People have been driving up to Mt. Rainier since the first car. Here’s a great shot of Nisqually visitor entrance , probably around 1920.
As you can see, not many things have change in the last 100 years — except for maybe the cameras.
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This postcard of the Little Mashell is pretty interesting. The side with the falls is nice, but it’s the other side, that is entitled Paradise Valley Route, that is even more curious. It’s a shot of farms. Alder? Elbe? Any guesses, anyone?
Anyone have a guess.
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We have an new photo provided to us by Elaine Burch. The image is of Dr. Bridge’s Lumberman’s Hospital, which was located on Mashell. (The building still stands across from the high school.)
What’s amazing about this picture is not only that it exists and the names were written on the back . . . but that Elaine found this photo at a garage sale in Illinois in an old album. Which goes to show, you never know.
The back of this photo reads:
Eatonville, Washington April 30, 1912
Sitting on the stairs are
Dickson, Joef & Mr. Luck
Standing are: Dr. Bridge, Montonegry (?), Erickson (Swedish) Tony (Italian), Mrs. Canty, Lars A., Mr. Okrey, Mrs. Martines (cook), Mrs. Luck.
(I may have these names misspelled. In anyone knows the correct spellings, please let me know.)
For those that would like to read a little more on this hospital and Dr. Bridge, please click here.
Photo courtesy of Elaine Burch.
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This little sterling silver spoon, about 3″ long, engraved with the words Eatonville, was probably given away by one of the shops in Eatonville in the 1920s (per Terry Van Eaton).
If anyone has any idea which shop, please free free to comment. One suggestion was the Hearon Jewelry store.
Photo courtesy of Diane Mettler.
Click on image to enlarge.
This little piece of history was just for sale on Ebay. It’s a postcard from W. Harding to Elsie Holgate in Longmire Springs (the area seven miles outside Mount Rainier National Park). It’s a shot of the Little Mashel (Mashell) Falls, which is still a popular hiking spot today on Pack Forest property.
This is extra special because Longmire Springs is relatively unheard of today.
“In 1883 James Longmire built a trail from Succotash Valley in Ashford 13 miles (21 km) to the hot springs where he built cabins in the area which now bears his name. John Muir described staying there on the way to his ascent of Mount Rainier in 1888.
The oldest surviving structure in the National Park is a cabin built by Longmire’s son Elcaine Longmire at the springs in 1888. It is located north of the road in the area now called Longmire Meadows.
From 1899 to 1904 approximately 500 people a year visited Longmire Springs in the summer months. They reached the area by train to Ashford and then on Longmire’s wagon trail.
They enjoyed the mineral springs and the view of Mount Rainier. They could also hike to Paradise or Indian Henry’s Hunting Grounds, both about 6 miles from Longmire Springs on trails built by the Longmire family.” (Wikipeida.org)
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The Redman Hall was once an important piece of the Eatonville community life. (It stood where the Landmark is now.) Over the years people met there forIORM meetings, auctions, dances, wrestling matches and more.
Now the indian head that adorned the building (yes, it was a different pre-PC era) is on display at the Van Eaton cabin. Bob Walter, president of the historical society, and who helped move it from Madora Dawkins home to the cabin, says, “It’s humongous, unique and it’s very heavy, so do not try to lift it up to get a better look at the back, because it will topple!”
It’s definitely worth checking out.
Photo courtesy of Bob Walter.
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This Obituary for Clara (Jensen) Acuff comes to us from Abbi Wonacottt, author of Firm Foundation: formation of Eatonville, Wa.,
Clara lived a long and interesting life and was a cornerstone on the community.
To read more about her amazing life, just click here or search Clara Jensen.
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These photos come via Kay Christensen Davis and her cousin Neil Christensen. Kay’s great Aunt Blanche Christensen was a school teacher in Eatonville, and these pictures were taken in and around 1924.
“The pictures were from my Aunt Blanche that taught school at Eatonville in the early 1920’s. She was my grandmother Harriet Christensen’s sister. My cousin Neil Christensen sent the pictures to me. I don’t know who was in the pictures but I am assuming that they are kids that she taught,” says Kay.
Photos courtesy of Kay Christensen and Neil Christensen.
Click on images to enlarge.
One hundred and six years ago, December 25, 1910, this postcard was mailed off from Ashford, Washington, to a friend in Orting.
What struck me was that there was someone at the Ashford postoffice on Christmas day. I did a little research and I believe that person was Mrs. Cora J. Ashford (Mrs. Walter A. Ashford).
The Ashford post office was established November 16, 1894, and Cora ran it for almost 40 years, until Louis Von Salzen took over December 13, 1933.
Here is what Guy Ramsey writes about the post office in Postmarked Washington: Pierce County.
“A combination store-hotel was built on the north side of State Highway 5, which passes through the village, and the post office was located there until transferred to Louis Von Salzen’s store on the opposite (southwest) corner of the intersecting street.
The first mail to Ashford’s place came over a trail through the forest by horseback from Meta. After the Elbe post office was opened, June 4, 1892, it was brought from that point either by horseback or stage.
The Tacoma and Eastern Railroad finished its line to Ashford in 1904 and thereafter Ashford’s mail was supplied by trains. Mr. Ashford would go to the depot with the pushcart to obtain it.”
Image courtesy of Diane Mettler.
Click on images to enlarge.
Here’s a little before and after combo. The top is the Glacier Basin Adventure in the very early 1900s, and below is the same view in 2016.
It’s hard to believe there was mining done at Mt. Rainier. “In 1948, 47 tons of ore was shipped off to Tacoma. In fact, it wasn’t until 1984 that the government purchased the last of the park’s inholdings. (The Big Fact Book of Mount Rainier)
Thank you Jeff Morrison for providing these.
Click on image to enlarge.