by Elaine Walker
April 8, 1909: Brigantine Harriet G. and Schooner Fanny Dutard. The Matheson Codfish Fleet — Loading supplies for the long annual cruise in the waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea for codfish, the schooner Fanny Dutard and Brigantine Harriet G. are lying at pier 7. They will leave for the North within a few days to brave the storms of the Pacific for five months.
April 8, 1909
The afternoon and evening of Apr. 5 was an important time in the history of the Equal Suffrage club. The reception given by Mrs. Emma Smith was a charming affair long to be remembered. In the evening Mrs. De Voe was greeted by a good sized audience in the M.E. church. Her speech was entertaining and instructive.
April 10, 1919
Dr. S.G. Brooks of this city, who recently was given his discharge from the army with the rank of captain, was notified Friday that he had been advanced to the rank of major, in the medical section of the reserve. In order to receive the promotion it was necessary for the recommendation for advancement to be in the adjutant general’s office before the signing of the armistice. Dr. Brooks was recommended several times.
April 11, 1929
The question of people leaving their cars parked on the main streets all day long was brought before the Merchants’ association at their meeting this week, and it deserves considerable thought. There are many merchants and their employees who drive cars to work and leave them parked in front of their place of business throughout the day. This practice should be stopped. It not only hinders the business of those who continue this practice, but it drives outside trade away from our city.
April 9, 1959
Rookie policeman Pete Dragovich is gaining plenty of experience as a fireman. This morning was the second time in the past month that the new Anacortes patrolman extinguished a fire in a burning vehicle.
April 10, 1969
Officers and men of the U.S.S. SKAGIT, the navy ship that was “guest of the city” last April, have found a very positive way to express their continued interest in Anacortes.
Cmdr. Harry R. Graf, commanding officer of the SKAGIT, read the American’s story of Lewis Dean Buck’s open heart surgery and need for blood donors and “passed the word” to the crew. Twenty-five pints of blood were donated by the crew and transferred to the King County Blood Bank in the boy’s name.
April 11, 1979
The city of Anacortes is now investigating the possibility of setting up a roller skating rink in the newly refurbished basement of the Municipal Building as a pastime for local youth.
City Councilman Ray Separovich told the audience at last week’s Anacortes Town Meeting that he and City Parks and Recreation Director Steve Colby are looking into the idea because of recent concerns about the lack of youth activities here.
April 12, 1989
As the thick black oil from the grounded Exxon Valdez continues to devastate the Prince William Sound, Anacortes’ fishing businesses are waiting to see what happens.
“We won’t know the impact yet,” commercial fisherman Francis Barcott said. “I’m sure it will make quite a big difference.”
— From the archives of the Anacortes American
