ihgold.html

An Illustrated History of Klickitat, Yakima, & Kittitas Counties
Interstate Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., published 1904

Part IV
History Of Klickitat County

Goldendale

It is interesting in tracing the history of towns to observe the different elements directly responsible for their origin, growth and development. Some are favored with special natural advantages of harbor or waterway; some have been fostered by railroads and corporations; some have suddenly sprung up mushroom-like because of a great mining or other excitement; a few, like the city of Goldendale, lack the stimulus of all such advantages and owe their existence entirely to the presence of a good tributary country and the energy and labor of a group of enterprising citizens. Goldendale until a year ago had no closer railroad communication than Grant's Station, on the O.R. & N., twelve miles away, while the nearest point on the Columbia from which there was unobstructed navigation to Portland was at The Dalles, thirty-two miles distant.
But, although deprived of the conveniences of modern rapid transportation, the town was not without many natural advantages. It is located on an almost perfectly level tract of land surrounded by one of the richest farming sections in the state, a valley about thirty miles long and ten wide and easily capable of giving support to twenty thousand inhabitants. It comprises the great wheat-growing area of western Klickitat. The hills to the northward, whose bases reach almost to the town, furnish not only an abundance of pine timber, but also an excellent summer range for stock; furthermore, they have proven capable, when cleared of timber, of producing in abundance all the hardier varieties of fruit. The city is afforded thorough drainage through a large stream of water that flows along its lower side, carrying off all seepage. This stream will also furnish an abundance of waterpower for an electric plant whenever the capital is forthcoming to harness it. In the matter of a city water supply, Goldendale is also specially favored, as there will always be plenty of pure water within easy reach, no matter how large the town of the future may be. On account of the pure water and good drainage, typhoid and malarial fever are almost unknown, and the city has a very enviable reputation for healthfulness.
The site of the present city of Goldendale was first settled by Mortimer Thorp in the later fifties. Mr. Thorp built a house and fenced in a tract of land close to where the Methodist church now stands. He was a stockman, however, and gave more thought to finding a favorable place for cattle-raising than to the possibilities of his location as a town site. Later he packed his possessions and moved over into the Yakima valley without ever having acquired title to the land. After Mr. Thorp abandoned the claim, it came into the hands of L.J. Kimberland, who sold out, September 5, 1871, to John J. Golden. It was Mr. Golden's plan when he bought the property to lay it out as a town site and give to the rich Klickitat valley a suitable trade center and supply point. Accordingly, he sent the next spring to The Dalles for a surveyor (he was unable to procure one here), and had the town site platted. The original Goldendale was located along Klickitat creek on the flat where the steam laundry and planer now stand. Most of the business portion of the present town lies in Golden's first and second additions and in the Chatfield addition.
The first move on the part of the founder of the new town was toward the establishment of a church within its borders. In the fall of 1871 a large and successful camp-meeting was held, as the result of which a Methodist church was organized in the settlement. Mr. Golden donated to it twelve lots as a building site, and four more were given to the minister.
A short time afterward Rev. J.H.B. Royal, with the co-operation of the people of the settlement, built a parsonage. When the new building was completed the subject of naming the town was broached to a party of settlers, and the minister, noticing the numerous willows that grew in the fiat along the bank of the creek, proposed Willowdale, but a suggestion that it be named Goldendale after its founder met with general approval, and the town was named accordingly.
Mr. Golden offered to donate eight lots to the man building the first store in Goldendale. In the fall of 1872 Thomas Johnson accepted the proposition and erected a building, the front part of which he used as a store, the rear as a dwelling. In 1874 he erected a separate building for store purposes, and by the end of that year the new city contained seven houses.
In drawing up the plat of the town, the surveyor numbered the lots in the same order that is always followed in numbering the sections in a township, but a mistake was made in recording the plat, the reverse order being followed. The deeds, however, were made out according to the surveyor's plat, which Mr. Golden had in his possession. This caused considerable confusion, as all the first deeds had to be changed to correspond to the recorded plat. The lots in the first addition to Goldendale were numbered in a similar manner, but the second was platted according to the usual custom.
When John J. Golden bought the town site, L.J. Kimberland was postmaster and the postoffice passed to the purchaser along with the property. It appears to have been discontinued for a time afterward, but Goldendale was again granted a daily mail in 1873. Altogether there were not more than a "hatful of letters" to come or go at any one time, and no papers then had a circulation in the community. We are informed that the postmaster was able to carry the entire mail for the community in his saddle-bags.
Up to 1878 the growth of the town of Goldendale was exceedingly slow, only one store, that of Willis Jenkins, having come in to compete with the pioneer establishment, but that fall occurred an event which gave a new impetus to the growth of the town. In 1872 the question of locating the county seat was referred to a popular vote. The two places then desiring the honor were Goldendale in the valley and Rockland on the Columbia, across from The Dalles. Although it seemed evident that Goldendale would be the point chosen, as most of the settlers were in the valley, Rockland managed to urge its claims so strongly that a majority of the people cast their ballots in favor of that place. John J. Golden, to whom the city of Goldendale has always been as a favorite child, was not discouraged because of this defeat, but set to work with renewed vigor to advance the interests of the prospective city. Soon he and his coadjutors had caused Goldendale to become the center from which well-traveled county roads radiated in all directions. In 1877 stage connections were established with the Dalles, and shortly afterward the line was extended to Yakima and Ellensburg. It was only after a long, severe struggle that Mr. Golden and the other friends of the town were able to bring again to an issue the question of the location of the county seat, as the cattlemen were from the first opposed to Goldendale and their influence was strong not only in the county, but also in the territorial legislature. Pressure was brought to bear by their representatives to prevent the question from being again referred to the voters of the county, but finally, in 1878, Nelson Whitney succeeded in having a bill passed providing that a three-fifths majority of the electors of the county should decide the matter. At the general election held in the fall of 1878, the question was given to the people for final settlement, and nearly five-sixths of the votes cast were for Goldendale.
The following year the county property was removed in accordance with the will of the people as expressed by their suffrages, and Goldendale has ever since remained the county seat. At that time there was no courthouse in Klickitat, and as the business of the county had assumed sufficient proportions to necessitate a building, the people in Goldendale and vicinity took the matter in hand and built by private subscription a substantial wooden structure which they gave to the county free of cost to the taxpayers.
With the year 1878 a period of growth and prosperity for Goldendale began. By the following year the town had sufficient population to entitle it under the existing laws to corporate powers, and an act was passed by the territorial legislature and approved November 14, 1879, incorporating Goldendale with the following described territory: "That portion of land known and designated upon the surveys of the United States in the Territory of Washington, as the south half of the southwest quarter of section sixteen, and the south half of the southeast quarter of section seventeen, and the northeast quarter of section twenty, and the northwest quarter of section twenty-one, township four north, range sixteen east of the Willamette meridian."
The following temporary officers were appointed to serve until the first election, to take place the first Monday in April, 1880: Mayor, Thomas Johnson: recorder, and ex-officio city assessor and clerk, W. F. Ames; councilmen, Homer Sears, John J. Golden, W. B. Chatfield, Justin Scammon and D. B. Gaunt. By 1880 the following business houses had been established in the city of Goldendale: General merchandise, Lowengart & Sichel, S. Lowenberg & Company; flouring mills, Klickitat Flouring Mills, D. Scammon, proprietor, Goldendale Flouring Mills, Nesbitt, Jones & Company, proprietors; planing mills, Klickitat Planing Company, Mitchell & Helm, proprietors, Thomas Johnson; hardware, J. H. McCulloch, Graff & Filloon; furniture, Adolph Plahte; drug stores, City Drug and Book Store, W. L. Ames & Company, proprietors, City Drug Store, Saylor & Company, proprietors; grocery, William Barnett; harness shop, California, M.T. Shannon, proprietor: blacksmith shops, S. W. Gardiner & Son, A. C. Hall, J. C. Marble and Philip S. Caldwell; jewelry stores, L. B. Royal, Victor Gobat; hotels, Occidental, T.E. Caley, proprietor, Palace, W. H. Chappell, M.V. Harper and Joseph Verden; barber shop, Charles Gibbons, proprietor; job printing, John T. Harsell, The Sentinel, C.K. and K. A. Seitz, proprietors; livery stables, Thomas Johnson, Miller & Gaunt; millinery, Mrs. J. ingersoll; contractors, Robert Jones, Tomlinson & Mowlds, C.M. Phillips; real estate, John J. Golden, John R. Chatfield, M. V. Harper; attorneys-at-law, Dustin & Lamdrum, Dunbar & Reavis; physicians, W. T. McCauley, Dr. Houghton, N. Henton, D. P. Hewitt, G. Hill and P. Laurendeau; postmaster, Justin Scammon.
There was by this time a daily stage line to The Dalles, and three times weekly a stage made the trip to Ellensburg and Yakima. Four churches had organizations in the town - the Baptist, Christian, Methodist and Presbyterian. There was also a private academy with an attendance of one hundred and sixty students, presided over by Captain W.A. Wash. The mail service had been increased to a tri-weekly, and a weekly newspaper, the Klickitat Sentinel, C.K. Seitz, editor, had been established.
The growth of the town was continuous and uninterrupted until the year 1888, when, on May 13th, a destructive fire swept almost the entire business portion of the city out of existence. After the fire there remained only E. W. Pike's livery barn and Philip Caldwell's blacksmith shop.
The fire broke out in James Dickson's livery stable about two o'clock Sunday afternoon while many of the citizens were out of town. Mr. Dickson, who was in the office of the stable, being alarmed by a roaring noise, went to investigate the cause and found the barn on fire. It is probable that if he had had a supply of water handy, he could have extinguished the flames before they had done much damage, for he almost succeeded in doing so with a single pail of water which stood near. But while he was gone for more water, the flames climbed to the roof of the building, igniting the hay and making it impossible with the inadequate supply of water to save the barn and prevent the spread of the flames.
An alarm was instantly sounded. People rushed to the scene with all promptness and the fight began. It was immediately perceived that the barn was doomed and that the whole town was in danger, so the workers gave their attention to removing valuables from the houses in the vicinity of the burning building. This was about all that could be done, as Goldendale had no water system at the time and it was not possible to approach close enough to throw water on the flames with buckets. Everybody labored to save what he could, and before those who had gone to the country, being warned by the smoke, could return to town, those who had stayed at home were nearly exhausted. The country people and their wagons were pressed into service and much valuable property was saved from the ravages of the fire. In some instances the property taken from the burning buildings was not removed beyond danger, and as the flames spread, it caught and burned with the rest. For four hours the fire held high carnival, entirely consuming seven blocks in the heart of the town. All the district between Broadway and Court streets and between Chatfield and Golden avenues was left desolate, and, besides almost the entire business portion, the houses of twenty-five families were destroyed, also much valuable personal property. The following list of estimated losses will give an idea of the magnitude of the disaster:
Bold & Fenton, blacksmiths, $700; James Starfield, dwelling, $300; D. W. Pierce & Company, house and lumber, $900; W. H. Chappell, hotel, $3,000; Jacob Hess, building, $2,500; Cummings & Cram, merchandise, $25,000; Sig. Sichel, $25,000; J. M. Hess, druggist, $6,ooo; Frank Patton, barber, $500; C. R. Van Allstyn, grocery, $3,000; Bennett & Harvey, building, $600; August Schuster, meat market. $400; R.D. MeCulley, $300; B. D. MeFall, $6,000; Victor Gobat, jeweler, $2,000; Mrs. L. Hall, household goods, $300; Hiram Wing, merchandise, $2,500; Peter Nelson, dwelling, $1,200; T. L. Masters, dwelling, $400; John Lear, house, $400; W. R. Dunbar, $500; Justin Scammon, dwelling, $700; Dr. Boyd, dwelling, $700; Occidental Hotel, $900; B. Snover, store, $1,300; O.D. Sturgis, merchandise, $200; J. T. Eshelman, $950: Dr. Stowell, household goods, $500; William Millican, merehandise, $2,500; Masters & Benson, $11,000; Mrs. Whitney, $500: James Coffield, building, $1,000: J. W. Washburn, building, $400; A.0.U.W. fixtures, $200; French & McFarland, $600: Isaac Goodnoe, currency, $400; M. Wigal, building, $700; Rev. John Uren, $200; I.0.0.F. fixtures, $600; Klickitat county, courthouse and furnishings, etc., $6,000: Hiram Dustin, books, $100; Tribune office, $600: Frank Lee, household goods, $200; Chinese laundry, $200; Dudley Eshelman, $200; Smith & Dunbar, buildings, $900; Sentinel office, press, etc., $3,500; Dickson's stables, $3,000; Hotling Company, building, $600; Dr. L. M. Willard, sundries, $1,500: W. H. Ward, building, $1,200; H. D. Young building and furniture, $7,000: D. Cram, building, $600: Downer & Sloper, machinery, $900; Samuel Lear, dwelling, $500; I. B. Courtney, dwelling, $600; Charles Marshall, dwelling, $600; Methodist Episcopal church building, $1,500; Methodist Episcopal church parsonage, $500; Presbyterian church, $1,500; John Hess, building, $300; W. A.. Wash, building, $200; Hugh Sutherland, $100; Thomas Butler, $200; the Misses McLin & Phillips, millinery, $100; Mrs. M. B. Van Allstyn, stock and building, $2,000; John Keats, stock and building, $250; Joseph Blanchard, furniture, $150; James Burnett, furniture, $700; R. D. MeCulley, $600; I.S. Bonchard, shoe shop, $200; H. C. Jackson, lumber, $250; B. W. Pike, machinery, $1,000. In all, about $250,000 worth of property was destroyed.
It was prophesied by some that the town would never be rebuilt, but it soon became evident that such prophets greatly underestimated the pluck and energy of the citizens of Goldendale. Scarcely had the smoke ceased to rise from the ruins when plans were under way to rebuild in a safer and more substantial manner. Previous to this time not a single brick building had been erected in Goldendale, but the lessons of the fire were well learned. The people were made to realize the true economy of fireproof buildings, and out of the ruins rose a more substantial city than bad ever before existed in the Klickitat valley. The Sentinel of July 1, 1888, tells of the laying of the first brick in the first brick building erected in the city. By August 2d Hiram Wing had rebuilt his store; V.E. Gobat had a brick building almost completed on Main street; John Coffield had a corrugated iron building in course of construction; the Palace Hotel building had been rebuilt on the site of the old hotel of that name; beside the hotel, Pierce had an office for his lumber yard; opposite the Red Barn, Bold & Bold had built a black-smith shop; on the site of the Occidental, Snover had a building forty by forty feet almost completed; Sol Smith had an office; John Keats a shoeshop; William Millican had a two-story building opposite the Palace Hotel; G.W. McKinney had a hardware store; the Sentinel had a printing office; W. H. Ward a small temporary building; W.B. Presby a law office; J. M. Hess a store in course of construction; Samuel Lear had a residence; an armory hall, fifty by one hundred feet, had taken the place of the old one the Methodist church was in course of construction and a contract had been let for the Presbyterian church; all this within three months from the date of the fire.
The rapidity with which the new Goldendale arose out of the ashes is all the more remarkable when it is remembered that the city was without railroad connection and therefore unable to obtain readily building materials from outside sources; neither were there home facilities in readiness for supplying immediately the increased demands.
Goldendale had, however been accustomed from the beginning to depend entirely on its own resources, and the unusual situation caused by the fire developed new activity and new enterprise. The brick and lumber for the reconstruction were from necessity manufactured at home. There was fortunately abundance of timber within easy reach of the town, also plenty of clay from which to manufacture the needed brick, and both were made use of by an energetic and determined people.
For a long time the city had been handicapped in the transaction of its business because of the absence of a banking house in the town, but in 1889 this desideratum was supplied, a company being formed with a capital of fifty thousand dollars and the First National Bank of Goldendale established. The first officers of this institution were: J.G. Maddock, president; Hugh Fields, vice-president; Hugh Fields, E.W. Pike, J.G. Maddock, F.W. Patterson and O.D. Sturgess, directors. The enterprise flourished from the beginning.
The havoc wrought by the fire caused many of the leading citizens to urge persistently upon the people the necessity of an adequate water supply. The result of this agitation was that the city council was induced to submit to the voters of the town, at an election held June 19, 1890, a proposition to bond the taxable property of the city for five per cent of its assessed valuation for the purpose of constructing a city water system. The bonds amounted to twelve thousand five hundred dollars and were to run twenty years at six per cent. The vote stood one hundred and twenty-five for the bonds and seven against. Steps were, therefore, immediately taken to build and put into operation the new system, which was to take its water, by the gravity system, from three mountain springs some thirteen miles distant. For the first two years, however, the water was pumped from the Little Klickitat. A large reservoir was constructed about one hundred and fifty feet above the town and mains were laid throughout the city. Goldendale lies at the foot of the hills that flank the Simcoe range, and in the mountains snow lies on the ground the greater part of the year. From these melting snows the water comes cool and fresh and pure the whole year through. The pipe line and water supply was owned, however, by a private company, and it was not until recently that the system came entirely into the hands of the city.
While the water system was being completed, an object lesson was given to the people of the wisdom of the enterprise and the necessity of hastening the work as much as possible. On the evening of September 4, 1890, a fire broke out near the west end of Main street in a stable owned by Mr. Allen. The wind was blowing from the southwest and the flames spread to the north and east. The residence of William Millican valued at twenty-five hundred dollars, was totally destroyed; the property was uninsured. S.P. Leverett's residence was also destroyed; its value was two thousand dollars, insurance one thousand dollars. The barn where the fire broke out was valued at five hundred dollars and was not insured. It was feared at the time that, with the meager facilities then at hand for fighting the fire, the disaster of two years previous would be repeated. There was no method by which water could be thrown on the flames save with buckets, and the water supply was limited, but the people fought with energy and courage and succeeded in saving the city. A suspicion gained foothold among the citizens of Goldendale that this fire was of incendiary origin, and the mayor authorized the city marshal to provide patrolmen and guards as a precaution against further attempts to destroy the town. The result was that through the vigilance of Charles Alvord, the miscreant was caught in a second attempt. Mr. Alvord saw a suspicious-looking individual enter a barn back of the Palace Hotel and followed him. Just as the pursuer came up, he met one Jesse Allen coming out of the building. When the latter saw Mr. Alvord, he rushed back into the barn and attempted to put out the fire he had already started in a pile of straw. Alvord readily extinguished the flames, then arrested the man and turned him over to the county authorities. It is generally believed that he was also responsible for the other fire, which, indeed, started in his father's barn.
Allen was given a preliminary hearing on a charge of arson and bound over to appear at the November term of court. When his case was called, he entered a plea of not guilty, but the circumstances were so strongly against him that he was convicted and sentenced to three years in the penitentiary.
Although Goldendale was handicapped in its growth by a lack of transportation facilities for a longer period than most of its sister cities throughout the state and thereby suffered much inconvenience, the people were not so far discouraged because of this drawback as to neglect any effort on their part which might count in the development and upbuilding of the city. In the early part of March, 1890, a mass-meeting was held at the courthouse for the purpose of establishing a board of trade to foster the interests of the growing town. A temporary organization was formed which, the following week, was transformed into a permanent one. A constitution was adopted and officers elected as follows: N.B. Brooks, president; R.E. Jackson, first vice-president; Joseph Nesbitt, second vice-president; George H. Baker, third vice-president; C.S. Reinhart, secretary; D. Cram, treasurer. Previous to this time the action of Goldendale's citizens on its behalf had been along separate lines; now by this organization they were prepared to act together.
The best energies of Goldendale's citizens were now directed toward the establishment of a railroad connection for the town. That they were in earnest in this effort is amply demonstrated by the fact that they raised a subsidy of twenty thousand dollars in 1890, as an inducement to any road to build into the city. Their labors in this direction and their final triumph in recent years are of interest not alone to the city of Goldendale, but to the entire county, and, therefore, have been fully detailed elsewhere.
At no time in the history of the town were its educational interests neglected; on the contrary, the importance of education for the youth was always recognized and a high standard of excellence was maintained in the schools. As early as 1880 an academy had been established, but when the public school system became well enough developed, this institution was abandoned and for many years it was necessary for students desiring advanced education to go outside the county for it. It had long been the wish of many Goldendale citizens to provide educational facilities at home, thus obviating, in part at least, the necessity of sending their sons and daughters elsewhere for higher learning. A meeting was held in February, 1896, with this end in view, and such a lively interest was manifested that those who had the enterprise in contemplation felt encouraged to proceed. The services of Professor Charles Timblin were secured, and by the fall of 1896 an academy was established and ready to receive students. Since that time Klickitat Academy has been doing a good work and has been an important adjunct to the educational facilities of the county. Recently, however, the institution has been converted into a high school.
Goldendale was first incorporated in 1879 under the territorial laws. At the city election of 1902 the question of re-incorporation under the state laws was submitted to a popular vote, and the result was one hundred and five for and five against. The new incorporation, by the provisions of which Goldendale is classed as a city of the fourth class, took effect April 15, 1902. Since that time Goldendale has purchased from Hess & Cooper, for the sum of six thousand dollars, the water system from which the city got its water supply. The present city administration, elected in December, 1903, is composed of the following officers: Mayor, Dr. Allen Bonebrake; councilmen, Nelson B. Brooks, Winthrop B. Presby, A.E. Coley, William McGuire, Samuel Waters; treasurer, George Hyatt; secretary, J.R. Putnam; attorney, Edgar C. Ward; marshal, G.W. Stackhouse, R.D. McCulley is the chief of the city's volunteer fire department, which is a creditable organization in every respect.
The transportation question has been the most difficult to solve of the many problems which in the past have perplexed the founders and builders of Goldendale. Several times in the history of the town a railroad seemed assured, but as often some obstruction prevented the final consummation of the project, until 1903, when at last the energies and efforts of the people of the county and town were fitly rewarded. The line completed, Goldendale's citizens justly felt that a celebration was in order, so June 18, 1903, was set apart as a day of jubilee and general rejoicing. In their celebration the people were assisted by business men from The Dalles and Portland, the party arriving in time for dinner at the Central Hotel, which had just been finished. They spent the afternoon in exploring the surrounding country, with which they expressed themselves as delighted, while the evening was given over to speech-making in the armory. Prominent men among the visitors and citizens delivered enthusiastic addresses. The meeting was opened by Attorney Nelson B. Brooks with a few well-chosen remarks; then Harvey W. Scott, of the Oregonian, spoke; also Judge Ballinger and H.C. Campbell. Later a banquet was tendered the visitors at the Central Hotel, Winthrop B. Presby acting as toastmaster.
In response to the toast Portland," Attorney John M. Gearin said; "Now that this country has been opened up by this railroad and given communication with the markets of the commercial world, your products will take on a new value and the number of your homes will be increased, your lands will be settled more generally, and your wealth will accumulate more rapidly. At Goldendale you have the metropolis of one of the richest valleys in the Northwest, and as this road is extended and possibly brought into connection with some great transcontinental system, your prestige will grow. You stand here living examples of what men can do by their own endeavors. You came into an unsettled country without railroads and without even wagon roads, and have built up a rich and prosperous community."
Other speeches were made in the same strain by experienced business men from other parts, showing that the natural advantages of Goldendale and the riches of her surrounding country were duly appreciated by all. It is yet too soon to judge of the results of this great enterprise on Goldendale, for scarcely a year has passed since the railroad's arrival, but the city has already shown a marked increase in business activity. The growth of Goldendale has been steady and sure. At no time in its history has it suffered from over-booming, but a comparison of census returns shows that a steady growth in population has ever been maintained. In the past few years this increase has been much more rapid than formerly. The census for 1900 shows a population of seven hundred and thirty-eight, not including the thickly-settled districts which lie just without the limits of the corporation. In 1903 the population, as estimated by the state bureau of statistics, was one thousand six hundred and ninety, a gain of more than one hundred per cent in three years.
An increase in building activity is also to be noticed. Substantial brick buildings are taking the place of old wooden ones, and the new structures are invariably much larger than those they replace, showing that the business of the town is increasing and demanding more room. The residence part of the city is being materially extended by the addition of new buildings, made necessary by the arrival of new families, for daring the spring just past almost every train has been bringing home-seekers and home-builders to the valley and city.
Goldendale now has a large sixty-room hotel, covering a ground space of sixty by one hundred feet. The building is three stones high and is elegantly furnished, using electric lights, steam heat, call bells and all the necessary equipment of a modern hotel. The hotel owns its own light plant and is the only building in the city with electric lights. The hotel is owned and operated by Alvord & Ahola, who provide excellent service for their patrons.
Although the National Bank of Goldendale terminated its operations when hard times made business slack, Goldendale was not left long without a bank. In 1899 Moore Brothers, of Moro, Oregon, established the Bank of Goldendale. A. Melgard, formerly of Minnesota, bought the property in May, 1902, and is at present its owner. The bank is a private institution and occupies its own building. Mr. Melgard has had many years of experience in banking, and before coming to this city was cashier of the State Bank of Warren, Minnesota. He is well known in financial circles.
The city has two weekly newspapers, both of which have been and are no small factors in the growth of the community and county at large. The Sentinel, in its twenty-fifth volume, is under the management of W. F. Byars, who owns most of the company's stock. The Agriculturist, in its fourteenth year, is owned and edited by W.J. Story. Both papers are provided with improved printing plants and well equipped job offices. These newspapers will be more fully treated of in the press chapter.
The manufacturing interests of the city are still in their infancy, yet a good beginning has been made in this line. There are two flouring mills -- the Goldendale Milling Company's mill, with a capacity of one hundred barrels a day, under the management of Phillips & Aldrich, and the Klickitat mill, owned by J.M. Hess & Son; its capacity is seventy barrels. Besides these mills, there are two planing mills, that of the Klickitat White Pine Company, D.W. Pierce, manager, capacity, twenty thousand feet a day, employing between fifteen and twenty men, and the Goldendale planing mill, of which J.A. Beckett is manager, handling about one million feet a year. A well-equipped foundry is also among the city's industrial institutions.
Goldendale's mercantile houses, business and professional men, other than those heretofore mentioned, may be listed as follows:
General merchandise, Baker Brothers, John E. Chappell, Samuel Waters, A.M. McLeod & Company; clothing store, Rust Brothers; book store, Rankin & Frisbie; drug stores, C. M. Shelton & Company, Chester Pike, McKee & McKee, H.S. Goddard; hardware, W.A. McKenzie, H.N. Frazer; furniture, A.C. Chapman, A.I. Webb & Son; second-hand store, P. D. Presher; groceries, Bartlett & Sons; meat market, Shelton & McCrow; jewelers, Wendelin Leidl, V.B. Campbell; bakery, W. F. Stiner; restaurants, Thomas Kennedy, J. J. O'Rourke, Ryan & Sweeney; racket store, Cochran & Holland; flour and feed, William Van Vactor & Son; implements, wagons, etc., E. W. Pike, C. B. Marsha]], Willam Enderby; harness shop, W.H. Ward; foundry, the Goldendale, Leonard & Leverett, proprietors; millinery stores, Mrs. Lizzie Taylor, Miss Helen Campbell, Miss Alice Coffield; barber shops, Southern & Van Hook, Blagdon & Smith; confectionery, notions, O.S. Ebi, C.M. Shelton & Company; fish and fruit market, Francis McGregor; blacksmith shops, George H. Wood, Julius Plett, M. M. Warner; tailor shop, The Toggery, (B. E.) Crawford & (Thomas) Hill; livery stables, William Van Vactor, A.B. Courtway, Charles Alvord, John Washburn; lodging-house, The Chicago, J. Lacost, proprietor; restaurant and lodging-house, J.P. Harris; shoemaker, S. Odrowski; real estate, loans, insurance, Klickitat County Land & Loan Company, J.J. Reid, manager, Phillips & Aldrich, Brooks & Stringfellow, Hiram Dustin, Stevens & Hause; abstract and real estate, Smith & Spoon; farms, loans, etc., B.W. Pike; undertaker, Frank Sanders; lawyers, Winthrop B. Presby, Hiram Dustin, Nelson B. Brooks, E.C. Ward, W.T. Darch; physicians, Drs. Allen Bonebrake, W.M. Hamilton, H.H. Hartley, H.S. Goddard, J.M. Reeder; dentists, Dr. N.R. Norris, R.D. McCulley; veterinary dentist, H. S. Anderson; architect and builder, W.J. Andrews; contractors and builders, N.B. Brooks, A.R. Ketch & Sons; painters and paper hangers, C. H. Carter, E.C. Partridge; transfer business, Bunnell & Carter, Waldo Glover.
It is characteristic of the American community that the schoolhouse and the church are always among the oldest buildings in the settlement. The town of Goldendale was yet only a pile of rails when the first move was made to establish a school within its precincts. In 1873 John J. Golden gave two lots in the newly platted town as a site for a schoolhouse in the district, which was first known as the B.A. Hopkins district. The district is now officially known as No. 7. Its first directors were I.I. Lancaster, B.A. Hopkins and M. V. Harper. They erected a building on the grounds donated by Mr. Golden, and for a number of years this was the only schoolhouse in the town. The entire furniture consisted of rough benches for the children and the customary teacher's desk and chair. The rapid growth which followed the removal of the county seat to Goldendale rendered this building inadequate, and as the people were scarcely prepared to undergo the expense of erecting a larger schoolhouse, it was taken up as a private enterprise by Captain W.A. Wash in 1879. Again the public spirit of Mr. Golden was brought into evidence by his donation of a suitable location for the new building. Captain Wash organized a joint stock company and built the main part of the present west end schoolhouse. An academy was conducted by Mr. Wash in this building, which was in reality a public institution, as the academy drew the school funds and taught the children of the Goldendale district. A year and a half later Mr. Wash sold the building to the district. In a short time this building also became too small, and about 1884 a wing was added. After purchasing the new building, the district sold the old one to the Predestinarian Baptist church. By 1900 the enlarged building was also overcrowded, and it was necessary to rent the old schoolhouse to accommodate the extra numbers. Two years later it was decided to bond the district and build a new schoolhouse. Bonds were issued in the sum of seven thousand dollars by vote of the people and the new building was completed for the fall term of 1902. It is a sightly two-story, eight-room, frame structure occupying a fine site in the eastern end of the city.
The district owns a well-selected library of several hundred volumes, besides a large number of current magazines. The school census of 1904 shows that it contains four hundred and sixty-eight children of school age; the enrollment for the past year was three hundred and twenty-five. The faculty for the year 1904-5 will be as follows: Charles Boyd, principle; C.M. Ryman, O.B. Frisbie, Miss Lorena Gleason, Miss Hulda Rankin, Miss Jessie Look, Miss Kate Moore, Miss Mary Hutton, besides the high school faculty, of which Professor Charles Timblin will be principal. The school board is composed of Dr. Allen Bonebrake, Wendelin Leidl and W.H. Ward.
The church history of Goldendale reaches even farther back than that of the public schools. The Goldendale Directory, published in 1880, furnishes the information that: "The M. E. church circuit of Klickitat county was organized by the Rev. J. W. Turner, of Walla Walla district, Oregon annual conference, in the year 1869-70. The first class was formed by the Rev. G. Hines, then in charge of The Dalles district. In August, 1871, the Rev. J.H.B. Royal was appointed to the Klickitat circuit. Twelve lots were donated at that time for a Methodist parsonage by John J. Golden and a building was erected thereon."
In 1875 the church purchased the present location from John R. Chatfield for the sum of twenty dollars, and three years later erected a church building. By 1880 the church had a membership of two hundred and twenty with thirty-three probationers. The disastrous fire that swept Goldendale in 1888 consumed the building, but it was immediately rebuilt. At present the church has a membership of two hundred and thirty, including probationers. They have a fine building with a large seating capacity and a wing for league room and conference. Following is a list of the pastors who have served since 1880: Revs. W.P. Koontz, succeeded in August, 1881, by G.B. Wilcox; S.W. Richards, August 14, 1882, to September 8, 1884; C. M. Bryan, September 8, 1884, to July 21, 1885; John Uren, July 21, 1885, to September 24, 1888; L.J. Whitcomb, September 24, 1888, to August, 1889; G. G. Ferguson, August, 1889, to August 30, 1890; Edward McEvers, August 30, 1890, to September 6, 1892; J.M. McDonald, September 13, 1892, to December 24, 1894; U.F. Hawk, January 2, 1895, to September 1, 1897; N. Evans, September 1, 1897, to March 1, 1901; C.D. Nickelson, March 1, 1901, to August 15, 1902; H.B. Ellsworthy, September 1, 1902, serving at present.
In 1879 the Christian denomination organized and built a church. This is now the oldest church building in the city, as the Methodist church built the previous year was afterward destroyed by fire. Among the earliest pastors in charge of the Christian church were Revs. Esherman, McCorkel and Ross. For a period of years, however, the church had no resident pastor, the pulpit being filled from outside sources. The present pastor, Rev. C. M. Himes, who was called to the church February 22, 1904, is the first resident minister in a number of years. The present membership is about seventy-eight. The Baptist church of Goldendale was organized in 1879 by Rev. T. H. Harper with nine constituent members. The following year the present house of worship was erected on a lot donated to the society by John J. Golden. By the end of the year 1879 the membership had increased to thirty. At this writing the church is without a resident pastor, though it has a fair-sized membership.
The Presbyterian church was organized in Goldendale July 26, 1879. The following is a partial list of its charter members: I.B. Courtney, Mr. and Mrs. Luark, Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Downey, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. White, Mr. and Mrs. Mahen, Mrs. Waldo Glover and Mrs. Peter Gunn. As nearly as can be ascertained, the first church building was erected in 1883. This building was destroyed by the great fire of 1888, but in August of the same year the society let a contract for the rebuilding of the church at a cost of one thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars. A very sightly and commodious structure was erected on the corner opposite the Central Hotel. A year ago Rev. D. F. Giles assumed charge of the church, and he is still its pastor. Owing to incomplete records, it is impossible to give a list of the church's former pastors. There are sixteen fraternal organizations represented in the city, indicating the presence of an unusually strong fraternal spirit among the inhabitants. Herewith is given a short sketch of each:
Masonic, Goldendale Lodge No. 31, A. F. and A. M., chartered June 4, 1880, with the following officers: Worshipful master, McDonald Pierce; senior warden, John C. Story; junior warden, Joseph Sanders. Its present officers are: Master mason, A.E. Coley; senior warden, W.F. Byars; junior warden, N. B. Brooks; secretary, M.M.Warner. Membership, seventy-five.
Order Eastern Star, Evergreen Chapter No. 1, present charter granted in June, 1889, on petition of the following: Eliza Landrum, Eliza Oldham, Sophrona Oldham, Mary J. Morehead, Anna Johnson, Lizzie M. Nesbitt, L. J. Saylor, Rose De Moss, Sistastia Clark, Jane Mitchell, Carrie Gunn, E. J. Crawford, James B. Landrum, William Oldham, J. C. Morehead, Mason D. Clark, Philip B. Mitchell, W. A. Crawford, Joseph Nesbitt, B. F. Saylor, T. M. De Moss. The original charter, granted many years previously, was destroyed by the great fire of 1888. Present officers: W. M., Mrs. Powell; A. M., Lititia Bonebrake; F. K., Mary Coley; R.K., Mrs. Warner.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Alimus Lodge No. 15, established April, 1887, by the following charter members: D.P. Hewett, W.H. Miller, B.C. Richardson, Joseph Sanders, August Schuster, A. Ward, Jr., and Thomas Tathan. Present officers: N. G., S. S. Thomas; V.G.A. Lamroux; recording secretary, C.M. Ryman; treasurer, Wendelin Leidl: financial secretary, N. L. Ward. Membership, eighty-three.
Order of Rebekahs, Leah Rebekah Lodge No. 22, established December, 1896, with the following charter members: D. Cram, P.G.; Ophelia Cram, William Cummings, P. G.; J. Cummings, W. J. White, Mary W. White, W. R. Dunbar, P. G.; M. Susie Dunbar, W. S. Warwick, P. G. Lottie M. Goodnoe, Betty Chappell, S. Lucas, John Konig, Ed. Snipes and O.D. Sturgess, P.G. Present officers: N.G., Jennie N. Darch; V.G., Jessie Leonardo; recording secretary, Molly Hutton: financial secretary, L.A. Duncan; treasurer, Gertrude Duncan.
Knights of Pythias, Friendship Lodge No. 37, chartered May 21, 1890, with the following members: L.J. Whitcombe, J.W Snover, Mark Patton, B.N. Snover, O.D. Sturgess, G.W. Stapleton, A. L. Miller, G. W. Billington, C. B. Johnson, David Beckett, John Cummings, W. L. Miller, W. H. Leverett, Jr., James Coffield, W. H. Ward, R. D. McCulley, R. E. Jackson, George T. McKinney, John A. Benson, C.R. Van Allstyn, Fay Fenton, Will H. Hodson, E. F. Patton, William P. Flanary, W.B. Presby, A. Hale, C. M. Shelton and Joseph Stultz. The present officers are: C.C., Murten Darland; V.C., Clare Wilcox; K.R., W.F. Byars; M. F., Samuel Waters; M. E., William P. Flanary. Membership, about one hundred.
Rathbone Sisters, Purity Temple No. 39, established January 28, 1904, by the following charter members: Jane Warner, Delia Richardson, Lulu Leverett, Louisa Ahola, Molly Ward, Bessie M. Goddard and Julia Darland. Present officers: Most excellent chief, Delia Richardson; secretary, Edna Darland; treasurer Bessie M. Goddard. Membership, fifty.
Ancient Order United Workmen, Goldendale Lodge No. 21, established November 1, 1893, with charter membership as follows: J.C. Darland, C.E. Morris, D.C. Caines, W. Helm, J.W. Reeder, Daniel Cram, W.K. Dunbar, F.C. Bowers and W.A. Van Hoy. Present officers: M.W., V.M. Van Hook; recorder, D.L. Hanson; receiver, W.H. Ward: financier, Dr. Allen Bonebrake. Membership, thirty-four.
Degree of Honor, Temple Lodge No. 55, established April 12, 1902, with following charter membership: Clara K. Bowers, Jennie Van Hoy, Ella Van Hoy, Oliver Carter, Walter Glover, Lititia Bonebrake, Mary O'Neil, Laura Carter, Jessie O'Neil and S. S. Wilson.
Knights of the Maccabees, Goldendale Throne Tent No. 19, established August, 1895, with following charter members: G.M. Slocum, W.J. White, O.D. Sturgess, A.C. Chapman, M.S. Bishop, I.C. Flanary, J.W. Reeder, M.B. Potter, A. W. Shorter, Wendelin Leidl, N. McLeod and Joseph Beeks. Present officers: P.C., A.E. Coley; C., George Hyatt; F. K., Wendelin Leidl; record keeper, George Hause; L. C., Guy Hause; S., Guy Spalding.
Ladies of the Maccabees, Goldendale Hive No. 30, established January, 1898, with following charter members: Mary Potter, Calista E. Marshall, Mary A. Burgen, Toinette McLeod, Mary L. Darland, Mary B. Shorter, Mary E. O'Neil, H.S. Goddard, Jessie A. Bennett, Lizette Leidi and Mary E. Fuhrman. Present officers: P.C., Lizette Leidl ; commander, Nellie Powers; record keeper, Ada Lear; finance keeper, Mary Coley. Membership, twenty.
Woodmen of the World, Klickitat Lodge No. 127, established January, 1893, with following charter members: Frank Aldrich, James M. Van Hoy, Hugh Jackson, Frank Sanders, D.W. Pierce, Lewis Johnson, W. J. White William Schuster, J. M. Reeder, J. Hopkins and M. B. Potter. Present officers: C.C., Dr. Bennett; advisor, Willam Harris; banker, W.H. Ward; clerk, W.J. Reeder; P.C., D.O. Lear. Membership, one hundred and sixty-four.
Women of Woodcraft, Ahola Lodge No.246, established quite recently, with the following charter members: Louvenia P. Hause, Toinette McLeod, Hattie L. Wade, Laura Gaunt, Sarah A. Beckett, Ella Sloper, Harriett Sunderland, Wilma Nelson, Louvenia Carratt, Adelia L. Nelson, J.W. Reeder, W.M. Sloper, Abbie V. Nelson and Henry Blarratt. Present officers: P.G.N., Ella Thomas; G.N., Deede Nelson; advisor, Mary Harris; magician, Louvenia P. Hause; clerk, Mary Chappell; attendant, Sadie Harris; banker, George Hause. Membership, one hundred and twenty.
United Artisans, Goldendale Assembly No. 33, chartered May 16, 1896, with the following charter members: N.B. Brooks, O.D. Sturgess, Rosa A. Brooks, Frank Aldrich, Clara J. Aldrich, Lulu B. Leverett, Charles H. Newell, Estella I. Phillips, Mehitable MeKinney, H.S. Goddard, John G. Maddock, Mary B. Newell, K.C. Phillips, Della L. MeCulley, Ida Maddock, Katie Pierce, K. G. Marshall, Lizzie B. Alvord and D.W. Pierce. Present officers: P.M., H.O. Spoon; M. A., Samuel Waters; superintendent, Mrs. Rosa Brooks; inspector, Jennie Darch; secretary, Helen Campbell; treasurer, Frank Aldrich. Membership, one hundred and two.
Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 5,899, established August 12, 1903, with the following charter members: William J. Andrews, Gus Burns, Charles S. Craig, Alfred R. Cunningham, Lewis Days. Spencer A. Elmer, Daniel Fahey, John L. Hamlick, John O. Harding, John K. Hill, Uriah H. Myres, Willis B. McLaughlin, Walter C. Oldham, Andrew J. Sanders, Albert O. White, Charles E. Sirton, John A. White, Francis H. Smith and Luther Steele. Present officers: V.C., J.O. Harding; advisor, W.J. Andrews; banker, C. S. Craig; clerk, William Enderby. Membership. seventy-five. An auxiliary lodge of Royal Neighbors is soon to be organized.
Order of Washington, Simcoe Union No.125, established December 26, 1901, with the following charter membership: Allen Bonebrake, C.M. Ryman, W.J. White, E.W. Pike. T.B. Montgomery, G.H. Roush, A.E. Coley, William Van Vactor, W.A. McKenzie, Oscar Van Hoy, W.J. McKenzie, W.F. Denniston, C.A. Holder, J.H. Hill, Fred Nesbitt, Elmer Morehead. S. Waters, Mrs. T.B. Montgomery, J.B. Chappell, Mrs. Emma Van Hoy, G.W. Lawler, W.P. Ranch, Mrs. L.E. Ranch, Fred Bridgefarmer, Mrs. Alice Brown, W.L. Harrington, Mrs. Edythe Harrington, Mrs. Anna McLeod, A. McLeod, Mrs. Clara L. Pike, Mrs. Emma Van Vactor, Mrs. Mary McKenzie and Mrs. Mary E. Coley. Present officers: President, W.A. McKenzie; past president, T.B. Montgomery; vice-president, A.C. Chapman; chaplain, Mrs. Mary McKenzie; secretary, C.M. Ryman; treasurer, John Smith. Membership, sixty.
Besides these organizations, the city has one G.A.R. post, Baker Post No.20. There are at pesent only eighteen members, whose officers are as follows: Commander, J.R. Putman; adjutant, J.A. Stout; quartermaster, E.W. Pike; officer of the day, F.B. Stimson; chaplain, John Kurtz.