Well, given Pacific's precarious position, it's probably time to start working on the town's obituary. I'd like to help.
I think it was sometime during the 1980s that this history
of Pacific was produced by some city elders. Quite likely this was distributed
during a Pacific Days celebration. I came across it in my computer yesterday
and thought it would be a good time to share it. It’s been long enough ago that
I don’t know who the authors were or how I came to have acquired it. For what
it’s worth, however, here is most of what I found.
Yes, it’s roughly written. I have done minimal editing, including some
chopping, to retain the flavor and style of the creators. There might be more
in coming days.
–Robert Smith
Early History
Pacific became an incorporated city in 1909. City council
notes record dealings with many business establishments. At one meeting a
license for the Olson brothers saloon, asking $400 for one year, was given
with the stipulation that only people living in Pacific city be hired. The
saloon was in connection with a hotel. Also mentioned is a copy of a city
ordinance requesting the city clerk to publish the city ordinances in the
official newspaper of Pacific city.
In "early" days Pacific city was centered in the
vicinity of Third Avenue and towards what is now the West Valley Highway. Among
the establishments were: Arnolds Hotel, Cooks Grocery, a barber shop,
Luthburrows Bakery, a blacksmith shop and a livery barn, Cox's store later
called Waddle's store. There was a Baptist church at this end of the town, a
sawmill and a roller-skating rink.
A grocery store and feed store owned by a Mr. Lantz.and a
man called Babe Weaver had a building that was a saloon. Later, weaver bought
out Lantz and made the business a grocery store and a post office. Babe Weaver
was the post master for many years. This building was on the corner of what is
now Third Avenue and St. Paul, next to the railroad tracks. At this time in our
history the Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Paul Railroad workers delivered
Pacific city mail by throwing the mail bags off the train as it went past Weaver's
store. Babe Weaver in turn threw the Pacific city mailbag on the train as it
slowly passed the store. In
1923 Weaver's store and post office were robbed by two men.
They grabbed the money and Babe Weaver "jumped them." In the scuffle
a gun was dropped, babe picked it up and shot at the men but they got away.
Weaver was shot twice.
The growing population presented the problem of a water
shortage. Terry Thompson was the municipal bondsman. He needed more money to
get more water and the city needed to have a bond to pay for it. But first they
had to find the water. Several geologists had failed to discover any water
veins so Art Hollingsworth and his friend George Kinney decided to look for
water with a forked willow stick. This is called "water witching";
finding water this way is also called dowsing. They found a vein 14 to 20 feet
wide and 14 feet deep. This is where our present wells are located. Mr.
Thompson said he questioned selling bonds on the strength of a willow stick.
But they dug a deep hole, about 12-1/2 feet, and up gushed the water. This is
our present source of water, the finest and purest water in Washington.
Our Jail
Located on Milwaukee Boulevard and 4th Avenue on the southeast
corner; built about 1910. Walls were 2 x 4's laid horizontally and nailed
together. Two cells in the back, single room in front where council members
met. Only one prisoner was ever held overnight. At this time there was only one
marshal in the town.
Another early condition of the city was the road problem.
Because of the soft ground Roads were made of split cedar logs, called Puncheon
roads. Sidewalks were made of 1 x 12 planks and replaced by 2 x 6's sidewalk.
Early 1930's, put in present sidewalks and roads.
The Interurban Railway
The interurban railway got its start in 1901With the
Seattle-Tacoma Interurban Railway. In 1902, while still under construction, it
changed hands to the Seattle Electric Company and then to Puget Sound Electric
Railway.
It was opened September 25, 1902, and ran from Georgetown in
Seattle to downtown Tacoma, passing through the White River Valley and the
Towns of Renton, Kent, Auburn and Pacific. Service was later extended to
downtown Seattle and Puyallup. The fare for a one-way trip was 60 cents and one
dollar for a round trip.
The system was very successful; 80% income came from
passenger fares, and 20% from freight fees. Five years after it opened the
company showed a profit of $184,000; by 1910 it carried over 3,000,000 persons
yearly. By 1920 hard-surfaced roads were developed which helped auto, truck and
bus service. This cut into the Interurban patronage. The Interurban's last run
was on December 31, 1928.
Algona/Pacific Senior Center
1916 - Pacific school, first building, later became
neighborhood senior center.
1967 - community potluck dinner at Pacific City Park.
1975 - City of Pacific received $78,000.00 towards a
multipurpose center from the Department of Social and Health Services. A
$64,000Housing and Urban Development grant allowed the city to convert an old
school gymnasium into a community center. A plan involves the construction of a
building with 3,200 square feet of floor space, which will serve as a senior
center as well as providing for other services.
1975 - Pacific sponsored a kite-flying contest. The city fire
truck served as a platform for the contest's chair person, Evelyn Clark,
recreation aide for Pacific.
1975 - there was a Pacific bike rodeo held at the Pacific
Park; "only six people showed up due to poor weather," said Evelyn
Vlark, the coordinator.
1975 - Carl Spratley taught ballroom and social dancing at
the community center.
1976 - Pacific community facility coordinator was Patty
Kipponhan. A contest was held to select a name for the seniors. Sarah Barnes
was the winner with "Young at Heart." The Pacific Young at Heart
senior citizens of Pacific and Algona meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays to keep
people informed of activities and services available.
1976 - to welcome people to the creation of the Pacific
neighborhood building, a senior citizen band will perform from 2:00 p.m. to
4:00 p.m., Saturday, June 21st. Stores in the area donated cakes but the center
still needs cooking and baking utensils.
1976 - a Halloween dance sponsored by the Pacific Fire
Department was cancelled at the Pacific neighborhood building because 400
residents bought tickets (too many for the building).
1977 - Pacific neighborhood center received a letter
addressed to Mr. Wayne Massic (Massey?) from Henry M. Jackson, United States
Senator, promising help for the center.
1977 - There were free movies for the seniors and youngsters
at the center, using the King County Library's collection.
1978 - The first annual Big Deal festival was held at the
Pacific park featuring a tricycle contest.
1978 - The neighborhood center sponsored a basketball
tournament played at the community center.
1980 - "Pacific days" included these activities at
the Pacific center, a flea market, a fire-fighters contest and music by the
"Apple Blossom Ramblers". Also a senior pie sale, a poker bicycle
race, relay races, and a dog contest with dogs catching frisbees.
1981 - "Pacific days" July 19th, included a book
sale, crafts exhibit and sales, fire department waterball game - two competing
departments moving a beer keg down a line using fire hoses. Pat Graham,
coordinator.
At the present time we have over 300 registered members with
nutrition lunches, health, and social services.
Pacific Police Department
Present police/fire department building dedicated, March
1979.As of October 1989, we have one chief and 5 full-time officers, including
our sergeant. We also have 12 reserve officers.
Activities taking place during the year:
- Mapo - meet a police officer - at Alpac Elementary School
- Halloween haunted house
- Halloween safety program at Alpac
- Dare program at Alpac
- Auburn youth resources - chief's on executive board
- Day care/pre-school safety program
- Commercial/residential crime prevention program
- Pacific days: karate demonstration, reserve officer security program
- Neighborhood crime watch
- American cancer society jail and bail
- Annual school patrol awards at Alpac
- Community food bank canned food drive
The Pacific Fire Department story
The first fire department was a hand-drawn, 2-wheel, 2-hose
cart drawn by people helping to put out fires.
In 1932, the Pacific city council decided to organize a fire
department. A man named Marion Hughs was asked to organize it. Carl Nyberg was
chosen as the first fire chief and Dick Gius was his assistant. Someone heard
about a 1922 Packard touring car that was for sale. It was only a 12 cylinder
car but the council said "let's buy it!" But they had no place to
store this car. Mr. Hollingsworth, Sr., Art Hollingsworth's Father, said
"you can park it in my driveway. "The fireman decided to remove the
top off the car and when Mrs. Hollingsworth said it was too bad to remove the
top, Carl replied "it's O.K. because they weren't going out if it
rained." A Mr. Wolf on Valentine Avenue helped to make the car a truck.
They took off the back seat and placed two chemical tanks there, put a front
mount pump on to draw water out of the ditches.
Later the city had a chance to buy a "troop truck"
from Fort Lewis for $1.00, got an extra pump with the truck. Next they bought a
manufactured truck from McMillan, Oregon, for $5,000.00.
In 1965, money became available when the city sold the
electric power system to Puget Sound Power And Light. Carl and Dick Gius went
to Detroit, Michigan and bought a 1965 Ford truck. They drove it to Oregon,
where a manufactured firetruck body was put on it. The cost of this project was
$65,000.00. This truck is still in service. Carl Nyberg retired in 1972. He was
the fire chief for 30 years.
Cliff Fry was the next fire chief and he purchased a truck
from Federal Way. This truck had a diesel engine in it.
The Auburn Fire Department helped train the Pacific firemen
and have always supported the Pacific fire department.
The Pacific Fire Department has a first class crew and can
be of great service to this community in the years to come. There are 25 people
on the department that have the utmost interest in the health and welfare of
all our citizens. They have spent hours and hours of their own time at night
and on weekends going to classes to improve their skills.
I (apparently this is the author of this history) joined the
Pacific fire department in February, 1967. At that time the officers were:
Chief Carl Nyberg, Assistant Chief Dick Gius, captain Owen Campbell, and
Lieutenant Cliff Fry. I joined after helping out at a fire on 4th Avenue SW and
being approved by Capt. Campbell and fireman Bill Morgan. I applied and was
accepted.
Drills were held on Wednesday night the first and third
Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. We would take the engine out, lay hose and
pump water; drilling on how to handle the equipment.
In the first part of 1972, Carl Nyberg and Dick Gius both
retired, being the last of the original fire department that was formed in July
of 1932. At that time Cliff Fry became chief and Roy Heitmann assistant chief.
In the summer of 1972, one of the biggest fires in this
area, happened at the "coppers" A laminated beam factory just over in
Pierce County at 8th Street and just west of the Stuck River. It could be seen
for miles and there were 10 or 12 fire companies that fought it together.(I
don’t think the date is correct, because I was on the Auburn Globe-News the
night of that fire, and I joined the Globe in 1973—ed.)
In October 1977, the Pacific Fire Department got its first
aid car, the money coming from donations from the people of the city. The
donations were collected in three days by Councilman Nick Dorsey and a group of
citizens. The aid car was bought from the Boeing Company for $1,481.
Emergency medical help to the people of this city was
greatly improved by this vehicle and the training of several firemen as
emergency medical technicians.
In 1976, the fire department moved out of the old fire
station, so it could be removed, along with several buildings, at 133 3rd
Avenue SE, so the new fire and police building could be built. The fire
department moved into the old school play shed that is now the street and water
department. This was a very compact situation. Hose was draped over the rafters
to dry, and a fire truck had to be run outside so there was room to hold our
meetings. The firemen all took their bunker coats, helmets, pants and boots and
kept them with them, in their cars and at home during this time. When we moved
into the new station, the firemen had to get used to all the room; one bay had
more room than the old station.
In 1983, Cliff Fry retired as chief and Roy Heitmann became
the new chief with Bob Bradley as the new assistant chief, and Skee Goforth and
myself as captain.
In 1984, Bob Bradley moved out of town and resigned as
assistant chief; at that time, I was moved up to assistant chief.
The training in the department has advanced from the newer
firemen learning from the older firemen, to today, where we now have state
certified instructors on our department, and our people take the same training as
other departments, from first aid trained firemen to emergency medical
technicians and 5 first responders, as well as the rest of the department all
trained in first aid and CPR.
Our Schools
In 1906 a real estate office run by Mr. Hillman was in a building
on the west side of town. School was held in the upstairs rooms. The first
teacher was a Mr. Bagley. About 1907 The youngsters had to cross the railroad
tracks and attended school in a house owned by The Whisler family. By this time
the Methodist church was built and the school was held there, about 1908. Later
there were two buildings used for school. These were located behind our present
gym. One held classes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 grades, the other for 5, 6, 7 And 8
grades. Later a three-story school house was built and 9th and 10th grades were
added. The two buildings behind the gym were moved near the west end of town. A
partition was removed and the enlarged building became a roller-skating rink.
The smaller building became a grocery and feed store.
Our Utilities
In 1919 the Pacific city electric light system was built by
the community. Ed Dyler ran it. 'Later a Mr. Jolly was the supervisor. As more
and more people moved in and more electric stoves, etc., became available, our
electricity was inadequate. The light system was rebuilt for more power, and
was later sold to Puget Power.
(Here the writer glosses over a major controversy in the
city in the 1950s about the private use of public resources. That story – for
perhaps another time, let to approximately 19 people running for public office
in a major political turnover in the city.
–ed)
Gius Market
Our store opened the spring of 1934 "kitty corner"
from the present location in a leased building. After one year, Dick Gius
acquired the post office. The owners of the building would not renew the lease
thinking that they would be able to take over the store and the post office.
Dick consulted a grocer friend in fife and decided to buy
the corner across the street and started a new store. Dick's father, a
semi-retired carpenter, built the new store in less than one month. So Dick and
Angie and company moved across the street, post office and all. This was in
1936.
Shortly after World War II, Cliff Fry joined Gius Market as a meat cutter manager and the
business began to grow. The Gius building has been added on to seven times.
Through good times and bad times everyone and everything
stuck together.
In 1978 Ron Gius and Barb Gius purchased the business from
Dick and Angie. At the present time the market is managed by Joyce Madden Days.
In 1985 Rob Pedvini became night manager. Rob, Dick's grandson, represents the
fourth generation to help in the family grocery. In 1989 Loyce (should that be
“Joyce”?) Madden's son, Phil Brewer, was added to the staff of the Gius Market.
The End
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments welcome. Be honest!