Glance Back: From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, April 24, 2009

10 Years Ago

On Friday, Jim Wood hoisted concrete blocks into place on the elevator shaft in the area that will soon be the roof of the new Washington Free Public Library on the square.

With close to 60 years of experience, Wood says he began doing brickwork when he was 12 years old. He explained his father was a contractor and quickly got him into the family business. In 2005, Wood passed the family business – Wood Construction Inc. of Ainsworth – down to his son Matt Wood, to enjoy retirement. When the business got the contract to do the masonry work on the library, Wood – at age 71 – thought he would come and lend a hand.

DES MOINES – On her way home from the 22nd annual Main Street Awards Ceremony, Friday, Main Street Director Amy Vetter tried to think of how many other Main Street communities in the state had won three awards. Only two of the other Main Street communities earned the honor, and neither was a first-year group.

During the ceremony, Main Street Washington, which only had its first birthday this year, received honors for best committee notebook project, best building rehabilitation for the Bryson Block, and best holiday event for the annual SNOW (Showcasing Nights of Washington). Volunteers Don and Marge Kline were also honored as outstanding volunteers for Main Street Washington.

20 Years Ago

CEDAR RAPIDS – Alliant Energy has recently distributed an informational brochure titled 'FYI Year 2000” to public libraries throughout its territory. Copies of the brochure, offered as a public service, provide responses to commonly asked questions regarding the Year 2000.

RIVERSIDE – Highland Community School District patrons will be paying 6 cents more per $1,000 taxable valuation in property taxes in fiscal 1999-2000.

DES MOINES (AP) – Counselors are urging Iowa parents and school officials to talk about the school shooting in Littleton, Colo., even if the message is as shocking as the images.

DES MOINES (AP) – A bipartisan gambling bill that freezes the number of gambling licenses at current levels until July 1, 2004, is on its way to the House.

30 Years Ago

Hammers may soon be ringing at Orchard Hill ResCare. The Washington County Board of Supervisors gave approval to ResCare Inc. Secretary John Kuster to contract with architects to draw up plans for a new administrative building.

Outgoing YWCA Board president, Bert Turner, will be honored as the YWCA's Woman of the Year and Marge Gloyer will be honored as Volunteer of the Year at the YW's annual dinner Saturday.

Lisa Garrity, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Garrity, Washington, has been chosen by Unit 29 of the American Legion Auxiliary to attend the 44th annual session of the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls' State in June.

40 Years Ago

Ann Lampkin single-handedly shattered three records and helped break a fourth Thursday as the Washington High School girls track team ran to a second-place finish in the Class A division of the Pantherette Relays at Pekin.

Washington County's judicial magistrates were reappointed Wednesday to new two-year terms which begin July 1.

Magistrates Thomas Potter, Wellman, and Jane Shepherd, Washington, were re-named to their part-time posts by the county's special magistrate appointing commission charged by District Judge Ira Morrison.

50 Years Ago

A longtime and well-known Washington resident, Indiana Brinton, who died several years ago, left a considerable sum of money in a trust fund for charitable purposes, according to her will. Thirty percent of the fund has gone to Washington County Hospital; part of the remaining 70 percent will go to the Washington YMCA.

Mrs. Robert (Elsie) Huber became the first woman president in the history of the Washington Community Chest Board Tuesday night, as directors reorganized for the coming year.

Washington city councilmen approved plans of the park board to install playground equipment on the southeast corner of Green Field after discussion at the council meeting Monday night.