Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 122

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 122
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 122
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 122
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 122

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

places of business were not reached by the flames lost heavily at the hands of thieves after their stock had been removed to the street. With characteristic western spirit the work of rebuilding was begun early, and at this writing is being rapidly pushed.

At present Leavenworth is a town of about 500 population. The fraternal organizations are the Foresters of America, Independent Order of Good Templars, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Degree of Honor. The Locomotive Firemen have also an organiza- tion. The churches represented are the Con- gregational and Catholic.

MISSION.

Located on the Wenatchee river, eleven miles northwest of Wenatchee, on the line of the Great Northern railroad, is the little town of Mission, containing a population of about two hundred and fifty. The village is situated in what is known as Mission Valley, one of the choicest fruit producing sections in the world. Not only is this vicinity noted for fruit raising, but diversified farming is carried on extensively, and Mission is the shipping point for all these products.

So early as 1863 Father Respari, a Catholic missionary, came to this vicinity, for the pur- pose of civilizing the Indians. For twenty years he labored among them and was then suc- ceeded by Father Grassi. The latter built a log church on the bank of the river one-fourth of a mile from the present town of Mission. It was not until 1880 or 1881 that the first per- manent settler came to the country in the vi- cinity of Mission. At that period A. B. Bren- der came to the country and squatted on a ranch four miles from the present town. He was followed the succeeding year by William Burzwart, and shortly after that came Casper Bowers, both of whom selected land close to the ranch of Mr. Brender. In the spring of 1888 quite a settlement of ranchers had come

to the vicinity, and George Kline brought in a small stock of goods and opened a modest lit- tle store, the first business house in Mission. These settlers succeeded in getting a postoffice established and Mr. Kline was appointed post- master. The following year O. J. Steward came to Mission and with him came a large stock of general merchandise, and he, also, opened up for business. Mr. Kline retired and Mr. Steward became postmaster. Until 1891 the latter's was the only business house in Mis- sion. Then Ira Freer opened up the second store. He continued in business two years and then sold out to John Kuelbs.

When it became known that the Great Northern railroad was to pass through Mis- sion a townsite was platted by John F. Wood- ring and I. W. Sherman. This took place July 27, 1892. Since then additions have been plat- ted as follows: Woodring's plat, September 19, 1892, by John F. Woodring; Steward's plat, April 3, 1893, by Oliver J. Steward; Prowell's plat, September 30, 1901, by W. W. Curtiss ; Nob Hill plat, April 9, 1902, by Wal- ter M. Olive; Capital Hill plat, June, 1902, by Dennis Strong; West Mission, July 9, 1902, by M. O. Tibbets : First addition, March 3, 1903, by C. D. Halferty and others.

The building of the railroad in the fall of 1892 did not have the effect of creating a "boom" in Mission such as has been experi- enced in many other towns, in fact it was not until several years later that the railroad com- pany accorded Mission a depot. July 30, 1900, the company placed an agent and operator in the town.

Of the first church in Mission the We- natchee Advance, of date August 5, 1893, says :

"Last Sunday, July 30, was a day long to be remembered by the people of Mission. Some months ago a congregation was organized by Dr. Gunn, the synodical missionary of the Presbyterian church. Soon after the organiza- tion was made articles of incorporation were registered and steps taken for the erection of

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a church edifice. The work was entered upon with such earnestness and hearty cheer that the result is the erection of a very neat and commodious church, which was taken posses- sion of Sunday, and dedicated."

Following are the business enterprises of Mission in January, 1904: Walter M. Olive, hardware store, carrying over $6,000 worth of stock ; Ira Freer, general merchandise, carrying over $16,000 worth of stock; N. Wilcox, gen- eral merchandise, $3,000 stock; M. M. Sto- well carries about $5,000 worth of dry goods and groceries; T. Spiller & Company, general merchandise; John Shurle, blacksmith; two restaurants conducted by Mr. McCormick and Mr. Weymouth ; meat market by John Kuelbs; Dr. Thomas Musgrove, resident physician, proprietor of a first-class drug store; Walter Torrence, barber; excellent hotel, conducted by Mr. Weymouth, and owned by Mrs. Blagg. It is known as the Eastern Washington.

Perhaps the best evidence of Mission's growth and prosperity is witnessed in her schools. Four years ago the school comprised one room, in which were gathered twenty- seven pupils, with three or four months' term. Today there is a handsome building supplied with modern improvements, costing over $6,- 000. The schools are in charge of J. L. Camp- bell, ably assisted by C. A. Thomas, Miss Myr- tle Earl and Miss Myrtle Benson. One hun- dred and forty pupils are enrolled. In the high school there is a graded course comprising the ninth, tenth and eleventh grades. A practical and energetic school board, consisting of Dr. Thomas Musgrove, E. E. Stowell and Louis Titchenal, has the interests of this institution at heart, with but one object in view, to give Mission the best possible educational advant- ages.

Five years ago Mission was an unimport- ant flag station, with no agent. Walter M. Olive acted as express agent. Better railroad accommodation was demanded, owing to the wonderful growth of the valley. A depot was

erected and an agent installed. Today to one unacquainted with the volume of business done at Mission the following figures will appear in- credible : The receipts for freight received at the station from July, 1902, to July, 1903, were $15,992.47; the sum paid for freight exported amounted to $3,085.50; express, $4,500; tickets sold, $5,194.15; making a total of $28,- 772.12. The increase of business in 1903 over 1902 was nearly $10,000. During the past year the railroad company has made extensive im- provements, making Mission not only a very comfortable station, but convenient as well. Two agents are employed to look after the in- terests of the railway company.

Three well stocked lumber yards provide everything necessary for building purposes. Mr. Hartley carries a full stock, as does Wal- ter M. Olive. Mr. Halferty came to Mission over a year ago and purchased a large tract of timber at the "Camar." He installed a first- class mill and cut his lumber at the forest, haul- ing the marketable lumber to Mission, where he has a large yard.

The fraternal societies are represented by the G. A. R., Post No. 94; Relief Corps, No. 57; Knights of the Maccabees, McChesney Tent No. 85; Ladies of the Maccabees, Mission Valley Hive No. 43; A. O. U. W., Mission Lodge No. 43; Degree of Honor, No. 60, Eden Lodge; M. W. A., Mission Camp No. 5856; R. N. A., Cascade Camp No. 2479; I. O. O. F., Mission Lodge No. 208.

CASCADE TUNNEL.

For several years there was a town in what is now Chelan county, known by the various names of Cascade Tunnel, Tunnel City and Tunnel. It came into existence in the autumn of 1897, and was located at the eastern en- trance of the famous Great Northern tunnel through the Cascade range. Work was begun on this tunnel in 1897, and for over three years several hundred laborers were employed in the

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enterprise of piercing this lofty range of moun- tains. It was but a natural sequence that a town should not be long in making its appear- ance. Several merchants from Leavenworth moved their stocks to this point, others came in, and there was soon here a flourishing "camp." In the fall of 1897 a postoffice was established.

The inhabitants of this town were com- posed of people from every part of the world and of every class; "all sorts and conditions of men." Cascade Tunnel was not what would aptly be termed a "Sunday school town." In fact Cascade Tunnel at one period secured a world-wide reputation as "the wickedest place in the world," owing to an article published in the New York World, and extensively copied. In June, 1900, Mr. Frank Reeves, then of Cas- cade Tunnel, refuted the charge as follows :

"My attention has been called to a publi- cation of some weeks ago by the New York World of an article on Cascade Tunnel under the sensational caption, 'The Wickedest Place in the World.' I understand that this article has been copied and embellished in a number of foreign journals, including the London Graphic. I see nothing in the article calling for special comment more loudly than the man- ifest stupidity of the writer, who stands con- victed of being a novice in his profession by his own writing, and of wilfully disseminat- ing falsehoods without provocation, reason or justification.

"Let it be understood in the beginning that I am not sponsor for the good behavior of Cas- cade Tunnel, nor do I endeavor to place it in the immaculate category. But Cascade Tun- nel is in Chelan county, and bad though it may be, I do not acquiesce in its unwarranted slan- der, and have taken it upon myself to refute some of the World's correspondent's nefarious assertions, because no one else seems to have considered the matter of sufficient importance to do so. Some of the statements made in the article are, in the abstract, practically true, but

in comparison they are falsely ludicrous as a grease spot is insignificant when placed in comparison with Romeo. Cascade Tunnel is, indeed, a wicked place, because conditions are favorable to the exposure of the rough side of life-and men and women are the same the T world over-some are good, some are bad, others indifferent, none is absolutely spotless, and none is entirely devoid of good. But how silly the assertion that Cascade Tunnel is the wickedest place on earth! Let me say that an intelligent person starting out on an honest tour of investigation can go into any of the leading cities of the nation and there find vice that will shock the modesty of the most de- praved individual who ever made a track in Cascade Tunnel.

"During the construction of the Great Northern Railway Wenatchee and Icicle were to Cascade Tunnel as a literal hell is to a small edition of purgatory, and even today the me- tropolis of the state of Washington is so much tougher than Cascade Tunnel that the tough- est of the Cascade toughs are but mere infants when they get down on a tough street in Se- attle, a city of churches, refinement and edu- cation, full of blue-coated policemen and guar- dians of public morals. How, then, does the arrestion of 'the wickedest place in the world' sound as applied to Cascade Tunnel, where but one deputy sheriff is required to conserve the peace, and where five hundred laborers are employed? Any place, town, city, county or nation is what the people make it, and while Cascade Tunnel has not that evidence of per- manency that attracts the substantial class, it must not pass for truth that none but rene- gades are located there. A number of the best families of the state reside there, and they have a school district organized where their children are being educated with the same degree of skill and diligence employed in other civilized communities. There are both men and women living in Cascade Tunnel capable of ornament- ing and dignifying society of the best class.

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

and for the most part the laborers there are in- dustrious, manly, courageous fellows who at- tend strictly to their own business. There are, of course, many exceptions, but the rule is as stated.

"I have been on the frontier in Washing- ton and Idaho for the last ten years and have never yet been in a mining or railroad camp that has been handled as well and at as little expense as Cascade Tunnel, nor where actual lawlessness was less prevalent."

Saturday, June 23, 1900, every building in the business portion of Tunnel City was swept by fire, and but few goods were saved from the saloons and stores. There was no in- surance and the loss was total. All of the build- ings were frame structures, and the flames spread rapidly in all directions. C. O. Dono- son lost between $6,000 and $7,000, with no in- surance, and Charles Scherinewski, proprietor of a restaurant, lost in addition to his building and business, cash to the amount of $800. Rob- ert Dye was asleep in his barber shop and was awakened by the roar of flames. He escaped with his life, a Winchester rifle and a fish-pole, leaving behind his vest containing $400 in greenbacks. Frank Dorn, proprietor of two merchandise stores, saved some of his stock, but his loss was between $3,000 and $4,000.

With the completion of the Cascade Tunnel the town rapidly deteriorated. The reason for its existence had passed into history.

ENTIAT.

Twenty miles north of Wenatchee, at the confluence of the Entiat and Columbia rivers, is the town of Entiat. The Entiat valley was settled in the early 90's. Elder T. J. Cannon was among the first pioneers in the valley, and he was the first to erect a saw mill, utilizing the water-power furnished by the Entiat river, near its mouth. Many settlers were in the val- ley previous to the establishment of the town of Entiat, and before a postoffice was secured.

The principal industries in this vicinity are lumbering and mining. There is a sawmill and stamp mill at Entiat. The town is con- nected by long distance telephone and receives a daily mail by boats that ply the Columbia river. Presbyterian and Campbellite churches are maintained, and there is a good public school.

BLEWETT.

This is a mining camp situated about eight- een miles south of Leavenworth, with which place it is connected by a stage road built in 1898. Blewett has a population of about forty people, nearly all of whom are engaged in min- ing.

So far as the records show the first quartz ledge to be discovered in the state of Washing- ton was the Culver, on Peshastin creek, where stands the town of Blewett. This was located in the early 60's, when the tide of miners were returning from the Cariboo district in British Columbia. Since that period the mines in the vicinity have been worked and several milloins in gold taken out. The settlement of Blewett is the oldest in Chelan county.

OTHER PLACES.

Five miles east of Leavenworth, on the Great Northern railroad, is Peshastin postoffice and flag station. Here are one store and two saw mills. Peshastin budded in 1892, when the railroad reached this point, and during that summer boasted of two grocery stores, one dry goods store, five saloons, four restaurants, two bakeries, two hotels, two feed stables, one black- smith shop and a saw mill. With the location of the railroad division at Leavenworth and the subsequent growth of that town Peshastin, as a business center, became a thing of the past.

Chiwaukum is postoffice on the Great Northern railroad, thirty-three miles northwest of Wenatchee. It is in a mining and

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lumbering district and here are located a saw mill, store and hotel. One of the largest state fish hatcheries in Washington is at this place.

Monitor is a flag-station and recently es- tablished postoffice on the Great Northern rail- way, eight miles northwest of Wenatchee. It is in the center of a fine fruit and farming coun- try. There is one store at Monitor.

Malaga is a flag-station and postoffice, seven miles southeast of Wenatchee, on the Great Northern railroad. May 19, 1903, a townsite was platted here by Kirk Whited, of Wenatchee.

Merritt, forty-two miles northwest of We- natchee, and eleven miles west of Chiwaukum, near the mouth of Cascade Tunnel, is a post- office and flag-station on the Great Northern railway.

At the head of Lake Chelan, where the Stehekin river joins the lake, is Stehekin post-

office. It was established in 1892 and M. E. Field, Chelan county's representative in the Washington legislature, was made postmaster, which position he still holds. There is no settle- ment at Stehekin, the only business enterprise at this point being Field's Hotel. During the summer several hundred tourists visit Stehe- kin, to pass their vacation. Steamers make daily trips from Lakeside during the summer and twice a week throughout the winter months.

Another summer resort and postoffice near the head of the lake is Moore's, about eight miles below Stehekin, and on the north shore of the lake. Moore postoffice was established in 1892, and Colonel J. Robert Moore, pro- prietor of the hotel located here, has since held the position of postmaster. Moore's, like Ste- hekin, is a popular summer resort.

Lucerne is a postoffice on the south shore of Lake Chelan, a short distance below Moore's.

CHAPTER V.

EDUCATIONAL.

August 6, 1884, the commissioners of Kit- titas county formed a school district, which is described in their proceedings as "lying along the Wenatchee river." In this district, with indefinite bounds, was soon after established a school, which was the beginning of the educa- tional history of Chelan county, the southern portion of which was subsequently set off from Kittitas county. Data concerning this initial school is meager, but of the opening of the first school in the Lake Chelan district, which oc- curred a few years later, a more extended ac- count is obtainable.

The Lake Chelan country was then in-

cluded in Okanogan county. In 1889 a school district was formed here, being District No. 5. The first school meeting in the new district was held July 31, of that year, and Captain Charles Johnson, B. Lovelace and C. Robin- son were elected a board of directors, and L. H. Woodin, clerk. Mrs. Charles Johnson was em- ployed as teacher, but taught only about two weeks. The teachers succeeding Mrs. John- son were Miss Etta Burch, Miss Ida Malott, Frank Samson, Miss Lizzie Cavanaugh and R. H. Porter. For several years there was but one department in the school, and the first ses- sion was held in the building adjacent to Woo-

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din & Nichols's store; later Gymnasium Hall was converted into a school room. In 1892 a new school building was erected in Chelan at a cost of $2,500. It contained two large reci- tation rooms, aside from a spacious vestibule and cloak room below, and a commodious au- ditorium above. When the new school house was occupied a primary department was added.

At the organization of Chelan county, in January, 1900, John D. Atkinson, now Wash- ington's state auditor, was made county super- intendent of schools and at once entered upon his duties. In the county election of 1900 John E. Porter was chosen superintendent of schools and has since held that position. The wonderful increase in Chelan county's popula- tion during the past few years has brought about a corresponding increase in the number of public schools. From the county superintend- ent's report at the close of the school year for 1903 we learn that there are in the county 2,130 children between the ages of five and twenty-one years. There are 1,783 enrolled in the public schools and an average daily attend- ance of I,IIO. The average number of months school was taught during the year was 5.8. There are thirty-eight school districts in the county and fifty-nine teachers were employed to conduct the schools during the year. The aver- age monthly salary paid male teachers was $55 and $44.23 to female teachers. There are in the county thirty-six school houses, of which two are log structures, thirty-three frame and one brick building. The total seating capacity of these school houses is 1,584, and the total value of all school property in the county is $43,377.

During the year 1903, three hundred and fifty-one scholars were enrolled in the first year's course of study, 236 in the second, 249 in the third, 282 in the fourth, 212 in the fifth, 177 in the sixth, 114 in the seventh, 114 in the eighth, 35 in the ninth, and 13 in the tenth. Forty-one pupils graduated from the common school course during the year. One teacher in

Chelan county held a state certificate, four held certificates from the elementary course of a state normal school, two from the advanced course of study at a state normal school, twelve held first grade county certificates, twenty second-grade and eight third-grade. In Chelan county are six graded schools-at Wenatchee, Chelan, Leavenworth, Mission, Lakeside and "Wenatchee North End." There are four high schools in the county-a three-years' course at Wenatchee and two years' courses at Leavenworth, Chelan and Mission. There is a teachers' association in the county which meets four times a year, and also a summer training school.

Concerning the growth of the public schools during the past few years County Superin- tendent John E. Porter, writing in January, 1904, said :

"The growth and improvement of our schools is keeping pace with the increase in population. Four years ago four teachers taught all the children in the valley around Wenatchee. Now eighteen teachers are re- quired to do the work. . In this time the Wenat- chee school has grown from three teachers to thirteen. Three years ago there were hardly enough pupils at North End for one teacher. Now three rooms are very much crowded, and a two-room school has sprung up just across the Wenatchee river.

"There has been great growth in the schools in other parts of the county as well. Mission has increased from one to four teach- ers; Leavenworth from two to four; Chelan from three to five and Lakeside from one to two. New buildings have been constructed during the year at Wenatchee, Mission, Pine Flat, the Highland district, near Chelan, and Birch Flat. Wenatchee and Birch Flat have each put in modern heating plants, thus aban- doning the old stoves. This is an improvement greatly to be commended. The heater is cheaper to operate than stoves, makes the heat more even, and furnishes good ventilation.

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"As the schools grow, more attention is given to high schools. There are about sixty pupils in the Wenatchee high school. Three years' work is done, requiring the services of three teachers. Doubtless the fourth year's work will be added next year, placing the Wenatchee high school on a par with any in the state, and enabling pupils to prepare them- selves fully for admission to the freshman class

at the university. Mission, Chelan and Leav- enworth each has a two-year high school, and each is doing good work. Teachers' salaries have increased and the standard required for certificates has been raised. These are moves in the right direction. We want well qualified teachers, and are willing to pay them good wages."

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL.

The county commissioners named in the bill creating Chelan county were Dennis Strong of Mission, Spencer Boyd, of Chelan, and G. Hoxsey. Mr. Hoxsey declining to qualify for the office, the other two commissioners appoint- ed, as county officials, H. A. Graham, Chelan, treasurer ; F. F. Keller, Stehekin, sheriff; L. V. Wells, Wenatchee, clerk of court; C. J. Trow, Chelan, auditor; Alexander Pitcher, assessor ; John D. Atkinson, superintendent of schools ; Dr. A. A. Tozer, Leavenworth, coroner, and James H. Chase, prosecuting attorney.

The first county convention in the new po- litical division of the state was held by the Re- publican party at Leavenworth, Saturday, Au- gust II, 1900. J. D. Atkinson was named as chairman and A. A. Anderson, secretary. Au- gust 25, the Democratic county convention was held at Wenatchee. This assembly developed a strong sentiment in favor of fusion with the members of the People's Party, and fusion was finally effected. C. C. Campbell, of Chelan,

presided as chairman and John Godfrey, of Wenatchee, was named as secretary. A full ticket was nominated. At the general election of that year, held November 6, the Republican presidential electors received in Chelan county 566, the Democratic electors 574, votes. The vote for other officers was as follows :

Congress .- Cushman, Republican, 559; Jones, Republican, 563; Robertson, Democrat, 564; Ronald, Democrat, 576.

Supreme Judge .- Mount, Republican, 573; Dunbar, Republican, 564: Million, Democrat, 556; Winsor, Democrat, 554.

Governor .- J. M. Frink, Republican, 485 ; John R. Rogers, Democrat, 652.

State Senator .- M. E. Hay, Republican, 572; Garber, Democrat. 567.

Superior Judge .- Myers. Republican, 545; Neal, Democrat, 592.

Representative .- A. L. Andrews, of Tun- nel, Republican, 635; O. A. Hoag, of Lake- side, Democrat, 529.

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Commissioner First District .- Alexander Pitcher, of Wenatchee, Republican, 521 ; Con- rad Rose, of Wenatchee, Democrat, 622.

Commissioner Second District .- Dennis Strong, of Mission, Republican, 597; J. T. Boyle, of Leavenworth, Democrat, 551.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 122

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992