Aberdeen, Washington
The war years of the 40's brought lots of industry to the area. There were six harbor yards building ships. Lumber and logging institutions ran shifts to handle the work and workers finally had one up on all previous difficulties.
In 1950 the 21,000-some population sported Finns and Swedes who came to the area to work in the woods and mills. Bawdry, shoddy boarding houses and shacks, beer parlors, and pool halls lined the planked streets surrounding the mills and factories. Loggers also came from Minnesota and Wisconsin. North of the business section the Bel-Aire area housed the upper-class of the city. Here one could view the Chehalis Point Lighthouse, Grays Harbor and the Pacific Ocean.
Fish plants sprang up, the oyster industry flourished. By 1950 the area was booming. Ups and downs continued through the years after, but the town seems to be getting back its economical backbone evidenced today by a Wal-mart moving in, along with other industries.
Our Recent Aberdeen Experience
Recently on a trip to the nearby coastal beaches I stopped and followed a sign to a steelhead hatchery. What a joy to see all the fish teeming in the hatchery water and what a delight to find a little park alongside on Lake Aberdeen. It's a great place for a stop, but the bathroom facilities are not open except in summer.
My grandchildren were with me and we found some friendly locals who were fishing and catching newts on the dock. Since my grandkids had never seen one or held one they were invited to view and touch them, then learn about them from a local Boy Scout leader. After gentle touches the newts were then put back in the water.
It was fun to watch the newts. They can stay down a long time, then pop up for air like a fish. The difference between a newt and a salamander: newts live in water; salamanders live in woodlands. What I always enjoy about small towns: the locals are so friendly - this was no exception. We all had a good time.
With clean hands of course, we stopped at Baskin-Robbins. Ice cream was delicious on that sunny day. We love our ice cream here in the Pacific Northwest!
What to Do and Other Stuff
The Daily World at http://www.thedailyworld.com is a good place to start learning about today's Aberdeen. It's still a strong logging community, but is expanding its wings. Read about the Tanasses,
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