USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 102
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 102
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 102
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"Another change took place in the business circles of Kennewick today, when C. M. Lloyd sold his livery barn to Henry Steege. Mr. Steege recently came to this state from Crookston, Minnesota, and after visiting all the other
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towns in the eastern part of the state that are out with inducements for settlers, he decided that Kennewick was the place of the most promise and has decided to cast his lot with us. We have been personally acquainted with the gentle- man for a number of years and can recommend him to the people of this sec- tion as an upright, enterprising business man who will prove a valuable acquisi- tion to our business circles. Mr. Lloyd, who was one of the pioneers of this city, has sold the livery barn with the intention of embarking in other business. "The finest line of rugs ever shown in this part of the country on display at the Kennewick Hardware Company's furniture department.
"There are at the present time about a dozen families living in tents in the various parts of the city waiting for residences to be erected for them. The contracting firms of the city are overrun with work and the lumber yards are working overtime to supply the demand for building material.
"The meeting at the opera house last night was attended by a fair-sized crowd of interested listeners. Colonel Custer, the speaker, dealt with both national and state issues from a Republican point of view, and proved to be one of the best speakers that has appeared before a Kennewick audience this Fall.
"We had new potatoes for dinner today and for the privilege are indebted to Archie Spence. The potatoes are of the second crop raised by Mr. Spence on his land this season. He informs us that he has a good crop and the potatoes are equally as good and the yield as large on the second as on the first crop.
"By the way those golf shoes are selling at Kreidler's they must be all right.
"Fifty styles and kinds of rockers and iron beds at the Kennewick Hard- ware Company. Just received two car loads of furniture, and can show you rockers from $2 to $45.
"The ladies of the First Presbyterian church will give an at-home Thurs- day afternoon, November 10th from 2 to 5 o'clock at the residence of Mrs. A. H. Johnson. Bring your sewing and spend a social afternoon with us.
"Mrs. Fred B. Kreidler and family returned this week from Tacoma, where they spent the past two months visiting with friends and relatives. The little one that has been in ill health is greatly improved.
"We save you money on anything you buy. As our business has increased to a great extent in made-to-measure suits we have cut out the express charges and give you a suit or overcoat at Ed V. Price's list price. Scott & Co.
"The Ladies' Aid of the Congregational Church met at the residence of Mrs. Frank Emigh yesterday afternoon. Subjects of interest to the church and the work of the society were discussed, and of course the ladies devoted some of the time to social visiting and topics dear to the feminine heart were con- sidered at length.
"Next Tuesday is the day when we vote for the president of the United States and for the state and county officers. After that we will have to begin to take up the matter of city officers. This is a matter of more importance than most people think. If we are to keep up with the procession we must have a progressive city government. And at the same time we want a city govern- ment that will be conservative enough to stop short of extravagance. There will be numerous improvements to be made during the coming year and the citizens
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FIRST NATIONAL BANK, KENNEWICK
KENNEWICK HIGH SCHOOL
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should see to it that those who are elected to look after the city's interests are of the sort that will guide us safely and creditably through the period of their term of office. The next year will be one of the most vital in our history. The men who hold office here next year can either make or greatly cripple the city. Let us all lay aside personal considerations and select men of the right stamp for various offices. We have plenty of good material.
"Kennewick has done fairly well this year for a district that makes no pre- tentions at wheat raising. The Kennewick Grain Company, that has handled all the grain shipped from this station this year, have up to date shipped out over a hundred cars of wheat. As each car will hold something over a thousand bushels of wheat, this makes a total of over 100,000 bushels. Mr. Crowell, the bookkeeper of the company, informs us that he has drawn checks to date for over $75,000 in payment for wheat bought by the company. He also informs us that the company has contracts standing out for wheat that will keep the farmers busy hauling for the next six weeks. This will bring the number of bushels up near the 150,000 mark and give Kennewick the right to call herself a wheat shipping point, along with the numerous other things that she has to brag about."
SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
It is commonplace to say anything further in regard to the high-class and entirely commendable character of the institutions covered by the above titles in any part of the Yakima Valley. Suffice it to say that Kennewick has main- tained a place in the front row with the best of her neighbors. As noted earlier, the first public school was organized in 1884, and the first teachers were, in suc- cession, Mrs. Haak, Mr. T. B. Thompson, and Miss Josie Miller. The district was twelve miles square and the school enrollment was fifty-four. A two-story building, still standing, though unused, was erected in 1893. The present splendid high school building was erected in 1911, and the fine grade school building came in 1905, both nearly model buildings for their purpose. At pres- ent date, Professor H. H. Hoffman is city superintendent; Miss Grace Mitchel is principal of the high school, and Miss E. R. Tripp is principal of the Wash- ington school. The other teachers appear in the county directory of teachers in the chapter on Benton County. The enrollment in the high school the year past was 146 and in the grades was 510. The estimated value of school property in the district was, buildings and grounds, $85,000; furniture, equip- ment and books, $16,000.
The schools of Kennewick have been entirely under the public school sys- tem with one notable exception, very interesting in a historical way. That ex- ception was the Academy Emanuel, founded by Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Klitten, at the present date residents of Kennewick, conducting the Hotel Kennewick.
An account of the opening of the academy is found in the "Courier" of November 13, 1903.
"The work on the Academy Emanuel is moving along to completion. The
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painting is about completed, both inside and outside, and plumbers are piping the building in order to put it in readiness for the installation of a gas plant, which will be utilized for both lighting and heating purposes. Mrs. Klitten was in Portland last week and inspected a number of places lighted with similar plants and the lights are excellent, and give the most satisfactory results. She therefore purchased a plant for the academy at a cost of about $1,250. This disposes of the lighting and heating problem of the institution in a most happy manner. On her return she also stopped over at Tacoma and purchased about $3,000 worth of carpets, furniture and kitchen utensils for the building, and these articles will soon arrive.
"Everything will soon be in readiness and applications from students can now be sent in any time. Those desiring to attend should apply early and have quarters apportioned for them, as it will facilitate matters at the opening of the school. It is hoped that at least forty or fifty day students will be enrolled from Kennewick and vicinity alone. School will open without fail on the 5th day of January."
The building originally put up for a hotel by the Yakima Irrigating and Improvement Company was purchased by Mr. Klitten, thoroughly renovated, and adapted to school purposes. This was the building referred to in the item in the "Courier." Much interest was taken in Kennewick in this laudable en- terprise of the Academy Emanuel. Very unfortunately, not more than two years after its inception, the building was burned. The academy was not con- tinued.
As already noted, the Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist churches were established in Kennewick at an early day. Religious work has been well maintained in all the usual activities to the present time.
At the date of preparation of this volume, the churches and pastors are the following : First Methodist Episcopal, Rev. J. C. Harvey; First Baptist, Rev. J. V. B. Adam; Congregational, Rev. Campbell W. Bushnell: Bethlehem Lutheran, Rev. Emil Kreidt ; Zion Lutheran, without pastor; Catholic, without pastor ; Christian, without pastor.
We find the usual fraternal organizations in Kennewick. The pioneer so- cieties seem to have been the Modern Woodmen of America and their auxiliary, the Royal Neighbors. At present date we find a Masonic lodge of which the worshipful master is Charles Florine and the secretary is F. J. Kadow ; a lodge of Odd Fellows, of which the head is Noble Grant; Knights of Pythias, of which E. A. Farrel is chancellor commander, and George W. Tweedt is keeper of records and seals; Order of Eastern Star, with Kathryn Cramer as worthy matron and Emile Shanafelt secretary ; Rebekahs, of which Mrs. H. W. Nelson is noble grand, and Mrs. G. H. Shanafelt is secretary ; Woodmen of the World, of which Earl Farrel is venerable consul and G. H. Shanafelt is clerk.
One of the most useful and interesting of all the organizations of the town is the Kennewick Woman's Club. Such a club is usually a center of light and leading wherever it may be, but the club of this city has seemed to be unusually active in every good word and work. It was organized in 1913, and soon after
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became federated. The present officers and heads of departments are the fol- lowing: President, Mrs. R. I. McMahon; first vice president, Mrs. R .E. Pratt ; second vice president, Mrs. Thomas McKain; corresponding secretary, Mrs. H. P. Cranmer ; recording secretary, Mrs. F. J. Arnold; treasurer, Mrs. E. A. Knerr; auditor, Emile Shanafelt. Heads of departments: Literature, Mrs. E. M. Sly ; arts and crafts, Mrs. H. W. Withers ; current events, Mrs. A. F. Brown ; home economics, Mrs. W. L. Craver ; music, Mrs. C. Brunn.
The Commercial Club of the town has been an unequalled influence in organizing and maintaining the business activities of the locality, as well as keep- ing in touch with the major movements in commercial and political life in the state and nation. The commercial organization dates back to the beginnings of the third stage in the history of the town. Excerpts from the "Courier" of August 5, 19 and 26, 1904, summarize the stages of launching the organization known as the Kennewick Commercial Association.
"Kennewick has now arrived at that stage in its career when it is necessary for its citizens to take some united action for its permanent welfare. Like all new western towns that have great inducements to offer to the prospective settler, Kennewick has had a remarkable growth, and has settled up on a haphazard method that took small notice of the finer details that are taken into consideration when men settle down to the building up of a town that is in- tended to be their permanent home. In all new western towns there is a cer- tain element of chance and speculation during the first few years that makes the settlers negligent of the more substantial improvements that must necessarily come if the town is a success. There is now not the least doubt in the minds of any one as to the success of Kennewick and we should get to work moulding the place into the semblance of what its permanent aspect should be. The best and only proper method of doing this is to organize the business men and citizens into a club and give them power to do all they think best for the welfare of the city, and we suggest that steps be taken in this direction without delay. There is going to be a large influx of strangers here this fall and we should look our best when they arrive. We have a town that has all the advantages they will be looking for and we should see that nothing is left undone that will leave a correct impression of what it has to offer in the way of a home and a business point. The city council can not be asked to take all this work upon itself. The members of the council have enough to do to attend to the regular business of the city, and while they are doing a good work within the sphere of their duty, we should all take up the extra work and expense involved in putting the city in its best appearance."
"The topic that has the lead among our business men this week is the Com- mercial Club, and it is being threshed out in proper shape. The only thing that makes it approach being a dry subject is that there is very little chance for argu- ment as every one is of the opinion that it is the thing that we want. The only points on which an argument can be founded are mere matters of detail and they are so unimportant that they will in no way affect the general purposes of the organization. We have discussed the project with every business man in the
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city and not one has said anything but the most encouraging words about it, and we believe the meeting next Monday evening will be attended by every citizen who has the best interest of the city and district at heart."
"A large number of our business men met in the opera house last Monday evening and took further steps toward the organization of the Commercial Association. The committees on by-laws and finance reported and the reports were accepted. The name adopted is 'The Kennewick Commercial Association.' The constitution and by-laws adopted are the same as govern the North Yakima Commercial Club, with a few changes made necessary by the difference in the conditoins prevailing in the two towns. The temporary organization that was perfected at the previous meeting was allowed to stand for the present and the first election of permanent officers will take place on the second Tuesday in September. The roll of members is open at the secretary's office and several of our business men who were not able to attend the meeting have called around and signed. We hope all will become members before the election of officers so that those who are elected will represent the entire town.
"The first thing the Commercial Association will have to tackle is the caring for the Knights Templar delegation that is to visit the city on the 30th of this month. Word was received a few days ago that a train carrying a hundred knights would stop here on the 30th in order that the excursionists might spend a few hours looking over the city and surrounding country. At the meeting of the Commercial Association held last Monday evening it was decided to give them a blow-out worthy of the city and the occasion. A committee was appointed to make all necessary arrangements, and we understand it is the intention to meet the train with sufficient rigs to take all the guests for a drive through the city and out to the neighboring orchards after which a 6 o'clock dinner will be served in the opera house. This is a good opportunity to place the city in a favorable light before a lot of influential gentlemen and we hope all our citizens will take hold and see that the affair is a success."
The name became changed to the Commercial Club within a short time. Throughout its history this club has been active in promoting all the larger enterprises of the community. Among these may be mentioned the regular publication of attractive and reliable booklets for distribution, a collection in- deed remarkable for a town of the size of Kennewick. This literature, with the equally remarkable series of publications issued by the Northern Pacific Irriga- tion Company, has doubtless made Kennewick the best advertised small city in central Washington.
As a matter of historic reference our readers will be glad to see a list of the members of the club as they were massed for a picture in 1906. The list of members of that date follows :
KENNEWICK COMMERCIAL CLUB MEMBERS
H. C. Stringer, H. D. Sweet, K. DePriest, John Sercomb, M. H. Church,
BRIDGE BETWEEN KENNEWICK AND PASCO
R
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L. W. Soth, George A. Fendler, Alex Bier, A. Nevlow, J. L. McPhee, E. L. Kolb, A. F. Brown, J. N. Scott, Professor A. E. Nelson, Thomas McKain, J. A. Rose, Superintendent O. L. Hanson, Charles Holmes, J. Clemens, F. A. Swingle, Dr. F. B. Crosby, G. E. Hanson, Arie Hover, Dr. J. W. Hewitson, President George F. Richardson, Pioneer D. W. Owens, H. A. Howe, O. W. Rich, J. E. Tull, L. A. Peters, G. A. Schlund, Guy Hayden, Don Creswell, C. H. Collins, H. W. Desgranges, Edward Sheppard, H. A. Bier, Peter Roech, J. M. Hawkins, A. W. Tomkins, O. C. Melvin, R. H. Anderson, G. W. King, R. L. Whitlock, W. A. Hawes, J. H. Graveslund, G. A. Hamilton, Albert Dance, B. F. Knapp, E. D. Collins, C. King, William Folsom, W. H. Collins, Phil Bier, E. C. Copeland, I. H. Hamlin, M. P. Fuller, A. W. Hover, G. W. Taylor, Harry Rosman, A. H. Wheaton, H. B. Haney.
Besides this special activity in publications the club has, beyond any other interior town except Lewiston, Idaho, led in the movement which eventuated in the completion of the Celilo Canal in the Columbia River and the opening of this whole region to unobstructed navigation to the ocean, 330 miles from Kennewick. Another great aim was the construction of a sewage system and street paving. Yet another was the establishment of a wharf on the Columbia, essential to the realization of the benefits of water transportation.
It should be especially noted in this connection that by vote of the people in accordance with state law, Kennewick became a regular port district and the dock was constructed and road connections made by the district. The river front for several miles is in control of the district, a fact of vast importance for the future.
The club also cooperated heartily with the irrigation company during its regime and then became an active force in enlisting the interest of property owners in Government irrigation, from which so much seems now on the verge of attainment. At this time the officers of the Commercial Club are as fol- lows: President, M. W. Mattechek; first vice president, E. W. Trenbath ; second vice president, E. M. Sly; secretary, George E. Tweedt; directors, G. W. Sherk, J. J. Rudkin, F. M. Crosby, A. F. Browne, G. R. Bradshaw, A. R. Gardner.
The most notable local event in the history of the Columbia River in recent years was the opening of the Celilo Canal. A series of celebrations occurred all the way from Lewiston to the ocean beach. The place that Kennewick took in the week's festivities is narrated in the "Reporter" by Editor A. F. Gardner, and we will leave the telling to his brilliant pen.
"Courier-Reporter," May 6, 1915:
The Columbia River, the second greatest waterway in the country, which for untold ages marked its way through desert and cliff, "hearing no sound save its own dashings," feeling no touch save the splashing paddle of the Indian canoe ; which, through another cycle of years, was harnessed to the use of man, only to lapse into disuse, has this week been reclaimed and officially dedicated to the commercial use of the people of a great empire. The Celilo Canal, the dream of half a century and the hope of a decade, is now a fact. The waterway is now open to continuous navigation from where it mingles its foregathered
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waters with the flood of the Pacific Ocean, to where the Clearwater joins with the Snake at Lewiston, Idaho, a distance of 500 miles.
The brilliancy, the spontaniety, the enthusiasm of the celebration now in progress characterizes it as the premier event of the Northwest this year. From sunrise Monday morning, when the explosion of tons of dynamite awoke the echoes along the Lewiston hills, until waters from a score or more of tribu- taries went splashing into the canal yesterday afternoon, the memories of the past have been greeting the activities of the present in a manner so spectacular as to compel a firm faith in the possibilities of the future.
It was the greatest day Lewiston has ever known ; it was the greatest event in the history of Kennewick and Pasco; it was epoch-making for Wallula and the biggest night Umatilla has ever seen. The whole Columbia and Snake River valleys are celebrating as they never celebrated before. The spirit every- where is the same, whether manifest in the gaiety of parading thousands or whether it has found expression in the frantic flag-waving of freckled and tanned urchins in holiday attire at an isolated homestead.
The week has been notable too, in another particular. Never have so many high public officials gathered together in the Northwest. Governors, United States senators and representatives in congress have been as common and as numerous as camera enthusiasts and souvenir vendors. All have been drawn by the same common impulse-to commemorate the connection of the interior country with tidewater.
A census of the dignitaries who are participating in the trip includes Gov- ernors Alexander of Idaho, Lister of Washington, Withycombe of Oregon, United States Senators Jones and Poindexter of Washington, Borah and Brady of Idaho, Lane of Oregon, William H. Humphrey representative in congress from Washington, and Representatives Sinnott, Hawley and McArthur of Oregon. The pioneers whose names are linked with the notable historic events of the Northwest are here, too. On board Admiral Gray's flagship is Mrs. Nancy Osborne Jacobs, survivor of the Whitman massacre, and many others whose residence in the old Oregon country dates back half a century.
AT KENNEWICK AND PASCO
A perfect day and an enormous crowd greeted the "progressive" celebra- tion at this point. The festivities opened on the Pasco side, where at eleven o'clock the spectacular parade formed. Near the head of the column were the cars carrying the bride and her party who were to figure in the allegorical wed- dling of the Columbia and the Snake later in the day. Following the bridal party were several hundred school children and citizens' marching clubs from both towns, while interspersed throughout the length of the parade were units symbolizing the progress of civilization as well as several attractive floats from the Richland district.
The spectacular and symbolic features of the parade were the work of the Kennewick parade committee and of George E. Finley, of Finley, to whom had been given the task of working up the old settlers' feature. All of these gentle- men deserve much praise for the manner in which they "put over" Kennewick's
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part of the parade. Mr. Finley, especially, is to be commended for the interest he displayed, as he spent many days of his time and no little cash out of his own pocket in getting his prairie schooner ready for the line of march.
At the close of the Pasco parade the crowd began to move to the Kenne- wick waterfront where the big feature of the day, the wedding of Miss Colum- bia and Mr. Snake was to take place upon the arrival of the flotilla from Lewis- ton. By special trains, admirably handled by the Northern Pacific ; by gasoline ferry and by way of the "Inland Empire" which had been impressed as a passenger ferry for the day, the people streamed to the Kennewick side to await the coming of the boats.
Here the delay occurred which somewhat marred the festivities and made the carrying out of Kennewick's part of the program a difficult affair. Although the fleet was supposed to be docked at Kennewick at noon, it was long after one o'clock before the flagship "Undine" poked her nose through the open draw span to the accompaniment of tooting whistles and waving handkerchiefs and parasols. When the "Undine" finally docked after a brief stop at the Pasco wharf, it was found that although she carried Senator Jones, who was to tie the allegorical wedding knot, the groom-to-be, Wallace Stanton, of Lewiston, was not aboard. He, unhappily, had been placed upon the "J. N. Teal," a later and slower boat, so was still some miles away at the time the wedding party were assembled and waiting. The expectant hundreds gathered about the cere- monial platform growing restless and after a considerable wait, it was decided to proceed with the "wedding." F. A. Jones, of Pasco, one of the groomsmen, needed no urging to accept the role of the groom.
Miss Kate Williams, of this city, as the bride, "Miss Columbia." was sup- ported by four maids of honor, Miss Pearl Cunningham, Miss Olga Fylpa, Miss Mayme Jorgensen and Miss Ruby Slaugenhaupt, and was attended by a score of bridesmaids, representing cities and towns in all sections of the Inland Em- pire. The men of honor were Cushing Baker of Walla Walla, and L. E. Thomas of Prosser, with a dozen or so groomsmen from Kennewick, Pasco, and various other towns also in attendance. Little Lucile Collins and Esther Moul- ton were flower bearers.
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