50 years ago (1956)

Kathryn Meyer of Route 2 and Clara Blaine of Lake Stevens were on a 120-day Greyhound escorted tour. They were visiting Crater Lake, Ore., Virginia City, Nev., Los Angeles and San Francisco. They were on the first of a dozen such trips inaugurated by the bus company this summer.

It was Christmas in July at Campbell’s Pharmacy, 1616 Hewitt Ave. The most popular cologne was only $2. There were also specials on Tartan, Skol, Sea &Ski and Coppertone. Ayds Vitamin &Mineral Candy was only $2.98.

25 years ago (1981)

Bill Atwood was going through a midlife crisis in style. He and his wife, Gloria, had quit their jobs, sold their home and purchased a 41-foot offshore sloop. Today they were on their way to the South Pacific. The sloop, Moonshadow had room for a year’s provisions and sleeping space for six.

John and Loni Gray had left a comfortable home in sunny Southern California to buy a barely livable home and three more fixer-uppers. Now they were spending 20 to 80 hours of week getting them in shape. They were part of a contingent buying rundown houses, making repairs and selling them for a handsome profit.

By Jack O’Donnell from Herald archives at the Everett Public Library