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INTRODUCTION TO ELMER CITY
Elmer City was originally platted on a portion of Elmer Seaton's homestead purchased by W. H. Starkey from Mrs. Seaton in the fall of 1933 after Mr. Seaton's death. At the time of the sale Mr. Starkey made a verbal agreement with Mrs. Seaton to which he faithfully adhered - that insofar as possible the town would be developed as a normal residential community suitable for family life.
ELMER CITY FORMERLY ELMERTON
Elmer City is located two miles north of Coulee Dam. It was originally called Elmerton but in 1939 was renamed Elmer city. it was platted in 1933-1934; a well was drilled; lots were laid out and sold; and water lines were laid. These usually froze during the winter necessitating hauling water in milk or garbage cans from the spring in Koontzville which is about a mile farther north. New water systems were laid later on. Electricity was not brought in until 1935 when a line was built north from M.W.A.K., contractors for the base of the dam. The Nespelem Valley Electric Coop was formed in 1944 or 1945 and took over the electric service.
The Bill Beery house on Front Street, where the new home of Milo Bushnell stands, was the first home in town. It was built on skids, as were most of the first houses, and was moved in from Coulee Dam in October, 1934. At that time Dewey Paisley was building his home. Andy Graham came about the same time. Royal Rohland, who graded the streets, William Belou, and Clayton Walker came a little later.
The first store in the entire area in 1933 was the Trading Post. It was on wheels and was given much publicity as the "Biggest Little Store by a Damsite". It was owned by E. A. Betz and William Rosholt of Almira and was first located where the Green Hut now stands. Later it was moved to Grand Coulee. When John Michaud started running the store at Thanksgiving time in 1934 it was moved to Elmerton.
In 1935 Michaud had lumber hauled in from north of Spokane for his new store building. his was the first business in town except for Starkey's Real Estate Office. The new store was built on the southwest corner of Williams and Seaton Streets. Starkey's office was across the street to the north and had living quarters in the back of the building. The night before the store was opened Mr. Michaud hired an orchestra and gave a big dance in the empty store building. A big crowd attended. After it was over Mr. Michaud and several other men spent the rest of the night moving in his equipment and the stock from the little Trading Post. He was ready for business in the new Trading post the next morning much to the surprise of the residents of the town.
The winter of 1935 was so cold that the river froze over.
At first school was a problem. The children had to be taken care of by the Nespelem District. Members of the community thought it too hard on the younger children to travel this distance and decided to do something about it. They gave entertainments, had basket
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socials, and donated labor to build a two-room building in 1935 for the four lower grades. The upper grades still attended at Nespelem. The lumber for the school was purchased through M.W.A.K. at quite a saving. In 1936 and 1937 they added two more rooms with the social room below. The schoolhouse thus became the social center of the town. In 1942 the part of the Nespelem District which is south of Belvedere was consolidated with the Coulee Dam Schools. The upper grades then attended school in Coulee Dam. The lower grades continued to attend here until 1949 when the school was closed. Mrs. Eunice Seaton and Miss Mary Lou Wayman, who is now Mrs. Jack Stuart of Elk, Washington, were the first teachers.
In 1935 J. M. Koontz bought about 100 acres of Indian land from Wilson Joe. The Indian land was opened up for sale for just one year. Wilson Joe and Antoine Francis were drowned when attempting to string a telephone cable for the Indian Agency across the Columbia at about the point where the Standard Oil Plant now stands.
Mr. Koontz's first sub-division was in 1937 - the Elmerton East Shore Tracts which were west of the highway along the river. Four other sub-divisions were added to it later. L. M. Kinder built the first house in the Koontz Additions. It is now occupied by Eva Ford. Mr. Kinder developed and ran a golf course near his home for two or three years. The first business house in the Koontz addition was the garage and the service station owned by W. F. Bennett. It was on the southeast corner of Third and River Drive.
In 1943 the 35 or 40 acres which comprised the Coulee Dam Coop and Tracts lying to the north of the original townsite were bought from J. M. Koontz. Water is pumped from the river for irrigation and the town supplies water for household use. Many nice homes have been built here and more are under construction. Many fruit trees as well as shade trees were planted.
Early mail service for Elmer City was by Star Route from Almira to Nespelem. Many residents picked up their mail in Coulee Dam after that post office was built.
The town felt the need for a post office. The Post Office Department refused to grant an office until the name of the town was changed. Elmerton was similar to Elberton, Washington which already had a post office and confusion would result. The name of Elmer City was chosen and the post office was opened June 19, 1939. It was on the northeast corner of River Drive. After the completion of the new highway it was moved to the present location on the highway in the Tillman Store building.
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April 4, 1947, Elmer City became an incorporated town including the original plat, the Koontz Additions and the Coulee Dam Acre Tracts. The first mayor was Albert Kelso. The first council meeting was April 4, 1947. Council members were John Michaud, Evelyn Keaton, Boyd Hanna, Ralph Sanders, and M. W. Wendorf. A. M. Link was secretary and Eva Ford was treasurer. Later the offices of secretary and treasurer were combined. With the coming of the incorporation came many improvements such as black-top streets, better street lighting, and a town marshal.
One of the serious problems of the early days was the danger of fire. A volunteer fire department had been formed by 1937 or 1938. In the fall of 1945 the present fire district was formed and a truck was purchased in 1948. The district is on a volunteer basis but the fire hazards have been greatly reduced by the improvement in the construction of houses and better heating systems. Enforcing the law of not burning weeds and rubbish during the summer has also helped to cut down the fires.
The Elmer City Commercial Club, which was formed March 3, 1944, was a rebirth of a similar group which had functioned earlier. Mr. J. W. Roeschlaub was elected first president, Mrs. W. F. Mason Vice-President, and Eva Ford Secretary-Treasurer. A board of governors was also elected. This club was very active up to the fall of 1955. It was a source of community social life as well as civic improvements such as street lighting, clean-up campaigns, telephone system, better streets, street markers, regular garbage disposal, county roads and the incorporation of the town. They sponsored the Boy Scout Troop. About 100 maple trees were planted along Third, Seaton, and Williams Streets. Some were made available for residents at low cost. The annual Christmas parties and the Easter Egg Hunts were sponsored by the group besides a number of dances. Funds were donated to the Apple Blossom Festival Princesses for a number of years.
The tennis courts on the southeast corner of Williams and Seaton Streets were sponsored by the club. The land was given by Otis Tillman. They were surveyed, leveled off, and the retaining wall poured in the fall of 1949. The courts wee poured in 1950 and 1951 by donated labor. Money was raised by giving dances on the courts, a dinner, private donations and funds from the city. Nets and fencing were given by Coulee Dam when the old tennis courts were torn out at the time that the business section was rebuilt. Ice skating has been popular on the courts during the colder winters.
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Our highest population was about 1950 when we reached the 596 mark. The contract to repair the "bucket" of the dam by Pacific Bridge brought in many new families.
The high water of 1948 was hard on the residents of the East Shore Tracts along the river. Later these homes were all removed due to the building of the Chief Joseph Dam.
A new well was drilled for the town high enough so there would be no danger of flooding after Chief Joseph Dam was built.
Prepared by Mrs. Al Link of Elmer City
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| 1935 Map |
DELANO
One of the well known communities of the area is Delano. it is located a mile south of Grand Coulee on the former Canady homestead. Electrical service came from the Grand Coulee System and water from Mrs. Canady's water system, now owned and operated by Clinton Vance.
Mrs. Canady and the late William Canady came to the coulee in 1905. Of the 320 acres which they homesteaded, Mrs. Canady has nearly 100 left, the rest having been sold to the government and private individuals for homes. Ten acres were bought by the Ridge Riders for their new home and show arena. Mrs. Canady is now residing in Almira.
Edith Rinker
LONE PINE
The land on which Lone Pine is located has the unusual distinction of being one of the last homesteads to be taken up in the State of Washington under stock grazing law. This was in 1932. In 1936 Thomas Lee of Palisades brought his family here to live while he worked on the dam and built the first cabin at Lone Pine.
The settlement, which is located on highway 10! about a mile below Grand Coulee Dam, is very proud of the fact its water system has been rated the purest in the state.
Close by the river the town enjoys its own sandy beach. The U.S.B.R. barge docks are located near and are a point of interest to local people and tourists.
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KOONTZVILLE
Koontzville is located along the Columbia River below Elmer City. It is a beautiful little community with practically every family a home owner and with some of the most attractive yards in the area.
Started in 1934 by J. M. Koontz, for whom the town was named, the land is leased from the U. S. Indian Service by Mr. Koontz and subleased to the residents, who own their own homes.
Edith Rinker
ELECTRIC CITY
It is the lot of a few home dwellers to become a town and then to see a lake formed at the very edge of its dwelling place.
In the year 1935 about six miles from the site of the dam, two real estate men, Hugh Goodfellow then of Wenatchee, and Mr. Lundstrom of Seattle, realizing the possibilities of the area were instrumental in the beginning of Electric City as a permanent town. It wasn't long until an influx of home-seekers and businesses and soon after, civic and social organizations made real the visions of the two men and a town was born. Some of the businesses were:
Earl's Garage - A resident of this area since 1939, Earl Samsel owner of Earl's Garage, is one of the better known merchants of the area.
K. C. Will Service Station - Started their service station at Osborne in 1936 with Union Oil.
Upright Grocery - Established 1941. Late Mr. Batterman ran the meat department.
Delano Tavern - When Les Stanley moved his Delano Tavern to Electric City in 1946 he kept the same name for his business.
Gateway Tavern - Owner Robert Cross. A pioneer business of the era, serving Electric City and vicinity since 1933.
ELECTRIC CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Organized in 1939, the Tri-City Fire Department has served the residents of Electric City and offers protection to Osborne and Delano as well. Manned by volunteers and equipped through contributions of the residents of these towns, the department meets regularly and keeps prepared to respond to any alarm.
Meetings are held at the fire hall in Electric City. This hall and a completely equipped fire truck are the property of the department.
Edith Rinker
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GRAND COULEE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Grand Coulee Fire Department was started due to the farsightedness of our very first businessmen.
In the early construction days of Grand Coulee in 1934, the largest part of our stores were located in the general area of our present B Street. The merchants of this area decided that it was high time that they had some sort of fire protection so they took up a collection and secured enough money to purchase a 1931 Buick pickup and installed a centrifical pump on it and this became our first fire truck.
Archie Elliot and Jerry Way were the men who overhauled this pickup and Elliot became our first Fire Chief. This first fire department was strictly financed and maintained through donations by our early businessmen. Later on they were able to purchase a 1935 Ford fire truck which is now still being used by the city only in a different capacity, that of a utility truck for the sewer department.
Later on in 1937, as the City of Grand Coulee was growing much larger, our town fathers decided that it needed further fire protection and they started a department in the Center, which had 15 volunteers and a chief. In that same year the city also took over the B Street department and each department was paid $50.00 a month plus maintenance costs. Also the city purchased a 1936 Chevrolet fire truck which is still being used by the department. Archie Elliot remained Chief of both departments until Cliff Ludloph took the helm in 1939.
In the early days of our community, the men on the department were highly praised for their part in fighting some of the larger fires the city had. At times whole blocks caught fire and was through the efforts of these men that the buildings across the street and adjacent blocks were saved. Some of the men that were in the department at that time are W. W. Brewer, Charles Goldfoot, L. L. Egbert, Ed Pullin, Pete Caldwell, H. Lundburg, Frenchie LaCombe, E. Rauch, Charles Moran, Art Howe, Roy Mondy, Roy Bernd, and Al Garaud.
In 1949 a tragedy struck the department when the very able and well liked Chief Cliff Ludloph was killed in an automobile accident. His brother Speed Ludloph then took over as Chief. The following fall the athletic field at the new Grand Coulee High School was dedicated and named Cliff Ludolph Field.
M. O. Baker took over as chief in 1953, replacing Speed Ludloph, and is our chief at the present time.
In 1947 the fire department put on a fund raising campaign to purchase a resuscitator which has been used on many occasions in their fire fighting and first aid work.
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In 1956 the Center Department put on a fund raising campaign through the sale of Fire Prevention Seals, to obtain enough money to be used to purchase and equip a 1948 Grand Coulee School bus to be used as their rescue and first aid vehicle. The following year another drive was held and proceeds used to further equip this vehicle.
On the 1st of January, 1958, the Center and B Street Departments were combined and are using the fire barn in the Center. The present membership is 26 volunteers and one chief.
Down through the years it has been an annual occurrence for the Department to hold a Thanksgiving Eve dance and also to solicit funds from the merchants of this area at that time to have Santa Claus visit the children at Christmas with sacks of candy. Every year they put up a Christmas tree with lights in front of the City Hall.
THE COULEE DAM FIRE DEPARTMENT
At the beginning of construction of Grand Coulee Dam the contractors, M.W.A.K. Company, were required to maintain a fire department to keep their insurance premiums down. They employed two full time firemen and the rest of the personnel were supervisors and others who fought fire without receiving any remuneration.
Shortly thereafter, in 1935, the U.S.B.R. organized a fire department and secured a 1934 Chevrolet 500 gallon per minute pumper. A combination fire station and garage building was built and still stands on Okanogan Street, just below the Standard Oil Service Station on the west side of Coulee Dam. Mr. W. C. Rice, who recently retired, was the first fire chief for the U.S.B.R. He did this along with his many other duties. Firemen were garage mechanics and town maintenance men who received no special privileges nor rewards for risking their lives; they answered calls at all hours. Three men received their living quarters at the rear of the fire station for their services as firemen. Wayne Butler and C. E. Benjamin, along with Mr. Rice were the backbone of the department.
At the beginning of the war in 1941 Art Stiles, who was an inspector on construction and who previously had had several years as a paid fireman on the City of Yakima Fire Department, became assistant Fire Chief to Chief W. C. Rice. About this time the contractors' fire department disbanded and one of their paid firemen, came over with the government as a paid fireman. His main job was maintenance of fire equipment. The government took over the 1935 Chevrolet fire truck from the contractor and housed it next to the Federal Guard Station on the east side.
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W. C. Rice retired as fire chief in 1945 and Art Stiles took over as chief. In the meantime Earnest Woodring had passed away and was replaced by Ed Ramm. The department continued to operate with garage mechanics and town maintenance crews, inspectors, photographers and engineers until 1950, without pay of any kind. In 1950 the Firemen's Association was organized with Roy Terou as the first president. Robert T. Green, city Manager, was largely instrumental in starting the association.
The object of the association is to promote and foster better training and fire fighting methods and to cultivate a spirit of fellowship among members. A regular fireman does not have to be a member of the association but no one may become a member of the association who is not a regular fireman.
In 1947 the department secured a 1942 Chevrolet surplus fire truck. In 1950 a new 1000 gallon per minute American-LaFrance pumper was purchased. At this time there were six full paid men and thirty part time men. In 1950 the government decided to pay overtime to the fire fighters when fighting fire on their own time.
At the present time there are three full time men who have other duties besides fire fighting and twenty-two part time firemen who are paid at overtime rate for fighting fires on their own time. The department has three old fire trucks and the fourth is eight years old. The U.S.B.R. furnishes and maintains all equipment, pays all wages and sends firemen to the State Fire School. The apparatus is housed in three fire stations and the pumping plant.
Fire runs during the latter forties ran from 10 to 75 annually and also in the early fifties. Fire losses in 1946, 1947, and 1948 were not under $100,000 annually for any of the tree years and ran as high as $200,000 a year. Fire runs the last several years have run from 16 to 20 with less than $100 loss for each of the past two years. The largest loss was approximately $6,000 in the Paul Bunyan three years ago.
The firemen give an annual dance to raise money to support the Fireman's Association. Some members have active and responsible positions at the State level in civil defense. Most members belong to organizations of some kind or another. Charles Peck is vice president of the Washington State Firemen's Association and will be president next year.
Several years ago the fire department sent a competitive hose team to the Annual State Meet and in 1950 won first place at Port Angeles. Two members of that team, Bob Milliken and Charles Peck, are still in the department.
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Wayne Butler and C. E. Benjamin, who were retired as firemen a few years ago, along with Bob Garen and Charles Peck, deserve a lot of credit for keeping a good fire department in existence. Early in 1950 the Coulee Dam Fire Department entertained over 200 fire chiefs from the largest cities of the East; other prominent names connected with the fire services have been guests of the Coulee Dam Fire Department. Most members have held up-to-date certificates from the State Board Fire Training Program.
Art Stiles, Fire Chief
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