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When the Eatonville mill closed its doors in the 1950s, people worried that town might not survive. Operation Bootstrap began — a community effort to keep the doors open. One of things that came out of Bootstrap was Robin Hood Days. The idea was to create an event that would bring people to Eatonville. Ambitious…
Samuel P. and Mary West Smith struck out for the West from North Carolina. They settled outside Eatonville in an area called Stringtown back in around 1888. They had eight sons. One remained in N.C., but the others came out west and make their mark. Pictured here are: • Lee Smith • Nathaniel Smith •…
Fred Fredricksen stands proudly, and for good reason. Fred is the driver of the first stage (taxi/limousine) from Eatonville to Tacoma using the East road. Fred is standing on the dirt road front of Kipper’s Ford Garage, which the Sears store is today. Photo is courtesy of Pat Van Eaton and the Taylor family. Click…
If you’ve been to an EHS football game, you’ve probably sat in the grandstand to root on the team. This picture shows the men in the middle of building the first Eatonville grandstand — or possibly the one that’s still there today. This bunch of rugged guys put in a lot of back breaking work…
Ohop Bob was an upscale restaurant, banquet hall and motel, all wrapped up in one. Originally built by a cycle club, it was further developed in 1914 by the Washington Automotive Club for their two-day trips from Tacoma to Longmire. (Per Upper Nisqually Valley.) It was open weekends and during the summer, and visitors had…
These photos give you a glimpse of what the town of Alder looked like during the early 1900s. The logs were being milled, roads were being built and the ladies were looking fine. Note: In the last photo of the road gang you might notice, besides the dog, the roots of the enormous tree that…
The Pierce County Auditor wrote this about the town of Elbe in 1909: Situated in the Nisqually River Valley in the heart of the timber district is the town of Elbe. On October 20, 1903, Adam Sachs and wife filed a plt of the town, and the following year the Tacoma Eastern Raileway built its…
Ever wondered what Old Alder looked like, when it was a working town — before the dam? Here’s a shot of the town taken around 1920. The sawmill is in operation and the Alder School (the 2nd) is the white building to the right of the house in the background. Here’s an excerpt from the…
I don’t know anything about this picture, but I like it. Knowing that Roudof Kobb was supplying some music during what looks like a shingle-making operation, makes me feel like the loggers had a cultured side as well. Accordions, known as the one-man-band, are a rather new instrument, developed in the 1800s. Courtesy of Pat Van…
This photo of Grove Street (which I believe is now Center Street) makes you wonder what drew people here. This picture makes Eatonville look more like a ghost town than a growing pioneer community. To the far right I’m told is the well that stood in front of T.C. Van Eaton’s trading post. Photos courtesy…
Eatonville To Rainier 