Visit the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum to learn more about local history! Open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, see columbiapacificheritagemuseum.org.

December Happenings in History

Dec. 19, 1732 — Benjamin Franklin first published Poor Richard’s Almanac, containing weather predictions, humor, proverbs and epigrams, eventually selling nearly 10,000 copies per year.

Dec. 2, 1823 — President James Monroe introduced what became known as the “Monroe Doctrine” during his annual message to the Congress, prohibiting any further colonization of the American continents by European powers, stating, “we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety…”

Dec. 10, 1896 — Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel died at San Remo, Italy. His will stipulated that income from his $9 million estate be used for awards recognizing persons who have made valuable contributions to humanity. Nobel recipients are chosen by a committee of the Norwegian parliament. Prizes for Peace, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature and Economics are presented annually in a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on the anniversary of his death. Each prize is valued at about $1 million.

The Local Pages

Dec. 29, 1905, The Pacific Journal: Electric Storm Plays Havoc, North Head U.S. Weather Bureau Station is Despoiled by Lightning.

“The U.S. Weather Bureau station at North Head was on last Tuesday completely wrecked by one of the most severe electric storms that ever visited this part of the coast. The storm was at its height at 2:10 p.m. Mr Kelliher, who has charge of the station was at his recording instruments at that hour and was taking notes when the first crash of lightning struck the tower, coming in through the roof, and burning all wires leading to the instruments, like so much paper. The next instant another flash came, this time through the windows, smashing them and the remaining instruments in the building. When the second bolt of lightning struck, Mr Kelliher was thrown to the floor and rendered unconscious for some moments. When he came to he discovered that the building was on fire, which, however, he easily extinguished. Every instrument in the building was completely wrecked and some were thrown a considerable distance from their original locations, and the building is so badly damaged that it will be from eight to ten days before the bureau can be again operated. The amount of damage done to the building and instruments will run into the hundreds of dollars, besides it will be difficult to replace the instruments such as the department had up to the date of the storm, as they were of the latest and finest make, and some of them were in use in the government building at the Lewis and Clark exposition at Portland.”

Dec. 26, 1941 Chinook Observer: Horses and Mules Now be Registered.

“According to word received here by The Observer this week from Lt. Col. F.E. Koester of the U.S. Quartermaster Corps, it is the desire that all horses and mules between the ages of three and ten years inclusive in the states of California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada, be registered with headquarters Western Remount Area, San Mateo California.

Colonel Koester wrote: Experience of present war shows the horse and mule still essential for a variety of uses in modern armies. Germany has thus far employed something like a million, Japan has used large numbers in China and Russia currently is winning large scale successes with mounted units or units otherwise employing horses.

In our domestic life of the near future, horses may be most vital. Curtailment of production of power-driven farm machinery and transportation, restrictions on use of various fuels and lubricants, actual shortage of certain essentials, greater demands on agriculture and similar conditions present or possibly imminent make future and greater importance of the horse likely.

America has more well-bred useful horses and mules than any other country in the world.

We can use them and may need them anywhere anytime.

Every horse and mule owner is required to forward at once to Pacific County Agent R.T. Coil, the following information concerning each horse or mule: Age, sex, color, whether riding or drafted type, whether broken or unbroken and whether or not necessary for owner’s own use.

County agents will consolidate and forward this information.

It is requested all animal be registered by Jan. 10, 1942.

It is desired to emphasize that this is not a draft of animal resources and that it seems most unlikely this will ever be necessary. When horses or mules are needed, they will be purchased.

Prompt registration of animals of a useful military age is simply a most desirable step in our defense preparations. Registration of animals at this time is voluntary but obviously a patriotic obligation.”