Monte Cristo Steward program seeks volunteers

A postcard of Monte Cristo from the 1960s -- 50 years later, there are few structures remaining on the town site. 

Monte Cristo has been a "ghost town" far longer than it was a bustling gold mining town, more than 100 years ago.

Located on the Mountain Loop Hwy between Darrington and Granite Falls, Monte Cristo's is a colorful history -- though there are few original residents left to tell its tale.

However, it does have a dedicated group of volunteers who steward it: The Monte Cristo Preservation Association.

Despite being one of many isolated destinations in the adjacent Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, the four mile hike to the town is also very popular. That's where the Volunteer Monte Cristo Stewards come in, providing tours for visitors and maintaining the town site, camp areas, information boards, registration boxes and trails.

The volunteer commitment is a minimum of three days during the summer, which in the rugged wilderness surrounding Monte Cristo is short -- but beautiful.

This year's steward training is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 2 at the Verlot Public Service Center, 33515 Mountain Loop Highway, in Granite Falls.

For more information and an application contact Matt Riggen at 360-436-2333.

Whitehorse Trail on CTC agenda May 31

Northern Pacific bridge #10 crossing Deer Creek at Oso.

Now that the Centennial Trail is nearing completion, the Centennial Trail Coalition of Snohomish County is turning its attention to speeding up the completion of the proposed Whitehorse Trail between Arlington and Darrington.

May 31, the CTC will be presenting an afternoon walk and an evening presentation for those interested in the development plans for the Whitehorse Trail.

The afternoon event starts at 5:30 p.m. as a trail walk and tour at Cloverdale Farm, located 1/2 mile north of Hwy 530 on 115th Ave NE, near Trafton. The walk will view the stretch of the Whitehorse Trail between Cloverdale Farm and the “Tin Bridge,” just under a mile west of the farm.  

Following the walk, at 7 p.m., room 65 in the Trafton School building, 12616 Jim Creek Road, the CTC will host its general meeting, featuring a representative from Snohomish County Parks, and local residents who have been active in promoting the Centennial Trail.

With the Centennial Trail's last gaps now being filled in, the timing is right to get the Whitehorse Trail, once the Northern Pacific Railway's branch line connecting Arlington and Darrington, on the map.

Snohomish County has estimated some 500,000 walkers, hikers, horseback riders and cyclists are now using the Centennial Trail each year. The Whitehorse Trail, which branches off the Centennial Trail just north of downtown Arlington, would provide another 27.7 miles for recreational traffic (currently, approximately six miles of the trail is open from Darrington to the Swede Heaven Road; the trail is also now partially accessible from the original railroad switch just past Haller Bridge in Arlington).

But the Whitehorse Trail's potential is not just recreational; it's an economic opportunity that residents of northeast Snohomish County should take seriously. 

Early postcard of NPR tracks near Hazel, with Mt. Higgins in distance.

There are a number of small communities on the route -- including Trafton and Oso -- that became towns as a result of the route opening in 1901. Other place names we know today -- Cicero, Halterman, Hazel, Fortson and Whitehorse -- were also once bustling communities along the rail line. As the logging industry declined, so did the populations of most of these whistle-stops.    

When the Whitehorse Trail is completed it will bring in thousands of visitors a week, and with them, money to patronize local businesses. Merchants with the foresight to offer goods and services that cater to trail users are the ones that will probably benefit the most.

Considering the economic challenges our area has experienced over the last 30 years with the decline of logging, farming and fishing -- our heritage industries -- these recreational trails serve not only as a key to our future, they also would be a way to help honor and preserve our area's heritage.

For Memorial Day: A view of Lions/Legion Park

In honor of Memorial Day, here is an Ellis Postcard Co. real photo post card depicting Arlington's Lions Park in the 1940s, what we now know as Legion Park.

The top photo points north, showing a sign advertising Murphy's Feed Store, founded in 1892. Murphy's burned down some time in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The grain elevator and the Northern Pacific depot would have been to the left (west) of that building, just out of camera range; City Hall would be to the north of the feed store, if I recall correctly.

Today the one constant in both photos is the service memorial now maintained by the American Legion, hence the park's name.

Now the memorial is joined by the new gazebo, built almost entirely from donated material and labor, as well as the new Arlington Depot visitor's center, and the Centennial Trail. The park finally feels like a true community gathering place... but still stands as a place to remember our fallen service personnel.

'Because it's the one thing you can't replace'

First, I laughed; then I went and scanned in about a hundred old family photos and historical postcards.

[Warning: NSFW language]

Spend a day in Darrington May 26

Postcard view of "downtown" Darrington, exact date unknown, probably early 1900s.

If you're planning to stick around the area over Memorial Day weekend, you might consider a day trip to Darrington May 26 for their annual Darrington Day event.

Described by the Darrington Area Business Association as "Darrington's annual celebration of wildflowers, waterfalls & outdoor adventures,"the event also celebrates the 121st year of the town's existence.

But for history buffs like me, the town's self guided history and trivia tour is the main attraction. A couple bits of trivia to tempt you:

• According to the 1910 census, the town had 250 residents & 14 pianos. 

• Many homes and business buildings were once part of the Sauk River Logging Camp and were constructed on railroad flat cars, a mobile camp that moved its location five times before becoming part of the town. (Source: Darrington Historical Society)

More history related events take place at the Darrington Senior Center, where there will be a historical logging display by the Darrington Historical Society, and a number of historical photos needing identification.

Ellis Postcard Co. postcard view of Darrington, probably 1940s.

Mountain Loop Books & Coffee will host author Aaron Young, signing his new book about the waterfalls of the Mountain Loop Highway, as well as author Brenda Ballard signing the latest book in her series "The Boy From Granite Falls," set during the 1930s in the Mountain Loop area.

Events take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 26. There will be various opportunities to learn about outdoor recreation and wildflowers along the historical Mountain Loop Highway and the adjacent Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; also on the schedule is the Darrington Open Air Market and live music at Old School Park by the Whitehorse Musician's Guild from noon until dusk.

For more information about the town, visit Destination Darrington Washington.

Centennial Trail link completed in Snohomish

A postcard view of a Northern Pacific train and an Interurban car crossing paths in Snohomish, postmarked 1914.

Great news: The Everett Herald reports that the Centennial Trail is one step closer to completion with the opening of a two-thirds of a mile stretch in downtown Snohomish.

The city will celebrate starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Third Street, near the Snohomish Library, with guest speakers, a small health fair and an opportunity for people to walk or ride the trail section. At 10 a.m. city officials will participate in an official dedication ceremony.

Snohomish spent the past 15 years working on acquiring property, repaving the trail and doing landscape work to connect the city's two-thirds of a mile trail to the existing Centennial Trail, project manager Ann Stanton said. 

"It's good to see the former Indian trail return to a walking trail after 120 years as a railroad corridor," Stanton said. 

The city had to buy land from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and also paid for surveys. The city had help with only paying about $100,000 of the $2.5 million project, with the rest coming from federal funds, Stanton said.  (Source: The Herald)

With the completion of the Snohomish gap, 21 of the 27 miles of Centennial Trail are now accessible — the last leg of the project, getting underway this summer, is filling the gap between Bryant (north of Arlington) and the Skagit County line.

Social media, circa 1945

We talk about the "revolution" of social media, and yet, if you peruse the archives of any small town paper from the 19th or 20th centuries, you'll find social media has been around much longer than we give it credit.

In this clip from the Feb. 22, 1945 Arlington Times, we have reports from Oso, Darrington, Cicero, Greenwood and Silvana. Previous pages include "news" from Lakewood, Bryant, Victoria and Edgecomb. Some of these places still live on, some are ghosts of what they once were; and others, like Greenwood and Victoria, have faded into obscurity.

Note too the familiar family names -- Giebel, Armstrong, Wangsmo, Hershaw, Husby.

1945's version of social media may have not had the immediacy or interactive qualities of our electronic age, but remember that life wasn't quite as speed-of-light as it is today -- and yet, this six page edition of the Times is crammed full of the same kind of news we share with each other today via Facebook, Google+ and other virtual communities.

Here in Arlington, the adage properly applies: "The more things change, the more they remain the same."

Dear Governor Stevens

Today we have a Northern Pacific Railway ad from the April 2, 1953 Arlington Times, celebrating the achievements of Washington State's first Territorial Governor, Isaac Stevens (1818-1862), for his role in bringing the transcontinental railroad to the Puget Sound.

Stevens set out west in 1853 and eventually determined two possible routes: from Walla Walla west, paralleling the Columbia River, to Portland; and across Snoqualmie Pass over the Cascade Mountains.

Northern Pacific completed the route along the Columbia in 1883, while the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway completed a line through Snoqualmie Pass in 1909.

Interestingly enough, Stevens Pass, the Great Northern Railway's route over the Cascade mountains, was not named for Governor Stevens, but for surveyor John Stevens, who had been promised the honor by James J. Hill.

It should be noted that at the time this ad was published, business interests such as the railroads still regarded Isaac Stevens as a trailblazing pioneer. In more recent times, however, his reputation has diminished as there is more awareness of his actions while in his dual role as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

Stevens in fact was responsible for facilitating several key treaties in 1854 and 1855, including the Treaty of Point Elliot which created the Tulalip Reservation west of Marysville. But his means of "compelling" tribal leaders to sign the treaties consisted of intimidation and violence.  

"Greater things to come," indeed. Less than 20 years after this ad was printed, the Northern Pacific would merge with the Great Northern Railway, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, forming Burlington Northern Railroad.

Future of Olympic Theatre may be in question

Oct. 12, 1963 Olympic Theatre ad.

The Arlington Times reports today about a new challenge facing the historic Olympic Theatre in downtown Arlington: the plan by Hollywood movie studios to stop producing 35 millimeter film and go to a digital-only format.

Norma Pappas has owned the Olympic Theatre since 1977 when she bought the space with her dad. She has been running the theater for 35 years doing everything from splicing film to selling tickets and concessions. She prides herself on having affordable prices and being a staple in Arlington, especially for young families who could not afford the movie experience at large corporate multiplex theaters. (Source: The Arlington Times)

The cost of upgrading to digital could be as much as $100,000, according to Pappas. Not the kind of cash a family business has laying around.

I recently wrote an entry about the Olympic, as the start of an occasional series, "My Favorite Places." The Olympic Theatre has been in operation continuously since 1939, and is one of only two independent single screen theatres left in Snohomish County.

I have great memories of seeing movies there in junior high and high school, and we still make the trek down for the occasional "grown up" movie — the Olympic's demographic is families and children, so the schedule is heavy on child-friendly films.

So what can be done to keep the Olympic from going dark? So far, a "Save the Olympic Theater" Facebook page has been created by local fans. But thus far there is more talk than action — I think as outsiders looking in, many people are hesitant to offer help or ideas, because they don't want to be perceived as disrespecting Pappas' amazing 35 year commitment to the theater.

As with many things of a historic nature here in Arlington, there is so much potential for more. But things tend to move at a slower pace in Arlington then they do elsewhere.

The movie studio timeline for retiring 35mm film is on track for as early as 2013. That doesn't give the community a whole lot of time to take any action — that means now is the time to step and make a commitment to the Olympic.

But where to start? Easily enough, we can look toward the examples of other local historic theaters:

• The Edmonds Theatre, built in 1923, is privately owned and recently upgraded to digital. I was unable to find information on how the upgrade was financed, but in the last five years the owners have invested some $50,000 in other renovations.

• The Historic Everett Theatre, built in 1901, was rescued from oblivion in 1995 when the non-profit Everett Theatre Society was formed, which purchased and renovated the theatre for both live performances and movie screenings.

• The Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, built in 1926, is maintained by The Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation, a volunteer board of directors who meet monthly. The theatre hosts independent and foreign films, live theater, concerts, and it can be rented for special events.

• The Grand Illusion Cinema in Seattle, built in 1968, was saved from closure in 1997 by the non-profit Northwest Film Forum, and after renovations continues to run independent and foreign films. 

These revitalization stories are just the tip of the iceberg. As more and more historic theaters go dark, it becomes more important to try to save the few remaining movie houses we have left.

And what a treasure the Olympic is for the town of Arlington — like many other historic downtown structures, it serves as a kind of "ballast" for the community.

So now is the time to ask ourselves: does Arlington want to be the kind of town that would let its movie theater close forever? I certainly hope it's not.

A bear den in a saw log.

"Two natives of Washington: A Bear Den and Dwelling in a Washington Saw Log."

Here's one of those scratch-your-head items that I found recently in my digital archives, an early tinted color postcard, probably produced around 1915-1920, picturing a bear den and human dwelling carved out of a giant log. The story goes:

"This log was cut four miles from Aberdeen from a spruce log 40 feet from the butt which was 13 feet in diameter at one end and eight feet at the other. It is 40 feet long, 9 feet in diameter at one end of eight feet at the other, cut to show at the St. Louis Fair, and is now in Belle Isle Park at Detroit, Mich. There are chairs, settee and table cut inside of the log. When in St. Louis it housed two bears and a large cougar."

If the card is referring to the St. Louis World's Fair, which took place in 1904, then that would place the photo earlier than the date it was produced as a postcard. But that's not unusual — this postcard has at least one other version I've seen.

If the log ended up in Detroit's Belle Isle Park, I wasn't able to immediately find anything on the internet about that... not that that means anything. The only other clue to the origins of the photo is the Northern Pacific log car it rests on, number 69318.

Sometimes you don't see the full picture, part 2

Panoramic view of Arlington from 1912.

Recently the above panoramic view was shared with me, following my post titled History can be ugly.

At first glance, this panoramic view, dated 1912, could be identical to the undated view I previously published. They appear to have been taken almost from the exact same position, and probably not taken more than a year or two apart.

The undated "history can be ugly" photo.

The panoramic view, cropped.

And what a different story the panoramic photo tells from the other image!

The panoramic image creates a very different response in the viewer. It seems to illustrate the concept of the "right" side and the "wrong" side of tracks. (although some old timers would argue that it's old Haller City, on the north side of Division St., that was/is technically Arlington's "wrong side of the tracks.")

But that is an assumption made by someone who wasn't there.

However, even "primary sources" — first person accounts, newspaper articles — can be problematic, because personal biases and fading memories can also distort the historical "facts."

That's why when researching history — whether it be that of your family, or that of your community —it is imperative to take into account that there may be more than one version of events. One photo, one artifact, one memory, is only scratching the surface of the whole story — or rather, the full picture.

A footnote on the Edgecomb store

I recently wrote an entry on Edgecomb, the former town that is now along Arlington's southernmost city limits.

When my family moved to Arlington 35 years ago, the Edgecomb store was the last remaining evidence that a small bustling town had once existed there. By then it was already a pretty forlorn looking structure. Over the course of four decades I watched it deteriorate even more, all the time hoping perhaps someone would come along and save this unique historic building.

"GIVE IT BACK"

My hopes were raised for a time in 2006-2007 when the city's planning commission approved a plan to renovate the building. Unfortunately serious structural issues were discovered. Unable to salvage it safely, it was unceremoniously demolished  and the new property owner began construction in the footprint of the previous building.

For a time I was a daily driver through that intersection, and watched the new structure as it was being built. One day, as I drove by I noticed an odd incident of vandalism.

Someone had painted "GIVE IT BACK" on the north side of the unfinished building.

Now obviously I don't condone this type of vandalism -- the photo also shows some windows were also broken. That's intolerable.

However, my curiosity as to the identity of the vandal still sticks with me. Who was the author of the graffiti? Was the perpetrator an outraged octogenerian? An antiquarian anarchist? It gave me pause for thought. It didn't seem the work of a bored teenager — there was an obvious sense of frustration the vandal felt toward the loss of the historical building.

When I returned to Arlington five years ago I discovered, much to my consternation, that the city — which officially incorporated in 1903 — has no municipal historic preservation commission. The responsibility for keeping track of all things historical has rested with the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Association, which put its members' energies into building an amazing, three story museum on 67th, and the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society, which has an excellent historical archive as well.

But there is no one officially looking out for the distinctive historical structures in the "Old Town" commercial area along Olympic Avenue, or for the many historic homes that reside in the Old Town district.

Either by luck or happenstance, a good portion of Arlington's early architecture is still relatively intact -- the original character of many of these buildings is just hinted at behind various mid-20th century facades (some good, some awful).

An example of one of the better restorations in Old Town.

At the time I asked around why Arlington doesn't have a historical preservation commission, or even a plan. The common reply is that it's an issue of property rights -- that either the city or the building owners themselves are resistant to any kind of limitations in the kind of development that can be done in Old Town.

That's a shame. Historic preservation is a key element in many municipal economic development plans that have "old towns" like Arlington. It's called "heritage tourism." People will visit your town, and spend money there, solely on the historic attractions and ambiance it offers.

Had a historical commission been in place five years ago, or 35 years ago, perhaps the Edgecomb store would still be with us.

I think the tide may be changing, however. The opening of the depot visitor's center has stimulated more interest in the town's history, and businesses are beginning to realize just how much "traffic" the Centennial Trail brings to Old Town.

So who knows, maybe a municipal historical commission is in Arlington's near future... people just can't yet see the forest for the trees.

Canyon Creek Lodge, Granite Falls

Today's entry is a quickie: two postcard views from early Ellis real photo post cards.

#2027, Interior Paul Bunyan Hall, Canyon Creek Lodge.

#2000, Canyon Creek Lodge, exterior view. Probably 1940s.

The Canyon Creek Lodge, located in Granite Falls, opened in 1918. By chance I actually found a full article on the history of the lodge.

The original lodge burned in 1938, and was rebuilt -- but burned again in the 1960s.

This image has fascinated me for a long time. The days of rustic lodges and resorts like this seem to be long gone.

Yes, you can still find such locations that offer what you think is an "all encompassing" experience... but when is the last time you got dinner, dancing and a floor show in your guest package, like you would at the Columbia Inn in Pine Tree, Vermont?

"Vermont should be beautiful this time of year, with all that snow."

Yes, that Columbia Inn, from the film "White Christmas."

I have more images of long gone local resorts which I'll be sharing along the way; stay tuned.

On this date: Thunderbird Drive-In opens

April 30, 1959 Marysville Globe cover story about the opening of the Thunderbird.

The Thunderbird Drive-In in Marysville, Wash. officially opened on this day, May 1, 1959. According to an article (above) in the April 30, 1959 Marysville Globe newspaper, the drive-in featured a panoramic screen, a children's playground and would be open seven nights a week during the season.

 Opening films that weekend were "My Man Godfrey," starring David Niven and June Allison, and "Man of the West" starring Gary Cooper and Julie London.

July 1990 photo from the US Geologic Survey collection.

 The drive-in, with a capacity of 500 vehicles, drew movie-goers from around the county for 33 years -- the next closest drive-in theaters being the Everett Motor Movie at 75th & Evergreen Way, and the Skagit Drive-In in Burlington.

At the time, the Thunderbird's address was simply "three miles north of Everett at the Marysville cloverleaf," also known as the intersection of Hwy 99 and the Tulalip Hwy (SR 528), and now known as 33rd Ave NE & 66th Ave NE  (Interstate 5 between north Everett and Marysville didn't officially open until 1969).

Eventually the Thunderbird succumbed to rising real estate values and declining patronage, as most drive-ins did by the 1980s and 1990s. It closed forever in November 1992. An automobile and RV dealership now occupies the land.