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CHAPTER V.
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CITIES AND TOWNS — Continued.
CITIES AND TOWNS — Continued.
CRESTON
One of the most eligibly located towns on the line of the Central Washington railway is Creston. It is situated at the foot of Brown's Butte, a gently sloping hill, and a prominent landmark in this locality. It is in the center of what is known as the Brent's country, one of the exceptionally rich farming sections of Lincoln county. The elevation is about 2,500 feet above sea level. The distance west from Davenport is 30 miles. It is surrounded by a wide expanse of exceedingly fertile farming country. The population is about 450.
Of the country surrounding Creston it may be said that it varies in a number of particulars. There are rocky canyons and "scab" lands; there is, also, a large area of farming land that cannot be surpassed anywhere in the western country. Especially is this true of the Brent's country to the north and northwest. The "lay of the land" is ideal for agricultural purposes; the soil is deep and heavy and not subject to frosts that occasionally injure grain farther west; it retains moisture much better than the lighter soil to the south. Still, good homes, surrounded with an air of prosperity are found even in the canyons and "scab" lands. Creston is, annually, the shipping point for from 300,000 to 400,000 bushels of grain, varying with different seasons. In 1902 Orchard Valley marketed at Creston 8,800 boxes of berries and fruits, realizing $70,090, and this, too, at prices below the average of
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other years, or over $222 per acre for the land under cultivation.
Creston, so named because of its elevation, being the highest point on the Central Washington railway came into existence with the building of this road in 1889. The townsite was railroad land. In the spring of 1890 this townsite was platted by H. S. Huson ; the instrument was filed June 23, 1890. The original structure was a store building brought down from Sherman by Henry Verfurth. In it he opened a small store, the first mercantile establishment in Creston. Mr. Verfurth became, also, postmaster when the government decided to establish an office at this point. Nearly synchronous with the arrival of Mr. Verfurth in the prospective town came A. H. Hesseltine, who conducted a blacksmith shop, and Henry Mangus, the latter becoming proprietor of the second store. The Lincoln County Times of May 2, 1890, stated that Creston contained at that period a depot building, a hotel, one or two other small structures — "and prospects of some day becoming a good town." These "prospects" have been amply fulfilled.
But there was scant prosperity the first five years to encourage the new comer. The owners of the townsite went into bankruptcy; a receiver was appointed. In the town proper the population was limited to five or six families. Creston was up against a dead wall — at a standstill. Her neighboring towns were advancing; some rapidly; others more slowly. J. J. Dodd is one of the pioneers of Creston. He settled there in 1893 and began the practice of law. Not until 1897 did the town of Creston come to the front. It will be remembered that this was the year of Lincoln county's "bumper" wheat crop. Then she awakened from a comatose condition new settlers flocked into the immediate vicinity, and the village, keeping pace with its industrial surroundings, began to grow and thrive. The incoming of settlers with some capital was akin to the stimulant of rare old wine. New business firms opened up new establishments. Messrs. Philip Laber and Daniel Worby were important factors in building up the town during this prosperous year. Still, it is a strange, puzzling reflection that Creston should have lain so long dormant while other towns in the county were forging to the front. But the progress she has made since awakening from her cataleptic condition possesses many elements of surprise. As a dot on the map of the state of Washington Creston dates back to the time of the founding of a number of other small towns on the line of the Central Washington railroad. But as a town entitled to rank as important among the Big Bend communities it has but few years of history behind it. Less than four years covers the period of real expansion in Creston. Of course at its inception the town possessed no hall and no secret societies, except perhaps one or two minor organizations in a moribund condition; it had no bank; no mill; no prescription drug store: no furniture emporium — in fact its circle of business was so incomplete that the trade it should have supplied with all things needful was compelled to seek other towns for many of the necessaries of life, saying nothing about the luxuries. And while in those "other towns" the people, of course, purchased many articles which might have been procured at Creston had the assortment of goods been large enough. And thus trade was driven away solely through lack of a few important lines of goods. The town had few substantial dwellings; perhaps half a dozen telephones and no rival lines. There was not a wind pump or tank in the village for sprinkling a lawn or fighting an incipient blaze; there was no newspaper to advertise the town's existence to the outside world
And this doleful condition lingered for years following the platting of Creston. Then "a change came o'er the spirit" of Creston. The Puget Sound and Seattle Wheat Companies
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erected two large and substantial grain ware houses in the fall of 1900. During the succeeding few months Laber & Worby tripled the capacity of their building and increased their building and increased their stock accordingly. Howie's, now Fox's dry goods store was added to the business of the town. A strong lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted. A newspaper appeared on the scene. All things considered there was a transformation of the mise en scene most agreeable and surprising to the inhabitants of Creston. And this sudden manifestation of a new spirit in the town attracted a largely increased trade; stocks of merchandise increased in volume and assortment. The absolute necessity of a hall led to the organization of the Creston Hall Association, and the erection of a fine, commodious auditorium at First and D streets. Before this was completed the Creston State Bank was organized and made ready for occupancy and business. R. E. "Wright's new pharmacy, one of the most elaborate in the Big Bend, was opened beside the new bank. Meanwhile the family of fraternities had been increased by the birth of the Rebekah degree lodge, and lodges of the W. O. W. and A. F. & A. M. Then the mill proposition was taken up — a $35,00 plant — the Creston Roller "Mills, was completed. A large stock of furniture and undertaking goods was opened, at present merged in the partnership stock of Foster & Couper. Smith & Salter opened a new stock of merchandise, the firm subsequently becoming Dodd & Salter. They added a line of farm machinery and implements. Two skilled blacksmiths and machinists eliminated the necessity of traveling to Wilbur or Davenport for work in their line. A new barber shop, another meat market, a jeweler's and general repair shop and the head office of a mining company located in town. The telephone service increased to nineteen in September, 1903, and eighteen in the country. At heavy expense Creston enterprise constructed a wagon road from the town 25 miles northward into the rich mineral belt of the "South Half" of Colville Indian reservation and established one of the best ferries on the Columbia river.
The new movement in home building dotted the town with cottages of the substantial, comfortable order. Nearly all these were built as homes for new comers to the, practically, new town, and today rental property is altogether too scarce. "Within two years the population of Creston doubled; the increase being of a most desirable class of people. One new church was added in 1903, that of the Saints, and a M. E. class (South) was organized. These two, with the older organizations, Presbyterians and Baptists, gave the town that year four religious congregations. And while these marked improvements were taking place within the city, the territory surrounding was being settled by a well-to-do, hospitable and wide-awake people, loyal to the town and proud of the country they have developed from the native bunch grass.
In retrospection go back to the days of 1889. Then was built the Central Washington railway. Creston was only a small trading point with a postoffice, the "jurisdiction" of which extended from the Columbia river to the railroad on the south, with a width of perhaps ten miles east and west. Writing August 7. 1903, the editor of the Creston News said:
The growth of Creston for several years was slow, but about two years ago a new impetus was given to it, since which time the development has been rapid and substantial. The population has doubled and at the election held in April there were 102 persons entitled to vote in the town. New residences have sprung up in every quarter of the town and of a better class, and a large amount of rebuilding and improving has been done. New additions have been platted and real estate values have appreciated steadily.The only fire of any importance in Creston occurred February 4. 1902. It destroyed the
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Sumerlin House, Dr. Lanter's office and the plant of the Creston News. The losses were: W. B. Sumerlin, house, $600, no insurance; Dr. Lanter, $1,000, insurance, $800; D. F. Peffly, $440, insurance, $300. Laber & Worby's loss was small.
The town of Creston became known throughout the length and breadth of the country in August, 1902, as the home of the men who captured Outlaw Harry Tracy. This sensational event is treated in a previous chapter of the "History of Lincoln County."
Initial steps toward incorporation of Creston were taken early in the year 1903. A mass meeting was held January 3d, and it was decided to ask the county commissioners to call an election for the purpose. To this petition there were 82 signers out of a total of 96 legal voters in the town at the time the petition was circulated. To this petition the commissioners acquiesced and the election was set for April 4, 1903. At this election 86 votes were cast, incorporation carried by a vote of 77 to 6. The result of the election for city officials resulted as follows: For mayor, A. E. Stookey, 79; Councilmen: Patrick Kelly, 78; J. M. Dungan, 74; E. W. Watson, 77; Philip Laber,
75; E. Zeigler, 74. Treasurer. F. A. Duncan, 78.
At the present writing there are five church organizations in Creston, viz: Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholic, Saints, and Methodists. With the exception of the Methodists all have church buildings. The fraternal societies are represented by the Creston Lodge. No. 123, A. F. & A. M.; Creston Lodge. No. 174, I. O. O. K.; Creston Star No. 132; Rebekah; Creston Lodge No. 371, W. 0. W.; Blizzard Circle
No. 442. W. O. W.; and M. W. A.
April 20, 1004. Frank M. Spain, state organizer for the Retail Grocers' and General Merchants' Association, completed the organization of a local branch of the Inland Retail Dealers' Association. The firms joining this organization were: Laber & Worby, Jump & Frizzell, Newer & Kiblen, Hough & Glover, W. R. Foster, G. W. Sigler, C. F. Jenne, William Johnson and George B. Rees. Officers elected were: President, T. F. Frizzell; vice president, Philip Laber; secretary, E. J. Winter; treasurer, G. W. Sigler.
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