Aberdeen, Washington, founded in the early 1880s and incorporated in 1890, is located in Grays Harbor County at the mouth of the Chehalis River, where it meets the Pacific Ocean. This strategic location made it a prime spot for the lumber and fishing industries, which dominated the city’s economy for decades. Aberdeen’s nickname, “The Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula,” reflects its role as a crucial transportation and commercial hub in the region, with its deep-water port facilitating the export of timber and other goods. The city’s early settlers, a mix of European immigrants and domestic migrants, were drawn by the opportunities in logging, fishing, and later, manufacturing. For genealogists, Aberdeen’s rich repository of historical records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including land deeds, business records, and vital records, provide detailed insights into the lives of these early inhabitants. The area was originally inhabited by the Quinault and Chehalis tribes, and interactions between these Native American communities and settlers are an important aspect of the region’s history. Aberdeen’s archives and local historical societies hold extensive collections that are invaluable for tracing family histories, understanding the dynamics of the logging and fishing industries, and exploring the cultural and social development of the Pacific Northwest during a period of significant growth and change.
Lucille L. Lundstrom, 76, an Aberdeen resident since 1979, died Tuesday March 27, 1990 at a local nursing home. She was born May 17, 1913. (Really June), in Ellensburg. She married Fred Lundstrom in 1939 at Ellensburg where they farmed for 14 years. He survives at the family home in Aberdeen. They lived in Stitzer, […]
Mrs. Ella A. Champ, 73, resident here for 30 years, died Saturday night at a local hospital following an extended illness. Mrs. Champ was born at Hillsboro, Oregon, and had resided for a time at Winlock before coming to Aberdeen. The family home is at 308 West Market Street. Surviving are her husband, Willis Champ,
Mrs. Elmira Curtis, 61, a resident of Aberdeen for the past 12 years, died last night [November 26] at a local hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Curtis was born in Winlock. She made her home here at 513 West Curtis Street and had been employed in various Harbor restaurants. Surviving are sons, Norman Curtis,
SAMUEL BENN. – There is a certain keenness amounting almost to prescience which enables a man to locate a successful town. The laws of a city’s development are so peculiar that few are able to make much of the riddle. Nevertheless some seem to know where to locate a townsite, and where to invest in
Mrs. Emma A. Lucas, 67, pioneer resident of Aberdeen and prominent worker in the Order of Eastern Star, died last night [May 24, 1928] at the family residence, 1701 West First Street following a several weeks’ illness. Mrs. Lucas was the widow of the late M. E. [Marshall Edward] Lucas and had lived in Aberdeen
Vern Curtis, 71, a 43-year Aberdeen resident, died Monday [March 21, 1988] at a local nursing home. He was born March 2, 1917 in Winlock. He fought in the Army during World War II and is a member of the Aberdeen VFW No. 224 and a member of the IWA, Local 3-2. Survivors include a
April, 55, passed away peacefully on the morning of May 19 due to complication associated with ovarian cancer. She was born in Aberdeen, Wash. and was the third of five close-knit children. She graduated from Montesano High School in 1972 as class valedictorian and from Washington State University, cum laude, in 1976 with a B.A.
