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A Look Back …This week in the Forks Forum

Published 1:30 am Thursday, April 23, 2026

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This week 25 years ago the 7th annual Rainfest was happening; Missy Barlow was the featured artist (photo). A Beat in Time, a youth rhythm group, performed. Frank Walter had been selected as the new QVSD Superintendent.

Fifty years ago this week a Forks Police Department vehicle had been blown up right outside the police station! There was a new Sheriff’s Department deputy in town, 29 year old David Lenahan was now on duty (photo). A car accident near Sol Duc Way had sent three people to the hospital and totaled both vehicles. The “Art-Mobile” was visiting Forks High School, with a traveling exhibit of 200 years of Northwest Native art. An interesting story and photo appeared about Big Bill Penn (photo). In 1969 a front page photo appeared of WESC member Jack Frost measuring trout with hopeful on lookers at the annual fishing derby (photo.) Roy Black had opened a print shop.

This week in 1954 the Woodland Hotel had been sold to a hotel company out of Seattle. A herd of 30 elk had been seen at the Marshal Ranch north of Forks. In town council news Mr. and Mrs. Martin Diimmel were requesting permission to open a soda fountain on Forks Avenue.

In 1940 a huge headline shared that President Roosevelt was coming to town in June to dedicate the new National Park.

This week in 1939 it was reported that Ralph Carson had been sentenced to death in the killing of Lynwood Sproul. The shooting had happened in October 1937 at Mora.