History at a Glance

The following items are from the "Local and Personal" pages from June, July, and August issues of the 1920 Journal.

June 11: J. Y. Waldrip recently installed a new milking machine on his dairy farm at the head of Oakland Bay, and it is reported to be a great labor saver in the milking of some 30 cows.

The county commissioners have been in session this week disposing of the usual routine business. A franchise for distributing electric current over the roads of Mason County was granted to the Olympic Electric Reduction Company.

Wm. Ashlaw, who was in town Saturday from Simpson Camp 4, reports that Section Foreman Dooley had a bad scare the other evening while inspecting the track between Camps 4 and 7. An old mother bear came out to dispute the right of way and Mr. Dooley touched only a few of the higher spots along the track in getting back to Camp 4.

June 18: Strawberries - the big fat ones for which Mason County is famous - have been coming in freely for the week past in spite of the wet weather which has spoiled much fruit. Next week will bring a flood of fruit and canning will be in order, to such extent as the high price of sugar will allow.

The extreme low tides of this week have encouraged the geoduck hunters and numerous excursions have been made down the bay after the famous big clams of this region. A number of 5-pound specimens have been captured.

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Edminton made the trip to town Tuesday. They had two blowouts on the way, and a third tire blew up when they landed in front of the repair shop in town. However, the car had gone eight months without tire trouble.

The old State of Washington, crack stern-wheeler built in 1889 and for many years a Sound passenger boat, was wrecked in the Columbia River Wednesday when her boilers exploded. The fireman was missing and six men injured. The State of Washington was the last running on the Hood Canal route and is well known to Mason County people.

July 2: Lost Prairie Dance: Dance at Lost Prairie school house Saturday July 3rd. Come and wear all the flowers you can. Prize for best decorated person. Everyone invited.

The fire siren sounded Monday afternoon and it was reported that the old shingle mill was burning. Investigation disclosed that small boys swimming in the mill pond may have started the fire in some timber, which was smoldering when found and put out without damage.

July 30: A club of farmers in the Agate district has purchased a large threshing machine which was delivered by Thos. O'Neill this week and will be used for the community threshing this season. All the leading farmers are joined in the purchase, around $700, and will herewith raise their own grain as well as grind it into feed at home.

The annual Grange picnic will be held at Walker Park Wednesday, August 4. Forget your troubles, social, economic, and political, and come and help us have a good time. Bring your friends with you. Coffee and sugar will be free to all. Don't forget your lunch.

August 6: John Sund and daughter Miss Hilda Sund were in town yesterday from Sund's Resort on Hood Canal. They report having a fair patronage in spite of the gas scarcity, which is holding back tourist travel over the highway, and their accommodations are usually filled with seekers after rest and comfort.

August 13: Two or three tourist parties each day are dropping off at Kneeland Park to camp in the Shelton grounds, and are passing the word that our Shelton camp grounds afford one of the best places on the Olympic Highway in which to spend the night.

August 20: The Shelton School Board is advertising the sale of the school houses of the several outlying districts which have been consolidated with the Shelton district, to be held Saturday, August 21 at the old school building in Shelton, at 2 p.m. The three small buildings of the Little Skookum district, and the better class buildings of the Arcadia and Brumbaugh districts are offered, and also organs, book cases, bells, and heating plants.

The thermometer soared well near the century mark during the hot weather of last week in what seemed the hottest spell in years, and which was general over the state. Because of the long continued dry weather, mosquitoes have been more common than usual. A little coal oil scattered over pools of stagnant water will soon put an end to the pests.

A Word of Warning: The practice of open betting on the baseball games has become offensive on the grounds during the games, and, it being unlawful, due warning is given that future offenders will be liable to arrest and conviction. (Signed by F. C. Mathewson, Mayor.)

■ Jan Parker is a researcher for the Mason County Historical Museum. She can be reached at [email protected]. Membership in the Mason County Historical Society is $25 per year. For a limited time, new members will receive a free copy of the book "Shelton, the First Century Plus Ten."