADAME L.C. BEALL, SR. (Jennie Corner Martin) – Madame L.C. Beall will be 98 years old in April.  Blessed with good health and keen eye-sight, Madame Beall derives pleasure from books and exquisite needle-work.  Although she has travelled much, to travel east by airplane is her cherished ambition.  Born in the days prior to the Civil War, Madame Beall tells of the events which led her husband, the late Lewis Cass Beall, Sr., to come to Vashon Island. – “I was born April, 1851, in Charleston, Virginia.  My mother’s name, before her marriage, was Suzan P. Ruff of Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and my father, who was a Methodist minister, was Dr. John S. Martin of Alexandria, Virginia.  In 1875 Lewis C. Beall and I were married.  We went to live on the Beall family’s plantation and old homeplace, called Beall’s Retreat, near Washington D.C., where we lived for 18 years.  My husband’s health began to fail and our doctor advised him to go to California as the winters in the east were too severe.  He journeyed to California only to find that the climate did not agree with him, so he continued north into the State of Washington as far as Tacoma.  I remained in the east with our children, Lewis, Wallace, Jennie (now Mrs. J.C. Howe of Edmonds), Magruder and Allen.  It wasn’t long before I received a telegram from my husband, who was in Tacoma, and in answer, my youngest son and I started west, but with much misgivings in my heart for I was sure that we might just as well have been starting out for the North Pole.  As we travelled west, I was greatly surprised to see green grass and flowers in the yards at Spokane, altho it was winter time, and when we reached Tacoma my fears had diminished for I liked the mild, invigorating climate.  In the meantime my husband had been looking the Puget Sound country over for a home-place, and had decided on Vashon Island.  We sent for out children and came to live on the Island in 1897.  When we boarded Captain Wiman’s little steamer for Quartermaster Harbor, and we caught a glimpse of the shore, and beyond, the grand old trees – many of which have been destroyed – I felt as though we had indeed come to the land of “far distances”.  But when my husband remarked, “I am afraid you will be lonely here!” I answered “Not when I have you and the children, and a view of the restful water, the beautiful trees and grand mountains!”  The late Charles Jacobs met us at the dock with his horse and wagon in which we rode to Center and to our new home which we had purchased from Mr. Jacobs.  The place where we lived is now known at the Cowan place and also the Rodda property.  Mrs. Fuller had her store at the corner which seemed, indeed, to be the center of all interest on the Island.  Vashon, to the north of us consisted of Gorsuch’s store, the Post Office and Mr. Van Olinda’s residence which was painted white with green trimmings, and which we all admired as being very up-to-date.  Dr. Sturgis was the only physician on the Island at that time.  Before leaving our home in the east, Mr. Beall had chartered a freight car in which our household goods, farming implements, etc. were packed – to be sent to our destination, whether it was to be California or Washington.  When we decided on Vashon Island, a wire was dispatched to have our things sent to Tacoma, Washington, but alas! the winter had set in and the roads were blanketed with deep snow and our freight car was tied up somewhere in the middle west!  Consequently, our new house at Center was sparsely furnished with only necessary articles.  Our parlor, as then we called it, had one rocking chair, some apple boxes covered with chintz, and three large trunks which we covered with bright-colored blankets, with some pillows to simulate a sofa.  We lived here for about three years, then we sold our property at Center and moved to our place east of Vashon where Mr. Beall went into the greenhouse business with Hyland H. Harrington.  My husband passed away in 1926.  His life on Vashon Island has been one of worthwhile activity, both in civic affairs and in the affairs of the church.  His faith in the Island that he had chosen for a home-place increased as the years went on.  I shall be 88 years old in April.  Many changes have taken place during my life-time, but life has been full, and life has been good!  I am happy in having my children near me.  Besides my sons and daughters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis C. Beall, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace M. Beall and widowed daughters-in-law, Mrs. Magruder Beall of Vashon, and Mrs. Allan M. Beall of Seattle, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Howe, of Edmonds.  I have sixteen grand-children and four great-grandchildren.”

• Vets Would Revive Island Fair Idea – Plans are being considered by Vashon Post 2826 Veterans of Foreign Wars, concerning an all-Island exhibit and fair to be held at the Island Club August 24 and 25.  The purpose of the fair would be to encourage Island 4-H clubs, and to focus attention on this worthy activity.

 March 9, 1939

• Ferry Bill Lost In Senate Vote – In a surprise move, S.B. 253 was brought out in a night session Thursday evening and defeated by a vote of 19 “For” and 27 “Against”.

• To Help Get Men And Jobs Together – In keeping with a national program designed to provide jobs, or at least to provide means for those wanting jobs, and those with jobs to be done to get together, the Island Post, American Legion are undertaking the work on the Island.  Dependable men and boys, who honestly seek work are invited to register with J.H. Quinlan, the “Fix-It” man, at the Island Electric Shop in Vashon.  There is no charge, and in making this listing Mr. Quinlan is carrying out for the local post what the Legion is attempting nationally to do.

• Women Editors On Opposing Teams – By a singular coincidence two newspapers on islands of Puget Sound are owned and operated by women.  There are other newspapers in the state with women editors, but it so happens that the only newspapers that are entirely operated by women happen to be the Bainbridge Review and the Vashon Island News-Record.  These two women will be members of the opposing teams from Bainbridge and Vashon Island Commercial Clubs when they match wits Tuesday evening, March 28, over the Fahey-Brockman “Knowledge College” program.  This program is heard each Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock over KIRO.  The Bainbridge team will be composed of Mrs. Frances Niemeyer, editor; Lawrence A. Peters, attorney; Major M.J. Hopkins, retired army officer; Clifton Pease, news commentator.  The Vashon team is not complete but those chosen are Dr. J.G. Bennett, John Ober and Agnes L. Smock.  Bainbridge and Vashon Islands have much in common, and the good natured rivalry of a contest such as this should do much to promote a greater feeling of friendliness.

• John Smith Receives Appointment To Naval Academy – For the second time in less than a month signal honors have come to a graduate of Vashon Island high school.  John M. Smith, of Portage, received word Thursday morning, in a telegram from Congressman John M. Coffee, of the Sixth Congressional District, that he had been named as principal for appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis.  John is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George J. Smith, and a member of the class of ’38.

• Tahlequah Boy Is Signed By Tacoma – After a season with the Nebraska-Tri-State League, and on semi-pro teams, Jay Russell, a summer resident of Tahlequah for the last four years, has signed a contract to play second sack for the Tacoma Tigers this year.

• Port Election Tuesday – Port election will be held Tuesday, March 14.  The Island polling places will be the same as in the November elections.  Horace Chapman, Island property owner and former summer resident, is unopposed for the office of commissioner.

• Giant Yucca Blooming In Walls’ Garden – Proof that Vashon Island’s winters are mild is evidenced in the garden of Mr. and Mrs. George Walls at Colvos.  A giant yucca tree, six feet in height and over 20 years old, has been blooming continuously since September.

• Bulkhead Under Way – A bulkhead is being built by Fred Dahl for Mrs. A.A. Pentecost on the property she recently purchased east of the ferry pier at Tahlequah from the Puget Mill company.

• Was First Couple To Marry In Cove Church – On March 1, 1914 the first wedding was performed at the newly built Cove Methodist church.  It occurred immediately following the regular morning service and was witnessed by members of the families of the bride and groom and by all who attended church that day.  It is not hard to believe that during that morning worship the minds of many present were on what was to follow, rather than on the preacher’s sermon.  The bride, Miss Jennie Abrahamsen, was attended by her sisters, Sigrid and Ruth.  The groom, Hans Brevick, of Seattle, had as his best man his brother Conrad.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk by Clara J. Tonk – MATHUE JOHNSON – Mr. and Mrs. Mathue Johnson live a short distance northeast of Scale’s Corner, on land that was once a part of the homestead of Mathue Johnson’s uncle, Andy Mathieson.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, where they have lived since 1921 is east of the highway, on the brink of a wooded canyon, overlooking the blue waters of East Sound and looking across to the ferry landing at Fauntleroy.  “Matt” Johnson, who came to the Island when he was six years old, tells of the Island as it was when he was a boy.  “By grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lars Jacobson, brought me to Vashon Island with them in the fall of 1889 when I was six years old.  We had come from my birthplace in Iowa, to join my grandmother’s sons, Andy, Jack and Gabriel Mathieson who were already living on the Island.  Andy Mathieson, the oldest, had homesteaded north of what is now known at Scale’s Corner, and had built a little log cabin which measured 10 feet by 14 feet at the present location of the Axthelm’s home on the highway.  A little boat called “The Glide” brought us to the Island where we went ashore at Cedarhurst, in a rowboat.  There were no docks at that time – just a little float where we unloaded our things.  After landing on the beach we followed the narrow winding trail that led up to the Andy Mathieson place where we were to live.  Our neighbors were scattered.  To the south of us was Charley Eriksen, Sr., who lived where Professor Rodney Ackley now lives, and our next neighbor, south of Erikson, was George E. Lindley who lived just north of the present site of the Good Will Farm.  No one lived to the north of us altho there was an old deserted homestead at Biloxi.  To the east of us, on the old Cowley place, lived an Italian whose name I do not recall, and another neighbor by the name of Hathaway – these were the only two people east of us.  Captain Fish lived to the northeast, where the aquarium was later located, and next to him was a place known as the Atkinson place.  Southwest of us, on the Cedarhurst Shingle Mill Creek, stood an old shingle mill, owned and operated by Mr. Durkee.  The mill was closed down shortly after we came.  Mr. Carr then bought the Durkee place.  I was a first-grader at the old Vermontville school which stood, as it stands today, on the very edge of a swamp, where pathways laced and interlaced across the boggy wilderness.  I had to walk along a winding trail through the woods to school and often saw deer along the path.  The Mace boys and their sister, the Lindley youngsters and the Snow girls were some of my schoolmates.  I remember Garner and Roy Kimmel starting to school when I was in the upper grades.  Sometimes there were as many as 10 pupils in the old Vermontville School, and sometimes less.  Being so near the marsh, where the ground was as soft and spongy as could be made it the grandest place in the world to play.  When Elmer Steen logged off Scale’s 40 acres, I liked to watch the six oxen teams that hauled the logs east of the brink of the hill, where the logs were shot down the steep hillside to East Sound.  I later worked for a man named Hoffman who lived on the West Side, and at that time I attended the Columbia school, along with the Walls children, Lawrence, George, Violet, Mary and Katie.  My mother and father then came to Vashon and located at Burton where I joined them and where I attended the Vashon College for two years.  My father, J.L. Johnson ran a shoe repair shop which was located in the old meat market.  A short time later we moved to the Columbia River, where I secured work on the fishing boats, first as a deck-hand and then as engineer.  From 1905 to 1912 I operated the Pilot boat on the Columbia River bar.  Following this period, I sailed to Wrangell, Alaska, as engineer on the Ida May, a fishing boat.  During the last six years I have been employed by the New England Fish Company, running one of their cannery tenders along the Alaskan coast.”

• Burton Acres Colony Growing Steadily – Ground is being cleared and work will start soon on several new summer homes to be added to the growing colony at Burton Acres, a newly developed tract east of Burton, facing the Inner Harbor.  The ground has been cleared by a crew of men working with Con Tjomsland.  A new water main 2,000 feet long is being laid by R.W. McKinstry, owner of the Burton water system, and completion of the new road, begun by WPA laborers some months ago will be rushed, beginning early in April.  This will provide an extension to the present highway of about 1500 feet.  The development of this tract was begun in the spring of 1937, when E.A. Hart, manager of the Metropolitan Building Company of Seattle built his summer home.

• Island Woman And Boys Sentenced – Sternly lectured by Judge Chester A. Batchelor, Mrs. Ida Hanson, 50, her son, Lowell, 19, Gordon Cole, 18, and Axel Johnson, 17, were given suspended sentences in Superior Court in Seattle Friday.  Arrested and found guilty of burglary, the four were given, according to Deputy Sheriff F.J. Shattuck, a sentence unparalleled in his experience on the Island as a law enforcement officer.  The Hanson woman, found guilty of harboring the boys and helping them conceal their loot was given a year, less the sixty days she has been in jail.  Young Hanson, Cole and Johnson were given 15 years suspended sentence, subject to the parole board during which they must report monthly to a peace officer, and repay those from whom the goods had been stolen.  Cole was paroled to a Seattle contractor who pledged himself to give the boy a job for six months, and possibly two years.  Charles Hofmeister, arrested at the same time, was held over in the Juvenile Court.

March 16, 1939

• Japanese Mothers Entertain Their American Neighbors – A group of American mothers were delightfully entertained Saturday evening by their Japanese neighbors, members of the Japanese Mothers’ Club.

March 23, 1939

• Investigate Fire-Fighting Facilities – A party of young business men of Vashon made a tour of inspection Friday, testing out the four hydrants of the village.  The net results were as follows: Hydrant number one, across the road from the Fuller Service Station was found to have the gate valve (shut-off, to the average housewife) covered with about two feet of mud.  It was possible to turn the water on, but when an attempt was made to turn the water off the wheel which operates the valve broke into a number of pieces.  Hydrant number two, in front of the Mace garage was in good condition.  The threads on one of the caps was stripped.  Hydrant number three, just north of the Vashon Hardware was next visited.  The shut-off was covered by two immense rocks and four inches of sand and gravel.  Only one of the four caps could be opened, and that one was on the side of the hydrant next to the hardware store, an old wooden building.  Hydrant number four, in front of the News-Record office, was found to have an easily accessible shut-off which absolutely refused to budge, making it impossible to turn on the water.  Two of the four caps could be removed with a hydrant wrench.  A test of the 300 feet of hose disclosed that it was in fair condition, and under ordinary circumstances would carry a good stream of water.  The elevation of the tank at Vashon is sufficient to carry a good stream of water, which is pumped into the tank about as rapidly as it is discharged by the hose.  A supply of 25,000 gallons of water is maintained in the tank practically always, so there is no need for worry from this source.  WATER SUPPLY AT BURTON INADEQUATE – Inquiry at Burton by a representative of the News-Record, revealed that the surplus water will last only about fifteen minutes, when it is exhausted, despite the fact that the hose owned by the community is small, and will carry only a small stream of water.  Burton’s water supply comes from springs, and small reserve tanks are quickly emptied.

• West Pass Continues Without Boat Service – Residents of the West Side of Vashon Island are speculating as to whether they will have any boat service this summer, due to the fact that United States marshals have seized the S.S. Virginia V at her berth at the Municipal Dock in Tacoma in connection with a libel action brought in federal court by the Puget Sound Navigation company.  The libellant claims the Virginia V owes a fuel bill of $2,736.83.  Verne Christiansen, head of the West Pass Transportation Company, owner of the Virginia V, has a new 64-foot vessel under construction in Seattle, which he planned to operate between Tacoma and Seattle, via the West Pass, but financial delays have been encountered.  Consequently it looks like West Pass residents, as usual, will be taking it on the chin for some time to come.

• American Legion Has Employment Office – As part of a national program of the American Legion the local post is maintaining a free employment office at Vashon.  J.H. Quinlan, owner of the Fix-It Shop, has undertaken this work and already has a list of men and boys willing and capable of performing skilled and unskilled labor.  From this list can be selected help to drive a car or spade a garden; to dig a ditch or build a cupboard. 

• High School Operetta Proves Great Success – The operetta, “Chonita”, presented Friday evening by the music department of the high school under the direction of Mrs. Mae Judson was a complete success, and was enjoyed by a large number of interested patrons, despite a number of counter attractions.

• Vashon Takes First Place In Tourney – Sixteen basketball teams from high schools with an enrollment of approximately two hundred students, met at the Seattle Y.M.C.A. in the Invitational Small Schools Tourney from Wednesday until Saturday of last week.  The Vashon maple pounders battled their way to the first place trophy in the 4th annual Washington Prep Invitational Meet by beating some of the best small school teams in the state.  Our own Bobby Wight, sophomore scoring ace, was presented with a miniature basketball watch charm.  Then amid cheers Captain Arnold Hartvigsen received the first place trophy for the Vashon Pirates.

• Nephew Killed In Stratoliner Crash – Earl A. Ferguson, co-pilot of the ill-fated stratoliner which crashed at Alder Saturday afternoon, was a nephew of Mrs. Wallace Beall.

• See Stratoline Wreckage – Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harmeling, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kimmel, Victor Moberg and Bill Smock drove to Alder Sunday and saw the wreckage of the stratoliner which crashed Saturday.

• Swallows Here Two Weeks Earlier Than Last Year

• Tahlequah King Alfreds Are Blooming Prolifically

 March 30, 1939

• State Orders Harper Dock Be Replaced – In a finding of facts, opinion and order of the Department of Public Service, relative to a hearing held Jan. 6 at South Colby the Kitsap County Transportation Company was ordered to rebuild or otherwise place the ferry dock at Harper in a safe condition for public use.  It was also ordered that when the rebuilding or repairs so ordered had been completed that the Kitsap County Transportation Company reinstate the ferry service from Harper that was abandoned November 1.

• Virginia V Will Soon Resume Operations – Capt Christensen says: “The libel placed on the S.S. Virginia V has been paid off to the Black Ball line.  The boat will resume operation on May 1st or 15th on the same schedule as last summer, under the same management.”

• Vashon Victorious In Knowledge College – Members of the winning team received certificates which entitle them to any three dollar hat in the Fahey-Brockman store.  The Vashon team, composed of Dr. J.G. Bennett, Agnes L. Smock, John Smith and John Ober, earned a total of 650 points.  The Bainbridge team finished with 525 points out of a possible 1200.

• W.C.T.U. Meeting Friday – The second meeting of the Vashon Island Centenary W.C.T.U. will be held at the Vashon Island M.E. church, Friday, March 31, at 2:00 p.m.

• St. Patrick’s Club Meeting – The St. Patrick’s Club, of Dockton, will meet Wednesday, April 12, at the home of Mrs. Theo Berry.  Final arrangements will be made for the dance which will be given by the club Saturday night, April 29, at the Dockton Community Hall.

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April 1939 
April 6, 1939

• Portage Store Sold – The Portage Store was sold last week and the new owner, Clifford Lavender, has already taken possession.  The former owner, C.A. Solberg, and Mrs. Solberg will return to Seattle.  Their son, Kenneth will remain here to help Mr. Lavender and to complete his senior year in the Island high school.  He will make his home with the Lavenders.

April 13, 1939

• Herb Canfield Injured – While pole vaulting after school Wednesday evening Herb Canfield received an injury that resulted in the partial paralysis of his limbs.  The accident occurred on the school field where the boys were practicing.  In some manner Canfield fell, lighting on his head.  He was taken to Seattle for X-Rays which would make possible a better knowledge of the exact extent of his injury.

• Tacomans Make Good-Will Visit – Under the direction of Jay W. McCune, traffic manager for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, 18 members of the organization were guests of the Vashon Island Commercial Club at a good-will meeting held Monday evening at the Masonic Hall at Burton.

• Fires All Under Control – The fires which raged on the Island over the week-end have been brought under control.  F.J. Shattuck, deputy sheriff, calls attention to the fact that after April 15 no burning can be done without permission from the fire warden.

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – Next Sunday’s work on the club house should see the finish of the log shaving and subfloor laying.  Better be there and find out.

• Annual Easter Egg Hunt At Heights – For the past ten years the smaller children of Vashon Heights have enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L.P. Black of Vashon Heights.  This year 23 little folk hunted for colored eggs which the Easter rabbit, assisted by the older children of the neighborhood had carefully hidden among the flowers and ferns in the Black’s garden.  Prizes were awarded by Dudley Roberts, of the Imperial Candy Company, and Mrs. Elmer Stevenson.

 April 20, 1939

• Larry’s Ice Creamery Opens For Second Season Here – Further proof that summer is really here is the news that K.K. Prigg, operating Larry’s Super Ice Creamery at Vashon will open Saturday, April 22, for the second season.  He will again feature soft ice cream.

• Scouts Fight Fire – On Friday afternoon a brush fire swept over several hundred acres of Burton Peninsula, endangering the homes and summer cottages being erected on the north shore.  That the woods of the Peninsula were not completely destroyed was due to the prompt action and strenuous work of the Burton Boy Scout troop which quickly jumped into action.  The boys back-fired the path in the center of the threatened acreage and got the conflagration under control, proving that their merit badges mean knowledge acquired. 

• Ferry Hearing At South Colby April 21 – In answer to an appeal and report made by the Kitsap County Transportation Company an order of March 21, in which the Department of Public Service instructed the transportation company to rebuild the Harper dock, has been set aside.  A petition has been submitted by the ferry company for the centralization of ferry terminals of the Puget Sound Navigation Company (Manchester) and the Kitsap County Transportation Company (Harper) at Harper or some other suitable location.  To this end a hearing before the Department of Public Service will be held April 26, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Grange Hall, South Colby.  Vashon Island will be represented at this hearing by Axel H. Petersen, a member of the ferry committee of the Vashon Island Commercial Club.

• Island Man Publishes Attractive Book – Vashon Island not only has one of the outstanding artists of the Northwest, but it has a poet who writes excellent rhymes.  That same artist and poet has combined forces in publishing a volume of pictures and poems in a hand-made binding that is unique, lovely and altogether characteristic of the Northwest, and particularly this Puget Sound country.  Norman Edson, poet and artist, in his little new book, “Pictures and Poems of Puget Sound,” has matched poem with picture, and each illustrates some particular phase of Nature’s beauty in this, our Northwest.  It is entirely Mr. Edson’s work, including printing and binding, in addition to the subject matter.  The production of these books, being as they are handmade, is limited.  It is safe to predict that with the advance of the tourist season the demand will far exceed the supply, for the books are being placed on sale in Tacoma and Seattle as rapidly as they can be completed.

• Herbert Canfield – The death of Herbert Canfield, resulting from injuries received while practicing jumping at the high school last Wednesday, threw a pall over the entire community.  Herbert passed away in a Seattle hospital early Friday morning, death being due to complications which developed from a fractured vertebra.

• Sustains Painful Burns – Miss Cecil Anderson, of Vashon Heights sustained burns Sunday morning.  A double boiler filled with scalding water overturned as Miss Anderson was moving a detachable oven on which it stood.

 April 27, 1939

• Big Brush Fire But Little Damage – Volumes of smoke arose as a terrific brush fire was started in the woods north of the Wick home Friday afternoon. Fanned by a high west wind the fire travelled through the dry ferns and underbrush to the pavement, where it jumped across into the Puget Mills land north of the Vashon Grammar School.  This area burned more slowly due to the fact that most of the underbrush had been cleaned out in a fire two years ago.  However it worked eastward to the Roy Kimmel and Bargelt homes, which were saved by the help of neighbors.  Aside from the damage done to fences which were burned there was no property damage at the Bargelt place, although it looked for a time as though the house and buildings would go when the flames leaped the strip which Mr. Bargelt had backfired.  Fire fighters, under the direction of district foreman C.M. Ruhlen, and his assistant, Herb Creevey, battled the stubborn blaze.  They were aided by Warden B. Boleck, who arrived on the six o’clock ferry with the county fire truck from Kent.  County men fought all night and up until noon on Saturday when the fire was practically extinguished.  Contrary to reports in the city dailies the grammar school was not endangered although the fire burned close to the edge of the well-kept lawn.

• Mukai Gardens At Height Of Beauty

• C.L. Garner’s Paintings Shown In Hobby Exhibit – It is estimated that more than ten thousand persons visited the Hobby Exhibit at the Y.M.C.A. in Seattle Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week.  The interest shown led to the decision to make this an annual affair.  The Island was represented by the entries of C.L. Garner, whose pictures received honorable mention.  They composed a group of three original oil paintings.  The first, which measured 23 by 36 inches bore the inscription “Inspiration.”  It showed Sun Mountain in Glacier National Park.  The second, which was 36 by 50 inches depicted a scene in the Olympic Mountains above Lake Cushman.  It was entitled “Lights and Shadows.”  The third, “Reflection,” pictured the dawn on Mount Baker.

• Sportsmen’s Club News – Two pertinent facts that the search for timber to make shakes for the roof of the club house has brought out are: First, we are going to use cedar, regardless of the fact that a crew went a long way to cut up a fir, and Second, we have a member who can qualify as an expert holder-down.  To anyone in need of a high-class workman of this trade we recommend the proprietor of the Alibi.

• Sportsmen’s Club News – The club has purchased a thirty-foot right-of-way from their property to the Sherman road to be used for a power line and road at some future time.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – MRS. AGNES HUFFMAN – From Long Beach, California, Mrs. Agnes Huffman, former resident of Vashon Island, sends her story to take its place in the News-Record’s “Our Older Neighbors” series.  Mrs. Huffman, who came to the Island with her husband, the late Sylvester Huffman, in October, 1891, tells of the Island as she remembers it.  “My mother was married three times and had seven children, I being the youngest.  My father died before I was born, leaving my mother again a widow.  I was born March 27, 1871, in Prairie Du Chein, Wisconsin.  When I was about nine years old we moved to Decarah, Iowa, where I got my schooling, what little I got.  I had always run wild, as you might say, for my mother had to work very hard to keep her little brood, so as long as I was well and out of danger it was alright.  I would roam in the woods, picking wild-flowers and listening to the birds and often herding our cows.  I hated the inside of a house and did not like school, so mother didn’t make me go.  We did no have compulsory education.  In Decorah I met my future husband, Sylvester Huffman and we were married when I was past 16 and he was 21.  Just after that my brothers left to look for work.  After a long time we got a letter saying they had taken up a homestead on an island on Puget Sound, Washington.  Well, we had never heard of Puget Sound or Washington for that matter, but it was the way the letter was written!  My brother John would have made a good real estate salesman!  My mother and my brother Jake then went west to Washington, then my brother Dave followed them, and a year later, in the month of October, 1891, I believe it was, my husband and I also left for the Puget Sound country.  We landed in Seattle on a Saturday night.  At this time the boat, the old Glide, owned by Captain Vanderhoef, plied the West Pass, and my brothers Dave and Johnnie worked on her.  When they reached Seattle Monday morning, Dave started looking for us, and Mr. Huffman started out from the hotel to look for one of the boys, and it didn’t take them long to find each other.  We left Seattle in the afternoon and arrived at Shingle Mill Creek.  Jake met us there and introduced us to Mrs. John Durkee.  Mr. Durkee and a Mr. Crafts had owned a mill there but it was not running at that time.  Previously, my brother Jake had worked at the mill.  I was anxious to see my mother, whom I hadn’t seen for over two years, so we walked up an old skid-road to where the Columbia school now stands, and there was my mother.  She had been looking for us and she met us with opened arms.  We were here only a little while, for Mr. Huffman was anxious to get to work.  My husband and my brother Dave, who had left the Glide, went to Murphy’s Landing, where we stayed until spring putting out cordwood for the old Mary F. Pearley, captained by Tom Reading.  We lived in a tent during the winter, then when spring came we moved back to Shingle Mill Creek and rented a place owned by a Mr. Bradley, a commission merchant from Tacoma.  The boys put out a float there and sold cordwood for any boat that might want it.  These were the leanest years of our lives.  If it hadn’t been for the late Frank Gorsuch who had a store at Vashon and who let us have groceries on credit, I don’t know what we would have done.  Frank Gorsuch was one of the finest men of all the fine men we knew on Vashon Island.  Then Mr. Durkee got a job as foreman of a mill back in Wisconsin, and we leased his place for five years.  During this time we people at the Cedarhurst side of the Island had to walk over to the opposite side of the Island to the Aquarium, to get our mail.  It was a long but lovely walk up the Cedarhurst Canyon to the East Beach, where the post office was kept by Captain Fish and his wife, who were lovely people.  Their home was a beautiful place, filled with trophies from his sea-faring days.  I want to say right here that those five years were the most eventful and the happiest years of all our lives.  I missed Mrs. Durkee very much, but Miss Anna Bonnie, the first Columbia school teacher who had been boarding with the Durkees, stayed with us.  There sprang up a life-long friendship that ended just a couple of weeks ago in the death of Mrs. Maddox (Anna Bonnie).  At this time the J.C. Walls family bought land near us, and another lasting friendship was started.  I remember that one time Mr. Huffman had to go to Seattle and I had to row out to the float to meet the boat.  Well, it so happened that my rowboat and the steamer hit the float at exactly the same time, and I fell over backwards in the boat, and horror of horrors, I had on striped stockings!  After that when I was to meet the boat, I always managed to wait until the steamer was gone, for I could never forget those striped stockings.  We used to travel a lot by rowboat in those days.  Mr. Huffman often rowed clear to Seattle.  I remember one time when Mrs. Walls and I held up the steamer Glide, in Tacoma.  Captain Vanderhoef used to say that ‘time and tide waited for no man and neither did Captain Vanderhoef’, but that time he did.  We used to walk or ride horseback nearly every Sunday over to the Methodist church at Vashon.  Later we moved over to brother Jake’s place, where we stayed for about six months.  Then we bought five acres from Mr. Livesley, and after staying there for five years we sold out and bought another five acres from Mr. Van Olinda, west of Vashon, between Dr. Sturgus’ old place and J.C. Thompson’s.  We built our home here, and it was here that our first baby, a girl, was born after 18 years of married life.  We then traded our place for a little place down by Byrd Jacobs’.  It was a darling little place between the canyon road coming down from Harrington’s place and the road going to Vashon.  Later we traded this property for the grocery store at the Vashon dock.  This venture was not successful and we moved back over to the old Simmon’s homestead where we lived until we sold out to come to Califormia.  My husband did everything that he could do to make a living.  He raised poultry and fruit on the Durkee place, carried mail from the Vashon dock to the Vashon post office, part of the time by horseback, and part of the time by wagon.  He got a team of horses and built a wagon with seats on the side for a bus, and carried the mail and passengers.  He did very well at this, but had to quit because of ill-health.  He also delivered groceries for Mr. Gorsuch for a long time.  Like lots of others we saw the development of the Island from cow-trails to good roads; from occasional boats which made three trips a week from the Island, to ferry-boats and the buses.  I have walked miles and miles and if I only had a dollar for each mile I have walked, I would build a beautiful little house in the deep woods of the Island, where I would go to dream of my young and happy days on Vashon, and where I would give thanks to the Maker of all things for what he has done for us.”

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May 1939
May 4, 1939

• Manchester, Harper Docks To Be Rebuilt – Concluding two hearings, and the issuance of various findings, opinions, etc., the Puget Sound Navigation and Kitsap County Transportation Companies made a surprise move last week.  In a letter, dated April 28, Captain Alex H. Peabody, president of the companies, the Department of Public Service was informed that both the Harper and Manchester docks would be rebuilt and put in good order.  Work on the new Harper dock was started Wednesday.

• Girls’ Rifle Team Shows Much Promise – With a score of 39 out of a possible 50 Judith Shride topped the list of girls who turned out for range practice at the high school last Wednesday. 

• David Balduzzi, of Gig Harbor, owner of Madrona Lodge at Ellsport, spent the past week here reroofing the building and making other changes and improvements.

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – The subfloor is laid, the logs are all shaved and nearly enough shakes split for the roof of the new club house.  Two mechanics are making a machine to finish the logs, one a McCormick instead of a McChanic, which means that it will be finished sooner.  This makes the score about first down and many yards to go.

May 11, 1939

• Helen Harmeling and Elsie Kimmel Highest In Graduating Class – Highest honors for the Class of ’39, Vashon Island High School, were won by Helen Harmeling and Elsie Kimmel, the former by only a very small margin over the latter, both girls having excellent averages.  Commencement exercises will be held June 1 in the auditorium of the high school.  Unlike previous years there will be no speaker from off the Island.  In addition to the salutatory address by Elsie Kimmel and the valedictory by Helen Harmeling two student speakers have been chosen by the faculty and student body.  Both are boys, and both have been outstanding during their high school career, in student activities and citizenship, rather than scholarship, although both have made satisfactory grades.  They are Donald Urquhart and Arnold Hartvigsen.  As last year the number of boys in the graduating class outnumber the girls by seven, 39 boys and 32 girls.  Those scheduled to receive diplomas June 1 are: Helen Margaret Anderson, Carol Bruner, Frances Irene Eddy, Arlene Edwards, Meredith Mary Ellison, Lola Gust, Helen Elisabeth Harmeling, June Hayes, Freida Francelle Jones, Elsie Kimmel, Patricia Law, Jeanne Saunders Mace, Nancy Clare Sexsmith, Nancy Margaret Radsliff, Ann Rolando, Frances Suzanne Smock, Margaret Spalding, Elinor Spurgeon, Hazel Marie Therkelsen, Margaret Pauline Wegener, Ruth Electa Wilson, Toyoko Yoshida.  William Sloan Boyd Jr., Don R. Bruner, Dell Spencer Cahoon, Robert Randall Cahoon, Basil Canfield, James Harold Cronander, Clarence A. Garner, Leslie C. Hambley, Arnold B. Hartvigsen, Barney Johan Huseby, Garfield S. Jacobsen, Frederick H. Jones, Elwood A. Kalland, William Henry Kimball, Harry E. Livers, David Leslie McIntyre, William Howard McKinstry, Beverly McEwen Moore, Yoshio Nakamichi, Fred Charles Sharp, Arthur Robert Sovold, Alexander Donald Urquhart Jr., Milton Albert Walls, Phillip A. Wiggerhaus, Ronald William Wood.

• Rain Is Welcome – The folks who do dry farming around Tahlequah were delighted with the brief spell of rain last Friday, while several other parts of the Island suffered by a hail storm.  Henry Godfrey, postman out of Burton, reported he had to stop on Maury Island to wipe the hail and sleet from his windshield so that the swipe would work.

• Island Newcomers To Be Welcomed With An All-Island Party – What Monday evening’s Commercial Club meeting held at the Island Club lacked in numbers it made up in the amount of business transacted, and the valuable exchange of ideas on a number of questions of vital interest.  Committee reports and routine business were disposed of, after which matters of interest were discussed.  Among these was the recent order of the police department of Seattle that forbids bus drivers to discharge passengers at any but a few points in downtown Seattle, none of which are in the shopping district proper.  A letter was drafted to Mayor Arthur Langlie, requesting him to permit the discharge of passengers at red light traffic stops.  A request will also be made that “pedestrian crossing” signs be posted, to give a certain amount of safety to those crossing the street on their way from the street car to the Fauntleroy dock.  The suggestion of a party for newcomers to the Island was enthusiastically received.  By “newcomers” is meant those who have come here in the past year and a half.  It is taken for granted that those coming prior to that time now have become acquainted, and could not properly be termed as newcomers.

• Marshall Beach Home Destroyed By Fire – Fire Saturday night destroyed the beach cottage at Cove belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Marshall of Seattle.  Before help could be summoned the cottage was beyond saving.  It is believed that the fire originated from faulty wiring.

• Hungry Eagle Driven Off By Pack of Gulls – The value of teamwork, woefully lacking, ‘tis sometimes said relative to Island enterprises, was demonstrated yesterday at Tahlequah when a band of seagulls succeeded in routing a large eagle that made repeated attacks on several of its group.  Tahlequahites watched the eagle, (not a hawk, dear reader) maneuver with lightning speed in its attempt to “snag” a gull.  Time and again the big bird would soar, and make a power dive, but it was unable to trap its prey.  Finally the gulls, apparently tiring of the eagle’s death-trap antics, demonstrated the efficiency of battle line formation.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – REVEREND T.S. FRETZ (continued from last week)

 May 18, 1939

• V.F.W. Plan Poppy Sale May 26-27 – Local participation in the eighteenth annual Buddy Poppy sale sponsored throughout the country by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is being planned here by Vashon Island Post No. 2826, according to Commander Ray Garrison.

• County To Make Survey Of Island – The population of the Island was temporarily increased this week by the arrival of five families of county surveyors who will be here for the next eight months making a survey of the Island.  Supplementing the aerial survey made some months ago section lines will be established.  Frequently property owners find it difficult to correctly establish boundary lines.  When this survey is completed section lines will be definitely outlines, and boundaries may thus be definitely established.

• Six Tri-County Records Smashed at Poulsbo – Larry Robinson Sets New Time for Century Dash

• Eighth Grade To Hold Joint Graduation Exercise – Joint graduating exercises for the 64 8th grade pupils of the various Island schools will be held Monday evening, May 29, in the auditorium at the high school.  Those completing the 8th grade this year are: BURTON – Mae Lillian Bucknell, Lee Fry, Harvey Gauntlett, Margaret Griffith, Bud Hansen, Pearl Johnson, Melvin Larsen, George Mason, Anne Poultney, Bud Smith, Mary Jane Smith, Jeanette Tucker.  CENTER – Lucille Bacon, Dick Bostain, John McCone, Edwin Pettelle, Jack Rose, Nellie Shride, Jerry Slagle, Chester Sorlie.  COLUMBIA – Eleanor Andersen, Bernice Edwards, Donald Edwards, Melvin Edwards, Beatrice Ellingsen, Harold Ellison, Bernard Habbestad, Marjorie Monro, Mildred Olsen, Roy Sundberg.  DOCKTON – Christine Beritch, Thelma Danielson, Marilyn Hake, Jeanne Mauritzson, Robert and Gordon Plancich.  LISABEULA – John Steed, Walter Wegener.  MAURY – Selma Frombach, Evelyn Pedersen, Mary Petree.  VASHON – Robert Andersen, Marion Buchanon, Stuart Campbell, James Cole, Ella Copestick, Fern Fitchell, Kilen Gust, Shearman Hoshi, William Kidder, Rae Kimmel, Frederick McMurray, Lillian Mann, Mary Matsuda, David Russell, Tillie Sakai, Paul Sexsmith, Anna Strom, Jeanette Taylor, Walter Werts, Beverly Wight, Lucille Wilson, Amy and John Woo Hoo.

• Yankee Boy In Service

• Virginia V Will Resume Run

• Salt Water Park Being Developed – W.P.A. workers are widening the shoulders of the road leading from Maury Center to Robinson Point which later will be oiled, making accessible the new salt water park to be developed at Robinson Point.  According to information received from the Seattle office of the Works Progress Administration work will be started soon under a $6,148 allotment on grading, landscaping and draining the entire grounds of the Point Robinson lighthouse on Maury Island.  At least 25 men will be busy until late July planting trees and shrubs and beautifying the salt water beach to provide a picnic ground.  Late in January W.P.A. launched its first sluicing job in the state thru a $6,800 project, pulling adjacent clay hill slopes into the swamps of the lighthouse grounds and transforming the bleak point into ground for the new landscaping job.  The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Lighthouses is sponsoring the project with $1,452 for plants and seed.

• Story Accepted By Magazine – Mrs. Peggy Harmeling received word that another of her stories had been accepted by Outdoor Life.  The title of this story is “Fishing Is Woman’s Work” and is a tale of Alaska, gleaned during Mrs. Harmeling’s teaching experience there.

• Senior Play Presentation A Credit to Participants – “One of the best plays ever presented at the high school” was the consensus of opinion regarding the senior play, “Guess Again” given Friday evening at the Island high school.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – REVEREND T.S. FRETZ (continued from last week) – “We found ourselves enroute to Kansas City where we took charge of the chapel car, “Good Will”.  This was a large Pullman coach, having living quarters in one end, and about 50 feet fitted out as a chapel with a low organ, reading desks and space for seating 90 adults comfortably.  The seats were made of oak, and so divided that two could sit on one side, and three on the other.  At one meeting however where many children were present we had well over 150 persons in the car for an afternoon service.  The purpose of these cars was largely pioneer work.  First, we visited new towns where no church existed, and tried to leave one there.  Second, we assisted pastors in evangelistic work where churches had been organized but no building erected.  Sometimes we were called upon to visit churches divided by discord, and to act as mediator to bring them together.  Our very first week was of this character and was successfully accomplished.  Mrs. Fretz part in this work was to aid in the singing, conduct children’s meetings and organize women’s auxiliary and missionary societies.  This was very strenuous work and after three years of this work, Mrs. Fretz came to Burton to establish our home.  I continued with the car until a successor was secured, then spent some time in evangelistic work, took a number of interim pastorates.  Then because of ill health, I spent a few years in such activities as would keep me in the open.  In 1918, presumably doing war work, I was employed in the ship-yard at Dockton.  In September of that year I was invited to supply the pulpit of the Burton Baptist Church.  I consented and continued with growing congregations until March 18, 1919.  A strike at the ship-yards closed the work for a full year.  So in response to an invitation of a friend, I went to Alberta, Canada, to become the teacher of a rural school and also to become the regular supply of a federated Presbyterian and Methodist Church about 12 miles from the school.  The ten months thus spent were full of interest and I trust, helpfulness to all concerned.  I returned to Burton for the holidays and in March was again invited to take charge of the Burton Church.  My experience with the Burton church was very interesting.  It was the only church in the community and though it was a Baptist church some years previously there had been a resolution passed by the church that should be no restrictions in respect to the communion service or any teaching service which persons of other denominational groups might care to render.  That the spirit of this order was carried out was quite apparent when one Sunday I counted members of eight denominational groups who participated with us in the communion service.  In August of that same year I arranged for an afternoon service at Maury Hall.  A prosperous Sunday School was being held there, but no preaching service.  The pupils were mostly young people and children, but the teachers had impressed upon the pupils that the courteous thing to do was to stay for the preaching service.  Many of these young people, during nearly eight years of my work, made decisions to lead the Christian life, quite a number of these united with the Burton Church, others placed their membership in the churches of which their parents were members.  I was pastor at Burton from March 1920 to December 1, 1927.  During this period we received 56 members by baptism, 41 by letter.  After deducting losses by death and withdrawals we had at my going a membership of 85.  Most of those who came into the church were young people, many of whom have gone out into the world and are leading useful and helpful lives.  On the two fields I had a mailing list of nearly 200 names and every Christmas, Easter and Mother’s Day I sent out greeting cards and wrote a personal invitation to attend the service.  I could always rely on a capacity congregation at both places on these occasions.  Burton had its own high school at that time and for seven successive years it was my privilege to preach the baccalaureate sermon.  On these occasions, residents from the entire southern part of our Island, and a large portion of Maury Island filled both rooms of our church to capacity.  On these occasions I always felt that a strong Christian appeal was the most appropriate for the young people facing the realities of life.  Though we maintained a denominational church, it was our constant aim to make all our services thoroughly Christian.  To this, with but very few exceptions, the whole community seemed to wholeheartedly respond, and as cheerfully to support the work we had to do.  December 1, I went to Ventura, California, and was interim pastor of that church for six months.  Forty members were added to the church during that period, and I cooperated in the settling of a permanent pastor who continued the work for several years.  When I returned to this state, the Burton Baptist Church had been merged into the Community Church, which at a later date I served as pastoral supply for approximately 30 months, making a total number of years of service at the Burton Church about 12 years.  During all this period on more than 100 occasions, I have been called upon to bring comfort in bereavement, sometimes two or three times in the same family.  I have also had the happier experience of uniting some of these young people in marriage, and pronouncing God’s blessing upon their newly formed homes.  Thus after these years of residence and service, one begins to feel bound up with the experiences and life of the community.  I must further add that I have appreciated the friendly contacts I have enjoyed with persons from every part of the Island, and trust that the entire Island may prosper materially and spiritually.”

• Burns Caterpillars And Fire Spreads – John Bergoust, former cannery operator, dislikes caterpillars, particularly the tent variety.  So he came over from his home in Tacoma Sunday to his summer place at Tahlequah, and proceeded to apply the torch treatment.  Bergoust was nearly petrified with fear when dropping embers ignited underbrush, and dispositions of several Tahlequah residents were nearly ruined.  When the dangerous blaze spread, Bergoust tried emptying buckets of water instead of sounding an alarm.  R.K. Beymer saw smoke billowing from the Bergoust place next door, and with the aid of Ted Iceberg got out several likes of hose, and finally checked the flames before homes were menaced.

May 25, 1939

• Perfect Record For 11 Years – Frequently pupils seek means of being absent from school, but not Elsie Kimmel, Vashon Island High School senior, who has gone to school no matter how she felt for the past 11 years, having been neither absent nor tardy in that period.  It is altogether likely that she would have made it 12 in a row had it not been for whooping cough, which spoiled her record in the first grade.  Not only has Elsie made a perfect attendance record during her high school career, but she has been on the honor roll each term; has carried extra subjects each year and is completing as salutatorian of her class.  She plans to attend the University of Washington and prepare to teach.

• Name Omitted From 8th Grade Graduates – We regret the omission of the name of Bob Pemberton, a student at Burton school, from the list published last week of those completing the 8th grade.

• The obituary of Justine Morrissey was published

• Trio Buys 600 Feet of Tahlequah Waterfront – Last of the Puget Mill company’s waterfront property at Tahlequah was sold last week to Roy Simcox, and two other Seattleites.  The sale was for approximately 600 feet of land between Dr. David B. Cook’s property, and that of H.E. Mooberry and William Hager.

• Shoe Store Opens With Complete Line – For the first time in its history the Island now has a store devoted exclusively to the sale and repairing of shoes.  J.E. Jacobson, a shoe man of many years experience, has opened a shoe store in the Post Office Building at Vashon.  Coming here a year ago he opened a shoe repair shop in the laundry building, and built up a patronage that made larger quarters imperative.

• Offers New Plan For Street Lights – Roadway To Ferry Pier May Be Illuminated – Taking further steps to obtain lights for the convenience of pedestrians bound for the Gig Harbor – Vashon Island ferries, Ira S. Davisson, commissioner of public utilities in Tacoma, has submitted a plan to the Pierce county commissioners, which, if acted upon favorably, will achieve results.  In his letter, he wrote: “In order that the people travelling to and fro on this road may have the benefit of a lighted roadway on dark and foggy nights, we are offering to load you a position on our poles for these lights without charge, further that if you want the city to install these lights, we will do so upon receipt of written instructions so to do, at the actual cost of the work.  We would make the connection and serve them with electricity without charge, under the terms of one of our franchises.”

• Uncle, Aunt and Niece Graduate Together – The Class of ’39 of the Island H.S. is marked by a rather unusual set of circumstances, and relationship among three members.  Margaret Spalding is graduating with her aunt and uncle, Freida and Fred Jones, who are only five months older than she.  Another graduate in this year’s class who deserves mention is Jeanne Saunders Mace.  Despite the fact that the young lady has proven a very busy and competent housewife since her marriage to James Mace in her junior year she decided last fall that with only a few credits lacking to make her eligible for a high school diploma she would make the effort necessary to get it.  So she enrolled last fall, kept house in a most excellent manner and earned the lacking credits with grades that put her on the honor roll.  The diploma she will receive next Thursday evening will mean a little more to Jeanne than to many of the other graduates.

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June 1939 
 June 1, 1939

• Mukai Packing To Open June 2 – Anticipating a 1939 pack of 2,000 barrels of strawberries 1,000 of loganberries and 500 of red currants the B.D. Mukai plant will open Friday, June2, to operate for 60 days.  One hundred thirty pickers have already been hired, and 70 more will be added later.  They are an international group with whites, Canadian and American Indians and Filipinos, to which will later be added Japanese.  According to the elder Mukai the recent rain has not yet damaged the strawberry crop as much as it has insured development of the berries that would have dried up had the drought continued.  However the increased yield will result in lower prices than were anticipated last week.  The increased moisture will benefit the cane berries to a great extent and is a boon to gardens.  Enough rain has fallen to meet immediate crop needs and strawberry growers are hoping the weather man will see fit to send the sunshine to ripen berries more rapidly than at present.

• President Madison Anchored In Harbor – Those who love ships cannot fail to be saddened by the sight of the once proud S.S. President Madison as it lies anchored in Quartermaster Harbor, about halfway between Burton and Dockton.  The boat was brought here to escape mounting wharfing charges of the Port of Tacoma.  The boat has been dismantled and is deserted by all except two watchmen who are on duty alternate day and night shifts.

• Will Speak at World’s Poultry Congress – L.C. Beall, Vashon poultryman and breeding authority, will be a speaker during one of the conference periods of the World’s Poultry Congress to be held at Cleveland, Ohio, July 28 to August 7.

• Newcomers Party Well Attended – Almost a hundred Island people enjoyed the party given by the Commercial and Vashon Community Clubs Friday evening at the Island Club for new residents.  A great number of those present had come in recent months to make the Island their home, while still others had lived here longer, but were still unacquainted with other than their close neighbors.

• Vashon Island Described In State Guide Book – Vashon Island, its orchards, berry fields, greenhouses, its recreational advantages, and the history of its communities will be described in “Washington, The Evergreen State”, the state’s guidebook in the American Guide Series.  Copy for this book is now in final stages of editing by the Federal Writers’ Project, Works Progress Administration, according to two representatives of the project, A.B. Pence and Paul Ashford who were in Vashon recently completing a road check for the tour section of the volume, and it is anticipated the book will be published during Washington’s Golden Jubilee Year.

• Class Reunion At Port Orchard – Thirty years ago the first Island high school class graduated at Burton.  Members of the class were Marjory Stanley, Stella McDonald, Cora Turner, Kenneth Van House and Carl Carlson.  Sunday four of the original graduates enjoyed a reunion and picnic dinner at the home of Mrs. L.L. Stetson (Stella McDonald) at Port Orchard.  Carl Carlson is in Alaska, and unable to be present.   When the Class of ’09 received their diplomas a picture of the group was taken, so on the occasion of this reunion there was another picture taken in as near the same grouping as possible. 

• In spite of the heavy downpour of rain Sunday the Takatsuka family picked seven crates of beautiful strawberries.

• Senior Students Return To Grammar School Days – Members of the Senior class who entered high school from the Vashon Grammar School were entertained by Fransu Smock Friday evening.  Through the courtesy of those in charge of the grammar school building the party was given in the P.T.A. room, where most of the pupils present spent their first year of school under Miss Frances Schultz.  When the call for supper was sounded the youngsters lined up and were served bowls of chili by Mrs. E.F. Agren, who had served them their lunches so many times during grammar school days.  In the P.T.A. room they found the same tables upon which they had eaten their lunches in former days.  At each place was a paper sack, containing a “lunch” and a bottle of milk.  The place cards were paper “slates” bearing names, drawings more realistic than artistic.  These were the work of Mrs. Clara Tonk.  The occasion was marked with much reminiscing and concluded with a baseball game, just as noisy as those of years gone.  “Survivors” from the Vashon 8th grade who will graduate Thursday evening include Helen Harmeling, Elsie Kimmel, Donald Urquhart, Margaret Spalding, Frieda and Fred Jones, Jim Cronander, Bill Kimball, Toyoko Yoshida, Yoshio Nakamichi, Alan Metzenberg, Fransu Smock, Ruth Wilson, Helen Margaret Andersen, Jeanne Saunders and Bazil Canfield.

• Centenary Celebration – The Vashon Centenary W.C.T.U. celebration will be held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, June2, in the Presbyterian Church.

• The obituary of Herman Nelson was published.

• What Is Its Name? – Returning from the post office Monday morning we found on the threshold of the News-Record office an interesting shrub which we cannot identify and consequently do no know where to plant.  Will the friend who left if please call and tell us whether the plant was for the editor, the reporter or the printer; what its name is and where it should be planted?

June 8, 1939

• Large Number Attend Graduation Exercises – A capacity audience, composed of interested friends and relatives, witnessed the graduation exercises of the 49 members of the Class of ’39, held in the high school auditorium Thursday evening.  An unusual feature of the program was all numbers were given by persons directly connected with the exception of the presentation of the V.F.W. essay contest awards by John Ober to Helen Harmeling and Edwin Petelle.  Willis J. Blekkink, chairman of the board of education, made the presentation of diplomas.  Valedictory by Helen Harmeling, salutatory by Elsie Kimmel, and the addresses by Arnold Hartvigsen and Donald Urquhart were given in a manner that indicated clear thinking and understanding of the problems which today confront youth.  The various musical numbers bespoke the excellent training our boys and girls are receiving.  Awards made by Superintendent Lloyd McElvain consisted of a W.S.C. scholarship to Elsie Kimmel, salutatorian and Torch Pin awards to Helen Harmeling, Elsie Kimmel, Frances Eddy, June Hayes, Margaret Spalding, Toyoka Yoshida, Harry Livers, Arnold Hartvigsen, James Cronander and Don Urquhart.  The list of those neither absent nor tardy for the year was led by Elsie Kimmel who had repeated that record 11 years, missing it by her first year in school due to an unfortunate attack of whooping cough.  Others on the list were Edsel, Elmer and Terrence Frombach, Carol Leland, James Matsumoto, Eddie Morrison, Lawrence Purvis, Dalgo Tagami, Bernice Deppman, Alice Merry, Lilias Urquhart, Shigeko Yoshida, Charles Allison, George Fujioko, Yonichi Matsuda, John and Jim Penny, Anne Edwards, Nora Hoshi, Heda Kunugi, Kimi Takatsuka, Marybelle Tonk, Helen Wegener, Stanley Ellison, Lawrence Larsen, Glen Polhamus, Willie Steed, Doris Bitle, Shirley Blekkink, Lorna and Lorraine Croan, Winifred McPherson, Sachie Nishiro, Mary Nakamishi, Judith Shride, Virginia Therkelsen, Arnold Hartvigsen, Barney Huseby and Elwood Kalland.

• Portage Store Goes Modern – After quite a few years as salesman with the Western States Grocery Company, selling groceries to grocers, large and small, Cliff Lavender, of Seattle, decided that he would like to have a grocery store of his own.  After looking about a while he and his wife decided that they liked Vashon Island better than any place they had considered, and in due time purchased the store at Portage from C.A. Solberg.  After several months on the Island the Lavenders are more enthusiastic than ever, and it is not to be wondered at when a visit to their store reveals what they have accomplished in the way of modernization and rearrangement.  A line of meats is displayed in modern glass Frigidaire cases.  Fruits and vegetables are kept fresh on wire shelves through which the air can circulate, and kept moist by a fine spray of water, sufficient to keep them crisp.  In addition to foodstuffs, the Portage store has a line of yard goods, a surprising selection of yarns and materials for gift or vacation fancywork, as well as other dry goods lines.  Island folk are invited Saturday to attend the open house of the store.

• Weather Puts Damper On Opening of Beach – With a high wind blowing throughout the day and old Jupe Pluvius poised ready to dump his well-filled buckets, the formal opening of Spring Beach on Sunday did not get off to a very auspicious start.  Gallons and gallons of clam chowder were on tap, and were served without charge by Mr. and Mrs. Forest R. Ritz to those who did participate in the festivities.  Indications are, however, that Spring Beach will enjoy a greater season than in the last six years, as reservations are coming in at a lively rate.

• Honor Roll For Closing Term – By almost two to one the girls of the high school led the boys on the honor roll for the closing term, with 23 girls making the required grades and 12 boys following.  The Junior class led with 11 honor students, Senior and Sophomore with 10 each and the Freshman class with 9.  On the list were: SENIORS – Elwood Kalland, Arnold Hartvigsen, Harry Livers, Elsie Kimmel, Frances Eddy, Helen Harmeling, Margaret Spalding, Toyoko Yoshida, June Hayes, Margaret Wegener.  JUNIORS – Mildred Griffin, Shirley Blekkink, Doris Bitle, Bill Partee, Jack Petersen, Winifred McPherson, Grace Matsumoto, Marie Johansen, Lawrence Larsen, Dorothy Shepherd, Wanda Robinson.  SOPHOMORES – Estelle Beall, Marybell Tonk. Virginia Rand, Helen Wegener, George Fujioka, Yoneichi Matsuda, Jane Hoke, Anne Edwards, Julia Legg, Dorothy Johnson.  FRESHMEN – Rachel Blekkink, Shigeko Yoshida, Berna Wick, Helen Livers, Edith Larsen, Paul Harrington, Bob Harmeling, Jim Robinson, Daigo Togami.

• No Change In Bus Stops In Seattle – In a conference Monday morning with C.W. Bollong, traffic engineer for the City of Seattle, Edgar W. Pack presented the protest of the Vashon Island Commercial Club to the ruling of the police department that no passengers be discharged uptown by the bus line at points other than Marion Street or Stewart and Third.  Previous to this order drivers could allow passengers to leave the bus whenever a traffic signal permitted.  Island passengers must walk an inconvenient distance now in any event.  In his conference with Mr. Bollong he was informed that Mayor Langlie had ordered that no more traffic changes of any nature be made until the planning commission’s report is made, which may be two or three months hence.  This planning commission is acting for the federal government in making a survey of Seattle’s street car system, and until their recommendation is made and the type of new equipment decided upon no change in present rulings will be permitted.  Mr. Pack also pointed out that the request of the Commercial Club that Fauntleroy Avenue be marked had been ignored.  He described the hazardous conditions under which passengers who go out to the dock on the street car and walk across Fauntleroy Avenue must cope.  He stated that there was no sign to indicate to motorists that this point was a pedestrian crossing.  Mr. Bollong expressed surprise that his order of two weeks ago had not been complied with and immediately phoned an order that signs be posted.  That same evening, as Mr. Pack drove out to the ferry, he noted with a great deal of satisfaction that signs had been posted and the pavement marked to safeguard foot passengers going to the dock.

• Huge Porker Butchered On The Zarth Ranch – It took five employees at the Kimmel store Tuesday morning to bear to its chilly resting place in the Zero lockers the huge porker raised on the Zarth ranch at Colvos.  The live weight of the hog was 640 pounds, and it was the largest on record ever to have been taken care of by a local concern.

• Bus Drivers Have Excellent Records In Annual Report – K.K. Prigg has driven school buses for 4 years, with 3 years without an accident with a total of thirty thousand miles.  T.B. Allison has driven 11 years without an accident out of 12 years of school bus driving with a mileage of 92,472 miles.  W.W. Garvin has driven 6 years without an accident during 9 years experience, with a total of 55,243 miles.

• A Protest From The Editor – Do you remember, you older lads and lasses now middle-aged, when we used to study an almost forgotten subject in high school called rhetoric?  Do you recall among the cardinal sins we were warned against was one, “tautology”?  Mr. Webster defines tautology as a needless repetition of words having the same meaning, as “audible to the ear.”  After years at the helm of the News-Record it suddenly dawned on us that since a gathering on Vashon-Maury Island automatically implied “delicious refreshments” that mentioned them in connection with a party was a commission of that cardinal sin, tautology.  Hence – well, draw your own conclusions – we’re getting awfully tired of the term “delicious refreshments” and feel it is only fair to leave something to the imagination.

• A Sad Story – The “interesting shrub” left at the News-Record threshold last week turned out to be a weeping willow slip, left by Mrs. C.E. Hayes.  The willow wept from Monday until Friday because the reported, to whom it had been promised, forgot all about it.

June 15, 1939

• Tahlequah Man Dies Saving Young Son – Drowns Near Ferry Pier – Glen J. Wiar, 38, Adams Packing Company salesman, and a summer resident at Tahlequah, died Friday night that his 20-month-old son, Tommy, might live.  The baby fell overboard when Wiar was changing at a float off his home from his outboard boat into a dingy. 

• Davisson Anxious To Help Island Folk – Vashon and Maury Island have a friend in Ira S. Davisson, commissioner of public utilities in Tacoma.  The commissioner is doing his utmost to obtain lights on the county road from the Point Defiance ferry pier to the intersection of that road with Pearl Street.

• Rigs Novel Light For Service Under Water – Will Evans, Vashon electrician and Tahlequah resident, rigged up a unique light for underwater service Friday night when death by drowning claimed Glen J. Wiar.  The light is so powerful that it illuminates the bottom for a considerable distance, but it could not be used Friday night because muddy water from the Puyallup River swept in on the incoming tide.  The light is operated by an automobile storage battery, and is a welcome addition to Tahlequah’s life-saving equipment.

• Figures On Bus Drivers Report Were Incorrect! – We wish to correct an error made in last week’s News-Record, part of which was due to an omission on our part, the balance due to incorrectness of figures accepted in good faith from an official source.  With a total of 34 school years and 213,000 miles Vashon-Maury school children have been transported without a scratch, due to the care which has been exercised by the four drivers who have piled up this total.  The following figures have been furnished us by one of these drivers and checked by another, so we give them to our readers, believing them to be as nearly correct as possible.  Heading the list in years of service and total mileage is T.B. Allison who has driven 80,000 miles in his 12 years of service.  W.W. “Bill” Garvin has driven in nine years a total of 57,000 miles.  H.B. McPherson, whose name was inadvertently omitted last week and to whom we make our apologies, has been driving for nine years and has a total of 50,000 miles.  K.K. Prigg has driven for four years and his total is 26,800 miles.

• On Regular Schedule – The launch Yankee Boy, serving Tahlequah and Spring Beach, went on its regular schedule on Monday, with Skipper George Rickard and Mate Lindy Merritt in charge.  Tahlequah will now receive more adequate service than that provided by the Washington Navigation company, especially on Sunday.

• He Takes Them To The Ball Game – Garner Kimmel believes that all work and no play is a poor policy so Wednesday night he played host to his crew of clerks, taking them to the game between Seattle and Los Angeles at the Rainier Stadium.

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – Next Sunday will see the first log-raising at the Club House.  All members who have been missing out on the progress of the building will do well to show up and get some first-hand information on what has been done.

• Mrs. Tonk On Vacation – During the next few weeks Mrs. Clara Tone, who has been writing for the News-Record will be away on a vacation.  She requests that those preparing “Older Neighbors” stories hold them until she has the opportunity to contact the writers.  Fransu Smock will be the “Inquiring Reporter” during Mrs. Tonk’s absence and hopes to receive the same assistance from those who have been so cooperative in giving items to Mrs. Tonk.

• First It’s Goldfish, Now It’s Worms! – It’s been more or less the craze of some of our eastern university students to consume goldfish on dares, or in the vain hope of personal gratification, but this week, in our very midst, comes a very different story.  While picking gooseberries on the W.J. Zimmerman ranch, near Vashon, Victor Bengston spied a large, brown, furry caterpillar crawling amongst his berries.  A fellow picker, seeing the caterpillar, and sensing Victor’s dislike for the lepidopterous insect, bet him a lug of berries that he was afraid to eat the creature.  Victor eyed the fuzzy thing for some time and then gently deposited the worm in his mouth, swallowed hard, picked up his lug of berries, thanked his bewildered wagerer, and went back to work, much to the horror and amazement of all who witnessed the spectacle.

June 22, 1939

• Nine Campfire Girls Get Heroism Awards – Highest Honors Are Received – Recognition for heroism has come to nine Seattle Campfire Girls.  They were named to receive the highest honor awards of Camp Fire for their rescue last summer of the passengers and crew of the gasoline cruiser Holimacrel, who were overcome with fumes as the boat was passing Camp Sealth.  The Holimacrel was being navigated on an unsteady course when she passed Tahlequah, but those on shore who saw the zigzag route had an idea that the crew was intoxicated, and paid no further attention.  Instead, those aboard were slowly being overcome by carbon monoxide fumes.

• Business College For Vashon Island – If a proper location can be secured and sufficient indication of the support of the community Vashon Island will have its own business college, to open early in September.

• Henry Carley Takes Over Burton Garage – Announcement was made recently of the sale of the Burton Garage, operated for several years by George Davis, to Henry Carley, formerly of Tacoma and Olympia.

• Dies While Getting Armload Of Wood – Walter Henry Reed Stricken Friday Morning – Closing a career that was marked with activity for nearly half a century until stricken with ill-health, death claimed Walter Reed early Friday morning as he was getting an armload of wood at the home of his sister, Mrs. George Sheffield, near Tahlequah where he had resided for the last nine years.

• Local Rifle Club Receives Charter – From Washington D.C. comes the news that the Vashon Island Sportsmen’s Club has been granted a charter by the National Rifle Association.

• George Will Tell You – When it comes to catching octopuses George McCormick claims to know all the answers to the questions.  At last Monday’s extremely low time George, in company with Ray Campbell, Carl Siegrist and John Corbin invaded Colvos beach, armed with shovels and determination.  They hunted until they found a large boulder with a hole underneath and a pile of crushed shells, clam shells and sand – the last is very important – in front of the hole.  Of course the hunters had obtained advance information and knew definitely what they were looking for.  Sure enough, when they had enlarged the hole they found underneath a lively octopus, which finally accepted their invitation to come out into the open.  It measured about 3 ½ feet across.  They later dislodged another, but not belonging to the Two-Hours-For-Lunch Club, time prevented the acquisition of more of the gentle creatures.  Ray Campbell too the octopi home, but has not yet reported whether he ate them fried, in soup, or on the half shell.

• Making Map Of The Island – Mr. Chester Cole of Seattle, a teacher at John Marshall School who is studying for this master’s degree in geography at the University of Washington, is spending the summer with Mr. and Mrs. Rees Wyman at Vashon Heights.  While here he is making a map of Vashon Island.

• The obituary of Ira Hill Case was published.

• Capitalizing A Bad Situation – The average Burtonite is not at all happy over the presence of the President Madison, moored in Quartermaster Harbor.  This is not entirely to be wondered at, as the huge old hulk shuts off the view of Dockton, across the bay.  One Burton resident, however, has found a way to make the best of a bad situation.  Mrs. Augusta Hunt, former postmaster, and one of the Island’s best loved women, has been forced by ill health to halt her letter writing which has been such a pleasure to her and her friends.  Recently she summoned Norman Edson and his camera and gave orders for a picture of the President Madison, taken from her front porch, which overlooks the outer harbor.  Mr. Edson succeeded in getting an excellent picture of the old boat and supplied Mrs. Hunt with a large number of post cards which she is sending to friends.  It is not unlikely that Mrs. Hunt, because of her years in the government lighthouse service, has a sympathy for the old boat which no one apparently wants.  She knows what it is to aid in protecting a vessel from the dangers of the sea, and knows what the old President Madison escaped in the years it braved the waves.  It is not hard to believe that Mrs. Hunt doesn’t resent a bit the presence of the boat fairly in her front yard.

June 29, 1939

• Smith and Schwartz Still In Line For Appointment – In a letter received from Congressman John Coffee last week John Smith was informed that due to failure of his first alternate to pass the physical test for Annapolis that he is still in line for appointment.  Mr. Coffee stated that he would confer with John as soon as he returned to Tacoma, following the adjournment of Congress.  John failed for appointment for Annapolis by less than one-half of one percent in mathematics.  In all other subjects he received excellent rating.  For this reason Congressman Coffee will hold over John’s appointment until next spring, giving him another chance.  David Schwartz whose appointment to West Point came from Senator Lewis B. Schwellenbach also failed by a narrow margin in mathematics.  Recently he took the entrance examinations for the West Point preparatory school at Fort Scott, San Francisco.  Although the examinations were much stiffer than those for West Point, David had profited by previous experience and was one of the three out of 12 from the entire Northwest District to gain the coveted appointment to the school, and a course which eliminated entrance examinations for West Point.

• Vashon Pharmacy Opens In Fine New Building – Marking another step in the development of Vashon the opening of the new Vashon Pharmacy will take place Saturday.  The store is owned and operated by E.C. Paul.  Demands of an increasing business made larger space imperative and the pharmacy is now two doors south of the former location in the new McMurray Building, erected early this spring.  Built by Island carpenters, of materials purchased entirely through local firms, the building is modern and attractive.

• Agreement Is 30 Days’ Notice – Although the rumor of another ferry strike is disquieting to say the least the situation is not as alarming as it would have been prior to the agreement resulting from the strike of 1937 which provides for thirty days’ notice before a strike can be called.  With minor exceptions both the Ferry Boatmen’s Union and the ferry companies have shown a disposition to abide by the rules of this agreement, and it is hoped that they will continue to do so.

• On the cover of this week’s News-Record appears a full map of Vashon Island and text describing “where to go and what to see.”

• Sportsmen’s News – The power line is in to the Club House and about a quarter of the logs in the main wall are up.  Next Sunday’s work should finish the main walls, and if any of the members who have not been able to visit the building before wish to see how the work is being done they should show up then.

• Rapid Preparation For Civil Service – Concentrating upon rapid preparation Vashon Island Business College, under the management of Mrs. Alice Wolverton, will open September 5, according to present plans.  Mrs. Wolverton announces that the subjects to be taught will include typing, shorthand, office practice, business English, spelling, penmanship and secretarial bookkeeping.

• Island Man Meets Tragic Death – News of the tragic death of Ed Beard, whose lifeless body was found by a neighbor Wednesday morning at his home near Center, shocked the entire community.  No funeral arrangements can be made until the arrival of Mrs. Beard who was visiting relatives in Montana.

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July 1939
July 6, 1939

• Terrence Frombach Trains For Hike – Will Compete In Annual Lake Washington Classic – Island residents have expressed considerable interest in the spectacle of one of our Island boys seen frequently on our highways.  Terrence Frombach, 18, can be seen almost any evening walking with a peculiar gait.  Garbed only in gym shorts, short socks, shoes and a million dollar coat of tan, with swinging arms and that peculiar “heel and toe” step Terry swings along the roads in almost any direction from his home on Maury Island.  Terry is in training for the Seattle Star-Camp Lewis Tent and Awning Company hike around Lake Washington, a distance of 52 miles.  An older brother, Amos, contested in this race in ’33, ’34, and ’35, winning second place the first two years.  Although he lost out the third time he was winner in a 12-mile hike around Green Lake that same year.

• Driver Narrowly Escapes Serious Injury – While driving the Standard Oil truck Thursday evening Bob Polhamus narrowly escaped death when the truck, loaded with gasoline, ploughed through the guard rail along the Quartermaster Harbor road near the Francis Sherman place.  The accident occurred when a front wheel came off, throwing the truck toward the beach.  Although badly shaken up the driver escaped with minor injuries.  Damage to the truck and the loss of a few hundred gallons of gasoline was small compared to what might have occurred had the low guard rail failed to stop the truck from plunging down to the beach below.

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – We did not get quite all the logs up at the Club House last Sunday but there are more days coming and with better turnouts the building continues to grow.

• Huge bonfires and a spectacular display of fireworks were enjoyed by the Klahanie Beach colony of vacationists the evening of the Fourth.

 July 13, 1939

• Survey Will Establish Island Section Lines – The man with the umbrella has created a lot of interest and no small amount of merriment along the highway for the past week and many questions have been asked regarding the need of protection from the sun.  The protection is not necessary as far as the human beings under it are concerned, but its use is to protect certain delicate instruments which are being used in a surveying project.  Thirty-eight men are engaged in doing traverse work, establishing section lines and making surveys similar to those which have been made for many years by the United States Geodetic Survey.  The work consists not only in establishing section corners, but also in making geodetic records, which take into consideration section corners and lines, and contour measurements as well.  The work is in a sense a continuation of a WPA project started several years ago by the county assessor’s office during which aerial photographs, taken at an altitude of 10,000 feet, were made of lands in King County.  Using these photographs as a basis the present project, which is now sponsored by King County engineers, will result in establishing section lines, which in many cases on Vashon-Maury Island have been matters, more or less, of guesswork, the marks of which have long since been eradicated.  Property lines can be more definitely established when this survey is completed.

• Youths Have Narrow Escape From Death – When the hydraulic brakes on their truck refused to function, Bill Dahl and Pete Pagni had a narrow escape from death or serious injury Friday evening at Tahlequah.  Pagni, who was driving the milk truck, put on the brakes as he approached the ferry pier, but the truck continued on its way.  The heavy guard rail finally halted it as it careened to go over the approach into Fry’s Grocery.

• Editorial – The Strike Situation and its Relation to the Third Party – Among the talk of this and that is much regarding a future meeting between ferry employees and operators relative to the threatened strike.  To date we have heard no mention of the third class which is as vitally interested in the transportation question i.e. the traveling public, which threatens many property owners.  All three classes have a common interest, a financial one.  From that point on the traveling public apparently drops out of the analogy and becomes the forgotten man, nor is the financial interest in any event taken into serious consideration.  Higher and yet higher rates may be set to safeguard the transportation company against loss in operation, and to insure the profit to which the department of public service feels it is entitled.  The employees, protected by the strength of their union, even though numerically they are small, have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Facts published during the ferry strike of 1937 would indicate that the lot of the ferry employees was far better than any other class of marine workmen, but propaganda at such times is easy to produce, hence we can dismiss this argument as being irrelevant.  With an impending strike hanging over us like the sword of Damocles it is not entirely to be wondered at that the tourist business is not up to par this summer.  It would be surprising if it were.  Every business person on our Island is affected by this condition, yet nowhere in the picture are we represented as an interested party, and one to be considered.  Is our vision so beclouded, and our judgment so warped that we cannot realize that the only crop which will bring prosperity to Vashon-Maury Island is people?  Recent soil surveys have shown that a surprisingly small portion of our Island is suited to agricultural purposes.  A small number of our farmers will always make money with poultry because they are naturally good business men.  The field will never be overcrowded.  Only certain areas are suitable to growing small fruit, and it is folly to believe that field will be overcrowded.  For years a pitifully small number have envisioned.  For years a pitifully small number have envisioned Vashon Island with ten times its present population.  There is no need to enlarge upon what the realization of such a dream would mean – greater property valuation, better school facilities, improved living conditions, with the opportunities that a larger population would mean.  This is what we mean by the foregoing statement that “people” would be the best crop for our Island.  If the transportation company could but catch this same vision and cooperate by more equitable rates which would attract population from both Tacoma and Seattle; if those who work for the development could realize that through momentary acceptance, and a meek acquiescence rather than making ourselves heard, we are delaying that increase in population; if the ferry operators and the ferry employees would adopt a program that did not periodically threaten the peace and comfort of the traveling public – then we could look for the increase in our population that a spot as beautiful as this warrants, and the attendant benefits that would accrue.

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – Work has been suspended on the Club House until September first so that all members may enjoy their summer.

• Spalding Family Keeps House Full – Boat Busy by Fransu Smock – The home of Hubert Spalding family at Cedarhurst is one of the busiest places on Vashon Island.  The Spaldings are owners of a 20-foot outboard motor boat which is put to good use most of the time.  Friday there were ten boys from the Y.M.C.A. Boy’s School who were coming to the Spalding Beach for the week-end.  So Mr. Spalding merely took the boat over to Fauntleroy, picked the boys up and returned home without so much as blinking his eyes.  (We won’t guarantee this, but it sounds well).  On Sunday, he loaded the boat up with passengers gathered from here and there and journeyed to Bremerton, after preaching the sermon at the Vashon Presbyterian Church that morning.  Those who went on the trip were Frieda Jones, Marjory Knapp, Jim Knapp, Mary Rido, Bob McLeod, Arnold Hestness, Lois Cochran, who recently returned from Oregon City with Margaret Spalding, Kenneth Raymond, Mrs. Spalding and Margaret, Glen and Donna Spalding.  They visited Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Nelson in Bremerton.  While they were there, they were joined by Mrs. H.B Jones, who has been spending the week with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and family, and Eleanor Nelson, who returned in the boat with them to Vashon.  Tuesday, the Spaldings’ boat was also used when it was again taken to Fauntleroy where it collected its cargo, seventeen boys from the boys’ department of the Seattle Y.M.C.A., and deposited them at the Spalding beach for three days.  One of the numerous occupants of the Spalding household, impressed by the influx of visitors, took the time to count how many different people were in the house in one day.  The grand total for Saturday was forty-nine and Mrs. Spalding claims it was no different from any other day.  Here’s one thing that is a sure fact, there is never a dull day at the Spalding house, with every moment filled to the brim with everyday living and doing good for other people.

• Hurt Spinning Outboard – Struck in the chest when the rope with which she was spinning her outboard motor stuck in the slot, Mrs. Glen Lawson of Tacoma was severely injured Friday at Tahlequah. 

• Boys Row Around Island – Possibly they failed to set a record but a good time was had by all when Micky and Reid Erickson and John McCone rowed around the Island in 33 hours.  Micky and Reid are spending the summer at Ellisport with their grandmother, Mrs. Carrie B. Hills.  Their home is in Seattle.

 July 20, 1939

• Editorial – Will the Public Be the Goat Once Again in Ferry Strike? – It may be poor taste to mention the fact that a ferry strike is due to be called within a comparatively short time unless an agreement can be reached by the transportation company, the Inland Boatmen’s Union and the federal mediator who is now in Seattle.  But the fact still remains that a strike is pending.  Some six or seven years ago, despite a depression, real estate on Vashon Island was selling rapidly and at a good price.  Then came a ferry strike with increased rates.  Two years ago at the beginning of what appeared to be a prosperous summer a strike was called.  Result: damage to every ton of fruit shipped off the Island, a stagnant summer, and higher rates as the service was resumed.  Statistics show that with these higher rates the Puget Sound Navigation Company lost business to an appreciable extent, and certainly Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island, the Peninsula, and every other point reached by ferry has gone backward instead of forward.  This spring real estate was selling faster than at any time for several years.  There was indication of a good summer business.  Practically every beach cottage available had been engaged.  Then in June came the threat of another strike.  Demands were made of the transportation company which among the licensed employees along would amount to a yearly expense increase of $99,000 if met.  It is needless to go into the details of these demands.  The immediate result was another knock-out blow for Vashon and other islands.  It has become the popular sport to look upon public utilities as inexhaustible sources of funds, wrung from a suffering public.  Like other utilities the transportation company serving us has been unable to pay dividends for the past ten years.  Their surplus has been dipped into until it is exhausted, with the result that further demands on the part of the employees must be met not from company capital but from yet higher rates.  It is well enough to argue about the rights of labor to a decent living wage and better working conditions.  No reasonable individual denies those rights.  But at a time when the average income is decreasing, when business in general is on the wane, it would seem to be a poor time to pile added burdens on thousands of persons for the benefit of a very few.  Today every person is threatened who owns a penny’s worth of property at any place served by ferries.  With every successive rumor of labor disturbances the value of that property decreases.  A large proportion of the employees of our ferry line own their own homes.  These men, knowing what the last increase in rates did, are as concerned and dubious over the ultimate outcome as are the rest of us.  In all fairness to the rank and file we believe the average employee fears a strike, knowing that with continued trouble and inconvenience to the public comes disfavor hurting the case of organized labor not only with the general public but within the ranks of labor itself.  The Northwest has suffered inestimable damage in the recent loss of a steamship line to the Orient.  That outcome was regarded as highly improbable in the beginning of the controversy.  Is it too much to imagine that ultimately our communities across Puget Sound will suffer a like fate if ever-increasing demands must be met?  Organized labor has every right to better wages and living conditions if and when the rank and file in business and private life are on the same upswing.  But it seems poor business to demand at this time that, which will decrease ferry boat travel, and threaten a strike which may mean months of no wages at all to the employees, and untold misery and financial loss to those who are in no way involved in the matter.  The public must realize that to all purposes and intents the transportation company has reached the end of its rope, and that no matter how our sympathies may rest, we, the ferry boat patrons and property owners must pay the bill through increased rates and decreased values.  At the moment there is no other alternative than a rate increase, as was proven by the department of public service after long and expensive hearings during the past two years.

• Visitors From Many States – Recently an observer at the Vashon Heights dock over a period of a weekend noted license plates from Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, Massachusetts, Arizona, Idaho, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, Canada, Utah, Virginia, Ohio and Minnesota.  It would be nice to add to this news item that each foreign car carried away literature of Vashon Island, but at the present time there is no provision for such a distribution.

• Sportsmen’s Club News by M.E. McDougal – Fishing over the week-end was splendid at Tahlequah, and off the smelter breakwater.  Monday, however, it tapered off, but came back with a bang on Tuesday.  No fish under 2 pounds were reported, and the largest 3 ½.

• Huge Lily at Schofield Home – Visitors at the Schofield home near the high school aren’t sure they can believe their own eyes when they come upon the huge Regale lily that for the second year has grown to a height of more than eight feet tall.  At the present time it has 28 lovely blooms.

• To Secure New Orchids – Wallace M. Beall, his son, Ferguson, and nephew, Fielder Beall, are spending the week in Los Angeles, California, where they went to secure new types of orchids.  They expect to return the latter part of the week.

 July 27, 1939

• To Hold Tent Meetings – For several years there has been a desire in the hearts of some of the residents of our Island for an all Island Tent Meeting at the town of Vashon.  That desire will be fulfilled when evangelist E.K. Bailey pitches his large, comfortable tent on the property adjoining the Island Club house to the south, where he will conduct services every evening at 7:45 beginning this Sunday, July 30, and continuing each evening through August 13th under the joint auspices of our local of our local Vashon Island Christian Workers Committee and the Christian Business Men’s Committee of Seattle.

• Supervisor Announces Road Oiling Program – The 1939 road oiling program for Vashon Island has been announced by G.W. Swain, South District road supervisor.  Work will begin within a short time.  The following roads, a number of which have not been previously oiled.  Included in the list are as follows: Cove Road, 2.5 miles; Judd Creek road, 2 miles; Dunn Road, 1.3 miles; Portage-Dockton Road, 4.5 miles; Ellisport-Dockton, 4.5 miles; Burton-Shawnee Road, 1 mile; Soper Road and Beall Road, 2 miles; KVI road, .5 mile; Ellisport Hill, 1 mile; Cemetery Road, 1 mile; Jail Road, from pavement to West Side Road, West Side Road to Covington Corner, 4.5 miles; Krokset Road from Krokset Corner to Cove Road, .75 mile; Burton to Assembly Grounds, 1.1 miles.  Although portions of the continuation of the surfaced highway from the pavement to Tahlequah are badly in need of repair this road can be put in fair condition without sacrifice to the oiling program of roads in other parts of the Island.

• Conciliatory Attitude Is Shown In Labor Dispute – Although many difficulties have been encountered considerable progress has been made toward an agreement between the Puget Sound Navigation Company and the Inland Boatmen’s Union to avoid the strike and subsequent tie-up of service to island and communities west of Puget Sound scheduled for July 31.  Negotiations have been vigorously pushed to arrive at an agreement before the deadline is reached.  In the opinion of those who have had an opportunity to judge W.T. Geurtz, federal mediator, has acted in a fair and effective manner during the several meetings with representatives of the transportation company and the union.  Mr. Geurtz was assigned by the United States Department of Labor and arrived in Seattle from San Francisco several days before the first meeting was held.  Vashon Island has been represented by Paul Billingsley at a number of meetings of the committee composed of patrons from various Sound communities with the federal mediator.  Thru this contact the interests of the public has been presented.  The committee has found Mr. Geurtz concerned in protecting the interests of this third angle in any threat to transportation.  To this committee Mr. Geurtz has reported a commendable desire on the part of both parties to explore any reasonable possibility of compromise to avoid public inconvenience.

• No Agreement Yet! A meeting between Governor Martin and W.T. Geurtz, federal mediator in the ferry controversy, continued the greater part of Wednesday.  Four o’clock found all parties concerned some distance apart, and no agreement reached although certain progress was made.  Mediator Geurtz is making every effort to bridge the gap before a strike is called.  He is supported to the fullest extent by the committee of patrons and property owners composed of W.H. Creech, chairman, Paul Billingsley and Homer Jones.  (Ed. Note – The above information was phoned this office Wednesday evening by Mr. Billingsley, who had just received word from those looking after our interests in the ferry controversy.)

• Sportsmen’s Carnival Goes Over With Bang – The annual carnival of the Vashon Island Sportsmen’s Club, held Saturday and Sunday afternoons and nights at the Island Club again proved a big success, furnishing fun aplenty for all who attended and extra dollars to be added to the club house fund.

• Dance and Bonfire at Lisabeula – Saturday evening Lisabeula Beach was very gay when the S.S. Manitou of Seattle stopped there with 200 members of the United Commercial Travelers and Auxiliary.  They had been cruising the Sound when they stopped at Lisabeula for three hours of dancing, bringing an orchestra with them.  The usual bonfire and roasting of marshmallows and wieners was part of the entertainment.

• Chrysanthemums Bloom Early – Those who received similar plants last spring from a flour company will be interested to know that Harry Robbins of Burton reports that two of the tiny plants are already in bloom.  He has several bronze blossoms; the pink buds are almost ready to open; while the white and yellow buds are already formed.  It is claimed these plants will bear from 500 to 3000 blossoms yearly, which can be easily believed with such early flowering continuing into the winter, as is commonly the case in our temperate climate.

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August 1939

August 3, 1939

• Six-Year-Old Child Drowns at Newport – Vashon Island witnessed its second drowning accident of the season Wednesday afternoon, when Irving Collins, 6, slipped from a float at Newport.  The only witness to the accident was his five-year-old brother, Larry.  The children had been reprimanded earlier in the afternoon for going out onto the float, and efforts to find Irving’s body were handicapped by the varying tales told by his brother.  The water was murky and although an expert diver went to the bottom time after time she was unable to see the body, which was recovered early Thursday morning with the ebbing tide at a depth of three feet a short distance from the float.  The two children, Irving and Larry, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Collins of Tacoma, came to the Island at the close of school with their aunt, Miss Margaret Wise, a commercial teacher from Edison Vocational.

• Dies From Burns – With his clothes saturated with gasoline George Wheat, 26, of Maury Island, in lighting a cigarette suffered burns early Saturday morning that claimed his life a few hours later.  Wheat was riding in a Model T Ford truck with a companion, Earl Pearson, of Tacoma, when the truck ran off the road at Dockton, and overturned pinning Pearson underneath.  He informed Wheat that he was unhurt and that there was no hurry.  When he had extricated himself Wheat made his way to the W.E. Willers home to get help in righting the overturned truck.  He was drenched with gasoline from an uncapped tank.  While waiting for Mr. Willers to dress he lighted a cigarette and in so doing ignited his clothing.  It is believed death was in a large measure caused by the fumes and flames Wheat breathed in as the fire from his flaming clothing consumed his hair.  A resident of Montana the young man came here some time ago to join his uncle, Earl Wheat.

• Editorial – It Must Not Happen Again! – The pot bubbles and boils, rumors and counter-rumors are rife as labor troubles of ferry workers again strikes Puget Sound areas, threatening business and property interests of thousands of residents in the most beautiful section of the entire state.  It is inevitable at a time like this that sympathies are biased as the threat assumes personal angles.  It is difficult to remain neutral while one watches anticipated profits and values melt away, due to no fault of one’s own.  For this reason no judgments can be trusted in toto.  It is unfortunate that any class, in an effort toward betterment must wreak havoc that hits all of us living here.  But out of all this Vashon Island and all other sections served by ferries are learning a definite lesson.  For instance in delving into facts related to the matter at hand one man who knew how to find the answers to the questions his fairness of mind demands found that the personnel (unlicensed) on Sound ferries take fifth place from the top among those for whom the state collects unemployment insurance.  True, $107 per month is not a princely wage, and it must be granted is not a great deal with which to rear a family, but the average deck-hand does not always remain a deck-hand any more than the apprentice printer who starts in at $60 a month plans always to remain an apprentice.  And the apprentice printer has the same argument to present, and would, were he not aware of the stiff apprenticeship he must serve before he can qualify for membership in one of the strongest unions of America.  Another good that has issued out of the present strife is this – for the first time in history newspapers of neighboring cities, our logical trading points, see our position and demand jointly that operator and union must recognize our rights.  Ferries represent bridges in our highway just as truly as a bridge in a concrete highway is an integral part of a system which would be defended with all the legal and police forces of the state if it were blocked.  The lead taken by the Post-Intelligencer and later followed by two other Seattle dailies is far different than the inertia and indifference of 1937.  Those who were active for the Island good at that time will recall the attitude of amused tolerance taken by even our elective officials.  Today those same officials regard the present ferry strike as a calamity.  Vashon Island may well be proud of the part its citizens have played in this awakening ferry consciousness.  History has taught that when any need becomes sufficiently acute the man of the hour rises to the position of leadership.  Our Island leaders are recognized authorities on the various phases of ferry transportation.  A few of our Island people have given far beyond their means.  There are ever those who will ask the question, “Where has it all gotten us?”  The answer is another interrogation, “What would conditions have been today had we not kept up the battle over the past two years?”  Today’s strike will be tomorrow’s warning.  It must strengthen our determination that this horrible thing cannot happen again to those farmers who carry on at a wage too small for consideration by the state; to the small business man whose everything is invested here because he has faith; to the mothers and fathers who want to rear their children in this lovely land; to the home lover because he finds the country fairer than the city; to these, each and all of us who are doing our best to construct, not destroy.

• Wage Comparison Based On State Figures – At a time when rumor and guesswork is rife, figures founded on fact are refreshing.  The labor dispute of the present time has caused many surmises on how the wages of the ferry worker compare with other classes of wage earner.  The following figures were compiled from state records of industries paying premiums under the state unemployment law and show the average wage over a three-month period.  1. Financial business $475; 2. Utilities $404; 3. Communication $270; 4. Insurance $363; 5. Ferries, unlicensed personnel only $335; 6. Metal products $324; 7 Automotive $319; 8. Machinery $318; 9. Coal mining $290; 10. Real estate $278.

• Island Men Leave Elwha – Complications arising from matters of insurance caused a state official on Thursday to request the Vashon Island residents aboard the ferry, Elwha, to vacate.  This was made necessary by the attitude of the insurance company covering the vessel.  They stated that in case of fire they would not be responsible for loss.  The men were given permission to stay with the understanding that the galley would be locked and fires of no description permitted. – FERRY WASHINGTON TO RUN – At about the same time the official’s request was received word came that the “Washington” would begin to operate, so feeling they had won a very important point the men decided to return to the Island.  They were brought home in the Billingsley cruiser Thursday afternoon.  (Note: It is surmised that the real reason for this request for our men to remove themselves from the “Elwha” resulted from the pictures in Thursday morning’s P-I.  It was feared the boat would be swamped by those seeking to learn what Alibi Elmer was stirring in that kettle that could inspire such rapturous expressions on the faces of those in the background.)

• Publication Delayed – Publication of the News-Record was delayed so that our readers might have last-minute information on our ferry situation.  If any news items have been omitted they are crowded out by the statement of the committee to the ferry company which seems to be bigger than any local news items.

• Ferry Users Committee Issues Ultimatum – Aug. 3, 1939 Kitsap County Transportation Co., Puget Sound Navigation Co., Colman Dock, Seattle, Washington.  Gentlemen: Attention of Captain Alex M. Peabody, Pres.  The services of your two companies have now been suspended for a period of thirty-two hours.  This is because of differences between your companies and the Inland Boatmen’s Union.  A proposal to settle the differences was submitted to the members of the union and rejected by a vote of 131 to 89.  There is no controversy between your companies and the members of the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union or of the Marine Engineers Benevolent Association.  Seven hours after the vote on the proposition was announced, you permitted your boats to be tied up, even though there was no controversy between yourselves and the other two unions above mentioned.  The reason given was that the members of the two other unions felt obliged to quit working when a strike was called by a third union with which they have no connection and even though they have no obligation so to do under the terms of their contract with your companies.  Let us remind you and every man in your employ that the only reason that you have a right to operate on Puget Sound at all is because you are given such right by the State of Washington acting under its sovereign power.  The State has delegated to you the performance of its own sovereign duties.  That is, to furnish links between the highways in the Puget Sound area.  Neither you nor your men who obtained their jobs by virtue of your certificate of necessity have any right once you have entered into this public employment to drop it because of some difference between yourselves.  To do so is virtually to strike against the government and, as everyone knows, this may not be done.  Let us remind you further that the people whom this committee represents furnish all the money for the conduct of your operations.  You merely distribute it.  We have an interest in your operations far greater than yourselves or your men by virtue of that fact.  Remember also that no one takes the position that we are in any wise at fault in this controversy and yet there is no question but what we are the principal sufferers.  Every hour that your service is suspended brings financial losses to the people owning properties all over the Sound, which will continue long after your controversy is settled. You know, and all your men who have properties on the Sound well know, that the market value of the properties of the ferry users was greatly depreciated by the controversy of 1937, for which they are suffering even to this moment – a period two years later.  In other words, your controversies are temporary.  Financial losses to the innocent public are more or less permanent.  In as much, therefore, as both you and the men working for you are merely agents for hire of the people using your service, the people now feel they have a perfect right to tell you and to tell your men to either return to service immediately or give up that service entirely.  Therefore, we now demand that you give notice to each and every employee who is not now at work by reason of the present controversy that he will report to duty by 12 noon today or he will be permanently discharged, and fill their places from the list on file in the United States Customs Office.  We demand that you resume operations immediately thereafter.  In any event not later than 1 p.m. today, if necessary with skeleton crews.  We further demand that both you and the Inland Boatmen’s Union submit your controversy to arbitration, and in as much as you are serving under the mandate of the State of Washington, that His Excellency, Governor Martin, shall name the arbitrator.  We further state to you that unless the demands of this letter are carried out that we believe you should surrender your certificate of necessity to the State of Washington on every route where service is suspended, and if you fail to do so that citizens will make application to the Department of Public Service of the State for cancellation of these certificates.  You are authorized to give copies of this letter to every employee.  Copies will be sent to the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union and to the Marine Engineers Benevolent Association, to the press and to the radio stations.  Yours very truly, FERRY USERS COMMITTEE by W.H. Creech, Chairman, Paul Billingsley.

• Island Men Take Over Ferry Elwha – Although somewhat disorganized by the ill-timed arrival of deputy sheriff F.J. Shattuck and the hasty departure of the ferry “Elwha” which pulled out from the Heights dock before the last car was off the slip apron, Tuesday night, 30 Island men boarded the ship prepared to remain aboard for an indefinite time.  This decision resulted from the announcement that members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union would tie up the boat, walking out at midnight on the last trip to Harper in a strike that ties up ferry operations to those places served by the Kitsap County and Puget Sound Navigation Companies until the operators have agreed to certain demands of the union.  Plans for this move had been in process under the sponsorship of the Vashon Island Sportsmen’s Club for almost a week, as hope of peace between employers and employees waned.  The entire procedure was well planned and entirely orderly.  The men had armed themselves with means of defense in case of attack, but discarded the sticks they carried when ordered to do so by Shattuck.  They were likewise instructed by the leaders to accede with his second demand of paying their fares, but were prevented from doing so by the non-appearance of the proper ship’s officer.  At no time was there any indication of mob behavior aside from humorous heckling, and, although there were approximately 200 at the meeting in Vashon and later on the dock, orderliness prevailed.  Once aboard the men assured the terrified members of the crew that no violence was intended and that the rights of property and person would be observed.  At Harper the boat was docked and the crew left leaving the Vashon men and a watchman aboard.  Although the boat’s sleeping accommodations are not as adequate as might be desired the Island men managed to spend an entertaining night.  Experienced cooks, with ample provisions, are taking care of the healthy appetites whetted by sea air.  The Island citizens are settling down for a period of watchful waiting aboard the “Elwha” as the situation develops.  In event transportation is not provided by county officials plans are being made to provide it otherwise.  Wednesday afternoon a number of the men returned to the Island in the Billingsley cruiser and their places were taken by others.  From the ready response it is evident the opinion is general that by taking matters into their own hands in a manner wholly acceptable the men of Vashon Island are indicating a temper of weariness with being buffeted about by interrupted ferry service.

• County Puts Ferry Washington On Run – Word was received this (Thursday) afternoon that pending settlement of the ferry strike the ferry “Washington” will operate to Vashon Island from the foot of Marion Street, again putting into use the King County slip abandoned for many years.  According to present reports, there will be three trips a day from Seattle and four from Vashon Heights with no Sunday schedule announced.  The Washington is scheduled to leave Vashon at 6 and 10 in the morning, and 4 and 8:30 in the afternoon.  She will leave Seattle for Vashon, at 9 in the morning and at 3 and 7:30 in the afternoon.  Arrangements for the use of the boat were made by a committee headed by Theo Berry, C.G. Kimmel and F.J. Shattuck.  During the strike it will serve both Bainbridge and Vashon Islands.  While this service is regarded as only a necessary stop-gap the cooperation of Commissioner Jack Taylor in arranging the ferry service for his district is recognized.  The boat is outmoded and could not take care of Norman traffic, but with travel in the island almost at a standstill it will serve until the “Elwha” is again on the run.

• Your Indulgence Please – If errors or omissions occur in this week’s paper we plead your indulgence.  The answer is “Too much strike.”

• Paul Schwartz, who has been under rigid military training at Camp Lewis for the past month, returned to his home at Ellisport, Tuesday.

• Indians Entertain Whites At Beach – At Lisabeula Beach this week two local girls had the honor of being the only white girls to get a ride in the beautiful 54 ft. Indian racing canoe now being stored there.  Miss Elizabeth Wax and Miss Rena Olson were invited for a ride and were taken nearby to Ollalla just prior to the canoe being taken for its regular practice run.  One evening this week the Indians who had come to Lisabeula Beach to practice in their dug-out canoe, entertained the campers with an interesting exhibition of the “Stick” or “Bone” game.  About twenty young players seated around the campfire, chanting or beating the tom-tom while playing this ancient game, made a sight not soon forgot.

• Former Residents Vacation Here – Mrs. Mattie Looker and Mrs. Bessie Looker Roesler of Seattle are registered at Lisabeula Beach this week.  They will probably be remembered by many residents of Vashon Island for they formerly lived at Ollalla and for many years were in business on the Island.  Mrs. Roesler together with Mrs. Shattuck operated the dance hall at one time at Lisabeula, and Burton, and also the theatre at Vashon.

• Small Attendance At Pioneer Picnic – The Vashon-Maury Island Pioneer Society held its annual meeting and picnic at Vashon-Maury Park on Sunday, with the smallest attendance in many years, there being but thirty-two present.  Those who did attend report spending an enjoyable day.  The morning threat of rain, which proved to be a false alarm, no doubt kept many away.  From abroad came Mr. and Mrs. George Risser of Bangor, Washington, who had with them as guests Mrs. Williams of Bremerton and Mrs. Ostrom from Montana.  Mr. and Mrs Lake E. Price of Kent, Mrs. A.W. (Price) Parrahm of Seattle, and Miss Audrey Thompson of Bremerton.  Youngest pioneer present, a new member, was Miss Marjorie VanOlinda Janney, aged three months, seventeen days.  The same old reliable staff of officers F.M. Sherman, president; F.W Bibbons, vice-president; O.S. VanOlinda, secretary-treasurer; was elected for the eleventh consecutive year.  It was decided to hold next year’s meeting in Odd Fellows Hall, as has been the custom heretofore.

• Operates Small Printing Press – The printing plant in Norman Edson’s studio at Burton is being moved into an upstairs room.  It consists of small hand press and several fonts of type, with which Mr. Edson prints the folders in which his beautiful pictures of the northwest are enclosed.

• Alice Ensing, who is employed in Seattle, has moved into the Evangeline Hotel until the ferry strike is definitely settled.

• Twenty-five neighbors and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Miller surprised them Saturday night when they walked in on them at their home, the Falcon’s Nest, at the Heights.  The evening was spent in dancing.

• Indian Canoe Racers Leave – The last practice of the Indian canoe racers was held Wednesday evening.  The canoe was then placed on a truck and taken to La Conner where the group will practice for several days before entering the race at Coupeville.  They are given a good chance to win as they are picked by a man who has had much experience along that line.

• John Smith who has been attending the Citizen’s Military Training Camp (C.M.T.C.) at Fort Lewis for the past month returned to his home at Portage Sunday evening.

 August 10, 1939

• Ferry Users Stage Protest Meeting – At a meeting held Sunday morning at Vashon plans were made for Island residents to join with representatives of other Sound regions in a protest meeting in Olympia Monday morning.  Various delegations were to meet on the steps of the capitol building at 11 o’clock.  Representatives were appointed to canvass their neighborhoods and inform others not present of the plans.  Many received word over news flashes announced over KVI on Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning, on news broadcasts from several Seattle stations.  Cars began to assemble at the Tahlequah dock before nine o’clock Monday morning, although the promised ferry did not arrive.  The ten o’clock boat was heavily loaded, as was the next one.  Between 90 and 100 cars, all of them marked in such a manner that announced to the world the errand of the delegation, made the trip.  Although no assurance was given Paul Billingsley that Governor Martin would be at the capitol it was earnestly hoped that the chief executive of our state would realize the importance of the occasion and decide to meet the people.  Such was not the case, but when the second group arrived the delegation went into the governor’s office, where they were met by his secretary, W.T. Guertz, federal mediator, W.T. Creech, chairman of the Ferry Users’ Committee and Paul Billingsley.  The secretary, Hamilton, very earnestly assured the crowd that Governor Martin was unavoidably absent on a tour of inspection of state institutions.  (This fact was later substantiated by a touching picture in a Seattle daily showing the governor forced to his knees by concern over the grass on the University campus with which the drought had dealt cruelly!)  Mediator Guertz impressed all with his sincere desire to get the ferries to running while arbitration was in progress.  Creech and Billingsley verified the statements made by Guertz who said he would make every attempt to reach the governor so a statement could be made asking operator and union to resume service and submit the matter to arbitration.  The crowd decided to remain until such time as the statement could be made and this was done later in the afternoon.  Although tact was somewhat lacking and a certain amount of skepticism expressed, the behavior of the crowd was at all times orderly but determined.  Antagonism was aroused by the assumed authority of Secretary Hamilton, who took it upon himself to deny Captain John Fox, secretary of the Inland Boatmen’s Union, a chance to address the group.  Many felt that Captain Fox would have done well to test the attitude of the five or six hundred ferry users present.  It is estimated that approximately 450 Vashon people were present, the rest of the group being from Bainbridge, Bremerton, and other Sound points, with a few from Seattle.  In the noon broadcast over KOL in which representatives of the various communities took part a Harper resident stated that during the strike he was driving more than 140 miles a day to his work in Seattle, by way of Olympia and Tacoma.  A Bremerton resident stated he had hitch-hiked to Olympia to be present at the meeting.  Various Island people told of the hardships imposed on us, and the loss of summer business.  The statement by Governor Martin and Mediator Guertz was read by the latter about 4 o’clock and the visitors began leaving Olympia shortly after that.  With few exceptions business houses of the entire Island were closed, presumably between the hours of nine and four, though most of them remained closed for the day, the owners feeling that loss of business was not to be compared to the need of making every effort to get the ferries running again.  Much press and radio comment was aroused by the closing of our stores, and the impression given that only dire need would force such action on a community the size of ours.  Bainbridge Island residents were unable to be present in the large number they had planned, as the Washington could take only a comparatively few cars, and the little ferry from the west side of the Island would make only one trip, refusing to return for the cars left behind.  And so it happened that Vashon Island again came to the front with agitation for resumption of regular ferry service.

• Loosen Plug In Water Supply at Tahlequah – Someone with a grim sense of humor, or a desire to work an extreme hardship on a number of Tahlequah families, loosened the plug used to drain the reservoir.  Several persons on the system noticed that the supply was dwindling rapidly.  C.P. Robarts investigated and found the water level had dropped five feet within 24 hours.  Bert Lewis investigated still further, and finally discovered that the plug had been loosened, and the water was flowing into a creek that empties on the beach.  Several days ago the drain valve in R.K. Beymer’s private system was opened slightly, with the result that his 3.000-gallon tank was emptied into the same creek.

• Fires on Island Started on Beach – Destructive fires that have caused serious damage to standing timber on Vashon Island this week were directly due to carelessness in building beach fires in driftwood and leaving them burning.  Herb Creevey, who is responsible for fighting such fires urges that extreme care be used when fires are built on the beach.  The fire at the Heights, which burned fiercely for several days, destroyed some fine standing timber.  Fortunately no homes were threatened, although the fire progressed in the general direction of Biloxi.  At Rosehilla a fierce fire broke out of control Monday afternoon and destroyed a beach cottage before it was brought under control.  Summer cottages were rapidly emptied as campers loaded their belongings into cars and boats.  At times 50 men were engaged in fighting the fire which time and again jumped the fire trails made by county equipment.  Herb Creevey praised the excellent cooperation, and help given by volunteers from several communities on Vashon Island.  The fire which is slowly traveling in the direction of Manzanita is now under control, but will probably spring up again in case of high wind.  The Robinson Point fire is causing no particular concern.  It is an outbreak of a fire started a month ago in swampy ground from a continuous fire burning in peat.  With the fine timber rapidly disappearing from our Island we will do well to exercise all caution in starting fires, and it is the duty of everyone to report to the proper authorities any fires burning unchecked.

• Latest Word About Ferry Situation – Word was received from Paul Billingsley in a long distance call from Seattle late Wednesday night that Governor Martin had issued a statement to heads of the transportation companies and union involved in the present ferry strike that he was prepared to present a proposition of his own which he would expect them to accept.  One of the requisites would be the immediate resumption of service.  Mr. Billingsley stated that Governor Martin was bending every effort to bring about an early and satisfactory settlement and that Mediators Guertz and March, and members of the Ferry Users’ Committee were heartily in accord, feeling that the Governor’s plan will result in a final settlement in the very near future.  The text of Governor’s statement will be released to the press by Thursday afternoon.

• South End Ferry Line Doing Record Business – Santa Claus is here again, so far as the Washington Navigation Company is concerned.  Since the North End strike ferries operating between Point Defiance and Tahlequah have been doing a record business.  Sunday night at the 8 o’clock trip there were 104 cars lines up.  Two trip were necessary to clear the pier, and the highway was lined as far back as Sheffield’s bulb farm.  Earlier in the afternoon, four cars were left on the dock, to remain until the 8 p.m. trip.  Business between Point Defiance and Gig Harbor was so great that the company apparently was unable to route another ferry to Tahlequah to care of the stranded cars.

• Editorial – The Solution Must Be The Right One This Time! – In all of the sad, unavoidable effects of the ferry strike which at this moment bids fair to drag out for an indefinite period, none is sadder than the increasing sentiment against members of the union responsible for the strike.  The indignation of the public is aroused; discontent and resentment among the membership of other unions thrown out of work is openly expressed; earlier sympathy is slowly changing to later resentment as the public continues to be inconvenienced.  Last Monday while many of those who went to Olympia felt it would be a good object lesson to block the highways into the city to demonstrate to Governor Martin the inconvenience of what was happening to us, wiser judgment prevailed and the matter was settled when it was put up to the group In this way, “If we do that we will be following the same tactics as the members of the striking union.  We will be causing inconvenience and possibly suffering to the traveling public which is in no wise to blame for our dilemma.  By so doing we would be using the same methods that we so bitterly resent being used against us.”  Still holding to our former contention that we have been horribly wronged by the ferry strike; that the Inland Boatmen’s Union struck primarily against the ferry boat users, rather than the operators we contend that plans for the strike had their inception, not in the minds of the men concerned, but – in the plans of those heads whose future job depends on situations such as this, and upon such grand gestures as wage increases.  These men, who were our friends and neighbors, are the victims of opportunists.  Having average intelligence they realize, as do most of us, that their wages and hours compare favorably with those of their neighbors.  The struggle we are witnessing is grim and terrible.  Outrages commited in the name of organized labor, which have made the Northwest the by-word of the entire nation, indicate the undertow in which the employee is caught.  Had employers always been fair there would have been no need for labor organizations.  Today they are just as definitely in the toils of organization which primarily should save them.  That the public is made to suffer is not the intention of the working man.  It is the mandate of the higher-ups who manipulate the strings, skillful puppeteers whose mind dictates how we shall move and have our being.  We see too often only the personal equation, and the effect on individual and community.  We believe, judging from all the opportunity we have had to observe, that labor realizes that a long-suffering public has been backed to the wall, and that an accounting and reckoning must result before this infamous situation is corrected.  We are the observers of a battle in which we, as non-combatants are so horribly hurt we are in reality contestants.  But we must stick tight to the premise that this matter is not settled until we as taxpayers and citizens of Washington are protected, holding the government, employer and employee are jointly responsible for furnishing uninterrupted transportation, which is as much our right as light, water or air.  Employer and employee have long enjoyed state and federal protection.  It is now time that these pampered children give way to the rights of those who will ultimately pay the bills – the ferry users of Puget Sound.  Better a prolonged ferry strike and a permanent settlement, now the damage is done, than a temporary truce which leaves the matter wide open for future recurrence of the same intolerable situation.

• An Open Letter To Governor Martin! August 3, 1939.  Governor Clarence D. Martin, Olympia, Washington.  Honorable Sir:  In saying that we regret deeply your absence when residents of Vashon Island and other communities affected by the ferry strike now in progress called upon you Monday, I believe that I am expressing the sentiment of every person in the group.  As a public servant and a prosperous business man it would be hard for you to realize what was involved when Vashon Island business men “shut up shop” to present their case to you.  To you the expense of making such a trip would be too trivial to mention, but many who left their farm work and daily duties could ill afford to spend either the time or money for the trip to Olympia.  Many of those who made the pilgrimage (which the trip in fact was) had helped to elect you to office because they felt you were entirely qualified for a difficult job.  That you visited various state institutions on Monday cannot be denied, for that fact was so stated through the press.  We know that you had been informed that this delegation would call on you.  Your secretary did a very thorough and vehement job of explaining your absence, but in so doing his statements conflicted in such a startling manner that it was not to be wondered at that we were more or less skeptical.  You have probably had a colorful description from Mr. Hamilton of what took place during our visit.  True, there were vocal expressions of lack of confidence in his heated assertions.  But the procedure was, we believe, far more orderly than could have been logically expected even from individuals of the fine culture of your Monday’s callers.  In passing we would say as taxpayers we feel our money is poorly used in paying the salary of one who represents, in your absence, the highest official of the state in a manner so totally lacking in dignity.  Mr. Hamilton should be able to detect the difference between and “agitator” and law-abiding citizens rightfully indignant in having so vital a matter lightly considered.  The citizen whom he so designated knows what it is to see her husband’s business injured and her friends and neighbors suffering likewise from a situation that could have been anticipated and averted by firmness on the part of the proper officials.  We are a patient and reasonable folk, but we are also intelligent.  We realize that you and your official family cannot appreciate the inconvenience, loss and danger this strike is costing thousands of ferry users.  But it would appear that there had been ample opportunity in the past few years to learn in anticipation the facts in the case if you were so minded.  And may we say in conclusion, we believe that at a time like this, with so much at stake, that the problems of 10,000 taxpayers is paramount to inspection of our state institutions which should be so conducted that they are ready for a visit from the governor at all times.  Our problem is one that grows more acute momentarily and that delay adds to the difficulty of solution.  Trusting that when we again pay a visit to Olympia we may have the pleasure of seeing you instead of the “hired help”, we remain, Taxpayers and voters of Vashon-Maury Island by Agnes L. Smock, Editor, Vashon Island News-Record.

• Forum – Dear Editor: Tuesday evening a bunch of us went down to the fire past Dockton and see if we could be of any service.  We understood they had lots of WPA working, but needed more men.  Being from Vashon we had no personal interest in mind, but hoped we in turn would get help some day when we had need of it.  From what I saw I think the fire protection force needs a bit of revamping.  The attitude was expressed by one Bob Jolly of Maury Island.  While on his way out of a fire trail at Summerhurst past a bunch of us fighting fire he said, “I can make just as much money sitting down as I can in there, and I don’t give a blankety blank if all Vashon Island burns up.”  And his actions suited his words to a T.  What that force needs as in some fire lines is one responsible man in four to watch out for things.  How prevalent that man’s opinion is I don’t know but I’ll be blessed if I want to pay another cent of taxes for his keep.  I think the WPA officials and foremen had better look around a bit for the rotten odor in their ranks – and don’t forget to look both high and low.  One of several mad taxpayers.

• Hounds Of Sound Club Is Formed – Bane of any angler’s life, the lowly dog-fish will now bring reward to those who snag them in the waters off Tahlequah, providing they meet certain requirements.  The “Hounds of the Sound” Club was organized yesterday at Tahlequah, with Clarke Thomsen as president, and Bert Lewis, treasurer.  It was decided immediately to devise a “darby” to meet the growing demand of those poor souls whose piscatorial efforts result in a fine haul of “sea-going canines.”  All dog-fish must be caught on standard salmon tackle, while earnestly in pursuit of salmon.  Dog-fish entered in the contest must be measured in the presence of a “reliable witness.”  Length of all fish will be displayed on a blackboard at Fry’s Grocery, as well as the score.  There will be two prizes awarded at the close of the contest, one for the largest fish, and the other for the greatest number.  The prize carcass will be suspended from an extra long pole, with the name of the winner attached thereto.  Same will remain in such position until – well, some public-spirited citizen gets the idea that the pulp mill has been removed from Tacoma to Tahlequah.

 August 17, 1939

• John H. Rodda Passes Away

• Seattle Star Carries Fine Strike Editorial – Citizens turned newsboy Saturday night as 1,000 copies of a late issue of the Seattle Star were distributed by private cars and volunteer workers.  Members of the Ferry Users’ Committee purchased the copies of the paper so the ferry patrons in their localities could have copies of the splendid editorial.

• Ferry Company Still Reaping Good Harvest – While the powers that be continue shadow-boxing, the Washington Navigation Company, operating ferries between Point Defiance, Tahlequah and Gig Harbor, is reaping a harvest.  Company officials realize that the Yuletide season is somewhat premature, but know for certain there is a Santa Claus.  Sunday night the regular 7:45 trip from Tahlequah was delayed nearly half an hour, and then two score of cars were left on the pier.  The folks cooled their heels on the dock awaiting a second ferry.  Unusual business between Point Defiance and Gig Harbor caused the delay.

• Editorial – Might Be…!” – Stories appearing in all Seattle papers Wednesday carried the good news that Captain John Fox, secretary of the Inland Boatmen’s  and Masters, Mates and Pilots Unions, had graciously given his consent to those beneath him to operate the ferry “Kalakala” so  that visiting delegates, attending the national convention of the Knights of Columbus might have their promised excursion Wednesday night, even though a strike was tying up ferries belonging to the Black Ball ferry company on regular routes.  Possibly only the grossest ignorance would lead one to question such a Chesterfieldian gesture.  Naturally the good Captain Fox feels that the visitors must be permitted to see the beauties of Puget Sound by…too bad there isn’t a moon!  Only a petulant, female editor would be ungracious enough to ask “What have the Knights of Columbus and their ladies that the residents of the islands and cross-Sound areas haven’t?”  WHO told Captain Fox it would be all right for his fine-haired gentlemen to return to their duties on a Black Ball vessel?  We had previously understood that this was verboten territory for true and honest members of his union.  To the uninitiated that doesn’t look like an honest-truly strike against the Black Ball line!  Might be that Captain Fox and his unions are not striking against Captain Peabody and his company.  Might be they ARE striking against the defenseless ferry users…!  You know…it might be…!

• Editorial – When The Strike Ends – The ferry strike which is purportedly costing the public $25,000 a day has dragged at this writing through the 15th day.  As outlined by the Ferry Users’ Committee there are three things that must be insured to us before the strike can be settled right.  FIRST – There must be little increase of operating expense that will be passed on in higher ferry rates, which are now almost ruinous.  SECOND – There must be a settlement that will remove the periodical threat of strikes. THIRD – Those who use the ferries must have the same voice in settling the dispute as the employer and employee.  Summer business is already gone.  If the ferries were to begin operating tomorrow there would still be 15 lost days and few if any of the summer residents would return for the rest of August.  This strike has done about its worst and we must start from scratch to rebuild.  It is a hellish situation when 200 men, as most, can reduce 15,000 people and several million dollars worth of property to the low stratum we and our property have reached.  It has ever been the case in our social and economic history that although the pendulum may swing far ti gradually comes back to an upright position.  Americans are a patient people up to a certain point.  Capitalizing human misery and the need for transportation to gain selfish ends is basically wrong.  There is only one way in which this ferry strike matter can be settled and that is with the need and good of the unorganized majority considered as paramount to the selfish and ruinous ends of those who brought about present conditions.  With the damage already done it were better for the strike to continue indefinitely than to be settled on a basis that would mean another and more disastrous one in a year or two.  We have to begin building again so let’s fight on the sound premise that uninterrupted transportation is our right and must be protected and assured to us just as definitely as it is to Wenatchee, Spokane, Yakima, Ellensburg, Everett, or any of the other parts of the state that have been built up largely with the aid of a fine highway system.

• Tacoma Fireboat Aids – Residents of Rosehilla and Manzanita were grateful for the timely aid rendered by the Tacoma fireboat during last week’s fire, one of the worst in many years.  At one time the fireboat had more than 2,000 feet of hose out.

• Ferry Users Committee Helps With Solution – At a hastily called meeting of interested residents of Vashon Island held Monday evening at the Island Club, Paul Billingsley, Vashon Island’s representative on the Ferry Users’ Committee, explained with great thoroughness what has been transpiring behind the scenes as state and federal authorities attempted to bring about reconciliation between company and union officials and effect a peace that would being to an end the ferry strike which is now in its 15th day.  Although Mr. Billingsley was extremely modest his account of their activities indicated the tremendous amount of work he and W.H. Creech, chairman of the Ferry Users’ Committee, have been doing at their own expense with no organized group behind them.  From the first this committee has held fast in all offers of settlement that there can be no increase in present ferry rates, that provisions must be made that will prevent the periodical occurrence of strikes and interruption of ferry service, and that the ferry users, being the interested public, must be present and agree to the terms of any settlement arrived at in settling the prevailing difficulties.  Mr. Billingsley told of what transpired previous to Governor Martin’s entrance into the picture.  He outlined at length and patiently answered questions regarding the governor’s proposal of August 10.  The peace plan, which was in accordance with the views of Governor Martin, Mediator Guertz and the Ferry Users’ Committee was as follows: 1. Ferry service to be resumed not later than midnight tonight.  2. All suits and counter suits and charges brought before the administrative bodies, and actions or claims of action of any kind or nature, existing or contending to exist in favor of either party as against the other, shall be naught.  PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT – 3. The contract to be entered into shall contain provisions as follows: (A) The base pay of employees, members of the union, shall remain at the same level as in the contract just expired.  (B) That the principle of one week’s vacation with pay annually shall be recognized.  In applying that principle, all employees who have worked for the system during twelve continuous months prior to September 30 of any year beginning with 1939 shall receive their vacations during a week mutually agreeable to the employees and management between September 30 and May 1.  No employee shall lose any vacation privileges because of interruption of continuous service because of lockouts, strikes, illness or mutually agreeable leaves of absence.  DURATION OF AGREEMENT -  (C) That the life thereof shall not be less than twenty-six months.  (D) That either party shall give to the other sixty days before the expiration of the new contract notification of its desire to amend or cancel.  In the event the parties fail to reach an agreement upon any proposed changes in the contract, a fact-finding board shall be set up at the date of expiration of said contract in the following manner: Each party shall appoint one representative, and the governor of the State of Washington shall appoint a third and impartial member who shall act as chairman.  This board shall have the period of thirty days in which to conduct all hearings and make recommendations, and the parties shall abide by the terms of the existing agreement during this thirty-day period.  4. All other issues in the present controversy between the parties shall be settled by a board of arbitration consisting of three persons, one to be appointed by the employer, one by the union and one by the governor of the State of Washington, together with W.T. Guertz, mediator, Maritime Labor Board.  At the hearings conducted by this arbitration board, a representative of the ferry users shall be privileged to be present.  JOINT STATEMENT MADE – Accompanying his peace proposal, Governor Martin, Guertz and representatives of the Ferry Users’ Committee issued the following statement: “A strike has been in effect since midnight of August 1, a period of nine days.  The public, and particularly those customarily using the ferries, have suffered depreciation in the values of their properties of a sum that may not be estimated.  They have also suffered great inconveniences.  The employees have suffered loss of wages.  The employer has suffered loss of revenue.  The effect of this strike will continue long after service is resumed.”  URGES APPROVAL “During this nine-day period, the employer and the employees have had innumerable conferences, for the purpose of arriving at settlement of their differences.  At this late date, the parties are not in accord.  Therefore, it is apparent to all familiar with the situation that proper representatives of the general public interest must assume the prerogatives of outlining terms of settlement of the controversy.”  Mr. Billingsley stated that Capt. Alex Peabody of the Black Ball Co., had agreed to accept this proposal only to have the union officials counter with proposals of their own to which the company could not agree.  A resolution was read and unanimously adopted urging the governor to sit tight and stay with his original position, although at that moment he showed signs of receding.  In the short time following the meeting and Tuesday morning the resolution was signed by several hundred persons and taken to Seattle, where it was understood the governor would attend a meeting.  He could not be found and it was later discovered he was in his office at Olympia.  In a three-cornered phone conversation with Billingsley and Creech the governor agreed to carry out his intention of the 10th.  Radio and newspaper reports Wednesday morning stated that Governor Martin had asked for the opinion of Attorney-General Hamilton relative to the rights of the state in taking over operation of the ferry line, and this opinion was expected by afternoon.

• Fishermen Lose Their Bearing In Dense Fog – The first fog of the summer season brought the usual quota of fishermen to Tahlequah, not because they had planned to go there, but because they lost their bearings.  At least a dozen rowboats and outboards, one of which had traveled to the North End of the Island, finally wound up at Tahlequah, and were amazed to learn where they were.  One steamship, too, was off its course, and when the fog lifted it was just south of the ferry dock, groping its way from Seattle to the Port Tacoma piers.

• The obituary of Roy Pinkham was published.

 August 24, 1939

• Brush Fire Threatens Newport Homes – A fire, started Friday night in the orchard south of the house occupied by the Matsumoto family below the P.S.P.& L. Co. office, traveled south almost to Burton, a distance of several miles, and is still smoldering.  The Matsumoto boys report that they discovered the fire and put it out once, plowing around the orchard.  The second time it again broke out, farther north than the previous time, and could not have been a spot fire, since the wind was blowing strongly from the north.  County road men were called Saturday morning when the fire had spread south and west into Paradise Valley.  An attempt was made to save a large quantity of wood that had been cut and piled back of the Burton place.  Equipment consisted of a portable airplane pump, barrels of water on a truck and the county bulldozer, but the fire had gained such headway that it could not be stopped, and in spite of all effort the wood was consumed.  Without warning the fire jumped through the trees almost a quarter of a mile, menacing the Bill Haack place north of Judd Creek.  Only a miracle and the desperate work of the county men and volunteer workers saved the place.  Streams of water played on the house rose in hissing steam, while the workers were forced to soak their clothes so they could endure the terrific heat.  From there the fire ran through a berry field, across the Steinmets road, then across Judd Creed to sweep south, back of Newport homes and up to the road to the west, near which an abandoned house and a large barn were burned.  Backfiring and trails were of no use in stopping the progress of the flames.  Again Tacoma responded by sending the fireboat over.  Long lines of hose were stretched, and streams of water played on threatened homes.  By Sunday afternoon the fire had been brought under control and by constant vigilance was prevented from breaking out again.  Effective service was rendered by the county’s truck outfit, pump and plow, that remained on the scene until Sunday evening.  Water was hauled from the Burton system and the Beall oil truck and the Vashon fire truck.  Extensive property loss was prevented by the work of the county men and volunteer fire fighters, many of whom stayed on the job for long weary hours.  The need of equipment, similar to the county plow and pump, was demonstrated.  Commissioner Jack Taylor stated in a phone conversation Monday afternoon that he hoped it would be possible to cut the budget for the current year in some directions so larger equipment for fire-fighting could be obtained for the mainland, releasing the smaller truck for Vashon Island.  Herb Creevey, Island road supervisor, expressed deep gratitude for the volunteer help and equipment, without which a number of homes would otherwise have been destroyed.

• Hager And Mellish Victors In Derby – Woof!  Woof! The lowly dog-fish, bane of the average angler’s life, is now on the list of dividend-paying fish.  William Hager and Wiley Mellish, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mellish, summer residents at Tahlequah, so testify.  In fact, they have concrete evidence that the “sea-going canines” are worth more than just plain fertilizer.  Hager, generally conceded to be Tahlequah’s best amateur fisherman, was awarded first prize Tuesday in the derby conducted by the “Hounds of the Sound Club.”  A 43 ¾-inch dog-fish caught Sunday won the ardent angler a $4.50 reel, and young Mellish was presented with a dandy pole.  The piscatorial prowess of the two winners in such a unique contest was outlined in detail, giving disciples of Isaac Walton something to chortle over.  The young and wiry Mellish was envied by his boy friends for his “diligent and dexterous efforts” in snagging 7 “growlers” while earnestly in the pursuit of the more festive salmon, and Hager, who has caught more salmon in waters adjacent to Tahlequah than any other angler received the plaudits of he fellow sportsmen.  The derby will be repeated next summer, according to present plans.

• Tavern at Ellisport Burns to Ground – A fire of unknown origin, which broke out in the tavern at the bottom of the Ellisport hill Sunday morning, completely destroyed the building and contents, the latter amounting to $2,500.  The building was covered by insurance, but there was no coverage on the stock and equipment.  H.E. Fuller, who operated the place, stated that a fire had been started, after which he returned to his home a short distance away for breakfast.  Hearing the commotion and seeing the smoke he ran out of his house supposing the fire was at the home of Blanche Hedman.  When he realized it was his store the fire was burning so hard that nothing could be saved.  Gas tanks were kept from igniting by keeping the ground saturated with water, but nothing could be done to save the building.

• Editorial – An Organization For Public Protection – Homeowners and visitors arriving on the dock at Indianola Saturday night were amazed to see the figure of a man hanging from a light pole.  Investigation proved a practical joker had hung a certain well-known union official in effigy, placarding the dummy as “Unfair to the Public.”  On August 1 a group of substantial, reliable Vashon Island residents and business men engaged in a sit-down strike on the ferry “Ehwha.”  Such proceedings as the foregoing would have been unthinkable in resisting a situation which the public feels it cannot much longer endure.  Unjust and unfair conditions on the part of the employer class brought about the formation of labor unions under which economic and political conditions today have in their power not only the employee class but the public at large and bid fair to become as great a menace as the original evil they sought to correct.  Rightfully administered with unselfish purposes the labor union is an essential part of our industrial system.  Unjustly administered, under leadership seeking inordinate gain, they threaten not only the general public but their own membership as well.  One wonders if the next logical step will not be the formation of an organization designed to protect the public and the man who is anxious to work, both in and out of union membership, from the exploitation of vicious leadership.  In the controversy which has involved our ferries we have heard much criticism of all ferry workers.  Too many forget that the licensed personnel had signed an agreement to work under the terms of their previous contract, and many of the striking boatmen wanted to continue working.  Yet these men, along with the public were caught in the same inescapable trap.  An organization to protect this Sound area against a repetition of present conditions will be formed.  It will be an organization which will have in view an orderly and effective method to anticipate and prevent today’s dilemma.  If it is to accomplish the desired end it must have the support of all who use the ferries and who would defend their investment here or elsewhere.  Vashon Island has led in all matters designed to protect ferry users from higher rates.  The sound principals of state administration of our ferries had their birth in the far-sightedness of Vashon Island citizens.  Now is the time for Vashon Island residents to again evidence leadership and lay the groundwork for the organization that will eventually embrace every community served by ferries.

• Editorial – About That Purported Ferry Users’ Committee! – It is with a certain amount of hesitancy that we take notice of two remarks made publicly by officials of the Inland Boatmen’s Union during the past few days.  We do this reluctantly because the persons attacked need no defense, having unselfishly and tirelessly set aside their personal affairs over a period of weeks, sparing neither time nor money in behalf of the communities of their choice.  We refer to the members of the Ferry Users’ Committee, and the remarks made by John M. Fox and Clyde Deal, secretary and president of the Inland Boatmen’s Union.  In an address given before members of the Washingtonians Inc. at a luncheon in Seattle Monday Captain Fox outlined the position of his union in the present controversy.  He elaborated on the obvious need of ferry transportation, returning always to the theme of “the strike.”  A careful study of his speech and replies to questions which followed revealed that nothing superseded the right to strike, not even the convenience of the thousands who were inconvenienced.  He stated, “This present strike is rather tragic because the requests of the Union were so reasonable and moderate, and certainly, if an honest disagreement came through a method of arbitration…. However, on this question of arbitration it must not be understood that arbitration is a sure way to settle all controversies.  Certainly, a strike should not be secondary.  Arbitration should not be second to a strike because we have learned from experience that if you agree to arbitrate in advance of negotiations, there is no incentive on either the union’s part or the employer’s part to settle differences over the conference table.”  We quote the foregoing because we believe it sounds a very significant keynote.  Later the question as asked, “In case the State takes over the ferries, how do we know whether or not strikes will occur again?”  Following was the reply.  “If the State takes over the ferries, I want to warn you now it is rather interesting that the Ferry Users Committee engaged in settling the controversy does not represent the ferry users strange as it may seem.  We went to Olympia two years ago and the ferry users were absent.  They didn’t want State ownership.  When the last bill was introduced by Kyle and Wanamaker, which provided for State ownership, I went down and supported that bill in its principal.  The committee was asked to incorporate seniority in that bill.  The State must give the men what they are striking for.”  There is no need to enlarge upon the falsity of these vague and garbled remarks.  In the beginning those who know Paul Billingsley know what he has done, and what he stands for.  W.H. Creech is to his community, Indianola, the same type of representative citizen.  C.Marshall is outstanding on Bainbridge.  These men were chosen in July at a mass meeting of ferry users from many Sound points.  No group of men could be more representative or belong more truly to communities served by ferries.  By the same sign all who have followed the efforts in behalf of state operation know the part that Paul Billingsley has played.  It is a matter of common knowledge that passage of this bill was handicapped by the interference of these labor leaders who know that having the ferries a part of the highway department will be a death blow.  In this department the open shop policy is strictly adhered to.  In a radio speech given over a Seattle radio station later the same day Clyde Deal, president of the Inland Boatmen’s Union read a letter alleged to have been sent to the governor and mediator.  We quote from an electrical transcription of this talk, “This request was complied with, and immediately thereafter, laboring under an apparently sincere desire to bring the strike to a hasty conclusion and without consulting the representation of the union, you jointly with certain purported ferry users and publicly announced terms for proposed strike settlement.”  It was interesting to learn that Mr. Deal, a resident of California, felt called upon to publicly and in so lightly-veiled a manner attack residents of our state who are working so consciously for their homes and neighbors.  It was also interesting to hear that of the original personnel of the negotiating committee, members of the union and men working for the affected companies, only two now representing this union are former employees of the Black Ball lines.  The others are strangers.  Apparently to be effective there must be importations from California or elsewhere.  Knowing as we do the men available we personally would rather trust the fate of our ferry system to their mercy rather than total strangers.  In conclusion we believe that in an attempt to justify or answer in any way these remarks we are paying undue attention to human beings who are fighting for that which is slipping away, namely public sympathy and public confidence, bewilderment as children are when they see some cherished toy being snatched from their reach.

• Mr. Deal’s Case, As The Public Sees It – (The following editorial is contributed by a reader well informed on the matter discussed.) The public will not attempt to pass judgment on Mr. Deal’s contention, in his talk on the air Monday evening, that $107.50 is not an adequate monthly wage for the deck-hands and oilers on the Black Ball lines.  To farmers and fruit growers whose long hours of work yield so little at present prices, it seems large and it certainly compares favorably with wages paid for similar classes of work in other industries, and as we know, other ferry companies in Puget Sound are paying less for the same work than the Black Ball.  But the public will not forgive the stupidity of this strike procedure.  For at the very time that the union asks more from the ferry company it takes action, by shutting down the service, which is certain to make the company less able to pay.  And so if the company, after losing its summer revenues because of the strike, is asked to pay higher wages and thus raise its costs, it must turn to the public for the additional funds.  So the public loses twice; first in the damage done to it by the strike, and second when it pays the increased rates.  We learned all these things in 1937, when the union demands were, after five weeks of strike, passed on by the company to the department of public service and so to use, the ferry-using public.  The end of it was $250,000 in increased rates and permanent crippling of our communities.  We will have no repetition of this in 1939 nor ever again.  Our program is the direct reverse of Mr. Deal’s.  Instead of killing the ferry business by strikes, high costs and higher rates, with attendant loss of confidence, we wish to RESTORE confidence, end strikes, reduce rates, and build up the business and the revenues.  And when it has by these means regained the ground lost by the stupidities of the past few years, we propose that all parties concerned participate in the gain: 1. LABOR, by getting higher wages and better conditions.  2. PUBLIC, by getting lower rates and better service.  3. STOCKHOLDERS, by receiving again, after 10 years, some dividends on their investment.  In short we offer a program of CONSTRUCTION and mutual benefit in place of a one-sided program bound to damage both ferry business and communities served thereby.

• Ferry Strike Over Start Again Today – News that the ferry strike had been ended and that service would be resumed immediately was communicated to the News-Record at 9:30 Wednesday evening by Paul Billingsley, of the Ferry Users’ Committee, and William Thorniley, for the ferry company.  Signed by representatives of the union and management an agreement was reached to submit all matters to arbitration by a board composed of one representative for the union and one for the company, and a third member agreeable to the first two.  If an agreement as to all matters in dispute is not reached within seven days after service is resumed Ernest Marshall, labor conciliator is to be called into council.  All finding and awards of this board shall be binding and final.  All wage awards shall be effective as of the date of resumption of service.  Excitement over the news was evidenced by a flood of phone calls to this office as the radio reports conflicted.  As soon as the agreement was signed a radio call was sent out for the employees on the Vashon-Harper-Fauntleroy boat to report for duty at once, the plan being to begin regular schedule with the regular early trip Thursday morning.

• The Clarke K. Wakefield house, which was destroyed by fire several years ago on Assembly Point, Burton, is being replaced.

• Olympia Weekly Letter by Jimmie K. Browne – Editor’s Note – In his foregoing notes Jimmie de K. Brown sings a sad song.  He calls attention to the fact that were the ferries of the state to become a part of the highway system there would be little left for highway construction and development in eastern and southwestern Washington.  That being the case these parts of the state would know just how to sympathize with the islands of Puget Sound.  The monies which the islands have received from state sources have been almost negligible, yet our taxes have been paid just about as regularly, and as great a proportion has gone into highway funds as in any other part of the state.  The editor of the News-Record is in theory definitely opposed to state operation of ferries, agreeing with Mr. Brown that operation under public ownership is more costly than under private operation.  Many of the proponents of state operation are equally opposed in theory.  But we are forced to agree that under the present setup this is the only manner in which we can secure lower rates, the only means by which the islands and cross-Sound areas can be populated.  The Highway Department is the most efficient branch of our state administration and if any agency can operate the ferries economically and satisfactorily that department can, without returning Eastern and Southwestern Washington to the Indians either!

• Olympia Weekly Letter – The ferry boat strike in Seattle is of unusual interest to the state as a whole.  This is because desperate efforts are being made to force the state into the ferry boat business.  It looks very much, at this time, as if this ferry boat strike was for that purpose and for that purpose alone.  Governor Martin has asked the attorney-general for his opinion as to how far he can go.  If it is decided that the state can take over the operation of the ferry boats, it will mean that the program of the C.I.O. group for state ownership of every thing is well on its way to accomplishment.  The interest of the state, as a whole, is due to the fact that the state must foot the bill.  This means practically that the highway funds will be tapped for this charge.  If private operation cannot successfully and economically operate the Puget Sound ferries at a profit, and still meet labor demands, there is no reason to believe that the state can do any better.  In fact, past experience shows that it costs from 20 to 30 per cent more for public ownership and operation of any utility than it does for private operation.  If the state should take over and operate the ferries, Eastern Washington and Southwestern Washington communities can say goodbye to any future highway construction and development in their section.  There will be no money available now, or in the future. – When the question of state ownership of ferries on Puget Sound was before the last two sessions of the legislature, inquiry into the cost of operation as an integral part of the highway system developed the fact that the drain upon the Highway Department’s resources would be too great.  Just why the state should, at this time, be seriously considering such a move is not hard to understand.  It is all a portion of the old Trotsky doctrine – “work and vote for every kind of a proposal which will tax private capital and industry out of existence.” By JIMMIE de K. BROWN.

• The obituary of John H. Rodda was published.

• Tahlequahite Finds Floating Dynamite – When Jay Russell, of Tahlequah, found five cases of dynamite floating in the West Pass, he figured he had something.  In fact, he did!  But his find didn’t even get him a “Thank you!”  Russell was fishing in he Pass when he noticed the boxes floating, as well as a partially submerged cruiser.  The latter he thought was merely a derelict.  He retrieved the explosives and let the cruiser drift merrily along.  He landed the dynamite at Sunrise Beach, and was negotiating a sale for the same when the U.S. Coast Guard cutter 402 appeared, lifted the dynamite, and didn’t give him a pleasant smile.  Here’s how the dynamite came to be taking a cruise: R.W. Nelson, Tacoma, was transporting 30 cases of the explosive in his cabin cruiser Dickey Boy, when just where the Narrows bridge is rising, Nelson discovered that his craft was leaking.  It filled more rapidly than he could empty it.  So he took his dinghy and rowed to Salmon Beach where he put in a hurry call to the Coast Guard.  The he set out in pursuit of the danger-laden craft.  The Coast Guard caught up with the cruiser while the top of her cabin was still showing, and towed her to a buoy at Spring Beach.  Thirty cases had floated off, and 20, including Russell’s five, were located.  The rest sank, it is believed.

• Goes To Visit Friend Finds Him Dead In Bed – “Well, how are you today, Fred?” asked Mrs. Fred G. Pohl of Tahlequah Saturday when she entered the room occupied by Fred W. Wenzel in a Tacoma hospital.  There was no answer.  Mrs. Pohl went to the bedside, and found that Wenzel was dead.  A nurse was summoned, and indications were that Wenzel had been dead for at least an hour.  Wenzel was 68 years old, and had been in the chicken business at Tahlequah for a number of years.

• Fires Keep County Men Busy Fighting – Sparks from a chimney fire Monday evening resulted in a fire that totally destroyed the small house west of Vashon occupied by M. Tobin.  Help, which prevented the fire from spreading into the woods nearby, was summoned by Russel Brammer, a lineman for the Puget Sound Power & Light Company, who climbed a telephone pole and tapped a wire into the office at Center.  A second fire was set the same evening in the woods between Cross’ Landing and Lisabeula by boys with a match gun.  This fire was brought under control before serious damage was done, but like the Tobin fire it gave the county men some bad moments.

• Motorist Harpooned By Ferry Operation – With Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public “anteing” dollars in copious amounts, the pre-Yuletide season continues splendidly for the Washington Navigation Company, so far as its Tahlequah run is concerned.  And the aggravating part is that the Washington Navigation Company serves Tahlequah when business between Point Defiance and Gig Harbor permits.  Monday morning on the first trip out of Tahlequah 10 automobiles and one auto freight truck were left, and they remained for three hours on the pier until the next regular trip.  Motorists were told by the purser that it would be impossible, “due to pressure of business on the other side to return until the next regular trip.”  Business was so good at Tahlequah Sunday night that two additional trips were made after the regular 7:45 trip.  The third trip was completed at 9:30, the result being that motorists waited nearly two hours to be transported 2 and 1/10th miles. An additional trip was made after the regular one from Tahlequah at midnight.

• L.D. Houghton Passes.

 August 31, 1939

• High School Boy Escapes Injury In Auto Accident – Family and friends are still wondering what saved Glen Polhamus, a high school student, from serious injury when the family car skidded on the wet road just north of the telephone office Monday afternoon.  Glen, driving at a moderate rate of speed, turned out to pass a group of boys leading a horse.  The combination of wet surface, and loose gravel at the side of the road caused him to lose control of the car which was badly damaged when it struck a telephone pole.  Fortunately the lad received only a few bruises.

• Shaken Up In Auto Accident Sunday – While starting out on a day’s outing Bill Boyd and June Hayes were badly shaken up in an accident that damaged Bill’s new car which he recently purchased.  In making the curve east of Mileta Farm loose gravel caused the driver to lose control of his car which plunged into the ditch along the roadside before it turned over and struck the bank.  June was to join the Boyd family in an outing to Mount Rainer, their first trip of this nature in the new car.

• Several men, under the direction of Herb W. Creevey, patrolled the Newport woods until Friday when a light shower eliminated most of the danger of fires blazing up again.  The bulldozer was used to pull the burning logs from that area and Beall’s spray tanks were used to keep it wet.  Several times, a new blaze started but was quickly quelled by the patrollers.

• The Ferry Strike…Lessons and Plans – The strike just ended has convinced your Ferry Users’ Committee that a permanent, non-political association should be immediately formed in the Puget Sound area to accomplish the following: 1. Prevent any interruption of service whatsoever.  2. Advocate increased ferry travel to permit lower rates, better wages and working conditions for employees.  3. Promote friendly relations between the public, employees and operators.  4. Support all programs of improved transportation in the region, including roads and bridges.  5. Represent the ferry users in any future controversies between operators and their employees.  6. Protect the interests generally of the ferry-using public and the communities west of Puget Sound.  Do you favor such an organization?  If so sign and mail the appended postcard.  FERRY USERS’ COMMITTEE Paul Billingsley.

• Editorial – The Public Demands…! – Elsewhere in this issue of the News-Record is a comprehensive review by Paul Billingsley, member of the Ferry Users’ Committee, of what transpired during and previous to the ferry strike which culminated last Wednesday.  We recommend that property owners read that article very carefully, as it throws much light on a matter which means more than any other to our future development.  Those who were closely in touch with developments during the strike were fascinated as the picture unfolded.  It was like a weird puppet show, which the audience watches, yet cannot see the nimble fingers that put the figures through their antics.  From start to finish the ferry strike never did made sense to the uninitiated, but we could see that hidden fingers were pulling the strings, putting on a show not to our liking, yet one which we were forced to watch and suffer from.  For the past few years after a long period of exploitation we have seen labor badly pampered.  We have read of unjustified strikes; strikes which resulted in confiscation of property; strikes which closed industrial plants, and in some cases destroyed the employment of entire communities.  We believe Captain Fox, in a talk given last week stated a very basic fact when he said that in his opinion a strike should never be a secondary matter.  The threat of strike is like the attitude of a child who finds he can terrify family and friends by threatening to “hold his breath and get black in the face,” (quoting from “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch”).  The family, after a period of panic, finds that the naughty infant can hold it breath only so long.  A sound spanking will provide a roar, and one just can’t hold his breath and roar at the same time.  With the knowledge that the highway department of the State of Washington was operated on an open shop plan, no more effective plan could have been devised than to operate the ferries under the highway department – under an open shop policy there is no need of unions – without unions there is no need of dues with which an organization is maintained – so the puzzle isn’t so difficult after all.  It is estimated the ferry strike cost this section of Washington $25,000 a day - $550,000 for the entire time.  We believe it is a conservative estimate that the enforced vacation cost the men and women thrown out of work an average of $100 each.  This being the case there was a matter of $50,000 – potential buying or purchasing power in any event – completely gone.  Under the terms of the agreement to resume service the men went back to work at the wages and terms in effect the night they left their jobs.  The Pacific Coast is threatened with another maritime strike.  Steamship companies are setting their houses in order, planning to let this industrial fever run its course.  Employees in clerical positions are getting their work completed, and have been told their services would probably not be required for some time after the first of November.  A few years ago workers thrown out of employment as the result of a strike were received with open arms by relief agencies.  The courts have recently ruled that strikers are not eligible to unemployment insurance benefits.  Today all Europe waits with bated breath as a madman, drunk with power, makes up his mind to give up dreams of more power, or plunge his own and other nations into civil and economic ruin.  If arbitration fails then humanity is doomed.  Our ferry strike was small and insignificant viewed with a background of American industrial life.  Many asked what the continual and consistent effort of the Ferry Users’ Committee, and the interested residents helped in settling the little strike that involved us.  We believe that our procedure will eventually be the answer to similar situations, namely an earnest, determined interest on the part of the public, a firm stand on the part of the state officials, and realization on the part of the employer and employee that the public is the undeniable third party in all differences that affect others.  This is no partisan fight, for ours is no quarrel with capital or labor.  It is a declaration of independence that John Q. Public, his wife and all the children are just plumb worn out with being pushed around, and are now insisting on having at least one-third to say in matters that inconvenience him and his.  If state operation of our ferries gives us what we want we’ll make a mighty effort to obtain it.  But if those who furnish us with ferry transportation, both employers and employees can get along without playing rough and hurting us, all things being equal, that will suit us just fine.  The thing we won’t stand is a repetition of what has just ended.

• Olympia Weekly Letter – The ferry boat strike on the waters of Puget Sound has been ended.  The end did not come, however, until it became evident that the program to place the state in the boat business was not going to be tolerated by the state at large.  The haste with which the forces of the state administration sought to break the deadlock, and did, is amusing when it found that the state at large would not tolerate the sacrificing of the available highway funds to meet conditions brought about by ambitious labor and political leaders. By JIMMIE de K. BROWN.

• Don Parker Can Advise – It is reported that Vashon Island men may find out what the well-dressed man will wear this winter by consulting Don Parker after banking hours.  Don spent time and money and acquired several new suits and accessories during a visit to Seattle Wednesday, just so that he could be in a position to give sartorial advice to his friends.

• Eddie Haack of Burton returned Sunday to the C.C.C. camp at Port Townsend of which he is a member.  He was among the crew who fought the serious blaze at Index, recently.

• News-Record To Be Sent College Students – For several years the management of the News-Record has been very happy to send the paper to Vashon Island students enrolled in institutions of higher education.  The only requirement we are making is that these students will personally make the request in writing, and that they will agree to notify us of change of address only.

• Log Raft Breaks Up; Tahlequahites Get Busy – A log raft belonging to the American Tugboat Company of Everett, broke up Thursday in front of Tahlequah, and the folks had a busy time snaking in logs.  But their efforts were in vain.  After they had worked hard, with perspiration dotting their brows, the tug Chickaloon, and two others arrived on the scene, took the logs, and didn’t even wish the folks a Merry Christmas.

• A Good Fish Story – While fishing at Rosehilla, Tuesday, Edward Harmeling and son, Bobbie, of Vashon, and John D. Cress of Seattle caught the amazing number of ninety-four black cod (mackerel).  They went fishing at the same place Sunday and obtained seventy.  The second day (Monday) of fishing saw a slight decrease in the toll with only forty being caught.  Perhaps this was merely letting them down for Tuesday’s buildup.  The fish are now being smoked and afford, better than the actual meat, a very good “fish story.”

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September 1939

September 7, 1939

• Island Ferry Users Poll Will Be Made – Paul Billingsley returned Tuesday from a ten-day business trip into British Columbia.  He immediately began work on the problem of putting into the hands of Island ferry patrons and property owners postcards for a poll, the results of which will determine the interest and support in an organization designed to improve transportation conditions for Puget Sound areas.  The post cards will be sent out in a few days, and Mr. Billingsley requests that they be filled out, and returned as soon as possible.  The Ferry Users’ Committee are particularly anxious that all having suggestions shall feel free to make them under the heading “remarks.”  The strike arbitrating committee has not yet been completed.  In conjunction with the Ferry Users’ Committee, the transportation company have named George Stuntz, a Seattle attorney, while the Inland Boatmen’s Union have selected Clyde Deal of San Francisco as their representative.  It is anticipated that the third member will have to be named by Ernest P. Marsh, labor conciliator.  The committee will likely not swing into action until about the first of October.  Members of the Ferry Users’ Committee will sit in on the meetings and have a certain voice in the final decisions.

• Sculptor’s Work In Sand at Spring Beach – Proving that Stone Mountain isn’t the only place in the country having its face lifted with portraits of our great presidents in the volunteer one-man project now under construction at Spring Beach, summer resort on the west side of Vashon Island, where two presidents’ heads have been chiseled on the cliffs during the past three weeks.  Joseph Schurvin, jeweler and engraver by profession, is the artist who has carved likenesses of Washington and Lincoln out of the sand banks of Puget Sound.  It’s his amusement. Equipped with trowel, penknife and a small ladder as his only implements, Schurvin has shaped remarkably accurate base-reliefs from memory for his own amusement.  “Miss Spring Beach”, a silhouette study of a seated girl, adjoins the six foot bust of the father of our country.  (From an article reprinted as it appeared in the Tacoma Times.)

• The obituary of Albert Hulsether was published.

• New Auditorium To Be Dedicated – Members and friends of the Columbia district will take part in the dedication of the new auditorium, recently completed by WPA facilities. 

• Spring Beach Enjoys Fine Summer Business – Labor Day witnessed the close of the finest summer business at Spring Beach, popular West Pass resort, in the last five years.  Forest Ritz, manager, and Mrs. Ritz, hostess of Miramar Inn, said today there had been a marked increase in the number of guests registered this year.  The Yankee Boy, serving Spring Beach and Point Delco, will continue operating week-ends until the first of October.

• Kindergarten At Vashon – The Vashon kindergarten, the first one on Vashon Island, began its school year Tuesday, with an enrollment of six boys and three girls.  The teacher is Mrs. O.E. Lee of Vashon, and it is held at the Vashon Grammar school.

• The obituary of Miss Ida Dysart was published.

• Kirk-Reeves wedding details were published.

September 14, 1939

• Big Road Oiling Job Completed This Week – Work was completed this week on the oiling of almost 24 miles of Island roads.  The work was done by regular road employees and 16 men from the mainland operating equipment consisting of power graders with blade and broom attachments, four 1200 gallon oil distributors, power rollers, and trucks equipped with spreader boxes for putting on cover stone.  WPA workers assisted at Vashon tearing out old timbers along pavement and spreading the sand covering to oil spread on either side of the concrete.  A total of 7.3 miles of roads not previously treated received a coat of penetrating oil.  The roads thus treated were from the end of the present oiled road at Vashon Cemetery, west along the Langell Road and then north over the Thorsen Road, lateral highway No. 10, through Cove and Colvos, a connecting link over the Krokset Road from the Vashon-Cove Road to Colvos.  The M.F. Hatch Road from above the Masonic Temple at Burton, east over the Assembly Point Road to the Assembly Grounds on Burton Acres received its first oil treatment.  A short stretch of the Soper Road leading to the old Vashon Landing, the road leading to the schoolhouse at Dockton and the loop from Madrona Lodge east around the KVI transmitter have been likewise treated.  The roads oiled in previous years received treatment consisting of an application of heavy asphalt oil covered with crushed rock, broomed with steel brushes, then rolled in place making a permanent hard surface.  These roads which have been given this permanent finish are the Vashon to Cove Road over the Schaeffer, Markham, Simmons and Priest Roads from the concrete pavement west to the lateral highway south of the Cove Methodist Church; the Soper Road east and west through Vashon; the McLean or Beall Road; the Broadway Road from Center west to the cemetery; the W.L. Livesley Road from Center School through Ellisport to KVI radio station; the Ellisport to Portage Road along the waterfront; the Judd Creek to Portage Road; the Quartermaster Hill Road from the Pioneers’ Monument north; the Portage to Dockton Road from the Portage Store to the south limits of Dockton; the C.A. Cook Road from Burton wharf to Shawnee.   Fifteen and three-fourths miles roads are now permanently surfaced, while almost eight miles are oiled preparatory to being permanently surfaced next summer.

• Former Editor Visits Here – This office has a pleasant call Tuesday from A.S. Randall of Washington D.C., one of the early owners of the News-Record.  This was their first visit to the Island since the Randalls left here 25 years ago.

• Largest Senior Class In School History – With the largest senior class in its history Vashon Island High School starts the year with an enrollment of 216 students, four of whom are post-graduates.  Again the boys outnumber the girls.  Classes are divided as follows: Freshmen, 31 boys, 31 girls; Sophomores, 25 boys, 17 girls; Juniors, 25 boys, 20 girls; Seniors, 34 boys, 29 girls; post-graduates, 2 boys, 2 girls.

• Football Schedule – Sept. 15 – Bremerton B; Sept. 22 – Port Orchard; Sept. 29 – Bremerton B; Oct. 6 – Gig Harbor; Oct. 13 – Bainbridge; Oct. 20 – Vaughn; Oct. 27 – Poulsbo; Nov. 3 – Silverdale; Nov. 10 – Fife; Nov. 17 – Puget Sound Naval Academy.  This year’s is the biggest schedule in Vashon Island High School’s history.  Patrons are asked to clip and save the foregoing schedule.

• Editorial - Program For Peace, Not War! – We do not subscribe to the ostrich method of the United States keeping out of war (that method leaves too much exposed) but we do believe that there is too much talk of the danger of getting into war, and too little of the normal subjects that should receive a definite amount of attentions.  We don’t believe there is any better way to produce ill-health in a child than to reiterate, day after day, “Johnny dear, mother is so afraid you’ll get sick if you aren’t careful!”  After just so much warning Johnny is bound to get the notion that “getting sick” is something that needs a lot of attention.  Why not talk to Johnny about getting big and strong without putting the negative idea of sickness into his mind?  Talk to him about the good, wholesome food he is consuming; call to his attention that the fresh air he breathes morning, noon and night is a God-given gift that not all children enjoy in such large quantities as he does; tell him there is something to be said for the pure water we have for the exterior as well as the interior of our bodies.  It might even be in order to teach that precious Johnny that it is a real privilege to be able to dwell in friendship with his playmates, his parents and teachers.  But let’s keep our conversation if possible away from pestilence, disease and the horrors of war.  Personally we feel that if the war is to come to America it will come – but that by moaning constantly, “What if America gets into the war!” we are hastening the day.  We believe a far better plan is to immediately begin to consider what the winter program for our young people should be.  A healthful sign is a community’s interest in its youth.  And incidentally we ask you to note how the Island’s health in that respect has improved in the past few years.  Of course there is still room for improvement but we are getting better.  Our veteran groups are doing a splendid work in their efforts.  The V.F.W. has sponsored a junior rifle team that has been accepted by the National Rifle Association.  Last Sunday we saw two boys trained in that group and watching with interest their sportsmanship and marksmanship we appreciated that their training had been good.  Their rifles were handled with care that showed an understanding of potential danger.  The Junior Rifle Club begins its training again next week so we are assured of that activity as a part of our winter’s program.  Several busy people are finding time to devote to 4-H work, an activity that has value and which should be encouraged in this, a rural community.  We believe we are correct in saying that only one Boy Scout troop is now functioning on Vashon Island.  Scouting is unequalled for building up and keeping boys out of mischief.  With the grand distances of Vashon Island we need more than one troop of Boy Scouts of America.  We believe far more good for the community can be accomplished through proper leadership of a Scout troop and by keeping youngsters happy and busy than by any amount of agonizing over what is going to happen when and if we get into the present war.  Then too there is crying need of Girl Scout or Campfire leadership and training here.  This has proven an impossible task in the past, but even though there is no one with time for such leadership surely with a population the size of ours there should be women, not encumbered by years and flesh, who could organize hikes for girls of grammar school age who take just as keen an interest in such activities as their brothers.  During the past summer the American Legion was responsible for a large number of young fellows getting loads of enjoyment, wholesome fun and activity from the softball tournament.  Without too much talk of the cost of lights and janitor service can’t those same chaps have the use of school gymnasiums for basketball this winter?  If there is a program for adult education there would be little quibbling about lights and janitors and those grown-up boys need decent entertainment more than their elders need educating.  So let’s put our minds on these wholesome, vital problems and let our young people know we share their interests.  They’ll enjoy this spirit far better now, while America is still at peace, than they will the tears, socks and sweaters we’ll produce for their benefit in the war we’re bound to get into if we don’t stop taking about it.

• Witness Blossoming Of Rare Plant – Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hauge provided a number of friends and neighbors with a treat Monday evening when they invited them to witness the yearly blooming of a rare plant.  This plant, the “Queen”, is a variety of spineless cactus, resembling in its habits the “Night Blooming Cereus” of southwestern desert regions of North America.  The “Queen”, however, is a native of South America.

• A Resolution – WHEREAS, the transportation from Vashon Island was discontinued for an indefinite time by a strike, and WHEREAS, due to the splendid work of Mr. Paul Billingsley and other members of the Ferry Users’ Committee, some recognition was taken of the transportation needs of Vashon Island residents, therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that the thanks and appreciation of the Elizabeth Bixby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, be extended to Mr. Paul Billingsley and to other members of the Ferry Users’ Committee for their efforts in behalf of Vashon Island residents.  Moreover may congratulations be extended to them for their success in getting some representation to protect the interests of the Island residents, during the settlement of those problems arising from the strike. Signed, Elizabeth Bixby Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Miss Ann Brayton, Regent; Mrs. L.P. Black, Secretary.

• A funeral notice for Henry Moland was published.

• Chimney Fire Threatens Home – The quick action of men employed at the Beall Greenhouse Company plant was responsible for averting a serious blaze which might easily have destroyed the home of Mrs. L.C. Beall, Sr. Tuesday afternoon.  When first discovered a chimney fire which had ignited from the fireplace was sending out flames 20 feet high which a strong north wind whipped toward the Wallace Beall residence, and showered sparks and cinders on the dry shingles of the houses.  When the fire was finally extinguished, the bricks of the chimney were so hot they could not be touched.  Her grandsons were delighted with the admirable calm of Madame Beall, who when she realized the chimney was on fire brought in a kettle of water and extinguished the blaze in the fireplace.

September 21, 1939

• Response Indicates Interest in Ferry Users Organization – Excellent response on the part of those receiving cards last week from the Ferry Users’ Committee indicate a real interest in forming an organization for the purpose of improving transportation conditions in Puget Sound areas.  Paul Billingsley, Vashon member of the Ferry Users’ Committee, reports that approximately 500 cards, most of them bearing several names, have been returned to him. 

• To Organize League Of Women Voters – In response to the invitation of a group of Island women an organizer for the State League of Women Voters will be here Friday, September 29. 

• Island Mourns Passing Of Mrs. Augusta Hunt

• Legion To Hold Public Installation of Officers – The first public installation of Vashon Island Post 159 Department of Washington American Legion will take place Thursday evening, September 28.

• New Auditorium Is Dedicated At Cove – Friends and neighbors, young and old, gathered Friday evening at the Columbia School for the first P.T.A. meeting of the school year and the dedication of the fine new auditorium in which the meeting was held.

• To Be A Member Of The Byrd Antarctic Expedition – Word has been received by Island friends that Bud Simundsen, a former summer resident of Newport, has been selected as a member of the Byrd Antarctic expedition.

September 28, 1939

• National Assembly Programs Start Oct 2 – In order to acquaint the general public with the type of entertainment offered by the National Assembly Programs, the first feature, Captain Art Hook, diver, of Bellingham, Washington, will repeat his afternoon performance, Monday, October 2, in the evening for the benefit of adults, and children unable to attend the first showing.

• Orthopedic Luncheon At Beautiful Sans-Souci – C.J.E. Blanc will be host at the Vashon Orthopedic membership luncheon on Thursday, October 12, at beautiful Sans Souci.  This is a wonderful opportunity for friends of the Orthopedic hospital to join the Vashon Auxiliary and to visit the famous home and gardens of Mr. Blanc.

• Good Progress Shown With New Club House – Trees crashed, the earth moved and things happened rapidly as members of the Vashon Island Sportsmen’s Club worked on the grounds at their new club house last Sunday.  While two tractors pulled sizable trees from the ground and out into the adjacent woods a bulldozer pushed dirt from the slope down toward the building, filling in the depression between the club house and the trap houses where lawn will later be planted.  Although the building will require much more work and it will be some time before it will be ready for occupancy remarkable progress has been made.  The result will be a club house which will do credit to the enterprise of the Vashon Island Sportsmen’s Club.

• Catch Halibut At North End – While fishing at Vashon Heights Sunday afternoon Heber Ward and Irving Larsen were astonished when they pulled in a halibut which weighed 23 ½ pounds.  The men had met with no success still fishing near the dock, so pulled out a short distance and had let out 150 feet of line when they made the catch.  So seldom is a halibut caught in Sound waters the fishermen had difficulty in convincing themselves and others that it was really that variety of fish that they had caught.

• Tribute to Augusta Hunt by Kate Forbes was published.

• Mysterious Meeting – The newly organized and very mysterious Breakfast Club met with Mrs. O.A. Kalland Monday morning.  Just who comprises the membership, what time breakfast is served, and various other features comprise mysteries which to date are unsolved.  The point seems to be that there are certain women on Vashon Island who can keep a secret.

• The rumor, circulated by well-meaning friends, that Don Parker had joined the Canadian army was entirely erroneous.  He was merely enjoying a well-earned vacation, but is now back, counting the dollars at the Vashon State Bank.

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October 1939

October 5, 1939

• Third Member Named On Arbitration Board – Wayne Morse Appointed To Serve In Helping To Settle Ferry Strike – The meetings will be held on weekends so as not to interfere with the regular duties of Dean Morse, of the law school of the University of Oregon.

• Deer! Deer! Deer! Hunters Return Home – Lots and Lots of Hunters – But Very Few Deer!

• He See’d His Duty…And…He Done It!! – Considerable excitement and much indignation was aroused Sunday among Vashon Island sportsmen.  It appears that a newly appointed game warden, who had not thoroughly read his book of game laws, arrived on the scene early, determined to try out his commission and see if it worked.  Somewhere he had read that there were restrictions on the use of hunting dogs and upon discovering a number of hunters stalking grouse with dogs he proceeded to take their guns from them.  Reports vary from seven to eleven who were thus treated before they were mad enough to organize another one of those caravans that Vashon Island has come to regard as potent.  Quite a delegation caught up with the warden, who was reported to be a second Paul Bunyan in size – or maybe that’s the way he looked to the boys!  Although he had a car full of guns the irate hunters and their friends were more effectively armed with copies of the state game laws.  The officer was quickly convinced of his error and with a very rosy countenance returned the fire-arms.  Local sportsmen are still feeling a bit ill-used for with only a few days to hunt grouse they hated to lose even the one day.

October 12, 1939

• Organization of Ferry Users Association To Start At Once

• Local Folk Featured In Saturday Evening Post – The Saturday Evening Post has been doing well by Vashon Island recently.  In last week’s issue was the charming poem, “A Small Boy’s Prayer” by Mrs. Clara Tonk, her second to be published in the Post in less than a year.  In the current issue is “The Buck of Skookumpuss Peak” by Chester Chatfield.  He would probably be recognized better locally as “the husband of Thelma McCormick”, who is a native daughter.  In his very interesting narrative Mr. Chatfield mentions our George McCormick, Frank Fuller, Elmer Harmeling, and Alva Allison, a former Island resident.  We cannot vouch for how much is fact, nor what proportion fancy, but we do know it would be a mighty interesting and readable yarn, even if in everyday life we can’t quite picture George McCormick measuring the width of Main Street in Chelan.  Our interest in the story is intensified by the fact that if the story is in the main true the family of the editor of this publication ate some steaks off the Buck of Skookumpuss Pass.

• New Books In Library – Among the new books in the Burton Library are “Imperial Twilight” by Bertita Harding, which was recently reviewed by Miss Junta Todd Hallen, “Jamaica Inn” by De Maurier and “We Cover the World” by six newspaper correspondents.

October 19, 1939

• Vashon Wins From Bainbridge 20 -7 – 65 Yard Run Highlights Game ending 5-Year Jinx – Of all the days to end a jinx, Friday the 13th would be the last to pick.  However, forgetting everything but their football the Pirates brought a sudden end to Bainbridge’s 5-year gridiron supremacy and chalked up their fifth game of the season and fourth league tussle which leaves the Green and Gold boys right on top of the Tri-County League and still undefeated this year.

• The mill at Ellisport opened Monday after a complete overhauling and is now employing eighteen men.

• Receive Honorary Masonic Degrees – For the first time in the history of Masonry in Washington the degree of Honorary Past Master was conferred last week on Stephen J. Harmeling and R.W.F. Martin, members of Mark P. Waterman Lodge.

• Membership of Honor Society Announced – Members of the Vashon Island High School Honor Society for the year 1939-40 were this week announced to be as follows: Seniors: Shirley Blekkink, Marie Johansen, Laurence Larsen, Grace Matsumoto, Winifred McPherson, Jack Petersen, Wanda Robinson, Judith Shride, Mildred Griffin.  Juniors: Estelle Beall, George Fujioka, Yonichi Matsuda, Marybelle Tonk, Helen Wegener, Anne Edwards, Virginia Rand.  Sophomores: Rachel Blekkink, Kenneth Garrison, Bobbie Harmeling, Masa Kunigi, Edith Larsen, Daigo Tagami, Berna Wick, Jimmie Matsumoto. 

• Personals – Mrs. Gus Hiersch entertained the Lisabeula Main Street Sauerkraut Club at her home, Wednesday.

• West Side Resident Passes – The obituary of Mrs. Ellen Margaret Hunt was published.

October 26, 1939

• Vashon, Undefeated To Play Undefeated Poulsbo Team

• 50-pound Tyee Drifts Ashore at Tahlequah – Miles from the spawning grounds, a 50-pound Tyee salmon drifted ashore Friday in front of the Clarke (Tiger) Thomsen residence at Tahlequah.  The salmon was swept in by the tide and a feeble attempt to gain security before dying.  This is declared to be the largest fish of its kind ever to be sighted in the waters around Tahlequah.

• Island Cherries on Boat Sunk in Atlantic – The sinking of the M.S. “Loch Avon” was of interest locally since it had on board a shipment of canned sour cherries which A.D. Malet of Quartermaster Harbor was sending to relatives in England.  The boat left Seattle on its fourth voyage August 26 with a cargo of fresh and canned fruits and airplane parts and was the victim of U-boat activities somewhere in the Atlantic October 14.

• Escape Serious Injury In Auto Accident – Mrs. W.E. Willers, her daughter, Louise, and their guest, Miss Katherine Carlew of Seattle escaped serious injury Saturday evening, although the family car in which they were riding was completely wrecked.  The three women were coming from the Heights ferry when they bumped into a sedan driven by Nora Hoshi.  The driver of the Hoshi car, coming onto the King Road reported that she had come to a full stop and did not see the Willers car.  Mrs. Willers, who was driving, swung to the other side of the pavement, missing the Hoshi car, but in attempting to swing back onto the pavement the wheels caught in such a manner that the car turned completely over.  Although all of the glass, with the exception of the windshield, was broken out none of the occupants of the car received a single cut or scratch.  They were taken to the office of Dr. McMurray where they were given first aid.  Mrs. Willers suffered bruises and a bone injury in the right shoulder, while Miss Carlew had a similar hip injury.  They were taken to Maynard Hospital on a later ferry and both were able to return to their homes on Tuesday.

• The obituary of Theodor Mansfield was published.

• New Residents At Center – Mr. and Mrs. Otis Putnam and children, Keith and Kathrine, are occupying the C.G. Soike home at Center.  They arrived Saturday and on Monday the children were enrolled in the Center school, Keith in the second and Kathrine in the fourth grades.  Mr. Putnam will serve in the capacity of local credit man for the Puget Sound Power and Light Company, in a position similar to the one he has had with the company for the past three years.

• Ferry Users’ Committee Submits Brief To Arbitration Board – In this brief the committee pointed out that service had been interrupted three times in the past four years by labor difficulties and that each time arbitration had provided the means of settlement.  Also that in none of the settlements was provision made to prevent further interruption of service which in the past had wrought great injury to the public.

• Our Older Neighbors by Clara J. Tonk – (Mrs. Annie Van Devanter of Burton writes the story of her life for the Vashon Island News-Record – thus adding another chapter to the “Our Older Neighbor’s” – “Depression followed depression and so I returned to teaching while my husband kept on with real estate for he had given up his practice on account of health.  And that, dear reader, is how I happened to come to Vashon Island.  Lisabeula wanted a teacher, and I wanted a job.  I came to Lisabeula on the day of the strawberry festival.  On the boat I met Mrs. Shattuck and she was so kind.  Our school had the winning baseball team on the Island, and we crossed to Olalla and beat them.  In three years we won every game except one which was tied.  I introduced the ninth and later the tenth grade there and when Burton Union High School was established, Lisabeula furnished one-half of the pupils.  Later I was principal of Burton Grammar School for two years.  Then I was elected as principal at Tye at the mouth of the tunnel on the Great Northern.  After I had been in Tye for 5 years I obtained the position of high school principal at Rainier, Thurston County.  I left there eight years ago and came home to look after two of my grandchildren and to keep up my own home here in Burton.  –Annie Van Devanter.

• Huckleberries Are at Premium at South End – Due to dry weather conditions, and the fact that there is no sub-irrigated soil around Tahlequah, huckleberries are at a premium.  Thousands of bushes haven’t a single berry, the first time in years, according to old-timers.  Ordinarily there is a large crop available in the territory served by the Pohl road.

• Blackfish Cavort – A school of blackfish entertained folks who don’t retire with the chickens, Friday night at Tahlequah.  When the blackfish come to the inner sound, it is the consensus of opinion that they are driven in from their stamping grounds around Cape Flattery by heavy weather, or an abundance of fish, which they feed upon.

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November 1939

November 2, 1939

• Captain Olsen’s Boat Caught In Ice – Mrs. Kaurin Olsen recently received a message from her husband, captain of the motor boat “Ensee”, and Alaskan freighter, that his boat was frozen in the lee about seven miles from the mouth of the Yukon river.  He had expected to arrive in Seattle this week on the “Mt. McKinley”, but stated in his message that he would now have to remain until his boat was made secure, after which he would fly out and arrive home in time for Thanksgiving.

• Hallowe’en Depredations! – Tuesday night’s depredation by Hallowe’en vandals at Vashon were the worst in the history of the Island.  Led by a group of young men, who according to all the laws of decency should have had respect for property rights, mob psychology ruled and the village was at the mercy of youth at its worst, unhampered by law or order.  In previous years the Vashon Business Men’s Club had provided a night watchman for Hallowe’en, but this year there was not such provision made.

• Highway Marked – A county crew spent Monday and Tuesday renewing highway striping and continuing markings on the main highway south to the Tahlequah dock.

 November 9, 1939

• Complaints Concerning Pier Waiting Station – The following letter has been sent by C.R. Roediger, secretary-treasurer of the South End Community Club, to the board of Pierce County Commissioners: “The toilets, or rather what is left of them on the ferry pier at Point Defiance, are nothing short of a disgrace.  The board of commissioners (Pierce County) is apathetic towards anything that would add to the comfort, welfare and convenience of Peninsula residents, and the large number of Tacomans owning property on Vashon and Maury Islands, and are patrons of the ferries operating to these points.  Why are these folks not entitles to consideration from your board?  Certainly the present condition does not lend any enchantment to the dock set up, and is a menace to the public health.  May we have some sorely needed cooperation?”

• E.E. Bramble Takes Over Duties at News-Record – Mr. and Mrs. Earl E. Bramble and small son, Jack, arrived Saturday from Lodi, California.  The have taken up their residence in the Patterson house at Ellisport, recently occupied by Joe Martinson and his aunt, Mrs. John Bohlin.  Mr. Bramble, a newspaper man with many years of experience, has taken over the mechanical department of the News-Record.

• Large Lingcod Are Running at Tahlequah – Lingcod weighing from 30 to 50 pounds are plentiful around Tahlequah, according to reports of fishermen turned in Sunday.  Harry E. Mooberry, his son-in-law, Will Hager, and Abner Hager, salesman for the Jennings Hardware company, Tacoma, hung up a good score considering that a person only lands about one in four lingcod hooked.  The trio got six beauties, the largest weighed 45 pounds.  Rock cod, too, are plentiful, due to the fact that there have been no heavy blows to disturb the kelp line.

• Sunday Proves to Be Darkest of Season – Sunday proved to be the darkest day of the season around Tahlequah.  The chickens folded up early in the afternoon, and had to be coaxed from the roosts for the regular afternoon feeding.  Throughout the day there was a pea-soup haze over the Inner Sound.  The wind came up around 4:30 p.m., stirred up the water on the outgoing tide, and swept the fog away.

• First Crop Eastern Chestnuts Is Picked – For the first time in two decades a crop of Eastern chestnuts was picked yesterday by John L. Miller, Tahlequah, on the abandoned Walter J. Spinning place, Southern Heights.  Year after year the chestnuts have formed, but never materialized because frost failed to come at the proper time.  Miller explained this by saying that chestnuts will not mature in this territory unless they are nipped just at the right time.

November 16, 1939

• New Druggist At Vashon Pharmacy – George Eder, a registered pharmacist of many years experience, has been employed by the Vashon Pharmacy, Mr. Eder, who came here originally as a druggist 20 years ago, has owned and operated the local theatre for a number of years, during which he has made a host of friends.  Mr. Eder’s many years of training began in Yakima in the days when the school for druggists was one of hard experience.

• Part Time Employment Offered Students By NYA – Opportunities for part-time employment and work training are available to an increased number of young people in this vicinity through the National Youth Administration program.

• Small Damage From Quake – Although comparatively little damage was done, Sunday night’s earthquake provided a topic of conversation for several days.  The greatest damage was apparently done to laying flocks of chickens.  At the Pettersen ranch the birds were frightened so badly that in flying off the roosts they piled up in corners of the houses.  It was only quick action on the part of Mr. Pettersen, and neighbors, who came in his assistance, that more birds were not killed.  He lost only 10 of his breeding hens, though the damage could easily have been many times as great.

• President Madison Again To Sail Seas – For more than six years a melancholy virtual ghost ship idling in the quiet corners of Puget Sound, and now moored in the channel off Burton, the S.S. President Madison is to be readied for sea at a cost of from $40,000 to $50,000.  Many of the Burton folk, who have enjoyed seeing the Madison riding at anchor for several months, will miss the ghost ship, while still others will be delighted to see her depart from the waters of Quartermaster Harbor.

November 23, 1939 MISSING

November 30, 1939

• Tahlequah Boatman Saved – After being lost in the fog for three hours in a leaky rowboat, Ted Iceberg, Tahlequah, was saved from drowning Friday by Mrs. Fred Dahl, Seattle, when Iceberg attempted to bail the craft and capsized near the ferry pier.  Iceberg’s boots filled with air, apparently, after he struck the water, and had a tendency to disturb his equilibrium materially.  After being hauled out, Iceberg said that although he can’t swim he had a lot of fun running the blockade during the Russo-Japanese war, but didn’t get any kick out of taking a bath in Puget Sound on the 24th of November.

• Pierce To Improve Station – In reply to a complaint made by C.R. Roediger, secretary-treasurer of the South End Community Club, Ernest A. White, county road engineer for Pierce County, sent the following letter: “Your letter of the 6th inst. To the board of county commissioners regarding the toilets at the ferry landing (Point Defiance) was referred to this office for reply.  Pierce County has tried a number of times to maintain toilets at ferry landings where that was no watchman service provided, but without success and in every case the plumbing has been stolen.  However, we have instructed our supervisor to provide such facilities as he can at Point Defiance and to make periodic inspections in an attempt to keep the station as clean as possible.”

• Football Players Are Honored By Banquet – Members of the 1939 football squad were honored at a banquet given Tuesday evening at the high school by members of the Pep Club.  Patron guests were Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Bacchus and Agnes L. Smock.  Guests of honor were Lad Bacchus, Jack Petersen, Jim and Art Robinson, Jim Penny, Irving Brown, Carl Wick, George Jenn, Harry Sakai, Yoneichi Matsuda, Jim Matsumoto, Bill Smith, Paul Schwartz, Jim Miller, Bob Smock, Jim Moore, Dick and Bob Plancich, Tokio Otsuka, Don Kress, Karl Ellingsen, Charles Allison and Harley Nelson.

• Berries Still Being Picked At Tahlequah – It’s not a bad country after all, folks!  California and Florida are continually boasting of their wonderful climates, but the weather in the Puget Sound district is just right for most any type of outdoor festivities as well as growing fruits and vegetables.  Hardy garden truck, such as cabbages, carrots, radishes and cauliflowers are doing fine around Tahlequah, as well as respberries and strawberries.  Bert Lewis surprised his wife yesterday by coming into the kitchen with three nice dishes of raspberries, and Roediger’s stock went up a notch when he ankled in with two dishes of Gem strawberries.  Snap dragons, nasturtiums, cosmos and mums are still blooming in a number of gardens.

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December 1939

December 7, 1939

• New Business Owner Here – Mr. and Mrs. Palmer L. Olsen and son, Jimmie, arrived last week to take over the cleaning and pressing business recently purchased by Mr. Olsen and his father from O.E. Ramquist.  An attractive and comfortable apartment has been arranged for occupancy in the rear of the building which houses the shop.

• Junior Play Enjoyed by Large Crowd – Many of the adults in Friday evening’s audience gathered in the high school auditorium forgot “You’re Only Young Once,” as they witnessed a group of 20 members of the Junior class give a fine performance in the annual play.

• Forum – Ellisport, November 24, 1939, Editor News-record: A few nights ago, awaking, like Abou Ben Adhem, from “a deep dream of peace,” I realized I was being slowly asphyxiated by a most abominable stench, which was drifting into my bedroom through an opened window.  Getting up, I closed the window, only to find the house so filled with the disgusting aroma, that I was glad to fumigate with a cigarette.  The first thought that came to me was that I had inhaled a belated whiff of poison gas from the Polish front.  On second thought, I suspected that the date of Hallowe’en had been changed, without presidential proclamation, and that I had sniffed the incense from some nocturnal ceremonies that are always a part of the ritual of that annual celebration.  Then I remembered that somewhere in the manufacturing district of Tacoma was one of those smelly plants known at a pulp mill, where logs from our forests are ground to pieces and treated with acid to furnish material for paper-making and that this sulphureted halitosis, which had invaded my dreams, was the foul breath of this industry, drifting with the air currents over our fair island.  Some two years ago, so dreadful was this stench in the immediate vicinity of Tacoma, that one of the radio stations of that city began a campaign over the air for its elimination.  The campaign ceased so suddenly, that it was suspected that civic bodies of Tacoma had somehow persuaded this particular broadcasting station to cease firing.  I have wondered many times since, when our island has been enveloped in this effluvium, if the industry in question had not been directed for obvious civic reasons, to spew its foul waste, as far as possible, into the night, when the wind blew away from Tacoma.  In these times of economic stress and unemployment, far be it from me to say or do anything to hurt business.  One can leave this safely to Harry Bridges and the administration.  But since it is so utterly useless to go after a bad smell with a shotgun or try to put handcuffs on it, perhaps this is a matter to be jointly considered by our local civic bodies and those of the city of Tacoma.  Surely, in view of scientific investigation and chemical research, analysis and conversion, some way could be found to so deodorize, convert and reform this B.O. of the pulp industry as to produce a synthetic quintessence so delightfully fragrant that it would find a place of honor among milady’s cosmetics as one dollar and ninety-eight cents a squirt.  “GASSED.”

December 14 1939

• Burton Home Is Entirely Destroyed By Fire Monday – Igniting presumably from a defective flue, fire Monday evening completely destroyed four room house belonging to Digby Williams, located near the Judd Creek bridge.  The house was occupied by Mrs. Betty Wylde.  The loss of the house was partially covered by insurance, but there was no coverage of the furnishings destroyed.  Mrs. Wylde has the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in the loss she has sustained.  She is making her home with the Williams family until other arrangements can be made.

• Work Begun On Beautifying Cemetery – Work has been started at the Vashon Island Cemetery on a project, which if completed by a majority of the lot owners, will make this one of the loveliest burial sights in the Northwest.  Owners of 56 lots in the northwest section have employed Ben Williams to level the slope, prepare the soil and seed it to grass which next summer can be cut with a lawn mower.  The cemetery is divided into four sections all of which can be improved in the same manner.  The problem of water for grass and shrubbery will be settled in the near future and beautifying the spot is only a matter of interest on the part of the community.  Even with the small amount of cleaning up that has been done this fall with the removal of grass and ferns one would have to look far to find a lovelier spot for the last resting place of loved ones.  Gently sloping to the west and south, where it meets a dense growth of evergreens it requires only a little imagination to envision what it would be if the ground were leveled and planted to domestic grass, where, as now, only an occasional lot is well kept.

• Forum – Get a gas mask, dear Ellisport, there are more poetic ways with which to regard the useful aroma of PURE PULP – “Life is memory; often a fragrance can surprise the mind with the spell and smell of half-forgotten things, a faint perfume, even an odor such as lies over the tide when the south wind brings a sense of sights and sounds, scents, calls and cries from a yard scene where a green gate in memory swings.  In a weathered barn the sounds of chore time rise and across the tide flats of the years an echo rings.  Cooing of pigeons, the windmill’s creaking vane, rattle of corn at feeding time, contented sounds in stall and byre, rustle of hay and nuzzled grain, horse blanket smells and that on harness found, these and unnumbered things endure, revived by the taint of pulp, like new turned barn manure.” A.W.S.  The foregoing came to us last week in reply to our Ellisport neighbor’s protest to the scent of the pulp mill which periodically visits our nostrils.  Both gentlemen may be right.  But being of the hardy race that sleeps in the open spaces (if a sleeping porch can be termed such) we can sympathize with the peeve of our Ellisport friend.  A.W.S. has the soul of a poet that will not down, nor has he had to listen to the mutterings of offspring, tormented in their sleep by the above-mentioned foul odors.  Be that as it may ideas are necessary to mould public opinion which if it becomes strong enough may even down a smell.

December 21, 1939

• Masonic Funeral For J.H. Hayes

• Will Hunt for Orchids In The Wilds of Mexican Jungles – Not content with having made one trip in search of new and better types of orchids, Ferguson Beall, accompanied by Charles Kimball, will leave the day following Christmas for the interior of Mexico in search of more orchids, some of which are legendary and have never before been brought out.

• Burton Trees Blossom With Lights – If Santa Claus loses his way as he visits the earth this Christmas it is not hard to believe that he will find himself in Burton, one of the most brightly lighted night spots on Puget Sound.  In addition to the Christmas trees which gleamed from practically every living room, outdoor Christmas trees gleam through the night.  One tree, which can be seen from distant parts of the Island is the huge pine, 75 feet tall, decorated with four strings of lights, which stands in the Vye yard.  Although no large tree grows normally in front of the Masonic Hall, Jesse Shaw performed magic that will even trick Santa Claus.  Those who attended Saturday night’s installation of Masonic officers were surprised to see a big tree, brightly lighted gleaming a welcome.  It had all of the appearance of a growing tree.  In his own yard, Mr. Shaw, following a custom of many years, has beautifully decorated a tree, and in the large window of his living room is a gleaming white tree with cold blue lights.  Norman Edson is responsible for decorating the tree in the yard of the community church which has added much to the atmosphere of Christmas, and contributed to the enjoyment of those attending the various services.  Harry Robbins has another gaily lighted tree in the space north of his store and apartment.  In addition to these trees the stores of Burton are decorated in keeping with the season presenting the gayest appearance of any community hereabouts.

• A Christmas Wreath – A year ago the News-Record recorded how Mrs. August Hunt spread good cheer and hospitality in her Burton home to her “Christmas Crew” of lonely men.  The season she enjoyed so much returns to find the windows in the house overlooking the harbor darkened, and the door never before latched at Christmas time close and locked.  During the last summer she watched the scene, where the great President Madison lay at anchor, finding reminiscent diversion, thinking of her years in the lighthouse, when she watched similar vessels pass along the skyline of the Oregon coast.  Some time before the order “anchors aweigh” came to the great ship, her own “Ship of Dreams” left its mooring in the Harbor of Life.  When the autumn moon lifted the flood within the western pass it sailed away down the last strait to the boundless deep.  We who watch far horizons from the Yuletide’s coast, searching for the gleam of cheer, see the light of the Christmas star.  But strangely to the “Christmas Crew” it seems the riding lights of a Ship of Dreams. –A.W.S.

• Trouble Caused By Man and the Elements – Island folk seemed doomed during the past week to a series of irritating interruptions of power and phone service due principally to inclement weather.  As a matter of fact it is doubtful if the weatherman could have any more tricks up his sleeve.  Torrential rains with the assistance of high winds not only found loose shingles in many a roof that had not previously leaked, but found sundry ways to interrupt or interfere with phone service.  Linemen have worked out in all kinds of weather.  Saturday night the north end of the Island was plunged into darkness when a motorist ran into a guy wire holding a pole at the top of the Ellisport hill.  The impact swung the main power lines so they touched causing a short circuit that cut all of the wires as cleanly as a sharp knife could have done.  It took several hours for repairs to be made.  Even so we weren’t in as bad condition as we were 17 years ago when the cable was broken and we were without power from the mainland for several weeks.  At the same time Vashon Island suffered from some of the coldest weather in history, so even with the wind and rain of recent days the balmy weather in between makes us know that things are never as bad as they might be.

December 28, 1939

• In All Tri-County Team – Not only did Coach Eckman’s Vashon Pirates pile up the best record of years, but three of the squad were named in the All Tri-County team, picked by the North Kitsap Association.  The Vashon delegates were Paul Schwartz, left half, a three year letterman and a junior; James Moore, fullback, a three year letterman and member of the senior class and Jim Miller, guard, senior and four year letterman.

• The obituary of Harry E. Mooberry was published.

• Legion Give Ambulance To Island – Stories of motor cars given to children of the rich are not uncommon, but we believe that the gift of an ambulance to a community is unique.  Those who attended Saturday night’s dance sponsored by the American Legion were greatly interested in the truck parked in front of the Island Club and more interested to learn that it had been purchased by Island Post, American Legion, for use as an ambulance for Vashon Island.  Formerly a part of the fleet of trucks used by the Washington State Patrol the car was purchased through Titus Motors of Tacoma.  It makes an ideal ambulance outfit and will be fitted with the usual equipment.  Generous gifts have been received from private individuals and a handsome credit on the purchase price from Titus Motors.  There is still an unpaid balance which can easily be taken care of by smaller donations than those previously received.  The ambulance will be kept at the county building near Center and will be in charge of Deputy Sheriff F.J. Shattuck.  Each doctor will be provided with a key to the car so he can use it in case of emergency.  There will be no charge ordinarily for ambulance service, but those who can afford to pay an amount they feel is commensurate with benefits received are invited to do so.  Fortunately the need for an ambulance here on Vashon Island is no frequent, but there have been times when one has been badly needed.  For this reason the Legion without much fuss or comment, have quietly gone about making arrangements to secure this ambulance which should serve the Island for several years.

 

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