Here’s what was happening in the news this week:

100 years ago

M. Fakkema, one of the best known and most respected citizens, passed away at his country home Friday, April 23, after a short illness, the primary cause of which was paralysis. Deceased was aged 59 years. He was born in the Netherlands and came to this country when quite a young man. He came to Oak Harbor 19 years ago. The remains were laid to rest in Maple Leaf Cemetery.

In the estimation of the News, tomorrow (May 1, 1915) would be the most eventful day in the history of Oak Harbor. It would decide the question of incorporation — whether our people were progressive as a majority or whether they desired to remain a nonentity among the enterprising towns and cities of Northwest Washington.

75 years ago

Fire from an overheated stove did serious damage to the kitchen in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Roodzant.

Six persons were fined $10 and costs of $2 and 50 cents in Justice Gilbert S. Olsen’s court. The men were caught by the game protector digging clams just east of Coupeville. When apprehended, the culprits had six sacks of clams, considerably more than the legal limit.

50 years ago

It was announced that Oak Harbor’s John Vanderzicht would be the national director and Washington state president of the Navy League. He and three other Oak Harbor men attended a national Navy League Convention in Washington, D.C.

According to Hospital Commissioner Ted Christenson, there was complete ambulance service available, but Police Chief Fred Murcray reported that the ambulance was available for emergency use only. A new ambulance was purchased, but there was no driver available because Homer Bakker, the driver for seven months, left for an ambulance job on South Whidbey.

25 years ago

An internal Pentagon memorandum signed by a high-ranking Navy official recommended Lemoore Naval Air Station (California) as the future site for the Navy’s top secret A-12 bomber over the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. NAS Whidbey had been the unofficial choice by the Navy for the A-12 since 1987. The A-12 was scheduled to replace the aging Vietnam-era A-6E attack bomber then currently stationed at NAS Whidbey starting in the mid-1990s.

Strapped with financial woes and binding investigations, Tennex Industries faced permanent closure, but Tennex advocates were pleading for more time to resolve problems. Lack of funds forced Tennex to close its doors and lay off its staff of five in December 1989, prompting a financial audit into the problems that led to the organization’s demise. Tennex was also the subject of a criminal investigation by the Island County Sheriff’s Department for alleged misappropriation of public funds. Tennex industries was a private, nonprofit organization that had contracted with the county for years as a sheltered workshop for developmentally disabled adults.

Looking Back is compiled from the Whidbey News-Times’ archives as the newspaper celebrates 125 years in business and the City of Oak Harbor its 100th anniversary of incorporation.