Yellow Pages
Aug. 5, 1909
Two coaches of the Great Northern passenger train due to leave Anacortes at 10:45 this morning were accidentally backed off the spur track on Tenth street about 10 o’clock and in the mix-up Yard Master Geo. F. Strang was struck and one of his ankles severely sprained.
Aug. 7, 1919
During his stay in Anacortes Monday afternoon, William Jennings Bryan was entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Will A. Lowman with a luncheon and an automobile trip through the scenic parts of the vicinity. The noted lecturer expressed great pleasure with the prosperous appearance of Anacortes and the outlying country....
Immediately after Mr. Bryan’s lecture at the big tent, Mr. Lowman and Sgt. Donohoe took the lecturer over to Mount Vernon in their machine and then drove on to Everett, where the former secretary of state spoke that evening.
Aug. 1, 1929
Mrs. Harley Thayer, wife of the manager of the Red Top Lumber company, had the terrifying experience of being held up at the point of a gun, in the hands of an unidentified young man, Wednesday noon, near the corner of Fifth and O streets, and forced to drive her car over the Lake Campbell road, past Similk beach, and onto the North Fork bridge, where the robber tied her hands, took her car keys and locked the car, and left her stranded on the road to Conway, taking the $265, which she was taking to the Bank of Commerce to deposit, with him.
Aug. 3, 1939
Foreman of Anacortes street work, P.E. Olson reported this week that intensive work had been done by the street crew during the past thirty days on cleaning up several newly opened streets in the city. Work on H, I and N avenues also at 11th and 34th streets was done by the department. Grades were cut, brush cleaned from the sides of the road, culvert dug and other ditching.
Aug. 4, 1949
After 24 years of service on the Anacortes fire department, which he has headed since January, 1933, Fire chief Les Snider tendered the City Council his resignation at this week’s meeting. Assistant chief Bert Verrall has been named as his successor and has already assumed many of the duties of chief.
Aug. 6, 1959
Skagit County’s tribute to pioneers began today with the 55th annual picnic and Pioneer Association meeting in La Conner and will be climaxed this weekend in Anacortes with open house at the Museum of History in City Hall. In connection with the Pioneer Week observance, the Anacortes American today distributed a special 32-page pictorial section featuring photos of early-day Anacortes and Fidalgo Island.
Aug. 7, 1969
Senator Henry M. Jackson praised Anacorteans for interest in the renovated public library officially dedicated Saturday morning. The senator said libraries tell much about the character of the community and the Anacortes Public Library is a credit to both the city and its people. The main speaker at the Saturday ceremony, Senator Jackson congratulated all whose innovative spirit made the new facilities possible.
Aug. 1, 1979
Chuck Davenport last week sold, for $28,000, the former city watershed land he purchased while employed as city manager here. Davenport, who retired earlier this year, paid Chuck Wilson of the city parks department $7,500 for the two-and-one-half acre parcel in 1977, shortly after Wilson acquired the land in a trade with the city.
The state auditor is scheduled to rule on the land trade-sale later this year. Anacortes Realtor Don Coughlin, in 1978, sent a letter to the auditor questioning the appearance of fairness of Davenport’s actions.
From the archives of the Anacortes American
