Monroe Historical Archives
Memories of Long Ago
Visit Us
207 East Main Street
Monroe, Washington
Hours: 12 - 3 pm
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Our Photos
An online sampling of our thousands of historical photographs. Stop by the Museum and see them all!
Newspaper Archives
The Monroe Monitor searchable archives from 1899 to 1979.
Cry for Water
Part 1 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
In 1890, it became a settled fact that the Great Northern Railroad would come across the Cascade mountains, down the Skykomish River and across the flat where Monroe now stands. In a short time, the railroad arrived and a village began to build. They called it Tye City.
Salem Woods
Part 2 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
Nellie Robertson paraphrased the opening paragraph of this excerpt as it was originally in the form of a poem.
On Jan. 20, 1885, I took a boat from Seattle to Snohomish City, and the next day went up the valley on a road that wandered between trees for eight miles. I stopped at Park Place for dinner and crossed the river on a ferry run by “Bluejay.” I crossed the valley where State Farm No. 2 now sits, and stopped with a family of neighbors called “Fitz.” The next day I traveled to the ranch of Mr. Woods, and staked a claim past Woods. I built a cabin of logs and split cedar. The next year it burned down and everything went up in smoke. I sat on a log and pondered, I thought and thought, “there are no ifs, ands or buts. The only one to make a go of this is the man with lots of guts.”
Judge Sorenson’s Court
Part 3 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
Gus Sorenson, who lived on his homestead about one-half mile west of Park Place, was, at the general election of 1884, elected Justice of the Peace for the Park Place district. I believe this trial was the only case tried in Judge Sorenson’s court.
Cussin’ Oxen
Part 4 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
About 50 years ago [1894], all logging in the Puget Sound country was done with oxen. There were no logging donkeys to haul the logs out of the woods. There were no railroads, or great trucks to haul the logs to market. Ox teams from four to six yokes would haul the logs to market. They would haul the logs out of the woods on a skid road. The logs were rolled into the water to be floated to market.
Picking Hops
Part 5 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
In the fall of 1886, after the house had burned down with its contents, things were looking pretty blue. Winter was coming on and no work in sight that would make it possible to earn a dollar.
First County Railroad
Part 6 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
In the spring of 1887, things were pretty quiet, but I finally got through the winter well and hearty–and now spring was here.
Moving the Post Office
Part 7 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
In the year of 1889, many things of importance happened in the Territory of Washington. Washington Territory was admitted to the Union and was soon to become one of the great states of the Union. The then little city of Seattle burned down and was soon rebuilt to grow into the great city of today.
The Shingle Bolt Wars
Part 8 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
In 1893, the Great Northern Railroad had come to the coast. Trains were running regularly through Monroe, which had become quite a thriving village. That spring, Griffiths Brothers came to Monroe looking for a location for a shingle mill. At Monroe they were directed to my place up Woods Creek as I had a bunch of cedar. Going with them to interview the rest of the settlers who had cedar, we all became very pleased at the prospects, and he made a proposition that if we would clear out the creek to run the shingle bolts down, they would build a shingle mill at Monroe.
Woods Creek Gimlet
Part 9 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
In 1891, when School District No. 40 was formed, there were but three schools in Snohomish County east of Snohomish City. School District No. 40 is now known as the Wagner District. The Woods Creek District was fast settling up and many families were coming in with children. Then the little school house on the hill was built. We had many enjoyable times in those days in the little school house on the hill. [See also School District No. 2.]
Babe
Part 10 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
Babe, as we called him, was a little bright-eyed boy of about four years of age. He was full of life and laughter, much like any boy of his age.
The First Donkey Engine
Part 11 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
My memories return to the logging woods of 1888. Many changes have taken place in those 56 years. The men that follow the logging industry are of a new generation, not many today know the way of logging 56 years ago.
The Brick Business
Part 12 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
I write this to try and illustrate some of the difficulties encountered in trying to make a living fifty-five years ago in a new county.
Wagner School District
Part 13 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
My memories return to the little schoolhouse on the hill; to School District No. 40, now known as Wagner School. I think I have a right to tell about that school, as it was there that my children got their primary grades of learning. I will tell of some of the differences between that time and this. [This article was published in 1944].
That Great Fir Tree
Part 14 of 14: Memories of Long Ago
by Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall
My memory returns to many years ago. I see a great fir tree standing all alone where once there was a great forest. That great fir tree was well over six feet in diameter. That was proof enough that it was in its prime when George Washington was fighting for our freedom. That great fir for many years had scattered its seeds to the four winds to reseed a new forest. As I viewed that great tree, it was standing all alone; its mates had all been gathered and carried to the mill. Why was it left alone? From an unknown cause it died many years ago. The wind in time had stripped its body of all bark. The few remaining limbs were bare. The wind had carried its great top to Mother Earth from whence it came. That left a great snag 80 to 90 feet high standing alone.
Hiram Ellsworth Pearsall, left, with George Walters