A Look Back in Time: Suspect found in closet in prohibition-era raids; Former Centralian named commander of Air Force Wing with famous WWII Doolittle Raid squadron; Sunbirds opens in Chehalis
In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Saturday, July 3, 1926, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about the multiple prohibition-era arrests including John C. Miller of Centralia, who was found hiding in a closet during a string of prohibition raids by Thurston County Sheriff Claud Havens.
U.S. Air Force Colonel Reginald J. Clizbe, a former Centralia resident whose mother still lived in the area, was named the new commander of the prestigious 17th Bombardment Wing, which included the "Black Knights" squadron from World War II which carried out the famous Doolittle Raid, according to the Tuesday, July 3, 1956, edition of The Chronicle.
And in the Saturday, July 3, 1976, edition of The Chronicle, it was reported Rich Gillingham, co-founder of the famous Yard Birds Shopping Mall, was starting another retail business venture with a new partner in Chehalis called the Sunbirds Shopping Center.
Some Sunday and holiday editions were not in the archives, so stories from the previous days' editions have been featured instead.
A Look Back in Time is compiled using microfilm archives at The Chronicle, physical copies stored at the Lewis County Historical Museum - located at 599 NW Front St. in Chehalis - and digital archives on newspapers.com.
Saturday, July 3, 1926
-Centralia resident John C. Miller was found hiding in a closet and arrested for violating the Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act, after Thurston County Sheriff Claud Havens and his deputies discovered an illegal distillery with mash and liquor near Rochester, one of multiple booze raids the deputies carried out that week, The Chronicle reported. "Returning Friday morning, they saw a man running across the prairie. Concluding he had gone into the A.M. Martin home, they visited that place and finally located J.C. Miller of Centralia hiding in a clothes closet. He was taken to jail. Wednesday night Sheriff Havens and deputies visited the road house conducted by Dora Reder and found a note on the door stating she had gone to Tom Owen's place in Bucoda. So after inspecting Dora's place and confiscating about 15 gallons of alleged wine and six gallons of beer, the officers visited Owen's place, where Dora had directed them, and report(ed) finding 'a real party' with 100 bottles of brew. Owen and Dora were taken into custody."
-Either five acres of land and a house, or a house and lot located at 302 S. Buckner St. in Centralia, were listed by an un-named owner looking to sell or trade "for automobile and part cash," in The Chronicle's classifieds.
Friday, July 3, 1936
-The Central Cheese Company in Chehalis had been sold to new owners, The Chronicle reported. "Announcement was made today of the sale of the Central Cheese Company, manufacturers of Golden Crown cheese, to Jacob S. Griffiths of Seattle. The factory was sold by Emil Spahr and A. N. Thompson. Spahr will remain as manager of the plant. Griffiths, a cheese jobber, said today the plant would be run on a strictly cash basis."
-Plans were in the works for a picnic at Fort Borst Park for the Independence Day the next day, along with patriotic celebrations in both Pe Ell and Winlock, The Chronicle reported. "The picnic will start at 12 o'clock, noon, with a basket dinner, and at 2 o'clock a program will be rendered, featuring an address by L.R. Horton of Seattle, noted Townsend speaker ... Business will be suspended here tomorrow, stores and public offices being closed all day. Two celebrations in Lewis County communities - at Pe Ell and Winlock - are expected to draw large crowds of visitors. Pe Ell's program opened today and will continue through Sunday. It includes airplanes, donkey baseball, bronco busting, ball games, band music and carnival attractions. There will be continuous dancing at Pe Ell's new civic auditorium, and an old-time dance at the Polish hall will add to the entertainment of the crowds. The Centralia Eagles tangle with Pe Ell's town team in tomorrow's game there, scheduled for 12 o'clock noon. A parade, starting at 9 a.m., will be the big feature of Winlock's celebration. Speaking, band concert, field sports, baby show, baseball game and smoker are also on the day's program. Miss Lois Ness has been chosen as Miss Liberty for the event."
-A Toledo plumbing business in a "good location, full line of tools, some stock," was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $100.
Thursday, July 4, 1946
-Residents in the Twin Cities were "afforded a chance to take it easy" over the holiday weekend as no Independence Day celebrations were scheduled locally except for a baseball game, The Chronicle reported. "All retail and wholesale houses in the two cities will close their doors for the national holiday, as well as city and county offices. Many residents have scheduled trips to nearby parks, beaches and cities. Chiefs of police of Centralia and Chehalis request all persons driving on Twin City streets over the Fourth to be especially watchful, as a heavy influx of travel is expected along Highway 99. On the eve of the Fourth of July exodus from cities, regional Forester Horace J. Andrews at Portland called attention to fire control restrictions now in effect in all Oregon and Washington national forests. Generally, the rules forbid smoking while traveling except on highways; require permits for all campers except in posted and improved campgrounds, and make it necessary for persons traveling by car or horseback to carry an axe, shovel and bucket for fire fighting."
-A "real dairy ranch" on 64 acres of land on Cook's Hill was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $11,000.
Tuesday, July 3, 1956
-U.S. Air Force Colonel Reginald J. Clizbe, son of Angie Clizbe of Centralia, was named the new commander of the Air Force's 17th Bombardment Wing - including the "Black Knights" 37th Bomb Squadron from World War II which carried out the famous Doolittle Raid after Pearl Harbor - at Hurlburt Field in Florida, The Chronicle reported. "The ceremonies, witnessed by hundreds of local civilian employees, marked the third time the new commander has been associated with the Black Knights - the first time being in 1940, when he served with the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron of the group, then stationed at McChord Field, Washington. He later served as commander of the 452nd Bomb Wing during the Korean conflict. The 452nd was later redesignated as the 17th Bomb Wing ... In a short speech to the personnel of the Wing following the pass in review, the new commander reviewed the history of the Black Knights. 'I am very proud and happy to be associated with the Black Knights once more,' he stated and added, 'We are equipped with the Air Force's newest and most deadly jet bomber - the (Douglas) B-66 (Destroyer). Combined with the vast resources of talents and skills of the personnel of this unit, the 17th Bomb Wing plays an increasingly important role in the matter of world peace. We have one common goal, the accomplishment of the Wing's assigned mission. To carry out that mission speedily and efficiently, it is necessary that all members of this command direct their thoughts and activities as a unit towards the successful accomplishment of the goal. To do this it is important that we always keep a positive approach in our thinking and in our actions, disregarding rumors, a negative attitude and the deadly 'manyanna' spirit. I feel confident that with the cooperation of the entire personnel, the 17th Bomb Wing can and will be the best bomb wing within the Tactical Air Command and the U.S. Air Forces.' Col. Clizbe was born in Enid, Montana, in 1916. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Centralia, Washington, where he graduated from Centralia Junior College. A short time later he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1940. While at the Point he was a member of the boxing squad, middleweight division. A senior pilot - 2,900 flying hours in military aircraft - the colonel also holds a civilian pilot's license and is checked out in the (Douglas) DC-6 as well as the civilian version of the Air Force Gooney Bird, the DC-3. During WWII, he served as squadron commander of the 47th Bomb Group and flew 80 combat missions in (Douglas) A-20s and later A-26s." Following his command in Florida, he would continue to rise in the Air Force's ranks, being promoted to major general, and ended up leading the entire U.S. Air Force Southern Command at Albrook Air Force Base near the Panama Canal. A Silver Star Medal, a Legion of Merit and a Distinguished Flying Cross were among the many awards he earned during his military career before retiring in 1968.
-An "attractive home" with a good barn on 90 acres of land with creek access "close in" to the Centralia area was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $8,500. A furnished two-bedroom duplex with appliances included was listed for rent for $50 a month.
Saturday, July 2, 1966
-The Western Washington Horse Fair, held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds the previous two years, was cancelled, The Chronicle reported. "Notice of the discontinuance was reported by Thomas R. Quann, state 4-H program specialist. The horse fair has been held for the past two years at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds at the end of August. A conflict with fairs and the beginning of school were cited Friday by Deane Johnson, county extension agent, as main reasons for cancelling the state event. Johnson also said there was a lack of participation on a regional level. 'We've had good support locally,' Johnson said. 'The fair board has cooperated in providing facilities and the Quarter Horse Association has contributed financially.' Johnson also pointed out that ample opportunity exists for 4-H members to show their horses. One such event is the country 4-H horse fair next week."
-Tacoma City Light officials were once again leading tours of the Mayfield Dam, completed three years earlier, The Chronicle reported. "The popular summer tour program, which was interrupted last year, has been resumed on a daily schedule, John Deen, public information officer, said. Guides Dan Yerrington, George Wickholm, Harold Powell, Mike Davis and Greg Johnson also man the hydrovista viewpoint overlooking the construction site of the Mossyrock Dam. Mayfield Dam tours are being conducted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Deen said, while the hydrovista is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m."
-A two-bedroom home with a large barn and other outbuildings with machinery on 160 acres of land was listed for sale in The Chronicle's classifieds for $36,000. A furnished apartment in Chehalis was listed for rent for $35 a month.
Saturday, July 3, 1976
-Rich Gillingham, co-founder of the Yard Birds Shopping Mall, announced he was starting another business venture, the Sunbirds Shopping Center, and expected to have at least 50 employees by the end of its first year in business, The Chronicle reported. "The man who started with an army surplus tent store and ended with part ownership in a multi-million dollar retail business is starting all over again, this time with some new partners. Rich Gillingham, former co-owner of the big Yard Birds Family Shopping Center and Olympia Sea Mart, announced this week the birth of 'Sunbirds,' a Chehalis retail operation which will be co-managed by Tom Sturza, Chehalis, and built around a flea market atmosphere. The site of the new enterprise, which begins with considerably more assets than Gillingham and Bill Jones did some 20 years ago, will be what is remembered as the Old Yard Birds store. Gillingham and Sturza have not yet decided exactly what their new symbol, a 'Sunbird,' will look like other than it will not much resemble the familiar Yard Bird. Gillingham said the new enterprise is not an attempt to offer competition to Yard Birds, although there will undoubtedly be some. He intends, rather, to emphasize the uniqueness of the flea market and to build new departments around it. The new departments will in time include a range of general merchandise, he said, including hardwares, housewares and shoes. A substantial sporting goods department is already in place and others are coming. Surza said some departments will be acquired by lease, such as radio-television merchandising. Gillingham's mother, Kathrine, will operate a flower department as she did for years at the Yard Birds, and others in the Gillingham family will contribute in other areas. There will be five generations of Gillingham's at the Sunbirds when things get rolling, Gillingham boasted. He also pointed out that Sunbirds is '100% locally owned,' and that 'all employees will be locally hired.' That includes about 15 employees right now, but Gillingham said, 'We expect to employ close to 50 people inside a year.' Gillingham's other partner, D.E. "Buzz" Saari, Centralia, will manage the used car sales and concessions for the new enterprise. Gillingham's former partner, Jones, purchased Gillingham's share of the Yard Birds in March. Jones this month then sold the Yard Birds operation to Pay'n Save, a national retail chain." While Yard Birds changed ownership multiple times until it was finally closed permanently in 2022 due to a variety of issues, Sunbirds also changed ownership in 2021 and is still open today, although it has been rebranded as Chehalis Outfitters.
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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 11:19 AM.