Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
600 of 700 total Free Home Page Stories & Photos
(Also see our Subscribers Magazine Sample)
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, editor 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284 Home of the Tarheel Stomp Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug
Site founded Sept. 1, 2000. We passed 5 million page views on June 6, 2011 The home pages remain free of any charge. We need donations or subscriptions to continue. Please pass on this website link to your family, relatives, friends and clients.

Archival photos, Sedro-Woolley Fire Department

Reader John Ruthford donated this archival photo of one of Sedro-Woolley's first fire trucks parked in front of the original fire department, which stood in the middle of what is now the alley to the east of the Post Office. We know that it was taken after 1923 because the Odd Fellows building is at the left and it was constructed in October 1923. Unfortunately we do not have a photo of the complete fire department. We hope that a reader will send a copy or a scan of it. Ruthford describes the scene:
To the immediate left (east) is the Bingham-Holland building, looking much as it does today. The truck appears to be a Chevrolet (equipment only) vehicle from the late Teen years or early 1920s. The truck sports a hand crank, electric headlamps and hand crank siren. The tires look to be hard rubber. The vehicle was used to transport ladders, portable extingquishers, nozzles and bunker bear. Because of the presence of nozzles, I suspect fire hose was also transported in the hose bed, although we cannot see it in the photo. Do you have copies or scans of archival fire department photos to add to this section?

This is a photo of the original city hall for the merged towns, built sometime after December 1898. It stood where the Post Office stands today. We are looking south-southwest across Woodworth street, sometime circa 1920s to early 1930s. You can see the photo at the Iron Skillet restaurant and you can purchase a copy of this and other photos on display by phoning (360) 855-424-5008.

Volunteers in front of the city hall/fire department in 1932, 11 years after formation of the volunteer company. A. Bingham, banker, is at the left, leaning against the fire truck fender.

Volunteers and a later fire truck in 1949.

Links, background reading and sources

The famous Woolley fire of July 24, 1911.
Rebuilding old Woolley after the Great Fire of 1911. Block by block we review the businesses and construction that made Sedro-Woolley's unique brick downtown of today.
Our Sedro-Woolley portal section with links to more than 100 stories and profiles of pioneers and businesses and reasons to make Sedro-Woolley your destination on your next vacation

Story posted Sept. 10, 2011
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Our newest sponsor, Plumeria Bay, is based in Birdsview, just a short walk away from the Royal family's famous Stumpranch, and is your source for the finest down comforters, pillows, featherbeds andduvet covers and bed linens. Order directly from their website and learn more about this intriguing local business.

Oliver-Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 90 years continually in business.

Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20, day, week or month, perfect for hunting or fishing. Park your RV or pitch a tent — for as little as $5 per night — by the Skagit River, just a short drive from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley. Alpine is doubling in capacity for RVs and camping in 2011.

Joy's Sedro-Woolley Bakery-Cafe at 823 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley.

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