News Files
COMPILED BY CAROL SCHMIDT
EARLY HISTORY
The Stanwood Weekly Press was founded at Stanwood by Vashon Island Press, after they moved their equipment to Stanwood. Andre Folden and Marie Eielsen, both of Norway, were married in Seattle and settled at Utsalady, “making of the wilderness a rich agricultural region.”
100 YEARS AGO (1910)
Rev. H.M. Tjernagel resigned as pastor of Freeborn Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church where he had been pastor since 1905; his yearly salary, $40.
90 YEARS AGO (1920)
Roy M. Baker, who was born in Monroe a year ago, grew up to make Stanwood his home; he was the 1948 All Around Rodeo Champion and a lifetime member of the Auctioneers Association. Jack and Laura Brown, settled at New Utsaladdy, have established a shingle mill near their home.
80 YEARS AGO (1930)
L.R. Ferris bought the lease of the Stanwood Service Station from Cecil Barron. Wm. Jordan updated the Stanwood Bakery, including private booths in which to serve ice cream. April 14 was Stanwood’s Clean up Day.
70 YEARS AGO (1940)
This was the first year that Social Security monthly payments had been authorized, and Carl Freberg of East Stanwood was among the early birds of the nation who qualified. Census takers for the area were Mrs. Clara Holman, Stanwood, E.E.P. Carlson, Stanby, Mrs. Serena Rogsness, Norman, Chris Simonson, Camano Island. The commercial club had plans to relight the electrical sign at Island service station, energizing the motors that activated the “jumping fish.”
60 YEARS AGO (1950)
A blood type unit was in East Stanwood sponsored by the East Stanwood Lions Club. Space was roped off every Thursday night in town to hold street dances. Bus fare from Stanwood to Seattle on the “Grey Dawg” was $1; the Stanwood station was the bench in front of the drycleaners. Albert Fagg bought the Snack Shop from the Floyd Templetons in East Stanwood. Rev. and Mrs. Hanson, managers of Josephine Sunset Home for 15 years, moved to California.
50 YEARS AGO (1960)
The budget for the school year was almost $452,000. A local meeting’s topic was to form a many-purposed Stanwood Foundation. Mrs. Eleanor Fortson succeeded Miss Frances Johns as principal of Stanwood Elementary.
40 YEARS AGO (1970)
The development of Lincoln Heights Addition was planned in Stanwood as an area of new homes. The old Stanwood Irvine Public Library building was sold for $25 to the Twin City Sportsmen’s Association, later moved east of town where it remains. Stanwood councilmen voted on a recommended disapproval for the proposed motorcycle racetrack in Cedarhome. Six volunteers became members of the Stanwood Police Reserve Unit.
30 YEARS AGO (1980)
Stanwood received over $3,000 from the state Liquor Control Boards distribution of excess funds. Red tide warnings remain in effect at all Camano beaches. Limited express mail service was available at the Stanwood Post Office.
20 YEARS AGO (1990)
Around 40 tree stumps were yanked out by helicopter at Camaloch Golf Course to make room for an additional nine holes. Game agent Rich Phillips deposited rainbow trout in Lake Goodwin, Lake Loma, Lake Howard and Lake Ki. A mechanical harvest of sand shrimp was proposed for Mabana state tidelands. Former editor of this paper, Raymond Horn passed away; while here, he charged $1.50 for a year’s subscription.
10 YEARS AGO 2000)
A blazing private home and barn kept firefighters busy for five hours, on the northwest edge of Stanwood. A nationally-known Camano filmmaker, who had a narrow escape from Mt. St. Helen’s in 1980, showed his video of the event at Stanwood Cinemas.
