A Look Back in Time: Chehalis Considers Annexation of Land South of City Limits in 1963

Jan. 6—A front page story included in the Monday, Jan. 7, 1963, edition of The Chronicle detailed a proposal by Chehalis to annex land to its south. Unusual for its time, The Chronicle listed the author of the story, Chronicle staff writer George Blomdahl, as the author. At the time, The Chronicle included stories without bylines almost exclusively. The story was the first in a series of five examining the proposed annexation and covered the proposal and its supporters.

"If it succeeds, annexation in 1963 for Chehalis will be one of the most important developments in the city's municipal history of some 75 years," Blomdahl wrote. "The goal is to annex 670 acres of fairly well-populated area south of the city."

According to The Chronicle, the new area was about one-fourth the size of Chehalis at the time and was twice as large as the "Snively Addition," the last area the city had annexed in 1950.

The proposed addition extended south on Jackson Highway from Bishop Road to Kennicott Road, then west on Ribelin to the intersection of LaBree Road and the Pacific Highway. The boundary then ran back up Highway 99 to the Chehalis city limits at Fair Street. The area included an estimated 600 people with a total assessed property value of $255,000.

According to George Osborne, the chair of the committee pushing for annexation, the area was meant to handle Chehalis' expected growth for the next five to 10 years.

A letter of information was also sent to all property owners in the area showing that in most cases property owners would save money. The letter also included a postcard for people to indicate their opinion on the proposal.

"I have always personally favored the annexation and, if and when the matter comes before the city commission, there appears at this time to be no reason to believe the commission would oppose it," said Walter Graham Sr., the mayor of Chehalis.

The next story in the series was to cover opposition to the proposal.

Saturday, Jan. 7, 1933

—Members of the state Legislature were reportedly arriving in Olympia ahead of the 1933 legislative session scheduled to begin on Monday, Jan. 9. "With the cooperation of Republicans with the incoming Democratic administration pledged, legislators of the state were arriving here today, being greeted by former friends and arranging for their quarters during the 23rd biennial session," The Chronicle reported. Based on The Chronicle's story, it appears odd-numbered year sessions were shorter than they are today. The story said legislators would be in Olympia for two months, far less than the 105-day sessions held today during odd numbered years. Earlier in the week, legislators met at a chamber of commerce event in Seattle, in which "members of both parties had also voiced their plans to 'work together' during the coming session."

—The Chronicle reported the weather forecast for Jan. 7 and Sunday, Jan. 8, was "unsettled," and not much change in temperature was expected. The expected high was 51 degrees with a low of 38 degrees.

—The executive committee of the Lewis County Democrats met in Centralia on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 6. Based on The Chronicle's reporting, it seems the county party had some role in controlling hiring at the state and county levels. "Questions regarding applications for state and county jobs were discussed, and plans were made concerning party finances," The Chronicle reported. The committee included C.C. Wall, of Winlock, as the chair, J.H. Roberts, of Centralia, as the state committeeman, "Mrs. Maude Barrett," of Centralia, as the state committeewoman, Lloyd Sullivan, of Chehalis, as the secretary, and Perry McCleary, of Centralia, as the treasurer.

—The Chronicle reported nine gold nuggets had been found inside a goose on Friday, Jan. 6. "The goose that laid the golden egg held only a slight edge today over one that was killed yesterday by Luther Patton, local constable. Nine gold nuggets were found in the gizzard of Mr. Patton's goose. True, the nuggets were small, but they were nevertheless gold," The Chronicle reported. The goose had come from the farm of Mike Emrick, located between Chehalis and Centralia. "Whether Mr. Emrick would open his farm to prospectors had not been determined today," The Chronicle reported.

—A "young cyclone" was reported to have blown through the Chehalis area on Thursday, Jan. 5, knocking the roof off a plant of the Washington Gas and Electric Company north of Chehalis. Also knocked over was a "stately" fir tree that reportedly "added to the beauty of the landscape." According to The Chronicle, on Friday, Jan. 6, members of the Chehalis Unemployed League, an organization founded to help the unemployed during the then-ongoing Great Depression, cut fallen trees up for wood.

—A communion service was scheduled to be held on Sunday, Jan. 8, at Chehalis' Westminster Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Rev. J.C. Tourtellot was expected to deliver a sermon titled, "The Second Mile." At the church's 5 p.m. vesper service, Tourtellot was expected to deliver a sermon on the subject "How Large Is Your Christ?"

—An inauguration ceremony for new city officials was scheduled to be held 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, in Morton. Among those being sworn in was mayor-elect Vitous, whose full name was not provided. Vitous had previously served as mayor and as a councilman, having last left the Morton council 10 years earlier, The Chronicle reported.

Thursday, Jan. 7, 1943

—Lyle Campbell, a 38-year-old resident of Coal Creek, received three sentences totaling the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in Lewis County Superior Court on Jan. 7. Campbell had been charged with three counts of "taking indecent liberties" with a 15-year-old girl. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of having "carnal knowledge" of the same girl.

—Chehalis was expected to receive a permanent tax office, The Chronicle reported on Jan. 7. The purpose of the new office was to "bring the service closer to the people, thus eliminating the transportation problem as much as possible, both for the main office and for the people," The Chronicle reported. A similar office was expected to be opened in Olympia.

—"Mrs. Maude Shelton," described as a "former pioneer Centralian," reportedly died in Spokane at the age of 54 on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Shelton was born in Centralia on Nov. 20, 1888, and was survived by her husband, son, father, stepmother and brother, according to The Chronicle.

—Postal receipts for the Centralia post office had hit an all-time high in 1942, The Chronicle reported. Total receipts for 1942 came in at $52,985.91, $1,621.08 more than 1941's previous record of $51,463.83. "With the exception of the summer quarter, business of the office showed a gain throughout the year," The Chronicle reported. "(The) top month, of course, was December, which zoomed considerably above the same month for 1941."

—The Centralia City Commission reportedly authorized the "rigid enforcement" of a 1929 curfew ordinance following a meeting with members of the Centralia Parent-Teacher Council and Centralia High School Principal Leslie McIntosh. The curfew applied to those below the age of 18, with a curfew time of 9:30 p.m. "after which no boy or girl will be permitted out unless accompanied by a parent or one having legal custody of him or her," The Chronicle reported. According to Centralia Mayor Ray Sprague, the city would attempt to make an arrangement with the Methodist Church to use its bell to signal the curfew each night. While a new ordinance was initially considered by the commission, it was determined the already in place ordinance would be sufficient. Under the ordinance, parents or legal guardians "who by any action, or omission, encourage or contribute to the violation of the terms of the ordinance by any child" would be guilty of a misdemeanor with the penalty of a $100 fine, a jail sentence of 30 days or both. It was unclear as to the reason for enforcing the curfew based on The Chronicle's reporting.

—The Washington state Supreme Court heard a case related to school buses for private schools on Jan. 7. A state law providing transportation for students attending private schools had been struck down and the court was hearing an appeal. Based on The Chronicle's story, it appears the state Supreme Court used a different method of hearing cases than it does today. According to the report, the case had previously been heard by a "department" of the court, which had been deadlocked and the case was now being heard "en banc" by the full court, meaning all the justices of the court heard the case. It appears at the time only a portion of the state Supreme Court may have heard cases initially, with the full court only hearing certain cases. Today the full state Supreme Court hears cases by default.

—A 22-year-old soldier named Wilbur Byrd who had deserted the military was captured in Chehalis on Wednesday, Jan. 6, The Chronicle reported. Byrd, an Olympia resident, had deserted from Shepherd Field, Texas and had been caught in a car stolen from Seattle earlier in the day. Byrd, a former inmate at Green Hill, was reportedly later released to military authorities at Fort Lewis.

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1953

—Lewis County authorities were reportedly seeking to question three "young Seattle men" regarding burglaries at three Lewis County schools over the previous weekend. The men were being held by Cowlitz County officials at the time after being caught sleeping in a car on a wanted list near the Kelso high school. The men were suspected of having entered the Edison and Fords Prairie schools in Centralia and school buildings in Toledo. The three men had apparently confessed to a series of break-ins at schools in Kelso, Kalama and Oregon which had similarities to the Lewis County break-ins.

—Twenty-three bids had been placed as of the night of Tuesday, Jan. 6 for construction of a new music room-gymnasium addition to recently constructed Chehalis High School. According to The Chronicle, no contacts would be awarded until the bids were sent to Olympia for approval. "We have 30 days in which to either accept or reject the bids," said Chehalis Superintendent Chester Rhodes. "It generally takes one or two weeks before the final word is received from the state office." Chehalis High School would soon be renamed W.F. West High School.

—The state supervisor of Children and Youth Services announced in Olympia on Jan. 7 that about 26 boys were ready for release from Green Hill in Chehalis but did not have adequate homes to return to. "Van R. Hinkle said the boys require post-institutional care and understanding while continuing their education or engaging in private employment. But he does not think they should be returned to their former homes 'where the delinquency was born in the first place,'" The Chronicle reported. Hinckle's agency reportedly had the authority to place the boys in private homes or establish group phones for the boys.

—Plans were underway for the fourth annual Chehalis Kiwanis Club amateur show. The show was scheduled for March 27 at an unspecified location in Chehalis. Dan MacDonald, the newly elected vice president of the Chehalis Kiwanis Club, was to serve as the show's chairman.

—John Sliwa, a 57-year-old resident of Pe Ell, was reported to have died in a Seattle hospital following a short illness. Sliwa was born on Jan. 18, 1895 in Poland and had lived in Pe Ell since 1913. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and one brother. A funeral service was to be held on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Polish Catholic Church in Pe Ell.

—Andrew Peterson, a 94-year-old Centralia resident, was reported to have died in a Centralia nursing home on Sunday, Jan. 4 following an extended illness. Peterson was born on Nov. 28, 1858 in Sweden.

—A two bedroom house in Rochester was listed for sale in The Chronicle for $4,800. The house had hardwood floors, a utility room and a large attached garage.

Monday, Jan. 7, 1963

—The Centralia Chamber of Commerce was leading Lewis County's license plate sales total for the first four days of 1963 with 1,500 plates sold. The Lewis County Auditor's office sold 857 plates during the same period. The Chehalis Chamber of Commerce sold about 290 plates.

—Two Centralia youths had been named to take the competitive examination for the U.S. Air Force Academy, The Chronicle reported on Jan. 7. Donald Hansen, 17, and David Blanchard, 19, had been nominated by U.S. Rep. Julia Butler Hansen. Hansen, a Centralia High School senior, was the son of "Mr. and Mrs. Owen H. Hansen" while Blanchard, was a Centralia College sophomore and the son of "Mr. and Mrs. Ralph G. Blanchard."

—Centralia Firemen were called to respond to two alarms over the weekend of Jan. 5 and 6. The first alarm was for a flooded floor furnace. The house became smoke filled but no further damage was reported. The second alarm was for a chimney fire that caused no damage to the house.

—J.H. Hughey had reportedly died on Saturday, Jan. 5 in a local hospital, The Chronicle reported. Hughey was a 75-year-old retired school teacher and administrator from Centralia. He was born on April 6, 1887 in Illinois. He was survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, a sister, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

—The state Legislature was expected to return to Olympia on Monday, Jan. 14 for the 38th biennial session. "Hundreds of job-seekers are vying for employment as doorkeepers, stenographers, elevator operators, garage attendants and staff supervisors. And legislative clerks are hurriedly buying supplies, arranging for the installation of telephones and sprucing up the chambers and committee rooms," reported an Associated Press story featured on the front page of The Chronicle. The story said some Olympia residents were leaving for California or summer homes while they rented their houses to lawmakers and lobbyists.

—"Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Weigant" of Centralia and their three children, Susan, Billie and Mike reportedly returned home on the evening of Friday, Jan. 4 after a two week vacation in California. The family had visited Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, San Francisco's Chinatown, a Spanish Mission, the San Diego Zoo and received a tour of Hollywood. The family also took a one day trip to Tijuana, Mexico. On Christmas Day, the family visited an aunt and uncle in the city of Moorpark in Southern California. At the end of the trip the family watched the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day.

—A two bedroom house in Centralia was listed for $55 a month in rent in The Chronicle. The house included a refrigerator, an "electric range" and garden space.