A Look Back in Time: 6-month-old survives house fire; Trio of children accidentally crash car; UFOs spotted in Ocean Beach

May 29-In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Wednesday, May 30, 1956, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about Susan Wright, a 6-month-old baby who was miraculously saved by a neighbor from a fire that broke out in her parents' Chehalis home.

A trio of siblings, with the oldest only being 6, accidentally knocked a parked car into gear and ended up being unintentional passengers as the car rolled away to a crash in a Chehalis neighborhood, according to the Monday, May 30, 1966, edition of The Chronicle.

Also in the Monday, May 30, 1966, edition of The Chronicle, it was reported 13 witnesses saw UFOs on three different occasions on Friday in the Ocean Beach area.

The Sunday, May 30, 1936, and the Sunday, May 30, 1976, editions of The Chronicle were not in the archives, so stories from the Monday, June 1, 1936, and the Saturday, May 29, 1976, editions were featured instead.

A Look Back in Time is compiled using Chronicle archives stored at the Lewis County Historical Museum - located at 599 NW Front St. in Chehalis - along with digital archives on newspapers.com.

Monday, June 1, 1936

-Allen T. Borst, son of Centralia pioneers Joseph and Mary Adeline Borst, passed away that morning at the age of 63 after suffering from a "long illness," The Chronicle reported. "He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Deborah, of Bay Center; two sons, Joseph, Seattle, and Richard, Centralia, and two sisters, Mrs. Eva McElfresh and Mrs. Ada Blackwell, both of Centralia. Mr. Borst was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Borst, among the first settlers of Centralia, and was born January 21, 1873, on the old Borst place on Fords Prairie. He was an elder in the First Christian Church and a member of the Elks' Lodge. The body is at the Sticklin mortuary pending funeral arrangements."

-The City of Centralia hosted soldiers of the U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division that day, who were on their annual summer training maneuver marching from Fort Lewis to Vancouver, The Chronicle reported. "Tonight at 7 o'clock the regimental band will render a concert in the city park under the direction of Warrant Officer (Arthur) Haynes. The regiment, commanded by Colonel (Henry) Hossfeld, is making the march in easy stages. The troops camped Saturday night and last night at Tenino, and will spend tonight at the fair grounds here, resuming their hike tomorrow morning. Arriving here shortly before noon on their trek from Tenino, the soldiers were met at the north city limits by a local police contingent and escorted through the city. The band played as the regiment passed through the business district."

-Haircuts from a barber located at 610 J St. in Centralia were listed in The Chronicle's classifieds for $0.25 each. An ad asking for help finding a "lost or strayed" dog named "Tumbles," who had been missing from a South Diamond Street home since Saturday, was also listed.

Thursday, May 30, 1946

-Lewis County was due to receive a total of $327,475.93 from Washington state's $70 million post-World War II development fund according to the fund board's executive secretary George P. Sheridan, The Chronicle reported. The fund, originally $50 million, was created to prevent post-war economic dislocation and fund public works projects according to the state Legislature's website, and Sheridan made his statement "following the recent announcement from Gov. Mon C. Wallgren the (additional) $20 million earmarked for division between counties and municipalities will now be available. Half of this amount, or $163,737.96, may be obtained by the county as an outright grant, but the remaining half, or any portion of it, must be matched dollar for dollar by other county funds. Under the law, Sheridan pointed out, these funds cannot actually be turned over to the county until a project has been approved by the development board; completed plans and specifications checked by the board's engineers, and work is ready to commence. The board's policy, generally, will be to approve those projects designated by counties as having top post-war priority, providing they are worthwhile, needed, and constitute a normal function of local government. Preference will be given to projects which can provide a maximum amount of man-hours of employment. However, Gov. Wallgren, who is chairman of the development board, has on several occasions stressed that, except in emergencies, the board does not favor building construction which will in any way interfere with construction of badly needed homes for veterans."

-A five-room home with a garage and woodshed on 12 acres of "all level" land "located close to Chehalis," was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $4,500. A four-room home with a hen house and garage on one-and-a-third acres of land near Oakville was listed for sale for $1,100.

Wednesday, May 30, 1956

-While still having sustained second-degree burns, six-month-old Susan Wright survived after being rescued by a neighbor from a fire at her parents' Chehalis home the previous day, The Chronicle reported. "A six-month-old baby girl was critically burned Tuesday evening in a tragic fire that gutted the two-story home of a mother and her six small children in south Chehalis. Three of the children barely managed to flee the flaming house. The mother had stepped over to a neighbor's home for a moment. Al Bena, 27-year-old Chehalis packing house warehouseman, saved the small baby from the flames through determined and courageous action. He battered in the front door, seized the child from its bassinet and fled while flaming wallpaper fell on and around him. He bravely returned to make sure the other children were out of the home, and then flames and smoke drove him out. The victim was Susan Wright, daughter of Mr. (Lloyd) and Mrs. (Gloria) Wright of 1676 Williams Ave. The baby was admitted to the St. Helen Hospital at 7 p.m. She received second-degree burns of her arms, legs, face and abdomen. Three of the Wright children escaped by fleeing through the back door seconds before almost the entire house burst into flames. Two other children were away on a picnic. Oldest of the children is nine years of age. Bena said the baby was lying in her bassinet in the living room by the kitchen door. Bena had no difficulty finding the bassinet in his first trip but, when he went back a second time to check for additional children, he was choked by billowing black smoke and had given up his search as the fire broke out in unleashed fury. Bena was eating his dinner when he noticed smoke and ran to the home while his wife called the fire department at 6:45 p.m. The Benas live about 100 yards from the Wright home on Eighth Street ... (Chehalis) Fire Chief Clark Bennett said the fire started from grease in a pan left on the kitchen stove. Bennett estimated approximately $4,000 to $5,000 (in) damage was caused to the home and belongings. Nothing was saved before the firemen arrived, and afterwards, neighbors, headed by Mr. (James) and Mrs. (Dolores) Donahe, carried out clothing and furniture and boarded up the home to prevent curiosity seekers from entering." While Susan was burned quite extensively, she appeared to have a chance to pull through, and slowly recovered throughout the month following the fire. The final update to her condition found in The Chronicle's archives was a short story on Friday, June 29, 1956, stating Susan had just undergone surgery for skin grafts on her legs and arms at the Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle.

-Centralia High School senior Mary Christine Edmands, daughter of the late U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Allen Edmands, who was killed in action during World War II, was one of seven students selected nationwide to get an American Veterans (AMVETS) of World War II and Korea scholarship, The Chronicle reported. "The Centralia girl will receive a $2,000 grant to attend the college of her choice, which she has indicated, will be Lewis & Clark (College) in Portland, to take nurse training. As a part of the award, Miss Edmands will fly to Washington D.C., June 10, and will meet President Eisenhower on June 12 along with Vice President Nixon and Congressional leaders. AMVET(S) Post 26 of Vancouver sponsored the Centralia student for the award. Only the children of deceased or totally disabled veterans of World War II or Korea are eligible for the grant. Miss Edmands' father, Lieutenant Commander Allen C. Edmands, U.S. Navy, was killed in action March 19, 1945, when suicide Japanese Kamikaze planes hit the aircraft carrier USS Franklin while he was aboard. Commander Edmands was a pilot and skipper of a torpedo squadron on the ship. During high school, Miss Edmands was active in speech, music, drama and writing. She was Girls' League president and won the senior girl inspirational award. 'We are especially pleased to make this award on Memorial Day,' said Marshall Gwaltney, commander of Post 26. 'AMVETS feel their scholarships are both a tribute to the memory of those who made the greatest sacrifices while serving in the armed forces and also a legacy for the future. It is the kind of inheritance that will develop our young people and thus strengthen our nation.'"

-A seven-room home with a barn, multiple hen houses and an orchard on a "20 acre ranch at Randle" with "pressure spring water to all buildings" was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $12,000. A "modern, clean, newly decorated duplex" was listed for rent for $60 a month.

Monday, May 30, 1966

-A trio of siblings, sisters ages 5 and 6 and a 2-year-old brother, managed to crash a car with the brother behind the wheel the previous day in Chehalis when they somehow knocked the gear lever out of "park," The Chronicle reported. "The car they occupied was destroyed, and $500 property damage was recorded when the small trio rode down a hill, over two banks and into a home. Chehalis police termed the youngsters lucky to have escaped without injury. One of the sisters was hurt after the wreck when she got out of the car and fell down, skinning her knee, police said. Young Dale Green, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Green of Edmonds, was in the car with his sisters, Dawn, 6, and Kathy, 5. The car, a convertible belonging to Raymond M. Davis, whom the Greens were visiting at 697 Adams Ave., began to roll when the gear was apparently knocked out of 'park' position. The car rolled down a steep yard, jumped off a retaining wall, rolled across an alley, knocked loose a stout post, jumped over a four-foot bank and wedged in a depression and into a home occupied by James D. Gulland, 1085 Division Ave. Police said, 'the frame, front, rear, both sides, top and bottom were damaged heavily.' A Chehalis policeman, M.V. Jennings, said, 'the car could easily have turned over at two places. These children are lucky.'"

-A total of 13 witnesses reported seeing UFOs on three different occasions in the Ocean Beach area Friday night, The Chronicle reported. "Frank J. McMahon of Aberdeen said a single object was first seen about 10:25 p.m., then a few minutes later two objects came into view, and then a single object appeared after the two had departed."

-Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Co. representatives announced deliveries of new 1966 phone books for residents in the Twin Cities was due to start on Tuesday, The Chronicle reported. "The book includes customer listings for Curtis, Napavine, Oakville-Rochester, Pe Ell and Winlock. A total of 17,050 books will be delivered initially - an increase of 500 over 1965, according to Art Taylor, Twin Cities telephone manager. The pale-green cover of the books features four color pictures of scenic areas of Washington state. Delivery should be completed by Friday, Taylor said."

-A "modern" home with a full basement, garage, "sauna bath" and garage on two acres of land near Winlock was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $9,500. A furnished one-bedroom apartment in a "good location" in Centralia was listed for rent for $60 a month.

Saturday, May 29, 1976

-Pacific Power and Light staff were testing to see if steelhead salmon could survive in the reservoir behind the Skookumchuck Dam, which had been completed in 1970, The Chronicle reported. A total of "4,500 of the young steelhead, too tender for a fisherman's hook, were planted in the Skookumchuck reservoir this week, complete with personalized tags identifying each fish by number and length. Along with other species being monitored at the 600-acre reservoir, which stores water for use at the Centralia Steam-Electric Plant, the steelhead will be watched during the next year before they migrate to the ocean. Pacific Power and Light biologist Ed Weiss, who along with Roger Palmer and Cindy Johnson, helped tag the last 100 or so fish Tuesday before they were released, is hoping to see a good number of the steelhead three years from now when they would normally return. The latest experiment, conducted in cooperation with the state Department of Fisheries and Game Department, is part of an overall program Pacific Power and Light started in 1968 to ensure that the fish runs on the Skookumchuck River are not diminished by the earthfill dam."

-A "small farm house" and a mobile home on 10 acres of "mostly cleared" land in Vader was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $28,000. A furnished, two-bedroom duplex in Centralia's Edison District was listed for rent for $145 a month.

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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 11:23 AM.