An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 72

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146

USA > Washington > Kittitas County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 72
USA > Washington > Yakima County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 72
USA > Washington > Klickitat County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

It is estimated that by the first of the year, 1887, fully 400 people were living upon the town- site, engaged in railroad work, mining and ca- tering in various ways to the wants of the public. Among the permanent stores established during the year was the confectionery of D. B. Burcham. The year was a prosperous one for Cle-Elum and marks the period of transition from a boom town into a staple community. In 1887 twenty- five feet of frontage on Pennsylvania avenue sold readily for $350 to $400.

The government designated Cle-Elum as a postoffice in 1888, Dr. Wheelock taking charge as postmaster Tuesday, January 3d. His office occupied the ground upon which Kahler's drug store now stands. In April W. J. Reed platted his first addition to the town and May 24, 1888, Judge Gamble laid out 100 acres of his farm into a town which he called Hazelwood, not deeming it wise to plat it at that time as an addi- tion to Cle-Elum, though such in effect it was. The principal buildings erected during the year were Thomas Johnson's new store and an addi- tion to the Reed hotel, built of Cle-Elum brick. Among the arrivals of the year was John Roth- lesberger, who opened a meat market.

Late in the year 1888 Cle-Elum felt the ef- fects of the great Roslyn strike, becoming the scene of violence which nearly led to bloodshed. Johnson's mill was threatened by angered Knights of Labor, and at one time a noisy dem- onstration was made against the Reed hotel, but for a detailed account of these troubles the reader is referred to former pages.

Cle-Elum enjoyed the advantage of being the headquarters of the Cascade division until the Stampede tunnel was completed, and owing to its proximity to the tunnel derived no small ben- efit from that great work. But the completion of that tunnel, the transfer of division headquar- ters, the Roslyn mine troubles and the removal of Johnson's sawmill to Puget sound withdrew the bulk of Cle-Elum's resources, and beginning with 1889 the town experienced only fair pros- perity and a slow growth for several years.

Like all communities situated in a timbered region, Cle-Elum has always stood in more or less danger from forest fires, though each year this danger grows less. One of these fires, sweeping up the valley, suddenly menaced the little town July 23, 1891. The citizens battled manfully with the flames until three o'clock in the afternoon, when it was thought the fire was practically out and the workers retired for rest. Three hours later, however, flames were seen issuing from Theron Stafford's general store on Pennsylvania avenue, and before the weary cit- izens could stay their progress the entire block of business buildings was a heap of smouldering debris. The losses aggregated between $40,000 and $50,000, covered by perhaps $3,000 insurance.

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Stafford's loss alone was $14,000, with only $1,- 000 insurance. William Lindsey's grocery, Thomas Johnson's building, occupied at the time by Edward Connell's general store, the building and merchandise stock of F. M. Cox and about ten other frame buildings were destroyed with their contents. Connell's loss was estimated at $9,000 with $2,000 insurance, and Cox's loss at $2,600. The Cle-Elum Tribune, the town's pio- neer newspaper, established March 26, 1891, by C. R. Martin, also suffered a loss amounting to at least $700.

One man, while under the influence of liquor and unmanageable, approached the Stafford building too closely and was caught by the fall- ing structure and mortally injured. Mr. Stafford also received a severe burn in an attempt to re- move goods from his store. .

Several times during the progress of the fire it was thought the entire town was lost, but per- severance and energy won the battle at last. Early in the struggle the Ellensburg fire depart- ment was appealed to and within twenty minutes after the call was received the engine and crew were on a flat car and speeding up the valley. At Thorp, however, the train was intercepted by a dispatch stating that the fire was under control and that assistance was not needed. Only a few business houses were left by the fire. These were the Reed House, W. J. Reed, proprietor ; the Cascade House, August Sasse, proprietor ; Branam & Thomas's livery, William Branam and L. R. Thomas, proprietors ; D. B. Burcham's barber shop; B. C. Richardson's livery; Oscar Cash's blacksmith shop; Frank Rothlesberger's restau- rant and several saloons.

This dire calamity, closely followed by the memorable financial stringency, greatly reduced the town's prosperity and population; in fact a town with fewer resources and a less determined citizenship might have given up the struggle for existence entirely. But certain forces were at work destined to dispel the gloom and usher in a glorious and lasting prosperity.

Deposits of coal were known to exist in the Cle-Elum neighborhood long before any attempt at mining was undertaken. The first determined and well directed effort to uncover these veins was made in 1894 by Oscar James, James Smith, Isaac Davis and Charles Hamer, practical min- ers, who arranged with Judge Gamble to sink a shaft on his farm. The enterprise had a success- ful issue, for at a depth of 240 feet the vein was struck. Soon after machinery was installed by the Cle-Elum Coal Company, as the discoverers above mentioned styled their organization, for the purpose of placing the black diamonds on the market. They obtained a forty years' lease from Mr. Gamble and set a large force of miners at work, also induced the railway company to build side tracks for their accommodation.

Of course the Gamble mine proved a most welcome boon to the town, although until 1900 it was worked only on a comparatively small scale. An event of the year 1896 which might have proven a very melancholy one was the col- lapse, froni an overweight of snow on its roof, of the Cle-Elum, formerly known as Tillman, hall. It fell to the ground at three o'clock on the morning of January 2d. New Year's eve there had been a largely attended dance in the hall and the strain on the building at that time must have been great. The following evening a crowd of thirty young people drove to the Coo- ley mill as a surprise party, agreeing, however, that if the mill people had retired they would return to the hall for their merrymaking. As it happened, one family at the mill was found awake and the young people remained-a circum- stance to which they undoubtedly owed their lives. J. J. Lewis and his mother, who occupied rooms in the rear end of the building, barely es- caped death.

Cle-Elum, the new, the present bustling little city, came into existence with the dawn of the twentieth century. The remarkable transforma- tion which took place about that time is due to several causes, principal of which was the ac- quirement of the Gamble lease in 1900 by the Northwestern Improvement Company. Imme- diately upon taking charge, Manager Bush com- menced operations on a large scale, enlarging the plant from time to time and increasing the work- ing force until at present more than 400 men are employed under Superintendent G. M. Green. The mine is worked by the pillar and room sys- tem, uses double entries, is well ventilated and timbered and is producing 30,000 long tons of coal a month. It is obvious that with such an industry within its limits, steadily in operation six days in a week, any town has the foundation of prosperity and substantial growth.

From the time the Cle-Elum mine came under the control of its present operators, Cle-Elum has rapidly advanced in population and impor- tance, property has steadily enhanced in value, buildings of a substantial character have taken the place of the old ones and scores of other improvements have been inaugurated. Within three years the population has increased 500 per cent.

In 1900 Mr. Gamble attached his property to Cle-Elum proper under the name of the Ha- zelwood addition. This action paved the way for the organization of Cle-Elum as a city of the fourth class, and Wednesday, February 12, 1902, the following corps of officers were elected : Mayor-Thomas L. Gamble; councilmen-Mi- chael C. Miller, Robert L. Thomas, R. Elijah Kermeen, D. B. Burcham and M. P. Kay; treas- urer-A. E. Emerson; clerk and attorney, G. P.

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Short; city marshal-Frank Haight ; police judge -Theron M. Stafford.

At the last election, the proposition to incor- porate as a city of the third class was carried by a practically unanimous vote and January I, 1905, the town will advance a step among the municipal corporations of the state. The pres- ent city officials were elected in December, 1903: Mayor, E. E. Simpson ; city clerk and attorney, G. P. Short; treasurer, L. S. Brown; marshals, Frank Haight and Peter McCallum; city engi- neer, H. F. Marble; health officer, Dr. I. N. Power; aldermen, D. B. Perrow, R. E. Kermen, M. C. Miller, Isaac Davies, William F. Lewis; chief fire department, C. S. Haines ; captain Com- pany No. I, James A. Thomas; captain Company No. 2, Robert Simpson.

The city has just reason to feel proud of its new gravity water system, installed during the past twelve months at a cost of approximately $19,000. The water is taken from springs located three miles southwest of town on a quarter sec- tion formerly owned by Oscar Cash. From him the city purchased the land last year, paying therefor $2,000. The reservoir of 400,000 gal- lons' capacity lies 180 feet above Pennsylvania avenue, affording a pressure in the business part of ninety pounds to the square inch. In all there are three miles of six and four inch mains. The pipe used was made by the Pacific Coast Pipe Company and is built of Washington or Douglas fir, wrapped with No. 4 double galvanized steel tele- graph wire, and dipped in a hot bath of tar and asphalt. The patent cast iron couplings are guaranteed to be water tight. To help pay the cost of this system the city issued $10,000 worth of six per cent. bonds. The system is soon to be improved by the construction of a large res- ervoir for fire purposes solely.

A volunteer fire department, composed of two companies of the city's public-spirited young men, was organized in October last. Upon the completion of the water works the council in- vested $1,500 in hose carts and hose, which, with the hydrant facilities and well organized depart- ment, place the town in a position to make a strong fight against fire. In 1903, also, the town erected a municipal building, costing $1,400, ar- ranged to house fire apparatus on the ground floor, while the second story is fitted up to ac- commodate the council, public gatherings, lodges, etc.

It is estimated that fully four miles of sub- stantial sidewalks and crosswalks have been con- structed in Cle-Elum. The work of grading streets is going on constantly and will be con- tinued until the city's thoroughfares are in a sat- isfactory condition.

The old schoolhouse was replaced in 1890 by a commodious frame structure costing $1,500, built on a tract of land donated by Mr. Reed.

Two years ago another building containing two rooms was added to the old schoolhouse and it was thought that room sufficient for years to come had been provided. However, these quar- ters have been already outgrown and the ground is now broken for the erection of a new frame schoolhouse to cost at least $10,000. This build- ing will be two stories high and will contain eight rooms besides the principal's office, library and basement. It will be equipped with a steam heating plant, electric lights and other modern improvements, making it one of the handsomest and most comfortable school buildings in the county. The site lies near the old schoolhouse between Second and Third streets. At present there is an average enrollment of 275 pupils in the Cle-Elum schools, under the instruction of the following corps of teachers: J. M. Richard- son, principal; Mrs. Daisy Fish, Miss Kate Lan- igan, Mrs. Baker, Miss Irene Brain and Miss Anna Bolen. Two grades of high school work have recently been added to the curriculum of study. The school board consists of Frank Mar- tin, Samuel Willis and E. W. Rinehart, Samuel Willis being clerk.

There are five churches established in Cle- Elum, though only two at present have pastors, the Baptist and the Methodist. The other de- nominations possessing churches are the Pres- byterian, the Catholic and the Free Methodist.

We have spoken of a rosary as being among the city's notable institutions. So unique is the establishment that a short mention of it seems appropriate. The plant, consisting of about 18,- 000 feet of glass, is located at the northeast cor- ner of the town and has been established four years. The proprietor, J. A. Balmer, was for- merly professor of horticulture and station hor- ticulturist in the State Agricultural College and School of Science, Pullman, Washington. When Mr. Balmer decided to establish a plant for the production of cut flowers, he looked the state thoroughly over for a suitable location, and finally decided upon Cle-Elum as the best place for the business. Here he found cheap land, cheap fuel, excellent shipping facilities and a soil suited to the production of high class roses. The plant consists of three glass structures each 200 feet long by 23 feet wide, steam heated and thoroughly modern in construction. Over a mile and a half of one and a quarter-inch pipe are used in heating the houses, which are main- tained at an even temperature even in the coldest weather. Only roses and carnations are pro- duced. The large and growing cities on the Sound afford an excellent market for the prod- uct of the place, and Cle-Elum roses are well known and in demand wherever fine flowers are needed. About 6,000 roses and 3,000 carnations are growing on the benches, and the annual out- put amounts to nearly 100,000 flowers. The

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flowers are cut every morning and shipped every evening, thus putting them fresh on the market every morning.

September 1, 1903, James A. Kellogg, a gen- tleman of recognized integrity and ability and a Minneapolis business man for sixteen years, opened a private bank in Cle-Elum. The insti- tution, the only one of its kind in the county outside of Ellensburg, occupies a commodious building on Pennsylvania avenue. Among its equipments is a manganese safe of the latest con- struction. The business of this institution is steadily growing.

Other business and public enterprises worthy of special mention are the city's newspaper and brass band. The Cle-Elum Echo, established by Randall Brothers three years ago, is a very creditable weekly newspaper, both editorially and typographically, the peer of most journals published in towns thrice Cle-Elum's size. Charles S. Fell, an experienced and genial news- paper man, is its editor and proprietor. The Cle- Elum City band was organized in May, 1902, and is an association of twenty skilled musicians. Teasdale L. Wilkeson is the band's manager and musical director ; R. H. Connell is treasurer ; and Charles Connell, secretary. The members are equipped with tasty uniforms and high grade instruments.

A directory of Cle-Elum's business concerns and professional men would include, beside those mentioned, the following :

General merchandise, the Northwestern Im- provement Company, Frank Martin manager ; T. M. Jones, A. E. Flower; clothing, boots and shoes, Dills, Brown & Lodge; groceries, Ken- nedy Brothers, Daniel Gaydon; hotels, the Reed House, Theodore Steiner proprietor; the Cen- tral, August Sasse proprietor; the Vendome, Albert Harting proprietor; the Piemonte, J. B. Farnelli proprietor; meat markets, the Cle- Elum, George Rothlesberger proprietor; Sides Brothers & Hartman; George Bounds; drug store, Earle Kahler; hardware, Haines & Spratt ; sawmill, Wright Brothers & Miller; house fur- nishers, J. S. Werlich & Son; second hand store, C. J. Trucano; millinery, ladies' furnishings, Mrs. L. L. James, Clara Kuhl; bakery, groceries, the Hazelwood, Giacomini & Schaber proprie- tors; livery stables, the Cle-Elum, Hugh Fish proprietor ; Crocker Brothers, John H. and Wal- ter W .; blacksmith shops, Gongaware, Fish & Comstock, William Oldham; jeweler, H. C. Bil- ger; confectionery, cigars, etc., D. B. Burcham, C. W. Badger, Henry Horstman, Fred Zenter; harness store, Lorenzo Garlick; barber shops, Frank Moore, Clement & Oversby; shoes, C. Morganti; sausage factory, Modoni & Pugiant ; restaurants, Bowden & Bowden, the California and the Oregon ; transfer company, W. W. Tut- tle proprietor; contractors, Daniel B. Perrow,

A. S. Paul; physicians, Dr. I. N. Power, Dr. F. W. Nagler; attorney-at-law, G. P. Short; insur- ance, real estate, land office business, Hon. Wal- ter J. Reed; telegraph office, express office, in- surance, Charles S. Fell; postmaster, Harry C. Bilger ; stages, to Liberty and Fish Lake; sev- eral saloons.

Several years ago the railroad company, in order to facilitate telegraphing, substituted an "a" for the "E" in the second syllable of the word Cle-Elum, changing the name of the rail- road station to correspond. More recently the postoffice department changed the name of the postoffice to Clealum. This action aroused a storm of indignation among the town's residents and friends, for by the change the old name was destroyed and its significance entirely lost ; be- sides, the new spelling was not in accord with the city's corporate name. Moreover, considerable Cle-Elum mail found its way to Clallam, across the range. At this writing the matter is before the national board of geographical names for decision, on an appeal raised by Congressman Jones.

THORP.

Thorp is a substantial and prettily situated farming town of perhaps two hundred inhabitants, located nine miles northwest of Ellensburg on the western bank of the Yakima river. The main line of the Northern Pacific railroad passes through the town, affording excellent transportation facilities and making it an important shipping point for the upper Kittitas valley. Thorp also has the advan- tage of being a small manufacturing center, for it boasts a flour mill, two sawmills and a creamery. Smith J. Kendall and Joseph D. Mack own and operate the flour mill, which is a well equipped plant of moderate capacity whose products are shipped to the Pacific for use there and for export. Louis Ellison and J. L. Mills & Son are the own- ers of the sawmills, and Wipple Brothers own the large creamery.

Other business establishments and business men in Thorp are: Fred C. Porter, Everett E. South- ern, general merchandise ; James F. Duncan, Alfred St. John, proprietors of two hotels; blacksmith shop, J. Otis Newman; feed stables, John New- man; Nellie Gordon, stationery and notions ; phy- sician, Dr. Charles H. Reed; barber, A. J. Schele ; surveyors, Harry Riddell, Fred Ross; A. L. Hol- lingsworth, Fred P. Newman, painters; Frank Hutchison, Fred Lowe and Alfred Clyborne, car- penters ; postmaster, Sarah E. Gordon; one saloon. James M. Finley is station agent.

The town maintains a graded school which is in charge of Principal W. C. Thomas and Mary Peaslee; also two church societies, both of which have buildings, the Methodist and Christian. Tele- graph and telephone facilities are likewise afforded. The postoffice was established in 1890.

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The records show that the first plat of the townsite was filed July 9, 1895, by John M. New- man and his wife, Sarah Isabel Newman, the own- ers. E. I. Anderson surveyed a little more than five and a half acres lying in township eighteen north, range seventeen east, which was platted into blocks. May 1, 1900, Milford A. and Amanda Thorp dedicated Thorp's addition to the town. From the Thorp family the town receives its name. Milford A. Thorp, the son of Alvin A. Thorp, a Moxee pioneer of 1866 and a Kittitas pioneer of 1870, permanently settled in the Kittitas valley in 1879. In 1885 he bought James McMur- ray's claim and on this land the town stands. For many years previous to the formal dedication of the townsite, there was a considerable settlement at Thorp. The future prospects of the town are bright.

EASTON.

The thriving village and station bearing the name of Easton is situated on the Yakima river and the Northern Pacific railway, thirty-eight miles northwest of Ellensburg and thirteen miles northwest of Cle-Elum. The town has about 150 inhabitants, most of whom are engaged in lumber- ing, railroad work and kindred occupations.

Easton was platted by A. O. and W. W. John- son, June 24, 1902, three acres lying on the north side of the river in township twenty north, range thirteen east, being surveyed into blocks by County Surveyor Moses M. Emerson. In August follow- ing H. S. Pelton platted an addition of five blocks, and the Erkenbrack addition was platted. For many years previous to 1902 Easton was a well known sawmill point.

A directory of the town's business houses would include the general store of Johnson Brothers, Albert O. and William W., the latter being post- master ; the grocery of Joseph Erkenbrack & Son; one hotel, the Railroad House, Edward Ohort, pro- prietor; a restaurant and meat market, conducted by George R. Pelton; George M. Snyder's barber shop; and a saloon. The village has a good school, taught by R. A. Wilcox, an express office, and telegraph station. Easton is a growing com- munity. The great highland irrigating canal, which is now being surveyed and which is to far surpass in size any other canal in the state, will take its waters out of the river near Easton. Near the town are the Easton falls of the Yakima, which furnish a fine water power for manufacturing pur- poses. Just north of the town is the beautiful Kit- titas lake region.

LIBERTY.

The trading point of upper Swauk creek valley is Liberty, a hamlet near the mouth of Williams creek. P. T. Carson is postmaster and A. F. York conducts a general store, besides which there is a hotel. A daily stage is operated between Liberty

and Cle-Elum, fifteen miles southwest, which is the Swauk valley's shipping, banking, telegraph and express point. The well known Swauk placer mines are in this neighborhood, while the whole region abounds in silver, lead, copper and iron. A rich, though small, farming and stock settlement, more than two decades old, is also tributary to Liberty. The natural scenery in this bit of Kittitas county is surpassingly beautiful and a healthier place would be hard to find. Liberty is the smallest of the six postoffice towns in the county, the others being Ellensburg, Roslyn, Cle-Elum, Thorp, and Easton.

TEANAWAY CITY.

Teanaway City is a discontinued postoffice on the Northern Pacific railway at the junction of the Teanaway and Yakima rivers, nineteen miles north- west of Ellensburg and four miles southeast of Cle-Elum, the banking and postoffice point. At one time Teanaway City was a thriving business center. It was platted on section four, township nineteen north, range sixteen east, July 30, 1885, by Henry F. Ortley, through his attorney, George N. Bowen. Ortley secured the tract by means of scrip and laid out sixteen blocks. The construc- tion of the railroad gave the place a temporary ex- istence as a village, about thirty buildings being erected and a store established by Theron Stafford. However, in the fall of 1886 Stafford removed his store to Cle-Elum and the decadence of Teanaway began. The postoffice was discontinued the fol- lowing year. Gold, silver and coal are found in the vicinity of Teanaway. About fifty people reside there now.

ROZA.

Roza is a flag station on the Northern Pacific railway, twenty-one miles south of Ellensburg and sixteen north of North Yakima, the nearest post- office. The station is the Yakima canyon.

MARTIN.

Martin is another flag station on the railway, forty-nine miles northwest of Ellensburg at the eastern end of the Stampede tunnel. Easton is the nearest postoffice.

THRALL.

Thrall, another flag station on the railway, is five miles southeast of Ellensburg, the nearest post- office. Considerable shipping is done from this station.

UMTANUM.

Umtanum, also a Northern Pacific station, lies thirteen miles southeast of Ellensburg, at the mouth of Umtanum creek, in the Yakima canyon.

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BRISTOL.

Bristol, another small railway station and trading point, is situated at the mouth of Swauk creek. The community gets its mail and express at Cle-Elum, a few miles northwest.

M'CALLUM.

A discontinued postoffice ten miles northeast of Teanaway on the Northern Pacific railway. Mail is received at Liberty.

NELSON'S.

A siding on the Pacific division of the North- ern Pacific railway, thirty-one miles northwest of Ellensburg. Cle-Elum is the postoffice.

RONALD.

Ronald is now a discontinued postoffice and contains no business establishments. It lies at the mouth of mine No. 3, Roslyn coal district, two miles above the city of Roslyn, and at one time contained probably 200 inhabitants. The closing down of this mine naturally removed the town's support. It was named in honor of Alexander Ronald, one of the early superintendents of the Roslyn mines.

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An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 72

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146