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Skagit River Journal600 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 |
 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284Home of the Tarheel Stomp Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug |
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Phyllis Hyatt proved to be an adept author, herself, as she penned the history of the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Sedro-Woolley, in which she and Chuck were involved for decades. This is the first story in a restored section on Clear Lake and Day Creek history. It will be followed by a series of photos of the early town that was platted by the Bartl family as Mountain View, and the village and company town of Clearlake, which grew rapidly with the railroads, logging camps and sawmills and then faded just as quick in the 1920s when the Clear Lake Lumber Co. burned and then went out of business. Do you have copies of family memories and photos to share?My grandfather, C.A. Smith, came west to Washington in the early 1900s (exact date unknown). I don't know where they lived at first, but early papers indicate that they spent some time in Whatcom, later renamed Bellingham. Grandpa was a steam engineer and held a certificate as such from Minnesota.
Any time, any amount, please help build our travel and research fund for what promises to be a very busy 2011, traveling to mine resources from California to Washington and maybe beyond. Depth of research determined by the level of aid from readers. Because of our recent illness, our research fund is completely bare. See many examples of how you can aid our project and help us continue for another ten years. And subscriptions to our optional Subscribers Online Magazine (launched 2000) by donation too. Thank you.
We recently visited our newest sponsor, Plumeria Bay, which is based in Birdsview, just a short walk away from the Royal family's famous Stumpranch, and is your source for the finest down bedding. See our Journal feature on this local business and learn more details and how to order items at their website.
His wife, Harriet, and daughter, Emily, came with him. Emily, my mother, married my dad, W.R. Hyatt, in 1905, and they lived in Pilchuck (Snohomish County) where my sister and I were born.
In 1909, Grandpa bought a triangular strip of land north of the Day Creek Road (now Old Day Creek Road), bounded on the east by the Northern Pacific Railroad and on the west by the road to Sedro-Woolley. The land was purchased from John and Susie Peterson for $40 and was approximately four acres.
Grandpa built a small clapboard house for himself and wife toward the north end of the property. He had a cow, raised chickens for eggs and a pig for meat, curing his own hams and bacon. Surplus eggs were either sold or packed in a stone jar or crock, each layer covered with lard rendered from hog fat. These came in handy when the hens quit laying.
He planted an orchard, sending back East for apple, prune and pear trees. Names I remember are Ben Davis, Winter Banana, Snowapple, Northern Spy and Michigan Gravenstein. Snowapple, bright red with snowwhite meat, and the juicy, tart Michigan Gravenstein were my favorites.
Grandpa had a large garden he tended and sold the produce, as well as eggs and cream, from a roadside stand. Each day's sale were written down in a notebook. I saw the notebook many years later and prices I remember are: eggs 10 cents a dozen; cream 15 cents a pint; vegetables, 5 cents a pound, and corn, 25 cents a dozen. I wish I had that notebook now — and a return to some of the prices wouldn't hurt either.
My grandmother always made sure plenty of the farm produce and meat was canned or cured for winter. Grandma died in 1916, about the time my father and mother started to build their house on Grandpa's acreage. Grandpa lived until 1922, still active on the farm.
My parents, Roland and Emily Hyatt, my sister Gertrude, and I moved from Pilchuck to Clear Lake in the fall of 1914. We lived in a company house [Clear Lake Lumber Co.] in what was known as "Pigtail Alley" (now Cedar Street). Across the street were neighbors Ed and Sybil Sanders. The Hacketts, with children Ray and Dolly, lived on the northwest corner. Houses on the west side of the street were on the uphill side and those on the east were down the hill and were in water most of the fall and spring during the rainy season. Some of the things I remember about Pigtail Alley are on tape. Our next move was to a house on Main Street across from the depot, and north of the old post office.
One morening a Skagit County sheriff's deputy stopped, passed the time of day and when leving, called me over to his car. 'Word to the wise,' he said and drove away. I mulled this over, finally worke up and called my mother to the station. I took off in the car with six pints of moonshine and got ride of it. Sure enough, the feds came and searched the station — end of bootlegging.
I later found out one of the town tattlers had tipped off the sheriff's office. He had hung around the station reporting movements and trying to mooch a bottle. He was hard to get rid of so I finally mixed a little vinegar in some moonshine and gave it to him. He was sick for a while but no more hanging around.
The most shocking even was the time two popular LaConner girls drove into the station one Sunday afternoon in their Model T roadster. What a surprise when I went out to wait on them. Bought were as naked as the day they were born. No, they didn't buy gas, simply talked for a while and drove off without any indication that anything was unusual. I knew one of them but will mention no name.
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debuted on Aug. 9, 2009. Check it out. |
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Would you like information about how to join them in advertising? 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. Check out Sedro-Woolley First section for links to all stories and reasons to shop here firstor make this your destination on your visit or vacation. Are you looking to buy or sell a historic property, business or residence?We may be able to assist. Email us for details. |
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Tip: Put quotation marks around a specific name or item of two words or more, and then experiment with different combinations of the words without quote marks. We are currently researching some of the names most recently searched for — check the list here. Maybe you have searched for one of them? |
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