Yellow Pages
Nov. 4, 1909
By the order of the public health officer, Dr. R.L. Maloney and with the advice and consent of the health board, the quarantine with regard to public entertainments will be lifted Saturday.
The city is to be congratulated upon having had so few cases. As it is, there have been but five cases of diphtheria, all told, two of scarlet fever and three of smallpox. Many cities have a greater number of infectious diseases than this with no thought of quarantine, but the authorities, in the late instance in Anacortes, wished to be on the safe side.
Nov. 6, 1919
Guemes islanders were told plainly Monday night that the ferry would not remain on the run much longer unless something is done in the way of financial assistance for a few months at least. City Attorney Ben Driftmier, secretary for the ferry company, took the matter up with the residents of the island at a very largely attended meeting in the community hall. Up to that time it had appeared to the islanders that the ferry was being run on its income and everything was lovely.
Nov. 7, 1929
Motorists who use the old Great Northern tunnel on Stevens Pass are inviting death to save two miles of travel, according to the Automobile Club of Washington, which warns that the tunnel is a probable “death trap,” because no adequate method of ventilation has been provided to carry away the deadly fumes of carbon monoxide gas. This is substantiated by state and county engineers, who advise that if several cars enter the tunnel at one time, death to occupants is almost a certain result.
Nov. 2, 1939
Hallowe’en pranksters were out in full force Tuesday evening, Hallowe’en night in Anacortes, according to the local police department.
No major disturbances or troubles were reported by the department though numerous calls were received by the police on varied pranks occurring in different parts of the city.
Main street took one of the worst goings-over from youngsters in several years, when windows were soundly soaped and waxed, a number of signs of all descriptions taken, several huge barrels rolled onto the avenue and left, and numerous other tricks being pulled.
In the residential district, wood pile dumping, throwing off light switches, pulling down fences and other pranks were perpetrated.
Nov. 3, 1949
Anacortes enjoyed one of its mildest Halloweens in recent years the Anacortes Police Department reported. Youngsters of the city while soaping windows, pushing over a few woodpiles and doing a few other things did not commit any vicious acts either against property or people.
Among the infractions occurring was the taking of two stop signs from street intersections. A large number of garbage cans taken, a few fences pulled down and a number of woodpiles knocked over were among the most prevalent of Halloween stunts. The Police Chief stated that the youngsters of Anacortes should be highly complimented on their conduct.
Nov. 5, 1959
Considerable increases in ferry traffic last month over the corresponding period in 1958 were recorded on the Anacortes to San Juan Islands and Sidney, B.C. runs. Vehicular traffic to the San Juans totaled 10,122 as compared with 9,394 last year. There were more passengers, too — 6,824 in contrast to 6,473 in 1958. An increase of 3,000 cars on the Sidney run was recorded last month when 8,778 were transported. In October, 1958, 5,382 made the trip. Passengers numbered 3,277 this year and 2,196 last.
Nov. 6, 1969
The $2,995,000 expansion of the Island Hospital was rejected by voters Tuesday. The issue failed when 59 percent of the voters said “No” to the planned expansion. While voters failed to approve the expansion, they voted “Yes” to the hospital commission’s request to enlarge membership on the board to five members.
— From the archives of the Anacortes American
