On Nov. 24, 1986, the county was dealing with more than 6 inches of rain, starting on Saturday and ending on Monday morning. Officials said it had not rained so hard for so long in the Twin Cities since records had been kept.
The freeway was down to one lane between milepost 77 and 79. Law enforcement said one of the biggest problems was running out of “Road closed” signs.
Roger’s Home Furnishings and the Sunbird Shopping Center had three to four feet of water. Mud slides closed Coal Creek Centralia-Alpha and Little Hanaford roads.
“Among the hardest hit areas of Centralia was the downtown business district near Tower Avenue and Maple, Pearl, Main and Pine Street,” said Terry Calkins, city engineer.
“I think every business on Tower Avenue got flooded basements,” Capt. Al Gray of the Centralia Fire Department said. “The whole city’s in bad shape, unless of course you’re on high ground.”
Lloyd Willis, Chehalis city manager, said the city was declared a disaster area. “There are areas flooded that have never been flooded before” said councilor Vivian Roewe.
Harborview Hospital sent medivac helicopters to the practice field at W.F. West High School for rescue efforts.
Washington Elementary School sent children home early. “Water was literally running in the doors of Washington School,” said Superintendent Dean Sorenson.
At Olympic Middle School in Chehalis two classrooms were flooded, as well as a basement at Cascade Elementary School.
Thanksgiving Ball Held in Chehalis
125 years ago, in 1886
The Chehalis Cornet Band held a Thanksgiving ball at the Knights of Pythias hall. Including supper, tickets were $1.50.
Thanksgiving was described as beautiful, “like one of the warm and charming days of early April,” The Lewis County Bee reported.
‘Crazy Swede’ Sent to Steilacoom
100 years ago, in 1911
A man labeled as crazy was taken to the asylum.
“An unknown and completely crazed Swede was taken from a northbound Northern Pacific train in Chehalis early yesterday morning and lodged in the Lewis County jail,” The Centralia Weekly Chronicle reported. “The foreigner had boarded the train in Portland with a ticket for Vancouver but when that city was reached he had refused to get off the train. The man was arraigned before Court Commissioner Westover yesterday afternoon, found to be insane and was sentenced to the asylum at Steilacoom.”
Palm Cafe Offers Seven-Course Dinner for 85 Cents
75 years ago, in 1936
The Palm Cafe, located at 220 North Tower Avenue, Centralia, advertised a special seven-course Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings for 85 cents.
The main course offerings were roast Washington Tom turkey, roast young duck, roast baby pork, grilled king salmon, breaded veal cutlets, New York cut sirloin or grilled ham steak.
For dessert the choices were either English toffee ice cream with crushed pineapple, hot mince pie or fruit cake with hard sauce.
After dinner mints and Japanese Mandarins were also offered.
Child’s Heart Surgery Is Successful
50 years ago, in 1961
Jeannie Marie Collar, 11-year-old daughter of Otto and Priscilla Collar, Centralia, was recovering successfully from four-hour heart surgery performed at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
“If it were not for the doctors, I’d be below already,” Jeannie said. “The doctors saved my life.”
As she recuperated, she told the nurses at the hospital some of her family stories, including one about the family cat named “Krushchev” who had a crooked white tail and was constantly getting into fights. “I guess somebody finally shot him,” she said. “Any way he disappeared. ... We had a black dog once, too, and he was named ‘Hitler.’”
Tree Festival Raises $1 Million
10 years ago, in 2001
The 13th annual Festival of Trees raised $65,000, which brought the total for all the festivals to $1 million.
The tree which received the highest bid was “Disney’s Christmas Adventure,” which sold for $4,200. The tree was sponsored by Dynamic Collectors Inc. and designed by Therese Blinks, Rhonda Klumper and Alice Randall.
Hunter Riding Bike, Falls Onto Arrow
Five years ago, in 2006
A 64-year-old Olympia man was riding a mountain bike several miles west of Vader when he bumped a rock and fell onto an arrow from his quiver which went through his lower right arm. He had been biking with his son and his son’s friend.
“They were behind locked gates, and he (the victim) was in no shape to bicycle out,” said Lee Norton, of Misty Mountain Forestry. He added the group was lucky to find some loggers to rescue them since Weyerhaeuser was shut down.
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From the Files of The Chronicle is compiled by Edna Fund, a Centralian who describes herself as a “history sleuth.” She can be contacted at Dutch@localaccess.com or at 269-7515.
