A Look Back …This week in the Forks Forum

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 9, 2026

This week in 2001, two-year-old Cole Baysinger was ready for the frog jump (photo). Mayor Arbeiter had written a letter to Governor Locke sharing his concerns about West End cuts in DSHS services. In the 4th of July Arts & Crafts Show, a painting by Elaine Norbisrath had won Best in Show. Five-year-old Emily Klahn had competed in the gunnysack race.

Fifty years ago this week it was the Bicentennial! Sue Erickson had been crowned 4th of July Queen. Her princesses were Donna Olson and Linda Woody (photo). Joining the photo of the royalty on the front page was also the big story about the downtown street fight/brawl that ended most activities for the evening. An article from the PUD warned of possible power shortages. In Log Show results, the winning team in Tall Tree Rigging was Wayne Haag and Russ Spalding.

This week in 1969, Elin Johnson had been crowned 4th of July Queen. In Log Show results, Jess Parris had come in first in choker setting, and Rick Wahlgren was second. Jerry Leppell took second place in the kids’ watermelon eating contest. Buddy Howard and his orchestra had provided the music for the hangar dance.

In 1954, Nancy Corbin was named Queen for the 4th, having sold the most hats – over 600 – It was a new sales record. The second annual Barrel Float Contest had ended in a tie. Clarence Brager of Forks and Jack Olson (the Forks Forum Editor’s grandfather!) of Port Angeles both guessed 13 hours. The actual time was 13 hours and 10 seconds. The two men split the $500 prize. The route for the barrel float was from the mouth of Hyas Creek to the Calawah Bridge.

This week in 1940, there was a huge sensational headline on the front page …Woman’s body found afloat in Lake Crescent …Fishermen had pulled a blanketed and bound body from the Lake. Investigators speculated in the article that they believed the body had been in the lake for at least six months and that she was deceased before being placed there. She had not yet been identified. A forest fire burning just south of Forks had threatened several mills and burned one home to the ground.

In 1939, steel and ties were being assembled near the Tyee junction for the construction of the Ozette Timber Company’s 22 miles of railway to Lake Ozette. It was reported that the “Big Log” for downtown had been found out near the Bogachiel. It was decided the log would not go on Jake Hahn’s Triangle lot but instead between the IOOF Hall and Groffman’s Store.