USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 10
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 10
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 10
USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 2 > Part 10
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Urquhart's First Addition, August 12, 1903, by Donald Urquhart.
October 20, 1901, the Big Bend Chief said : "A train load of immigrants from Jackson county, Minnesota, came to Wilsoncreek. Some of these engaged in business in the town and the majority settled on land in the vicinity. This was the signal for a big growth of the town. At this time there were in the village only a part of the Douglas hotel building, the old Wilsoncreek hotel, Stapp's restaurant, three stores, Goldsmith & Bagley's, G. D. Miller's and the People's Trading Company (Swanson Brothers), a blacksmith shop, butcher shop, the Big Bend Land Office, R. J. Armstrong's livery stable and two saloons, Gentry & Gold- smith's and Finney & Patees' lumber yards."
But the last two months of the year 1901 witnessed a marvelous growth in Wilsoncreek, The Chief stated that during the month of November and December sixty actual residents were added to the town and many others took up residence in the surrounding country.
Friday night, January 20, 1902, fire de- stroyed the coal chutes of the Great Northern railway, causing considerable loss to the com- pany. The fire originated near the west end of the chutes and within ten minutes the entire structure was a mass of seething flames. Six car-loads were stading on the track near by, together with two cars of lumber. All were burned. This was a serious disaster, yet the destruction of these chutes marked the begin- ning of considerable improvement in the rail- road buildings at Wilsoncreek. Another con- flagration is thus described by the Big Bend Chief of date August 29, 1902.
"Wilsoncreek's most disastrous fire occur- red last Friday morning, (August 22d). At 3:45 o'clock, just as No. 16 was pulling into the yards the engineer noticed what looked like a bright light in the general store of J. H.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Benson. It flamed up and he blew the whistle to awaken the people. Many heard it but sup- posed it was for cattle rather than a fire. Night- watchman, William Astell saw! it about the same time and when the watchman and Engineer Dygon reached the store the lower floor seemed a mass of flames. J. H. Benson and wife were in Seattle, and E. E. Benson, Mrs. Miller, Miss Grant and J. H. Benson's little son were sleeping over the store. They barely escaped in their night clothes. E. E. Benson had taken the precaution to convey the books to his room and saved them, but forgot to take a wallet which he had placed under his pillow. William Lair and Watchman Astell made the rounds and awakened the citizens. As quickly as possible every one in the village was at work. The flames soon spread on the east to the drug store of Lee Brothers, and but little of the stock was saved. P. J. Wegele's pump establishment was the next to go, but nearly all the stock and tools were taken off before the fire reached it. Strenuous efforts were then made to save the livery stable and shed across the street and with wet blankets and water this was accomplished. The Wilson- creek hotel, occupied by Dr. J. M. Corpening and owned by A. V. Swift, was also burned with the shack just back of it, which was the property of Thomas Kemp. To the west of Benson's store the war against the flames was just as fiercely waged. G. D. Miller succeeded in saving about $1,000 worth of his stock, and Maltbie, Friel & Maltbie managed to remove close to $800 worth of their hardware stock before the fire ran them out. J. W. Enimert's dwelling was the next to go, but the household goods had all been taken out before the fire had reached the house. Then came the tug of war with the bank. Albert Nelson stood in the hottest of it throwing water when older men had failed. With prompt and constant work the fire was held here, but Mr. Swanson, the cashier, had succeeded in removing all of his household goods and everything of value in
the bank had been put into the vault or moved across the street to places of safety. It was a wild time, and by 5:30 o'clock a. m., there was not a stick left standing in the burned district.
"Every possible effort was made to save the buildings and the citizens did good work in rescuing stock from the flames. Jesse Gentry and J. F. Moore stood at their posts in R. J. Armstrong's shed with wet blankets on their heads to permit them to work at all. A. A. Goldsmith and A. V. Swift were on top of the livery barn, while scores of men, boys, women and girls were carrying water so soon as the bulk of the stocks had been got to safety. At the bank Albert Nelson, Floyd Miller, Sam Fader and many others were fighting the flames with all their strength and cunning. They all unite in giving Mr. Nelson credit for saving the bank building, as he seemed not to feel the scorching heat which was driving others back. The losses of this fire are as follows :
"J. W. Emmert, house and carpets, about $500, with insurance of $300 on house and $400 on furniture.
"Joseph Mitchell, building, $750, no insur- ance.
"Maltbie, Freil & Maltbie, stock $2,500, with insurance of $1,000.
"Nichols Brothers, building, $600, no in- surance.
"G. D. Miller, stock, $3,000, with insur- ance of $1,000.
"J. H. Benson, building, household furni- ture and stock, $6,850, with insurance of $2,- 300.
"Lee Brothers, building, stock and fixtures, $3,300, with insurance of $2,375.
"P. J. Wegele, building, $300, with insur- ance of $200.
"A. V. Swift, the old Wilsoncreek hotel building. $350; no insurance."
The rapidity with which the town recovered from this serious disaster is thus voiced by a correspondent :
"Wilsoncreek merchants are rustlers. This
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
is well illustrated by the rapidity with which the business men who were burned out by the big fire of August 22d, have rebuilt their places of business. Every merchant who shared in the $20,000 loss only a month ago, is now doing business at the old stand, but in a more com- modious structure."
The first steps toward incorporation were taken at a mass meeting held February 23, 1903. It was almost unanimously decided to arrange for a special election to vote on the proposition. A committee consisting of A. A. Goldsmith, J. H. Benson, W. H. O'Larey, R. H. Lee, and L. M. Dow was named to circulate a petition. It received 67 signers. The county commissioners granted the request of the peti- tion and named April 24th as the day for hold- ing said election. There were 49 votes cast with the following result: For incorporation, 40; against, 3.
For Mayor-G. F. Goldsmith, 40; B. E. Butler, I.
. For Councilman-J. W. Emmert, 45; D. O. Freil, 47; W. H. O'Larey, 45 ; A. A. Gold- smith, 41 ; R. H. Lee, 22; William Newlove, 27; Jesse Gentry, 2; P. J. Wegele, 2; William Schumacher, I.
For Treasurer-A. J. Swanson, 42.
The first meeting of the newly elected city council was held April 28th. The incorpora- tion of Wilsoncreek at this time illustrates the swiftness which marks the growth of western towns. Two years prior Wilsoncreek consisted of a postoffice, a depot and one residence.
The population in June, 1903, according to the returns of the assessor, was 246. The edu- cational facilities include a handsome, four- room brick school house erected at a cost of $7,000 during the summer of 1903. There is one Presbyterian church edifice. The fraternal societies are represented by the Royal Neigh- bors of America, Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Foresters,
BRIDGEPORT.
Bridgeport is located near the northern part of the county near the junction of Foster Creek with the Columbia river. It is favorably sit- uated to command the trade of the surrounding country. It lies fifty miles northeast of Water- ville.
Business men of Bridgeport, Connecticut, were largely interested in building the town. It was proposed to make Bridgeport a com- mercial center for the northern part of Douglas county. The town was platted November 30, 1891, by Butler Liversay. Quite substantial improvements were made in the spring of 1892. Energy and enterprise, backed by unlimited capital were at work to make Bridgeport a city worthy of the name. The principal streets were graded and a steam ferry was put on the river.
The peculiar configuration of the ground where the new town was located made it appear that the expected railroad to the Okanogan country would be compelled to build to the town and cross the Columbia near this point. It was expected at this time that the Northern Pacific railway was about to build to the Okanogan country. The forks of Foster Creek at this. point converge as they reach the Columbia and afford a natural and feasible highway for a railway. At the mouth of the creek is a long and level plateau, and here it was that the new town was laid out.
The company responsible for the establish- ment of Bridgeport was the Western Land & Improvement Association. The store of Boyd Teter was opened for business in July, 1892. Shortly after the inauguration of the town of Bridgeport some trouble arose in connection with financial matters which came perilously near causing an abandonment of the project. August 2, 1892, a correspondent writing from Bridgeport said :
"The new town of Bridgeport is again on
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
the top wave of excitement. The townsite company dug up a few thousands and paid off the brick yard contractors and hands. The out- side walls of the brick hotel are up, about four feet, and a raft of lumber is expected this week. Teams are busy hauling lumber, iron, etc, from Coulee City for the steam ferry boat that is to make daily runs from Bridgeport to Port Columbia, and all around is the busy hum of an embryo city."
In January, 1894, Bridgeport consisted of the big, $15,000 hotel, one store, the postoffice and a newspaper. During the summer of 1894 F. J. Eitel put in operation a brick flouring mill with a capacity of from 75 to 100 barrels a day.
While Bridgeport did not succeed in be- coming the city that its builders intended, it has, since its establishment, been an important trading point for the rich country in which it is fortunately situated. It is a thriving, pros- perous town. The census of 1900 accredited it with a population of 110, which has been materially increased. The religious denomina- tions comprise Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
QUINCY
Is located on the Great Northern railway, thirty-two miles esat of Wenatchee. Until the latter part of 1901 Quincy was simply a siding on the Great Northern. The Big Bend Chief of December 27, 1901, said of this place :
"One of the towns to the west that is certain to be of some importance in the near future is the siding on the Great Northern known as Quincy. A. V. Swift, W. T. Nichols and Ray Crothers are interested in the development of the country thereabouts and report a large in- flux of population at that point in the last two months."
. The town was platted February 28, 1902, by Richard Coleman. The following additions have been made :
Richardson's First Addition, August 18, 1901, by David Richardson.
Central Quincy, September 3, 1902, by Quincy Land & Improvement Company, by H. S. Kergsley, president, and Charles H. Ross, secretary.
March 28, 1902, the Big Bend Chief said "A few weeks ago Quincy, Washington, was simply an unused sidetrack on the Great Northern, in the desert. Now, however, the plain is taking on the appearance of a village and people are coming in and breaking up the bunch grass, preparatory to growing crops. The town at present consists of a hotel under the management of R. Coleman, a general store in charge of J. Muellerleile, a hardware store conducted under canvas until lumber can be obtained, by John Stambaugh; a lumber yard and a livery stable in charge of R. Williams and D. C. Crosby represents the real estate end of the enterprise. A petition has been in for some time for the establishment of a postoffice and it is expected that Quincy mail will be delivered from the railway within a month."
In June, 1903, according to the returns of the county assessor, the census was 140, which entitled it to rank in company with Hartline, as the third town in the county in point of size, Waterville and Wilsoncreek only having larger populations.
EPHRATA.
This town is situated on the Great Northern railway, 123 miles west of Spokane. It has a bank, several warehouses, hotel and several general stores. It was first settled in September, 1901. Ephrata is beautifully located on a high flat, with ample drainage in three directions. With an excellent spring one-fourth of a mile from the railway station the town is abundant- ly supplied with clear, cold water. For many years stockmen used the site where now stands Ephrata as a camping ground in time of round- ups, on account of the water in that vicinity.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
At that period the place was known as Beasley Springs. The townsite was platted July 10, 1901, by Jesse Cyrus. The following additions have been made :
Cyrus' First Addition, September 9, 1901, by Jesse Cyrus.
Cyrus' Second Addition, September 9, 1901, by Jesse Cyrus.
Third Addition, May 31, 1902, by Jesse Cyrus.
Although Ephrata did not gain much of a standing as a town until 1902, for several years before that period it had been quite a grain shipping point. Then the rush of settlers to the "south country" changed the condition of affairs in this neighborhood, and a town of considerable importance made its appearance as if by magic. The following relating to the early history of the place is taken from the Big Bend Chief of July 18, 1902:
"Ephrata is one of the new towns to the west which betoken marked improvement. Eighteen month ago Uncle Jesse Cyrus, the 'Father of Ephrata,' was sleeping securely in his cabin, free from cares and worriments more common to neighbors in a village. But immi- gration came thick and fast to this neck of the Big Bend and last summer he found it was necessary to plat a town. Even then Mr. Cyrus was doubtful whether his tranquility was great- ly to be disturbed, with his stock, and located as he is, with a beautiful spring of water at his door, he had arranged to irrigate sufficient land to provide feed for his stock through the winter; had planted an orchard for his own use, and contracted to supply the railroad company with water. But the little plat of ground soon passed into the hands of tradesmen, and as if by magic a town sprung up with all its tributary evils and advantages. Uncle Jesse, although he had come to believe he would pass his days in com- parative solitude at the foot of the bunch grass hill, was not slow to get himself in line with the march of progress and some months ago he
installed a system of water works by means of which he could serve the purest water in the second stories of the buildings in the village, and now in addition to his other duties he makes his monthly round and collects the rent."
In June, 1903, the population of Ephrata, according to the returns of the assessor, was 87. Since then these figures have been ma- terially increased.
KRUPP.
About six miles east of Wilsoncreek, on the Great Northern railway, and just within the boundaries of Douglas county, is located the pleasant little town of Krupp. Situated as it is in the valley of the beautiful stream known as Crab Creek, surrounded by most picturesque scenery, it presents a pleasing sight to one who has ascended the westerly divide and pauses to take a survey of the little town nestling in the valley below. Krupp is in the center of a grain and cattle country which guarantees for the future a good and increasing business. Here the first settler who ever came into Doug- las county located away back in 1871.
Impressed with the idea that as the country filled up there must be a place where the sur- rounding settlers might market their products and purchase their supplies, George Urquhart, who for many years had made his home on this spot, platted the town of Krupp July 14, 1902. He gave it his earnest support in its development. The first business house in the new town was a general store erected in the summer of 1901 by F. A. Windgate. It was platted July 14, 1902, by George Uruquart. The population in June, 1903, as reported by the assessor was only 45, but the past year has witnessed a wonderful improvement.
DOUGLAS.
Five miles southeast of Waterville, on the Waterville-Coulee City stage road, is the little town of Douglas, a village of about 75 popula- tion. The business houses of this town com-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
prise a general store, a hardware and imple- ment store, a feedmill and two blacksmith shops. One church graces the place, of the German Lutheran faith.
Douglas is one of the oldest towns in the county, and at one time occupied a position of importance in a political and commercial way. It was in 1884 that the site of Douglas was taken up as a place of residence by Ole Dale. In 1886 the townsite of Douglas was platted and the town entered the race for the county seat honors, and polled a number of votes. It is claimed that Douglas would have become the commercial center of the western Big Bend country and occupied the position now enjoyed by Waterville, had it not been for the over- confidence and nearsighted policy of the town- site proprietors. The first business enterprise in Douglas was a blacksmith shop instituted by Henry Thompson in the fall of 1885. In 1887 a general store was opened by S. Barn- hart and the same year O. O. Wright put in a drug store, afterward for many years engaging in the general merchandise business. Follow- ing the county seat removal from Okanogan, and when that town had become but a memory, its place was taken by Douglas, and in 1887 it fell heir to the Okanogan postoffice.
Douglas is situated at the intersection of the Ritzville and Spokane Falls road, and was the nearest route from Ellensburg to the Sal- mon River mines of the Okanogan country. The rush to those mines in 1887-88 made the little town of Douglas an important one as a stopping point. Sunday morning, October II, 1891, fire destroyed the general merchandise store of O. O. Wright. It was with great difficulty that the entire town was saved from destruction, owing to the prevailing heavy gale. The loss was about $4,000, insurance being carried for about one-half the loss.
STRATFORD.
This Shakesperian hamlet is located on the
Great Northern railway, eight miles west of Wilsoncreek. Of this village the Big Bend Empire of date of September 16, 1897, said :
"J. C. Atwood, Leonard F. Spear and many other settlers upon the public lands in town- ship 22, north ranges 27, and 28 east, on the line of the Great Northern railway in Douglas county, Washington, have petitioned the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General for the establishment of a postoffice at Stratford sta- tion, to be known as Stratford, and for the ap- pointment of Swen Kerr, of that place as post- master. The nearest office at the present time is on the Great Northern railway at Wilson- creek, eight miles east of Stratford station. The only other postoffice in that section of the county is at Coulee City, twenty miles north, and there is no wagon road between Coulee City and Stratford station.
"The petition states that owing to the rapid construction of the Co-operative Com- pany's irrigating ditch, and the consequent ir- rigation of the land there is certain to be a large community at Startford in the near future. Some of the signers of the petition live at a place known as Adrian, and these are compelled to travel sixteen miles for their mail. There is no wagon road, and they are obliged to follow the most convenient route along the railroad. For two months, this year, it is stated, these settlers could secure their mail at the Wilson- creek postoffice only by crossing the flooded streams on railroad bridges. For these reasons immediate action has been urged on the part of the postoffice department."
William Stevens was the pioneer merchant of Stratford and he was alone until the sum- mer of 1902, when Young Brothers put in a store and lumber yard. J. T. Gollehon also established a lumber yard a few months before the Young Brothers. In 1903 Mr. Gollehon also built a hotel. Moore & Company are proprietors of a livery stable, blacksmith shop, flour and feed store and implement warehouse, all of which might be termed "diversified com-
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
mercialism." A fine church has been erected and a number of dwellings completed.
The town of Stratford was platted January 17, 1903, by J. T. Young.
ORONDO.
Riverview Postoffice, or as it is more gener- ally called, Orondo, is a little town on the Columbia river, ten miles southwest of Water- ville. This is a landing for the steamers which ply the Columbia river and is Waterville's port of entry. Stages meet all boats and several trips a day are made between the river town and Waterville. At Orondo are a general store, a hotel and three grain warehouses. But the Orondo which enters more particularly into this history was the one a mile and a half above the present place, and which, at one period, was heavily boomed.
The townsite of Orondo, "the town which held the key," was platted by J. B. Smith, June IO. 1887. It was laid out along the river front. The streets were First, Second, Third and Fourth, and the avenues were Riverside, Orondo and Columbia. The first addition to Orondo was platted May 19, 1888, by Mr. Smith. The second addition, May 29, 1889, by the same party. The following is the copy of an advertisement which appeared in the Big Bend Empire February 16, 1888, showing that this Orondo was to be no common town :
"Orondo has a boom in town lots and the era of building and industrial development has commenced to call that attention to her natural position and advantages that she is entitled to as the coming commercial and industrial em- porium of the Big Bend. A glance at the map of Washington Territory will convince the eagle eye of the business man that Orondo holds the key to the future of great magnitude. A history of the Big Bend cannot be written without Orondo unlocking her stores of wealth contained in the rolling water of the mighty Columbia river in her long journey from the
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. A line drawn eastward from Puget Sound, near the Sixtlı Standard Parallel, will pass almost directly through Seattle, Orondo, Davenport and Spokane Falls, the four depots of industry that stand at the gateways of Puget Sound, the Columbia river and the Rocky Mountains that by virtue of their natural positions will control the commerce and manufactures of Central Washington.
"Orondo is located on the east bank of the Columbia river, about one and one-half miles below the confluence of the Entiat river with the same, and is within five miles of the great wheat fields of the Big Bend. Her gardens will produce peaches, grapes, tomatoes, apples, pears, sweet potatoes and peanuts in semi- tropical luxuriance. Her splendid water power is now being improved so that power will be furnished for a roller mill to grind the flour of the Big Bend and the new steamer can trans- port it to the Salmon River mines and the upper country. The majestic cedars of the upper Columbia and the aspiring pines and firs of the Columbia and its tributaries can be sawn into lumber and manufactured into windows, doors, tubs, pails, furniture, pen holders, matches, etc., etc., while the wool of the thou- sands of sheep that graze on the hills can be manufactured into fabrics to keep the people warm.
"The ore of the miner can be crushed and smelted and manufactured into implements of industry and the uses of man. It is con- templated to furnish water from the Columbia river to the citizens of Orondo to drink and irrigate their gardens. These are a few of the industrial fields open to practical men. Orondo was laid out in July, 1887, and already the proprietor has disposed of a half interest in the water power, and 150 town lots. A store has been running full blast for a few months, a hotel is to be built in the early spring and the water power is now being improved. A new steamer is to run from Rock Island to near the
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Salmon mines in the spring. Power and lots will be rented or sold for industrial and other purposes. For further information call on or write to J. B. Smith, Orondo, Badger Post- office, Douglas county, Washington Territory."
A later advertisement in the Empire stated that "a warehouse, newspaper, flouring mill, tannery and blacksmith shop were to be added to her store."
The altitude of Orondo, being only 665 feet above the ocean, the climate is grand and the productions almost semi-tropical-the growing of tobacco, sweet potatoes and peanuts has been fully tested with success, and the plum, prune, apricot, pear, cherry, grape, peach and apple mature to perfection without irrigation.
In 1899 a rival town was started at what was known as McMillan's Landing, and called Riverview. A correspondent in the Empire of January 25, 1900, facetiously wrote that "the booming new town of Riverview has caught up with Orondo-has three inhabitants and two vacant buildings."
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