July 23, 1908
Immigration Inspectors Hugh W. Smith of Anacortes and S.W. Hamer of Bellingham spent Saturday rounding up and checking the certificates and passports of Chinamen and Japanese in the Anacortes canneries, and on Monday Inspector Smith finished the work by checking up those at the Fidalgo Island Packing Company’s cannery. The crews at the canneries of the Porter Fish Co., Apex Fish Co. and White Crest were checked up on Saturday.

July 26, 1928
By the first of next week, the public library will be the most orderly institution in the city, for by that time every book will be numbered, catalogued and re-arranged upon the shelves in a strictly orthodox fashion. Heretofore E. Luella Howard, librarian, has been the card index to the institution, and any time anyone wanted to look up a reference or a book of fiction, the quickest way to find it was through Mrs. Howard. It has been no small job — this cataloging of the 6,000 and some odd books in the library.

July 22, 1948
While still in the process of formation, the Anacortes Yacht Club is sure to become a reality. The character and determination of the men backing the project make this certain.... Right now the embryo club is seeking a site for a base.

July 24, 1958
Recognition of the need of a community museum has resulted in appointment of a five-man municipal history board by Mayor A.I. Mustacich. Creation of the Museum of History Board was announced today. Appointees, all of whom were notified of their selection by letter, are Mrs. C.F. Stafford, Mrs. William Bessner, Lloyd Foster, Martin Miller and Wallie Funk.

July 18, 1968
SEX and SIN are frowned upon by several quarters, among them the vehicle licenses division of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Those two words belong to a group of more than 450 three-letter combinations that are avoided by the Washington State license plate makers. The last time license plates were issued for every vehicle in Washington State was 1963. At that time there were only 154 usable combinations because the letters “I” and “O,” easily mistaken for numbers, were not employed. However, the newly redesigned letters on reflectorized plates have minimized the possibility of mistakes, and the increase in motor vehicles has already necessitated the use of “O’s” and I’s.” With them come an extra 300 objectionable combinations.

July 26, 1978
Speaker of the State House of Representatives John Bagnariol, D-Renton, this week advised the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce to keep alert regarding any possible state moves to abandon the international ferry run between Anacortes and Sidney, B.C. Crediting the Anacortes Chamber for voicing the city’s economic need for the ferry run to state officials during the past year, Bagnariol said, the local efforts were the prime factor behind the state Transportation and Utilities Commission’s decision to maintain the route.

— From the archives of the Anacortes American