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March 4, 2021, All Day
The Bennison Block burns (1929)2021-03-04T00:00:00Today it’s recognizable as the location of the Heart of Anacortes and The Rockfish Grill. This Old Town block between 4th and 3rd streets has a deep history. Originally it was home to the Bennison Block, named after local real estate mogul, G.E. Bennison, who helped open many colorful early businesses on there. The Maryland Café, the Artistic Millinery Store and the McCallum and Taggert grocery store were some of the block’s early institutions. These early businesses were destroyed in 1929 when the block went up in flames. Some of the businesses moved across the street to the McCracken block, the location of Bennison’s real estate office. Interestingly enough though, Bennison did not just sell properties. He also sold insurance. Fire insurance.
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 Today it’s recognizable as the location of the Heart of Anacortes and The Rockfish Grill. This Old Town block between 4th and 3rd streets has a deep history. Originally it was home to the Bennison Block, named after local real estate mogul, G.E. Bennison, who helped open many colorful early businesses on there. The Maryland Café, the Artistic Millinery Store and the McCallum and Taggert grocery store were some of the block’s early institutions. These early businesses were destroyed in 1929 when the block went up in flames. Some of the businesses moved across the street to the McCracken block, the location of Bennison’s real estate office. Interestingly enough though, Bennison did not just sell properties. He also sold insurance. Fire insurance.
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March 8, 2021, All Day
Anacortes Kiwanis Club Established (1926)2021-03-08T00:00:00The Anacortes Kiwanis club was organized Monday March 8, 1926. Bylaws were adopted, Henry Schmidt was elected the first president, buttons were distributed and Thursday was decided upon as the luncheon day. The first meeting was March 11. Since that day the club has has made many contributions to the community, including donating the top of Mt. Erie to the City and more than $3 million to scholarships and other worthy causes.
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 The Anacortes Kiwanis club was organized Monday March 8, 1926. Bylaws were adopted, Henry Schmidt was elected the first president, buttons were distributed and Thursday was decided upon as the luncheon day. The first meeting was March 11. Since that day the club has has made many contributions to the community, including donating the top of Mt. Erie to the City and more than $3 million to scholarships and other worthy causes.
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March 13, 2021, All Day
Anacortes Post Office established (1879)2021-03-13T00:00:00Anacortes officially received its name on this date in 1879, when the community’s first post office was established in Amos Bowman’s store. Bowman, the first postmaster, famously derived the city’s Spanish-sounding name from the name of his wife, Anna (or Annie) Curtis Bowman. Anacortes replaced the community’s orginal name, Ship Harbor.
In 1979, at a centennial celebration in Anacortes, a proclamation was read on behalf of the White House by Congressman Al Swift: “Congratulations on the hundredth anniversary of your community. In celebrating this important milestone in your history, you can take pride in the values and ideals that have made your community and your nation grow and prosper. May the vitality and spirt of your people continue to help build a better American and a better world.” It was signed by Jimmy Carter, President of the United States.
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 Anacortes officially received its name on this date in 1879, when the community’s first post office was established in Amos Bowman’s store. Bowman, the first postmaster, famously derived the city’s Spanish-sounding name from the name of his wife, Anna (or Annie) Curtis Bowman. Anacortes replaced the community’s orginal name, Ship Harbor.
In 1979, at a centennial celebration in Anacortes, a proclamation was read on behalf of the White House by Congressman Al Swift: “Congratulations on the hundredth anniversary of your community. In celebrating this important milestone in your history, you can take pride in the values and ideals that have made your community and your nation grow and prosper. May the vitality and spirt of your people continue to help build a better American and a better world.” It was signed by Jimmy Carter, President of the United States.
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March 14, 2021, All Day
Anacortes becomes an All-America City (1962)2021-03-14T00:00:00A telegram from President John F. Kennedy broke the news to Anacortes Mayor Eugene “Bud” Strom that Anacortes had won the coveted designation of “All-America City” from the National Municipal League. If you had asked Anacortes residents in 1951 whether their town was qualified to receive such a prestigious national award, they would have laughed. It was a town still recovering from the Depression and dealing with the reality of declining lumber and fishing industries. Something radical needed to change, and about 1,500 community members (especially young residents), were ready to be that change. Infused by new residents and funds generated by the arrival of refineries, the community developed a massive do-it-yourself improvement program. Anacortes built four new grade schools, a hospital and a storm drain system, and paved six miles of poor quality streets in a period of 8 years. The enthusiasm and results earned Anacortes its designation as an All-America City.
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 A telegram from President John F. Kennedy broke the news to Anacortes Mayor Eugene “Bud” Strom that Anacortes had won the coveted designation of “All-America City” from the National Municipal League. If you had asked Anacortes residents in 1951 whether their town was qualified to receive such a prestigious national award, they would have laughed. It was a town still recovering from the Depression and dealing with the reality of declining lumber and fishing industries. Something radical needed to change, and about 1,500 community members (especially young residents), were ready to be that change. Infused by new residents and funds generated by the arrival of refineries, the community developed a massive do-it-yourself improvement program. Anacortes built four new grade schools, a hospital and a storm drain system, and paved six miles of poor quality streets in a period of 8 years. The enthusiasm and results earned Anacortes its designation as an All-America City.
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March 18, 2021, All Day
Socialists expand in Anacortes (1909)2021-03-18T00:00:00A letter in the Anacortes American on this date in 1909 announced that local Socialists were invited to organize and help establish a facility in Anacortes. This effort was only two years after the final collapse of the Equality Colony, an experimental Socialist commune near Edison. “All class-conscious Socialists and sympathizers of Anacortes are hereby given the privilege to contribute their mite towards having a meeting house and reading room for working men by letting us have their donation, small or large, as early as possible. We bought a lot on Commercial Avenue and 15 Street and are rushed to meet the final payment therof.”
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 A letter in the Anacortes American on this date in 1909 announced that local Socialists were invited to organize and help establish a facility in Anacortes. This effort was only two years after the final collapse of the Equality Colony, an experimental Socialist commune near Edison. “All class-conscious Socialists and sympathizers of Anacortes are hereby given the privilege to contribute their mite towards having a meeting house and reading room for working men by letting us have their donation, small or large, as early as possible. We bought a lot on Commercial Avenue and 15 Street and are rushed to meet the final payment therof.”
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March 24, 2021, All Day
Scott Paper Co. shuts down (1978)2021-03-24T00:00:00The Scott Paper Mill, once of the largest employers in the city, closed on this date in 1978. For more than 50 years, the pulp mill at the foot of 17th Street played a major role in the economy, community and environment (i.e. aroma) of Anacortes. Lumber mills operated on this shore of Fidalgo Bay as early as the 1890s, but the first pulp mill was opened by Fidalgo Pulp Manufacturing Co. in 1925. Scott Paper Co., which bought the mill in 1940, operated it as the Anacortes Pulp Company, and later under the name of its subsidiary, Coos Bay Pulp Corporation, through 1960. From 1961 until the plant closed in 1978 it was known as the Scott Paper Mill. Despite the name, no paper was made at the plant. It produced bales of pulp that went by rail, ship and truck to U.S. and international paper mills. The Eagle’s hall put on a farewell dinner for the mill attended by nearly 200 people. Many of the former workers were transferred to similar Scott Paper Mills in nearby Hamilton and Everett.
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 The Scott Paper Mill, once of the largest employers in the city, closed on this date in 1978. For more than 50 years, the pulp mill at the foot of 17th Street played a major role in the economy, community and environment (i.e. aroma) of Anacortes. Lumber mills operated on this shore of Fidalgo Bay as early as the 1890s, but the first pulp mill was opened by Fidalgo Pulp Manufacturing Co. in 1925. Scott Paper Co., which bought the mill in 1940, operated it as the Anacortes Pulp Company, and later under the name of its subsidiary, Coos Bay Pulp Corporation, through 1960. From 1961 until the plant closed in 1978 it was known as the Scott Paper Mill. Despite the name, no paper was made at the plant. It produced bales of pulp that went by rail, ship and truck to U.S. and international paper mills. The Eagle’s hall put on a farewell dinner for the mill attended by nearly 200 people. Many of the former workers were transferred to similar Scott Paper Mills in nearby Hamilton and Everett.
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March 26, 2021, All Day
Ferry Guemes has shakedown cruise (1979)2021-03-26T00:00:00On this date in 1979, officials conducted the shakedown cruise of the ferry Guemes (or the Guemes II). The new ferry had just made a 66,000-mile voyage through the Panama Canal from the shipyard in Somerset, Mass., where it was built. At the helm was Capt. Robert Hamstead of Massachusetts, who also skippered the ferry on the long trip. The 16-car Guemes replaced the 9-car Almar.
Event LocationAnacortesWA98221 On this date in 1979, officials conducted the shakedown cruise of the ferry Guemes (or the Guemes II). The new ferry had just made a 66,000-mile voyage through the Panama Canal from the shipyard in Somerset, Mass., where it was built. At the helm was Capt. Robert Hamstead of Massachusetts, who also skippered the ferry on the long trip. The 16-car Guemes replaced the 9-car Almar.
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