In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Thursday, Feb. 7, 1946, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about coal industry science authority J.D. Ratcliff, who claimed his fellow scientists were close to perfecting “coal-fired turbine” engines to power both cars and planes.
Chehalis Chamber of Commerce members sent an official letter to the joint U.S. Army-Navy Commission urging military officials to move their Portland Interceptor Command squadron to the South Lewis County Airport near Toledo, according to the Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1956, edition of The Chronicle.
And in the Saturday, Feb. 7, 1976, edition of The Chronicle, it was reported that after months of either trying to keep him at Fort Borst Park or find him a new home, “Charlie the bear” — famous for his “fondness for fried chicken and pastries” — had finally found a new home at the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim.
A Look Back in Time is compiled using Chronicle archives stored at the Lewis County Historical Museum — located at 599 NW Front St. in Chehalis — along with digital archives on newspapers.com.
Friday, Feb. 7, 1936
• An unexplained explosion suspected to have come from dynamite damaged Onalaska resident Max Griffeth’s wood shed and garage on Thursday night, The Chronicle reported. Griffeth was a station agent for the Carlisle Lumber Company’s railroad, and at the time Carlisle’s lumber mill employees were on strike. “Investigations were conducted by (Lewis County) deputy sheriffs (Arthur) E. Rowswell, Jim Compton and Riv Jackson, and by (Washington) State Patrolman Lou Geer. No reason for the explosion could be advanced by Griffeth, (Lewis County) Prosecuting Attorney (James) E. Sareault said today. Griffeth is not involved in strike activities being carried on at the mill.”
• Toledo Postmaster Julia Enger was approaching the end of her term in the position, The Chronicle reported. “There are 11 applicants for the appointment, including Mrs. Enger. Others who took recent examinations for the post are Wendell Lyon, (Elmer) F. Boone, (John) A. Monson, Mabel Monson, Mrs. (Bertha V.) Manwell, Mrs. Daisy McDowell, (Oliver) J. Judd, M.C. Smith and Kenneth Phillips. The office pays $1,600 a year.”
• Federal Work Progress Administration (WPA) flood prevention construction was set to begin in March in East Lewis County, The Chronicle reported. The WPA was a department created as a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal to help create jobs during the Great Depression by funding public works and arts projects. “Word comes from Randle that work on a $200,000 WPA flood prevention project for the Big Bottom District will begin on the Cowlitz River about March 15. The work will include snagging of the stream and erection of jetties in vulnerable places. The work will be under the supervision of United States Army engineers.”
• A “partly modern,” three-room, furnished home in Centralia’s Logan District was listed for rent in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $6 a month, while another five-room “modern” home was listed for rent for $8 a month.
Thursday, Feb. 7, 1946
• While many scientists around the world were still obsessed with the discovery of the energy generated by splitting the atom that finally ended World War II the previous year, some were still exploring the possible uses of coal, and were going as far as predicting coal-powered cars and planes would soon be on the roads and in the skies, The Chronicle reported. “Planes and autos powered by coal are a ‘distinct possibility’ in the world of tomorrow as a result of the near development of a coal-fired turbine by scientists of America’s giant coal industry, J.D. Ratcliff, science authority, reveals. Scientists are now ‘on the way to solving’ two problems faced in developing the coal-fired turbine, which ‘may very well revolutionize all transportation,’ Ratcliff reports. ‘The coal-fired freight plane is a distinct possibility; and so is the coal-fired automobile. The coal yard of today may well be the filling station of tomorrow.’ Ratcliff declares the coal industry, long the ‘sick man of U.S. industry,’ is bringing forth many new coal-using inventions through its new scientific research program, and is ‘belatedly realizing they have the cheapest, most plentiful source of energy available to modern man.’” Ultimately, whatever two problems faced the coal-fired turbine were apparently unsolvable, as cars remained powered by gasoline or diesel internal combustion engines, and planes primarily with propellers or jet-turbine engines.
• In an ongoing crusade against high rent prices by the Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber published another letter warning local landlords that if they didn’t curb rent increases soon, the situation might attract the attention of National Housing Agency and Federal Public Housing Authority officials who might fine them, The Chronicle reported. “‘The Chehalis Chamber of Commerce has been publishing a short series of articles in newspapers and over the radio in an effort to cause people who are charging exorbitant rent rates, or selling property beyond reasonable rates, to stop and think; to realize that their actions are certain to sooner or later running into the field (of) a government agency that will assess them many times more than the dollars they gouge out by their tactics, and by their action bring down undeserved criticism on those landlords and land owners who are trying to ‘live and let live.’ The Chamber is concerned in these matters because the good name of the city, its reputation as a fine little community in which to bring up a family, the future welfare of the city and the good conduct and ethics of its citizenry are involved; also, the Chamber is concerned about the attitude of the returning soldiers and sailors toward the good name of Chehalis. The Chamber has no authority in these matters,’ the organization’s latest statement on the subject points out. ‘It is merely trying to represent to the world the best interests and the best thoughts of residents of Chehalis, and is acting only as a semi-public body, supported by the citizens of Chehalis who are concerned with its growth and development along right lines … The Chamber believes citizens who overstep the bounds in matters of rents, property sales and of other inflationary goods are injuring the good name of the city. The buying public and the Chamber alike feel concerned in such matters. Unofficially, it might be stated now that before very long a representative of a governmental renting agency will visit the Twin City area and spend a few days investigating the situation. It is hoped that it will not be found necessary to move such an agency into Chehalis. Whether it comes in is strictly in the hands of those people in the Twin City area, Chehalis and Centralia, who are not playing the game fairly. If they get caught, they have no one to blame but themselves, and they must realize that those who get squeezed too hard may be expected to rebel sooner or later.’”
• A four-room home with an electric water system and outbuildings on 10 acres of land on Seminary Hill in Centralia was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $3,000.
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1956
• Members of the Chehalis Chamber of Commerce unanimously approved a resolution at a luncheon submitting an official letter to the joint U.S. Army-Navy Commission urging military officials to move their Portland Interceptor Command squadron to the South Lewis County Airport near Toledo, The Chronicle reported. “The command base requires 5,000 acres and employs personnel totalling between two and three thousand persons. A Winlock delegation presented data on the Toledo site to the chairman of the Army-Navy Commission in Portland on Jan. 27. At that time, the Toledo site was not ruled out. The Chamber action was taken by Clarence White who hoped other cities and communities would take similar action. The Portland base must be moved due to lack of expansion facilities.” While the South Lewis County Airport, also known as the Ed Carlson Memorial Air Field, was originally built by the federal Civil Aeronautics Administration for military pilot training during World War II, military planes would never use the air field again, as ultimately the Army-Navy Commission did not move the Portland command there. Owned and maintained by Lewis County staff today, the South Lewis County Airport is still a favorite of local aviators throughout the region, due to its location and position being perfect cross-wind landing and takeoff training.
• Morton residents overwhelmingly approved an $80,000 Morton School District levy to help fund completion of a new high school during a special election held Monday, The Chronicle reported. The extra money was going toward a new multipurpose room with a stage, along with wood and metal shops and a music room. “The vote was 555 ‘yes’ and 63 ‘no’ … The special levy was carried by 89.8% of the voters participating in the election. Approval by 60% of the voters was the minimum needed to pass the levy. The original $359,000 bond issue, for construction of a new high school in Morton, passed a vote of the school district patrons last spring. It was found, however, that additional funds were needed for the special facilities. The new school will be located adjacent to the Loggers Jubilee field in east Morton … Mrs. Florence D. Kennicott, Lewis County superintendent of schools, joined with Morton School Superintendent Don Olson and Morton High School Principal Tom Lyda in expressing appreciation to voters in the community for their fine support of the measure.”
• A “nice house” with a “grade A barn,” silo and a hen house with a 1,000-chicken capacity on 37-acres of cultivated river-bottom land eight miles from Chehalis was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $27,000. A “cozy,” furnished, one-bedroom duplex was listed for rent for $50 a month.
Monday, Feb. 7, 1966
• Lewis County Chief Probation Officer William F. Mason announced on Monday the county’s juvenile delinquency rate had not only hit a new high, but was higher than the state average, The Chronicle reported. “Mason added a state study of juvenile delinquency here to his annual report made in mid-January to (Lewis County) Superior Court Judge Dorwin J. Cunningham. Of concern to the state agency study, too, it was emphasized, is the fact that 20% of all the children the county authority held in 1964 spent from six to 20 days in detained custody … By far the largest proportion of children in the state are boys, but in Lewis County the percentage is even higher, it was said. The percent of all referrals that are males was 81.2 in Lewis County in 1962 and 78.3 in 1964, as compared to the state figure of 69.6% in 1962 and 68.9% in 1964 … The marital status of the parents of juvenile court referrals follows the expected pattern, Mason said. ‘The homes from which the referrals come are more likely to be broken by divorce, death or separation.’ About half of all male delinquency referrals are some type of property offense, with the majority being thefts.”
• Aerial weed-control spraying to eliminate “undesirable vine, maple and brush overtopping fir and hemlock tree stands” throughout Southwest Washington started that Monday according to state Department of Natural Resources Chehalis District Administrator Jack Radnich, The Chronicle reported. “Radnich said 615 acres will be sprayed in Cowlitz County, followed by the spraying of 650 acres in Pacific County, 799 acres in Grays Harbor County and 1,292 acres in Lewis County. The spraying crew will be in Lewis County in the latter part of the week.”
• A four-bedroom home with a barn and hot water heater on two-and-a-half acres of land in Centralia was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $14,000. “Bachelor” apartments located on Center Street in downtown Chehalis were listed for rent for $35 a month.
Saturday, Feb. 7, 1976
• After months of trying of efforts from both his caretakers and local clubs to build a new pen or find a bigger local space for “Charlie the bear” after he outgrew his Fort Borst Park enclosure in Centralia, a new home was found for the bear along with a possible movie career, The Chronicle reported. Charlie had been raised from a cub by park caretakers Don and Gertrude Bliss, but had since grown from the size of a small dog to a 600-pound bear, partly due to his diet. Due to his size and the Bliss’ wanting to retire, they had decided it was best to rehome the bear. “That mild-mannered bear with a fondness for fried chicken and pastries left his home at Fort Borst Park Friday, but not without some coaxing. Charlie has found not only a new home but a potential career in the movies that may well take him to theaters across the land. Trainers from the Olympic Game Farm, Bob and Terry Rowland, loaded the new star into his private trailer-cage Friday evening for the trip to his new home and training school in Sequim. The loading activity took several hours because Charlie just didn’t want to leave his cage and step into the Olympic trailer. An attempt was made to tranquilize Charlie, but the drugs seemed to have no effect on the determined bruin. Finally, Charlie became groggy enough to allow Don Bliss, Borst Park caretaker and Charlie’s master of four years, and the game farm personnel to load Charlie into the trailer … The game farm, home to some 300 animal actors, is maintained and owned by Walt Disney, Inc., which has produced scores of nature and wildlife films featuring Olympic animals. At the game farm, Charlie will have the company of other black bears and be introduced to veteran animal actors which include everything from polar bears, wolves and racoons to Bengal tigers and buffalo. The journey to Sequim was Charlie’s first venture into the big world beyond Fort Borst Park and he was, understandably, a little reluctant to leave behind the friends he has known all his life. (Don) Bliss was there to reassure Charlie that it was the right decision. After all, the old cage at Fort Borst Park had grown a lot smaller in the past couple years, or so it seems. And what bear could pass up a fine home and a shot at the ‘Bear Actor of the Year’ award? Charlie will not likely forget Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, however, the only parents he has known. They raised young Charlie from a cub, feeding him milk from an eye dropper when he was no bigger than a child’s teddy bear. After more than three years, however (Charlie will be four in March), the teddy bear has blossomed into a sleek, mature animal. Part of the reason for that seems to be Charlie’s diet. He has feasted on the leftovers from area restaurants, mostly, and there have been plenty (of) cakes, pies, fried chicken, crabs and fruits, among others. With a menu like that, any bear could afford to be a little picky and Charlie has been no exception, acquiring the reputation as a fried chicken gourmet.” While during the 1950s and 1960s Walt Disney produced a number of True-Life Adventures nature documentaries, the company shifted from live-action productions to animated fantasies and comedies in the 1970s. Disney did still produce some nature-themed live-action content for television during that time, with a show titled The Wonderful World of Disney, but it is unclear if Charlie ever got any screen time.
• A partially furnished and remodeled three-bedroom, two-story home with a garage and laundry room located at 110 Dieckman Road in Adna was listed for sale in The Chronicle’s classifieds for $24,000. A two-bedroom duplex in Rochester with a range, refrigerator and garage was listed for rent for $135 a month.
