The Bickleton News, Bickleton, WA., November 25, 1910, page 6

THE COAST EXPLOITS KLICKITAT

     Honor L. Wilhelm, editor of The Coast Magazine, published at Seattle, a journal of general information, and at present engaged in writing up the different counties of the state of Washington, giving their history, resources, and prospects, was in Bickleton a short time ago gathering data for his magazine. The November number of The Coast is devoted almost exclusively to Klickitat county, and gives without exaggeration a fair and impartial account of conditions in this county. Local scenes are reproduced in interesting illustrations. Some extracts will be printed in The News next week.

The Bickleton News, Bickleton, WA., November 25, 1910, page 12

AS OTHER SEE US
Bickleton
From The Coast Magazine

     Situated in the midst of the finest wheat raising sections of this part of the state of Washington, the town of Bickleton, in the eastern part of Klickitat county, stands as an evidence of what power of attraction the rich and fertile soil of this part of the state has. Bickleton is a twenty-five miles from the railroad, its nearest point being Roosevelt, on the S.P. & S. railway, and on the banks of the Columbia River.
     The first settlers in this part of the country were C.N. Bickle and Ripley Dodge, who located here with cattle in the early '70s. Ripley Dodge laid out Cleveland in 1878, and quite a settlement sprang into existence. In 1879 C.N. Bickle, through some misunderstanding, withdrew from Cleveland, and going a few miles east of Cleveland, laid out the present town, which he named Bickleton. The post office was established in 1879, and the mail was brought overland from Goldendale, Bickle being the first postmaster. In 1880 the McCredy boys, G.W., J.T., and L.U., came into the country with sheep. Today Bickleton and has four general merchandise stores, a drugstore, two physicians, hotel, livery, meat market, two blacksmiths, a flouring mill, furniture and hardware store, confectionery, a state bank, and a newspaper, the Bickleton News, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, and an accredited high school, the pride of the residents. The town has three automobiles, costing $3,500 each, and good roads lead in all directions. A daily stage line is maintained between this place and Roosevelt for passengers and express.
     The resources of the place are wheat, cattle, and sheep. Approximately 10,000 cattle and 15,000 sheep are owned here.
     During the last summer a disastrous fires visited the business section, but the burned district is fast rebuilding. Dr. A.F. Brockman is erecting a two story frame, 30X80, for his drugstore, to cost over $3,000, and W.G. Faulkner is building a structure 26X60. Some of the finest residences in the county are found here, notable among which are the homes of G.W. McCredy, J.T. McCredy, and L.U. McCredy. The Farmers' Mutual Telephone company of Bickleton maintains a local exchange. The bank here reports that this is one of the most prosperous sections of the county, and the contemplated improvements now in mind will show rapid growth.

ROOSEVELT

     Roosevelt, Wash., is the creature of the building of the North Bank railroad down the Columbia River. The first settlers at this place located here in 1906, and were T.B. Montgomery and J.A. Foister. Mr. Montgomery laid out the town, built the Roosevelt Hotel, and secured a postoffice here, of which O.B. Ebi was the first postmaster. Mr. Foister built the schoolhouse here and purchased that hotel from M. Montgomery, and opened it in 1906. The place has a hotel, two general stores, three grain warehouses, blacksmith shop, lumber yard, paint store, barber shop, and livery, operating along with the livery business the stage line for mail, passengers, and express between this place and Bickleton. Roosevelt has ferry connections with Arlington, Ore., giving the people of this side of the river the privilege of transportation over the O.R. & N. railroad. The ferry is run by steam and a very commendable service is maintained throughout the day.
     Roosevelt is the rail and river shipping point for a very large and rich country devoted to wheat, cattle, sheep, and some fruit. In the locations where irrigation is possible some of the finest specimens of fruit have been raised that have ever sought an exhibition table. In its very beginning Roosevelt is promising and prosperous, and as the development of the country tributary to it is continued it is bound to grow and become important.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer