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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We have Joe Larin (Eatonville postmaster from 1935 to 1944) outside the Eatonville Dispatch, showing off a sign Be a Deer, Don’t Litter OUR Forests. I’m going to guess this was the results of a kids’ contest, although I don’t have any information on it. It’s just that the Dispatch had lots of kid contests over the years.
Photo courtesy of the Baublits family and Joe Larin.
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The Gateway Inn has been part of the local landscape for decades, located just outside the park entrance.
Here is a shot of it in the 1950s (judging by the cars). I love the signs over the doors – Steaks and Trout — and the pay phone off to the left.
The second shot, taken recently, comes off the Gateway Inn website, where the advertisement is probably similar to what printed 60 years ago. “Crackling fires, rustic cabins, and the natural wildlife awaits you at Gateway Inn, ideally situated in the majesty of Mount Rainier National Park.”
Image courtesy of Diane Mettler.
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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.
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Thank you Jeff Morrison for showing us a glimpse of Glacier Basin then and now. The first shot was taken in the early 1900s, the lower one taken in 2016.
The Glacier Basin hike is a popular one at Mt. Rainier. The information below was taken from the website:
“Originally a mining road along the Inter Fork of the White River, the route was converted into a trail when the area became a national park. Visitors ranged from climbers accessing the popular Emmons Glacier, to families strolling out of White River campground. Located in close proximity to the dynamic, glacier-fed White River, the original trail was frequently damaged by the river’s shifting course. After the floods in 2006, the park elected to build a new trail that was no longer subject to the floods.”
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Remember Malcom’s Shop-Rite (now the home of the Medical Billing Center). Here are some tokens from when it was a busy grocery. As you can see, they were foot for 1 cent, on up to 50 cents.
For those that would like to know more about the store and the Malcom family history, just click HERE.
Photos courtesy of Diane Mettler.
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This shot of Clyde Williams was taken in 1971 by Joe Larin. You only have to search Clyde’s name on this blog to find out he and his family were a big piece of the community.
I’ve always liked this second shot of Clyde and Frank Van Eaton take at the Washington State Fair in 1908. The two boys look like they were less than happy to have their picture taken. And Clyde has about the same expression 60 years later.
Image courtesy of the Baublits family.
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The original Eatonville schoolhouse was restored and sits next to Glacier View Park. Before it was restored though, it looked like this. A bit more weathered and sporting a chimney.
I believe the two-story building to the right may be the Eatonville high school back in the day.
Photo courtesy of the Baublits family.
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I found this in some old minutes from the historical society (around 1974). They were going to do an old-timey dance at the Ohop Grange to raise money for the restoration of the old school house.
This piece just cracks me up. Not only does it list potential local talent, but their skills as well, like “good beat on piano”.
Image courtesy of the Baublits family.
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These are the minutes of the special meeting of the historical society in 1975. It makes me kind of sad because they talk about the possibility of making the old hotel into a museum (used to sit next to the bank in the now vacant lot).
Special Meeting 6/16/75
Don [Baublits] had mailed out 130 letters. There seemed to be no interest by townspeople concerning the fate of the old Hotel.
Don explained the possibility of obtaining grants from various State and Federal agencies. Discussion on peoples’ interest in the Museum. Motion made to make no decision until we find out of the townspeople. Carried. Meeting adjourned.
Present: Mr. and Mrs. Pecchia, Jonas and Helen Asplund, Vynar Fish, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Boyles, Ethel Black, Don Baublits and Fay Duke.
As someone who would love to have a museum in town, I wish there had been more interest.
Images courtesy of Diane Mettler and Baublits family.
Click on images to enlarge.