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Category: Random News from the Newspapers on Microfilm Collection

The Koreshans, a World Turned Outside In

The Koreshans, a World Turned Outside In

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: There’s a great independent filmmaker in Utah I used to correspond with and even met once named Trent Harris. In his movie Plan 10 From Outer Space (1995) a character utters one of my all time favorite lines in cinema history: “Just because it’s made up doesn’t mean it isn’t true.” For some reason this little soundbite seems appropriate for the following story. The random…

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The Killing Season

The Killing Season

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: “One of the lusty, colorful eras in the history of the Pacific Northwest,” writes Jim Gibbs, “centered around the pelagic sealing industry. It gained great proportions by the 1890’s when every year more than 100 small schooners, propelled only by canvas, set sail from Victoria, B.C. and Puget Sound ports fanning throughout the North Pacific, in the harsh open seas of the Bering Sea, and…

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LIKE AS “TWO DROMIOS”: COMPLICATIONS FROM A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

LIKE AS “TWO DROMIOS”: COMPLICATIONS FROM A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: [The following piece of found-at-random news comes from The Tacoma Daily Ledger, although the story took place in New Whatcom (a town which later became part of the City of Bellingham). The tale reads like a screwball comedy. Published on November 9, 1897, the headline writer very appropriately made a reference to characters from Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors]: Mrs. Woods of Whatcom Secures a…

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TENDERLOIN CELEBRITIES IN THE TOILS

TENDERLOIN CELEBRITIES IN THE TOILS

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Found at random in the Sept. 12, 1905 issue of the always entertaining Seattle Star: TENDERLOIN CELEBRITIES IN THE TOILS Seattle’s three municipal problems, Annie Rooney, “Prof.” Price and “Yankee Frank,” are again guests at the taxpayers’ expense.  Officers Brafford and Mayou gathered in the notorious trio Monday evening while patrolling their tenderloin beat. As usual, Annie Rooney went along with sprightly step. Annie expected…

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“Veritable Hermit Discovered Living in the Heart of the Olympics”

“Veritable Hermit Discovered Living in the Heart of the Olympics”

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library. The following article was found at random in the Sept. 1, 1903 issue of the Seattle Daily Times and contains a description of one of the more unusual libraries in Washington State history: The Times Special Service. EVERETT, Tuesdays, Sept. 1.–A hermit, such as fiction deals in, has been discovered in the heart of the Olympic mountains, by Attorney Robert A. Hulbert, of this city,…

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The Uncle of the Father of Earth Day: Washington’s sort of Connection…

The Uncle of the Father of Earth Day: Washington’s sort of Connection…

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Several years ago I discovered an unusual Washington State connection to Earth Day while compiling biographical information about unsuccessful candidates for Governor. The election was 1936 and the subject was Union Party nominee Ove Malling Nelson.  Although a bit distant, the connection is this: Ove Nelson was the uncle of the Sen. Gaylord Nelson, the Father of Earth Day. OK, so its convoluted, but I…

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Love in Bucoda

Love in Bucoda

Territorial Era Love Story, Bucoda 1889 This one is a nice spin on an old story, but the backstory is even more unusual. This was found at random in the Centralia Daily News, August 6, 1889: THE BOY WON  In Spite of the Difficulties Placed in His Pathway  He Saw, He Loved, He Conquered, and is Rewarded, by Securing the Prize He Most Coveted.  “For a few years past there existed a feeling of warm attachment between Eli Bannse and…

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The Galoot is Here

The Galoot is Here

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Stories about confidence tricksters were a staple of the early Washington newspapers. This particular con artist, a Mr. Taylor, was more literary than most. The following scam alert was published in the May 5, 1892 issue of The Kitsap County Pioneer, Sidney, Washington, and I believe I detect a bit of gloating over the misfortune of their rival local paper: The “Galoot” is Here “The…

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Protection Island

Protection Island

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Some people just don’t know their boundaries. This Seattle Daily Times article from April 9, 1908 actually describes two problematic boundary issues in the Strait of Juan de Fuca:  ISLAND OWNERSHIP IS IN DISPUTE Judge Albertson of Seattle Hears Rival Claims of Jefferson and Clallam Counties at Port Townsend. Will Require Some Time to Decide Puzzling Question–Bit of Water in Straits Said to Belong to…

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A Mephitis Mephitica in Vancouver

A Mephitis Mephitica in Vancouver

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Although I suspect what we are reading here is a private and cryptic joke, it still makes for entertaining copy. The following was found in the March 28, 1871 Port Townsend Weekly Message: A POVERTY STRICKEN INTELLECT. “–We commend the following extract from Donn Piatt to the prayerful and serious consideration of our old and very particular friend Major Adams, of the Vancouver Register. Donn…

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