By 1932 the depression had reached alarming proportions. But for Eatonville, it was about to get a whole lot worse.
On December 8, the sawmill of the Eatonville Lumber Company went up in flames, destroying the town’s only large industry. In just hours, what had been one of the largest and most productive mills in western Washington was nothing more than blackened ruins.
There were already enormous cutbacks and other efforts taking place in Eatonville during that year, including:
• $8,000 was cut from the school budget
• The Superintendent George H. Tucker acted as clerk without pay and took a decreased salary of $150
• The Unemployment League in town was cutting wood on F. M. Miller’s land for a new “farm to market” road.
• A truck of Red Cross flour arrived in Eatonville on May 31 for needy families.
• Haircuts went from 50 cents to 35 cents.
• Many organizations were practically suspended because no one could pay dues.
Rebuilt
All that and more wasn’t enough to keep the town from rising to the occasion. Despite the hardships, by August of 1933, the shingle mill of the Eatonville Lumber Company was up at running. The rest of the mill was being rebuilt.
Maybe even more important . . . steps were that year to create a better, more organized fire department.
Photo courtesy of Rich Williams, and information taken History of Southeastern Pierce County.
Click on image to enlarge.
Eatonville To Rainier 