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ALMIRA.
The land upon which is located the town of Almira was preempted in the 80' s by C. C. Davis, several years before the construction of the Central Washington railroad. Here Mr. Davis erected a building and carried a small stock of mixed merchandise for the accommodation of the few settlers then in the vicinity. Consequently Mr. Davis is entitled to the rank as the pioneer merchant of Almira.
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One of the events pregnant with importance in the history of a town is its christening. Messrs. Odgers and Reed had completed arrangements with Davis for the purchase of a part of his interests and, also, for the establishment of a town. But the name had been left open for suggestion. No decision was reached until Mrs. Almira Davis, wife of the original owner of the land, was in the act of signing her name to the deed. The two gentlemen purchasers had not before known Mrs. Davis' given name, and it appearing a pretty and euphonious cognomen to those interested in the prospective town, one of them colloquially observed:
"What's the matter with calling the town Almira?"
Nothing whatever appeared to the "matter," and thus it was unanimously christened. Previously the farm had been known as "Davisine." July 26, 1889. the Wilbur Register said:
"That place may make a town in the future. There is considerable vacant land for it to grow on. If you desire to learn of the 'glorious future' in store for the town, just confer with 'Tom' Hodges, the resident townsite agent. He never tires of reciting it."It having become a settled and authentic conclusion that a railroad would pass in the immediate vicinity of the Davis ranch, a townsite was laid out and platted, and everything prepared for the building up of the town of Almira. The status of the place on August 2, 1889, as told by the townsite owners in an advertisement in the Wilbur Register is as follows:
"Almira is the new townsite, fifteen miles west of Wilbur, and it will be the terminus of the Central Washington railroad. It is surrounded by magnificent agricultural and stockraising lands, and will be the commercial center for a radius of thirty miles and railroad freighting terminal for the far west. Almira has excellent openings for all classes of business and business men seeking locations should by all means visit Almira. There is an abundance of good water to be had at the depth of from 15 to 30 feet. Town property placed on the market less than a week ago has already experienced an advance and desirable locations are being rapidly sold and are now in the hands of second parties. Builders and contractors are already there in large numbers erecting business blocks for parties who stake their faith in the future of the town and have determined to locate and enter business at Almira. Real estate investors are offered a golden opportunity in Almira town property."
Six weeks after the platting of the town it was conservatively estimated that there were $15,000 worth of improvements. Among the first business men in the new town were Odgers & Reed, townsite owners, Joseph Simeno, Perry Barker, Tony Richardson, E. Grutt & Company. G. N. Watson. F. Irwin, John Hartline, Frank Lingie, Robert Strutt, Skee & Walford, J. C. Keller and C. C. Davis. The Central Washington railroad reached Almira in the fall of 1889 and the place opened up with bright prospects. But cold weather came, accompanied by snow as building operations were commenced, and nipped its ambition in the bud. Had the road reached this point a few months earlier, Almira would, doubtless, have been
a good-sized town by the time winter set in. As it was it did not assume metropolitan appearances that fall. It became a typical railroad town. It was known that the road was to be extended westward the following summer, and the buildings erected in the main were of a temporary character, the absence of paint being a striking feature, yet adding somewhat to the picturesqueness of the village. Until the road was completed to the Grand Coulee Almira remained the terminus. All trains ran to this point, connections by stage being made to points westward. These facts made me town furiously active, but it was freely predicted that the construction of the road to the Coulee would
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prove a death-knell to the hopes of Almira. But such was not the result. More buildings were erected in the spring of 1890, and there were quite a number of people transacting business in the new town. Among other enterprises was a mercantile establishment owned by Barker & Madden, a newspaper published by Harry Hubler, and a hospital in charge of Dr. L. M. Willard. James Odgers, one of the owners of the townsite, was a busy man in Almira during this transition period, disposing of town lots.
The location of Almira was on the northeast quarter of section 32, township 26, north range 31 east, fifteen miles west of Wilbur, and commanding one of the finest agricultural belts of the Big Bend country. Paradise Valley, on the west; Wilsoncreek, Douglas county, on the southwest; Voorhees, Lincoln and the California settlements on the north and northwest. It was the nearest railway point to Waterville, Lake Chelan and the Okanogan country; the natural keystone of supply. This was in September, 1889. So fast as material could be secured substantial buildings were erected of which the following were in existence on the above date:
J. C. Keller, of Hesseltine, general merchandise, 26x60, two stories; Watson & Irwin, general merchandise, 22x56, two stories; Tony Richardson, store, 20x42; Barker & Madden, saloon, 16x60; Joseph Simons, butcher shop, and residence, 20x36, two stories; Reed & Odgers, one story building. 18x36, used for a printing office and store; Robert Strutt's blacksmith shop, 26x40. A Mr. Jennings, of Wilbur, was preparing plans and specifications for a hotel on a large scale. Hartline & Tingle's hardware store was just completed. Watson & Irwin had a commodious livery barn and corral in course of construction, together with a fair stock of rough lumber. Twenty thousand dollars' worth of real estate had recently changed hands. In 1890 the population of Almira was 156. In November of that year Almira became a town in the prohibition class. The last saloon had closed its doors; the active prohibitionists had said that it "must go," and Almira was, temporarily, the only town in the great Big Bend country without a saloon.
Sunday. January 3, 1892, Almira was visited by a fire which burned out several of the principal business houses of the town. Hartline & Lingle, hardware merchants, sustained a loss of $5,000, covered by $2,500 insurance. This fire is supposed to have originated from a lamp that had been left burning in the store. From this building the flames rapidly spread to the adjoining general merchandise store of J. W. & E. E. Hartline. and in a short time only heaps of smouldering ashes remained to tell the tale. The loss of the latter firm was $5,000 covered by $3,000 insurance. D. C. Johnson lost a building valued at $1,000 upon which there was no insurance.
Four years later, January 17, 1896, three people lost their lives in a fire at Almira: John Lewis, aged 16; Henry Lewis, aged 11, and William Taylor, aged 21. The Lewis boys, whose parents had separated some years before and left Almira, were living alone in a small shack in the town. The Taylor boy was passing the night with them. Efforts to save these young men were unavailing, and when the embers had cooled their charred remains were found.
In February, 1903, the Almira Outlook editorially said;
"Three years ago (beginning of 1900), the town of Almira was. practically, at a stand-still. At that period it had, perhaps, one hundred inhabitants. Many of the buildings were beginning to look old and worn. A small amount of business was done compared with what is now transacted. Nearly three-fourths of the townsite was not on the market, most of it having against it delinquent taxes of from six to ten years standing. The remainder was not considered as valuable, but was held by parties from outside whose prices were not
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attractive to purchasers. To all this, soon after, was added a rumor that the title to the first mentioned property was not clear, it being said that competent authority had made a report to that effect. This, however, proved to be erroneous."During the years 1900 and 1901 Almira took on a new life. Fresh enterprises were inaugurated in the town, the population increased, and from a country village it began to merge into a prosperous town. The Big Bend Outlook of January 17, 1902, said:
"Almira is still growing. If you don't believe it, come and see for yourself. During the past twenty months activity in building has scarcely diminished at any one time. There has been no sudden impetus, no 'mushroom growth,' in a single night, a day, or even six months, but there has been a steady increase. With the exception of a short period last winter, from one to six buildings have been in progress of construction during all seasons of the year."In April, 1902, the assessor's population was given as 289. This included only residents on the platted townsite.
The first steps toward incorporating Almira were taken Monday, April 30, 1903. A mass meeting was called to discuss the matter. About sixty residents were present and the subject was warmly debated by nearly all of the leading citizens. There was manifested to the enterprise some opposition. A vote was taken, and at that time only five present registered themselves as opposed to the proposition. Then it was decided to circulate a petition asking permission of the county commissioners to vote on the question. Saturday, May 23d, was named as the date for holding the special election. To the petition there were 67 signers. The special election was held on the day named by the commissioners. There were cast a total of 85 votes, of which 43 were against the measure, and only 39 in favor of incorporation. Had the majority been the other way the officers chosen would have been as the vote shows below. Two tickets were in the field, the "Citi-
zens," and the "Peoples."
For Mayor — J. C. Johnson, C., 65; D. W. Potter. P., 20.
For Councilmen — E. J. Burke, C., 72; C. F. Deets, C., 53; H. M. Thompson, C., 46; Frank Irwin. P., 42; J. Zimmerman, C., 40; A. Nichols, P., 40; W. E. Hersperger, P., 35; W. H. Evers. P., 35; W. A. Rolfe, C., 30; J. W. Henley, P.. 12.
For Treasurer — Van Howard, C, 62; C. M. Phillips. P., 23.
This defeat for incorporation was, doubtless, compassed by divergent views regarding the complexion of the ticket carrying candidates for municipal officers. There was, also, considerable wrangling over the limits of the territory proposed to be incorporated.
The first destructive fire, involving great property loss, occurred Thursday morning, March 21, 1903. It originated in the office of the Almira News, edited by Lee McCarty. Mr. Dallam, the printer, had started a fire in the office and stepped out for a few minutes. Farther than this nothing is known of its inception. The building was owned by J. C. Keller. It had recently been remodeled, with an addition which was used for a lodge room. The wind carried the flames to the east, across the street, but despite this the proximity of the two Thomas Mackler buildings to the printing office, proved their destruction. One of these buildings was occupied by N. O. McKee, as a saloon. The ice house of C. Rust, which stood close to these buildings, was, also, in the path of the fire as was the Rust barn. The latter was saved only by the great exertions of the fire-fighters on that side. Meantime good work was being done on the east side of the street. A large number of men carried water in buckets from nearby wells. Blankets were spread to partially protect some of the plate glass in the stores, especially in the new Keller brick block. Yet in spite of these precautions all but
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two lights on the fire side of the building were ruined.
For a time the Hotel Almira was threatened. This edifice was situated on the north side of the street. Copious showers of water and wet blankets alone saved it. Some of the buildings to the southeast were in danger for awhile, but little injury resulted. The principal losses were the buildings of Messrs. Keller, Mockler and Rust, and the printing plant of the Almira News. The totality of the loss was estimated at $6,000.
In October of the same year another destructive fire visited the city. On the evening of the 27th instant the residents of the place were startled by the alarm of '"fire!" voiced by a number of people. A few rushed to the bell of the Baptist church where the tolling hammer was utilized to warn the inhabitants of the impending disaster. This fire had originated in the kitchen of the Hotel Almira, on the northwest corner of Alain and Third streets, during a brief absence of those who had been in the room. Opinion was divided as to whether the fire was caused by a gasoline lamp or the stove. This portion of the building was old, well seasoned, and it burned fiercely. When discovered the conflagration was beyond control. Mr. Pangborn, one of the proprietors of the hotel, rushed up stairs, rousing the guests as he went and dragging children from their beds in their night clothes. The cook was compelled to jump from a window. From the hotel the fire ate its way west and northward against an almost imperceptible breeze, to the adjoining apartments and buildings, wiping out Dean Brothers' and Chris Walter's saloons, and Knox's meat market, Potter's grocery and Nort. McKee's saloon. It then jumped across the street to the east, destroying the postoffice building, but here the flames were, for the first time, held in check. The most desperate battle was that made to save the Palace barber shop, a short distance north of the postoffice on the east side of Third street. Several ladies here distinguished themselves by their timely efforts in fighting fire. The private system of water works in connection with the barber shop materially aided in saving this property. Had it taken fire it is highly probable that several other buildings would have been destroyed. As is was $100 covered the loss in this quarter.
Other buildings that required herculean work to save were the combined residence and shop of Peter Peterson, the Hughes & King store, on the east, Hughes' blacksmith shop, on the west, Blinn's warehouse, Felder's jewelry store and Hays' implement addition on the north and the Mitchell & Salter livery barn on the southwest. The plate glass in Hughes & King's store, the Palace barber shop and Keller's store was badly damaged. Among the heaviest losers from this fire were Postmaster McCleary, A. H. Knox, and Pangborn & Aldridge. The postoffice building belonging to J. C. Keller, was without insurance, but this loss was light. Not an article of D. W. Potter's grocery stock was saved, and it was with great difficulty that he secured his books. He carried about $1,200 insurance. The Hotel Almira, owned by Mrs. F. Heffenish. was insured for something over $2,000, a figure much below cost. Mads Peterson owned the buildings occupied by Henry Knox, as a meat market; they were insured. Nearly all of the buildings destroyed by this blaze were promptly replaced by better structures.
Incorporation of Almira was finally effected. The second election to vote on the proposition was held Friday, January 22, 1904. Quite a little opposition was manifested, in fact, for a while, sufficient to cause some of its supporters to fear defeat at the polls. However, this opposition was greatly exaggerated, and it served the purpose of consolidating a large vote among the friends of the project. There were cast 76 votes, 56. for, and 20 against incorporation. Only one ticket for municipal officers was in the field. Following were the officials elected: Mayor, J. C. Johnson; treasurer, Van
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Howard; councilmen, Charles T. Deets, A. W. Blinn, J. C. Keller, F. E. Kunz and N. O. McKee.
There are three church organizations in Almira, Baptists, Methodists and Congregationalists. Of fraternal societies there are Almira Tent No. 82, K. O. T. M.; Almira Hive No. 49, I. O. T. M.; Almira Camp No. 9,204, M. W. A.; Almira Lodge No. 192, I. O. O. F.; Almira Lodge No. 127, A. F. & A. M., and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. At present the population of Almira is about 400.
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