timbers.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., April 6, 1911, page 1

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD BLOCKHOUSE TIMBERS?

Two years ago the Development League were instrumental in having the old Blockhouse torn down and removed to this city ostensibly for the purpose of having this relic of the early days erected as a monument to the pioneers who came to Klickitat and paved the way for the generations to come. The timbers were brought to this city and left on the lot on the corner of Court and Grant streets, where they still remain, and are slowly rotting away, so that if left many years longer, they never can be re-assembled. In their present shape they are an eyesore to the community, and an effort should be made either to have the old fort rebuilt, or a funeral pyre builded and the question settled for once and all. The former is the more sentimental plan and probably will meet the more favorable comment of our old timers, but the latter is a speedy and effective method of removing the present clutter from the lot. It has been suggested to The Sentinel that since the rear of the Court house lot has been cleaned up, it would be a very appropriate site for the re-erection of this old time blockhouse. It could be built, making a place for many public meetings that did not require a considerable amount of space. We should judge by the appearance of the timbers, that the former building was about 50 by 30 feet. If this was faced in the interior a very comfortable building could be made. The rough exterior could be maintained, and the cost of doing this work would not amount to a very great sum. There are probably enough public spirited residents of this vicinity who would donate toward the work, at any rate something should be done with this pile of unsightly timbers.