News Files

EARLY HISTORY

The Florence School opened for the first time in 1872. David Bennie was the manager of the Stanwood Cooperative Creamery in 1899. That same year, Amanda Larson of Seattle and Peter O. Wold of Stanwood were married Oct. 11.

100 YEARS AGO (1909)

County commissioners inspected bridges and roads in this valley, beginning at Stanwood and working eastward as far as Oso.

90 YEARS AGO (1919)

Graduation was held at Milltown School, one of the students was Ann J. Astel who came to Milltown in 1910 after being born in Stanwood in 1904.

80 YEARS AGO (1929)

Mayor O.E. Thompson of Stanwood resigned to move to Seattle. Mrs. Thompson also resigned as a library board member. Puget Sound Power and Light Co. brought high tension electric power from Skagit Co. to better the electric service here.

70 YEARS AGO (1939)

P. Wilbur cut 20 feet off the top of the 100-ft. Lien Brothers smokestack. Formal approval was given to the city hall project for East Stanwood. The Lincoln Lynx of East Stanwood held the Darrington Loggers to a scoreless tie.

60 YEARS AGO (1949)

The South Camano Grange hosted one of the largest American Legion initiations and installations held in a five-state region. Huge quantities of food was gathered by school students for the Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle.

50 YEARS AGO (1959)

Budgets for the towns were, $21,352 for East Stanwood, $22,554 for Stanwood. Chester Frodle became president of Camano Co-op Water and Power Co. board. Work progressed on the new East Stanwood post office (present Stanwood Camano News building), and fill work was begun on the PUD lot.

40 YEARS AGO (1969)

Roof timbers at Camwood Inn gave way, collapsing the ceiling and soaking the interior. The new Bryant Road was dedicated when the Lindstrom Interstate 5 link was opened at Heichel’s Corner (intersection of SR 532/Old Highway 99).

30 YEARS AGO (1979)

Father Colin Campbell has replaced Father Walter Correll at St. Aidan’s. It became official: no more parking on 271 St. by the Stanwood Middle School. Camano Community Club was incorporated and board members elected.

20 YEARS AGO (1989)

For the second month, the Camano home building boom was ahead of the rest of the incorporated areas of the county. Jim Webster, a SHS grad, received the prestigious Connelly Award for commanding the best Army Reserve field kitchen.

10 YEARS AGO (1999)

Island County said “no” to impact fees, and, new rules won’t cut cell tower heights. Stanwood City Council lowered taxes on punchboards and pulltabs.