July 8, 1909

Convict camp soon to be busy at Deception pass turning out rock for state aid roads:

Superintendent W.D. Shannon of the Washington state road-rock quarry at Deception pass, Fidalgo island, was in Anacortes the latter part of the week and stated that the camp is almost ready to begin operations and will be at work as soon as all the machinery arrives. A large crew of men is now at work erecting the necessary buildings, bunkhouses, stockade, cookhouse, headquarters building, etc. This will be finished within another week.

July 10, 1919

Anacortes people generally spent the Fourth of July holidays elsewhere, and those who stayed at home found the city extremely quiet on the day which is generally so full of noise. Large parties of local people left by boat, train or machine for nearby places where celebrations were being held on that day. Bellingham and Burlington got a goodly portion of the Anacortes holiday crowd, while many took advantage of the Victoria excursion Saturday to see the Canadian city.

July 11, 1929

Work is progressing rapidly on the new Catholic church which is being built at the corner of Seventh and N avenue, and the members hope to see the building completed and ready for occupancy about the first of October. The contractors, Alexander & McNeil, have the framework and steeple completed, roof shingled and the work of setting the window frames and completing the interior has started.

July 13, 1939

A mile-and-a-half of floats and marching units will fill the streets of Anacortes Saturday, August 5, when the line of march of the grand parade of the third annual Marineers’ Pageant passes in review.

Plans to make the parade one of the outstanding events of the year are rapidly being completed, it was announced this week by Ken Teeter, chairman of the parade committee, with nearly forty entries already signed up to take part in the parade.

July 14, 1949

Vivacious Libby Aldrich, who received the title of Miss Washington State recently in the state Miss Washington contest and who will represent Washington State in the Miss America finals in Atlantic City this September, will be a guest of honor and will appear in the Anacortes Marineers’ Pageant Grand Parade of next week.

July 9, 1959

A summer hike turned to tragedy early this afternoon when 13-year-old James Raymond Keever, 1201 4th St., drowned in Whistle Lake.

July 11, 1979

Those persons long hoping for another fast-food restaurant in Anacortes will soon find their dreams fulfilled. McDonald’s Restaurants, Inc. confirmed last week that they will construct a facility at the corner of 13th and Commercial.

Stephanie Edwards, real estate coordinator at McDonald’s regional headquarters in Bellevue, said a 20-year lease was signed with the Port of Anacortes. It is directly south of the site of the new Safeway store now under construction.

July 12, 1989

No fires were reported as a result of July 4th celebrations, but three youths were treated for fireworks related injuries, according to medical officials. One youth may lose his eyesight because of an accident.

When the 14-year-old boy looked down into the tube of a firework to see why it didn’t go off, it exploded in his face, causing burns and damage to his eyes.

— From the archives of the Anacortes American