by Elaine Walker
Feb. 1, 1989: Former editors of the Anacortes American gathered recently to talk over old times on the eve of the 100th year of publication. Left to right are Dick Fallis, former city editor and Skagit County historian; former editors Tim Christie, Christine Valdez, Mary Vallentyne and John Fortmeyer, present managing editor Scott Gorman; and former editors Wallie Funk and Paul Mahoney.
Feb. 11, 1909
Construction of the new Independent Telephone company’s lines in this city is being rapidly pushed to completion. The magnificent new style Dean electric switchboard has arrived and is being installed. This switchboard has a feature that will prove of great satisfaction to subscribers in that when the bell rings for one party on a four-party line the balance of the bells are not affected. The local office will have five operators when in full force.
Feb. 13, 1919
The first humdergon completed at the Apex Fish Company’s plant, which started for Little Port Walter Friday morning in tow of the cannery tender Margaret, was lost at sea during a storm between 4 and 5 o’clock Saturday morning, when the tow line parted at the bitts.
The Margaret with the humdergon, or scow-launch, attempted to make Cape Mudge in a northeast wind, but thirty miles from the cape the wind veered to the southeast and the tender and her tow plunged into a blinding snow storm and a heavy sea.
Feb. 14, 1929
The Skagit County Chamber of Commerce went on record at their regular monthly meeting, held in La Conner, Tuesday night, as endorsing the move made by the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce in trying to interest officials in the location of the proposed five-million-dollar naval air base to be located on the Pacific coast.
The matter was placed before members of the county chamber by George Anderson of Anacortes, and promise was given by other towns in their support in seeking to have the air port located at March’s point.
Feb. 10, 1949
Elmer L. Hartman, local sales and service representative of the Royal Typewriter company, today announced the showing of a completely new model of that typewriter. It is now on display at his agency, located in Bird’s Stationery Store, 406 Commercial avenue.
The new machine is a big step in the current trend to promote beauty and efficiency, “Gray Magic.” This typewriter has a soft gray, glare free finish to aid in preventing eyestrain and to blend with nearly any decorative scheme. A revolutionary keyboard design has greater clearance between keys to lessen the possibility of mistakes and the keys are shaped to an exact conformation with the fingertips.
Feb. 12, 1959
Following the success of an initial orange sale last year, Anacortes Rotarians have decide to conduct another sale here this spring. Paul Luvera has again been appointed chairman of the sale to collect funds for Rotary’s youth activities program in this city.
Last year, in their first attempt at such a venture here, Rotarians sold 200 cases of oranges.
Feb. 13, 1969
Buehl J. Berentson, former resident of Anacortes, has been named executive director of the Republican Governors Association. Berentson, 43, has been Western regional director of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee for four years. His headquarters has been in Everett.
Feb. 7, 1979
Margaret Hamilton, who was once a wicked witch (in the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz”) but now does television commercials for coffee, signed autographs last week during a visit to Anacortes High School. Ms. Hamilton stopped off in Anacortes after working on a television movie filmed in Vancouver, B.C.
— From the archives of the Anacortes American
