100 years ago (1916 — Oak Harbor News)

The Revs. Switzer and Waddington, while driving in a single rig up Oak Harbor’s Main Street, smashed their buggy and broke their harness when an automobile crashed into it.

Oak Harbor City Marshal Keister arrested G.C. Allen for running his auto without any lights.

An Oak Harbor High School debate argued pro and con as to the Monroe doctrine.

The paper lamented the move of John T. Rogers from Oak Harbor to Everett, praising him on the front page as “a man sought for in order to get action” in “every effort for the commercial and moral uplift of the community.”

Miss Edna V. Jenne of Coupeville advertised herself as a Teacher of Piano reachable at telephone number 2-6. Her students gave a musical at the home of Mrs. Strandberg.

75 years ago (1941 — Farm Bureau News)

A story warned children not to fly kites with metal or tinsel on the string, because “they are conductors of electicity — and gosh, how it hurts!”

Dr. William Haley, noted chemist of Seattle, gave an interesting talk on vitamins and nutrition at the last meeting of the Rotary club.

According to the auditor’s annual report, Island County had a population of 6,029, and most county and municipal officials made $1,800 a year.

A medium-sized bar of Ivory soap cost five cents.

50 years ago (1966 — Whidbey News-Times)

Twice-daily round trips between Oak Harbor Air Park and Sea-Tac Airport were set to begin April 1.

More than 500 students — 13 percent of the total study body — were out sick with the flu.

At a public hearing, Oak Harbor’s marina was shown to be financially feasible and was projected to be completed within a year.

Capt. Donald G. Gumz proposed creating Lectrion Inc., an electronics firm in Oak Harbor.

Pot roast cost 49 cents per pound at the Payless in Freeland and Oak Harbor.

25 years ago (1991 — Whidbey News-Times)

With a cease-fire declared in the Persian Gulf, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island began preparing for the return of planes and reservists.

Beavers blocked a culvert under a private road south of Deception Pass State Park, leading to flooding that threatened the road.

Business owners in downtown Oak Harbor said its resurrection was imminent, and Joyce Lippus, owner of Paper Pony and marketing director for the Downtown Development Council, said it soon would again be “the hub of everything.”

After the town council rejected attempts to expand the Town of Coupeville, the county was considering moving some of its offices to Oak Harbor.

The Oak Harbor City Council effectively ruled that no further residential development would be allowed north of Crosby Road, citing Navy interests.

The Nokia MTXCL car-to-car “bag” phone was on sale for $399 at DuCap Electronics in Burlington or Bellingham.