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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Bertram (Bert) Uddenberg, Sr. 1894-1963



The name Uddenberg always brings to mind grocery stores.  After all the first thing Captain Axel Uddenberg did after his family arrived in Gig Harbor in 1907 was to open a grocery store and meat market on the first floor of his newly built home.  And the name Uddenberg remained associated with the grocery business until 1997 when his grandson, Keith Uddenberg sold his chain of grocery stores which stetted from Everett to Vancouver, WA.

But we are going to concentrate on one of Axel’s other sons, and Keith’s uncle:  Bertram Uddenberg, Sr., known familiarly as Bert.  Naturally Bert worked in his father’s groceries stores from age 16 until 1918 when he left to join the US Army where he served in the Medical Corps.  Bert had gotten married the year before to Ebba Gustafson.

It is said that Bert had a strong belief in the future of automobiles.  Was he aware of the first steam driven tractor in 1771; the steam buggy built in Canada in 1867 or Karl Benz’s gas cars in 1886 or the first German electric car in 1888?  Who knows. But he was aware of the appearance of automobiles and their impact here at home before the war, and even more so after the war ended.   The early cars  making news were the following: Model T Ford 1908; Chevrolet 1911; Dodge 1914 and Plymouth in 1928.  Of course there was the impact and also the use of combat vehicles during the war.  So he could easily see how the automobile would effect the  future 

Remembering the hard work involved in loading up a wheelbarrow full of groceries, pushing it up the Soundview Drive hill to deliver to the fishermen’s wives when their husbands were fishing most likely made the lure of selling automobiles appealing, and, he hoped, profitable.

When the war ended and Bert came home, rather than working in his father’s grocery store, he opened Gig Harbor Garage in north Gig Harbor. There he serviced and sold a small fleet of Fords provided by Howe Motor, Port Orchard, WA, a business model similar to being a franchise partner.  By mid-1920s Bert became Gig Harbor’s Dodge-Plymouth dealership.  

Bert Uddenberg's first Gig Harbor Garage across the street from Finholm's Grocery Store.  Jeannette Uddenberg on running board, Lola Uddenberg and Rick VanDerWorde in vehicle

As his business grew and sales volume increased he and his dealership caught the eyes and ears of the Ford Motor Company and in 1932, he was appointed Gig Harbor’s first Ford dealer selling V8 Fords.  He built a new garage and dealership building at the corner of Harborview Drive and Stinson Avenue.  The building still stands and is currently occupied by Speedy Glass, and I believe, Lighthouse Marine occupies the yard.
1932 Bert Uddenberg Motors corner of Stinson Avenue & Harborview Drive

Bert based his business model on the same ideals his father used in the grocery business:  service and fair dealings with his customers.  Immediately following opening the new location he placed an ad in the local newspaper, Peninsula Gateway, advertising “Western Oil - 10 cents a quart; Eastern Oil 25 cents a quart; Grease job 75 cents with oil change”.  “Changing oil required draining the transmission as well as the crankcase-both were lubricated by the same oil.  A grease job consisted of filling the grease cups - a screw down type.  Flat tires were patched when they happened unless the inner tube was need; it was tucked under the back seat.”  
Bert Uddenberg Motors

Another ploy he used in attracting new customers occurred when a new Ford assembly plant opened in Seattle.  He offered free transportation to the assembly plant for any prospective customers so they could see the work and assembly of Ford cars - 300 cars assembled daily.  These field trips worked to Bert’s advantage and did exactly what he hoped they would do: create new buyers and long-term customers..

But he continued his involvement in the community where he was instrumental in equipping the local peninsula fire districts, the Gig Harbor Police department and the utility companies as well as the school districts.  He had three fire trucks equipped in Chicago and driven by to the Gig Harbor peninsula and their final homes.  Perkins Funeral Home purchased the peninsula’s first funeral coach from Bert Uddenberg.  And, in 1948, he delivered the first patrol car, a Ford V8 panel, to the new Town of Gig Harbor.
Peninsula Light Company's Trucks

When WWII caused the auto business to slow down because gasoline, fuel oil, tires and cars because of rationing from 1942 until 1945, Bert made another innovative business decision.  Exercising his innate business acumen he changed the dealership showroom into a grocery store with a soda fountain which his daughters ran.  Jack “Jake” Bujacich was the stock boy.  (Jake also fished with his uncle, brother and father and in 1944 joined the Merchant Marines, after the war became one of Gig Harbor’s first police officers, was mayor of Gig Harbor, a Pierce County Commissioner, Pierce County Executive, and so much more.)
Bert Uddenberg Motors Gasoline Station at Harborview Drive & Stinson Avenue

In 1961, Bert decided to retire from the auto business and sold his dealership and auto business to Stieg Gabrielson and Joe Henderson.  He kept though the insurance office at the dealership and specialized in selling fire fighting equipment.

Despite the other garages, car dealers and gasoline stations in Gig Harbor, Bert Uddenberg Sr.  has been credited by many as “putting the Peninsula on rubber tired wheels.  He was progressive in his thinking and business practices and a leader in the civic life of the (Gig Harbor peninsula) area.”

Although he died in the spring of 1963, his memory lives on.

Note:

  • The Peninsula Gateway, April 1972 Bill Newton 40th Anniversary Edition
  • Gig Harbor Life - Uddenberg Family Roots Grow Deep in Harbor History 8/30/10
  • Gig Harbor Life - The Bujacich Brothers - Elders of Gig Harbor’s Fishing Community 8/28/10
  • SCW Little Histores Gig Harbor Washington by Jack R. Evans

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, November 14, 1883

Cloudy & very pleasant.  After grinding my knives came down & procured some fuel for Baby then gave her a drink.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Libraries (or Love of Books and Reading)

With October 2014 being National Book Month I started thinking about those top 10 lists on books.  And so, I found that 
in a recent survey of the top 10 cities for book lovers, Spokane rated 9th.  I thought it was surprising that Seattle didn’t make this list, especially with its close proximity to universities, businesses especially the tech industry.  And then, there is the beautiful main library which made the top 10 libraries in Seattle with all its many branches  where many readers first begin to feed the need for books, and more books.  But surprisingly, Seattle did make the top 10 lists  and for bookstores!  So why not readers?

But even more surprising was the historical timeline on the Pierce County Library System for the Gig Harbor Pierce County Library.  The sub-title “Highlights in the history of the Gig Harbor Library”.  Their history starts with the incorporation of Gig Harbor; it overlooks all the access to books and reading the  early settlers and residents provided the community.  

The early Scandinavian settlers in Little Norway brought books with them and before their first school was built in 1900, met in various homes for social gatherings including music, reading, church services and other social activities.

The Gig Harbor Grange #445 helped work to establish the Pierce County Rural Public Library in the 1930s prior to the ballot measure being placed on the ballot in 1944..

And, of course, we mustn’t overlook Home and its contributions to education, newspapers and reading in their community.  Their newspaper covered local, national and even international news and included a list of books and pamphlets for sale.  Although Home is known mostly for scandal surrounding President McKinley’s assassination and anarchist views, their contributions to early education including reading should be more widely explored. 

The Gig Harbor Fortnightly Club started a library in 1908 where the library was first housed in the basement of the Uddenberg residence.  Each Saturday afternoon, members took their turn acting as librarian.  The club and its funds were used to purchase books and to maintain the library, and books were also donated by interested friends.  Today, as then, there was a volunteer group aptly named “Friends of Gig Harbor Library” who assist in activities such as book sales (sorting, crating, stocking shelves, set-up, clean-up, and of course, the sales themselves).

1907 Fortnightly Club Members

The Gig Harbor Fortnightly Club moved their first library from Uddenberg’s basement to the home of Dr. Tymms where it remained until 1914.  It’s next home was in the Kendall’s store, and in 1919 moved once again, this time to the telephone office owned by Mrs. J. D. Fuller until 1921, then another move to the Sweeney Building.  In 1935 c., Jeanne Sellers Roby wrote in a letter to the Editor of the Peninsula Gateway, “At present, our school libraries are rapidly growing, and becoming a real credit to the districts supporting them, and the Tacoma libraries are no longer nearly two hours away by steamers that made two or possibly more round trips, and stopped everywhere —or so it seemed to passengers.  So, with increasing difficulties of housing and restocking their library, the Fortnightly Club is now regretfully laying aside their commendable pioneer venture.”  

In 1962 the Gig Harbor Yacht Club, then six years old, purchased the building. The club (Fortnightly Club) members then reestablished the practice of meeting in the members’ homes and could then turn what was used for the building’s expenses to better advantage of the community. “Probably the most photographed check in local history” was then presented to Ruth Bogue, president of the Gig Harbor Library Board. The check was for $3,000. 
Public Library before it was moved 5/1/1953 - Frank Shaw Collection

Skip forward to November 7, 1944 and the residents of Pierce County pass a ballot measure creating the Pierce County Rural Library District.  In May 1946, the first library station in the new district is opened in Gig Harbor.  It was located at the head of the harbor in what was referred to as “John Finholm’s Shed and housed 200 books.  Laura (Mrs. Harold) Smythe and Miss Lucy Goodman act as the librarians and it is open six hours every Wednesday.  John Sweeney ran electricity over to the ‘new’ library from his home at no charge, Spadoni Brothers provided oil at a minimal charge.  Others throughout the community also stepped in to provide various volunteer gifts of labor and materials to improve the building and to keep the library operating.  Laura Smythe remained as librarian for 10 years, and then in 1956 became the assistant librarian aboard the bookmobiles where she continued until 1976.
1946 Library Group

Bookmobiles - what a wonderful service to so many people in rural communities and especially the children and for schools with limited resources and small libraries of their own.  Once again, according to Gladys C. Para’s January 8, 1986 article in the Peninsula Gateway “Library opened in Gig Harbor”, Gig Harbor had the first regular bookmobile run .  Imagine 11 stops two days a month on the Peninsula.  The stops were determined wherever five or more families living 2 or more miles from the community library asked to be put on the regular schedule.  They carried approximately 2,000 books, a librarian and assistant librarian to book lovers living in the greater Gig Harbor community.  This service was eliminated by Pierce County Library in 2012.

In the 1960s, the Gig Harbor Library moved to a downtown area building and when the new Gig Harbor City Hall (now Timberland Bank building) was built, the library moved into the former city hall (now housing Gig Harbor Visitor’s/Chamber of Commerce) where it remained until 1981.  

1981 saw the community become rather frustrated when at first the Gig Harbor Library did not renew its contract with the Pierce County Library System.  Then more frustration, when the library decided to move outside the city limits to Point Fosdick and change its name from Gig Harbor Library to Peninsula Library, and where it rejoined the Pierce County Library System.  In 1988 the City of Gig Harbor annexed the area where the library was situated.  1990 the Pierce County Library District Bond Funds are used to build a 15,000 sq. ft. building at 4424 Pt. Fosdick Drive NW.  2005 sees the library close for remodel and reopen.

April 2006 sees the Gig Harbor Peninsula Library become the first branch to install Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing internet access for personal laptops in the Pierce County Library System.  

So Gig Harbor may not show up on any of the top lists for readers or libraries, it has a long history and love affair with books.  Think about it - Gig Harbor, a city of 7,798 people, has three book stores:  one prior owned books, one new books and one a combination of both.  The love affair continues!

Population:
  • 1946 770
  • 1960 1,094
  • 1980 2,429
  • 1990 3,236
  • 2006 6,765
All photographs are property of Harbor History Museum unless otherwise noted 


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, November 7, 1883

Morning quite pleasant so took scow & started for Dow's family but wind came up and we were lucky to get there at all.  But we did get in at 6 o'clock so staid over night.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, October 31, 1883

quite pleasant. Got our steam done, made & put in the F. J. came along & hurled us away to Seattle  He too is having some trouble & must have some sympathy, hence --- & here we are.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Gig Harbor Man Murdered



Imagine how you feel whenever you hear on the news, or read in the newspaper, that a local resident has been murdered.  The first thought is why?  The second who did the deed?  And then we calm down and try to understand the whys and wherefores of the incident.  Generally always, we are shocked and rarely understand how such an act or why is was committed.

Well, the Gig Harbor community felt the same sense of shock when they read the Tacoma News Tribune on the evening of June 14th, 1920 or the following Wednesday, in the Peninsula Gateway an account of a murder of one of its residents.

The man murdered was John Magnus Sather, a Gig Harbor businessman.  Sather was born in Norway in 1880, and immigrated to the US as a young man.  He had married Amanda  (Theodora Amanda Simonette Tollefsen.   The had four children:  Marion*, Jean, Leona (Lettie) and John Jr.   John Jr. was the youngest child, having been born the year before in 1919. 

The account of the murder as related in the Tacoma News Tribune reads as follows:

The body of Sather was found on a fishing scow which he had been using as an office and where he slept.  There were two bullet holes in the body, two in his arm and one through his hand.  His head was battered in with the butt of a revolver.  (the next few words I cannot read and some are missing) Sather grappled with the murderer, who used two more shots, which entered Sather’s body.  To make sure that his victim was dead, the authorities believe, the murderer then struck the crumpled form over the head with the butt of the revolver.

That the murder was committed by someone who was well acquainted with that part of Neah Bay, and who knew Sather had a large sum of money in his possession, is accepted as a fact by the authorities.  The search is being continued with this idea in view, it was stated Tuesday, and the possibility that revenge as well as robbery was the cause behind the crime is being given considerable attention.”

The article continues:  “It is believed that the murder was committed last Friday night, for at that time a fisherman reported he heard five shots, but he did not investigate.  On Saturday night Mr. Martin and another man, having not seen Sather for a few days, went to the scow, where they discovered the body.  Five 45-caliber shells were lying nearby.  Every indication pointed to a short but furious struggle.

The body was brought to Tacoma Tuesday morning.  Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Sather was born in Norway in 1880, and came to this country as a young man.”

“The body was brought to Gig Harbor Thursday noon and interment took place in the Gig Harbor cemetery.”

Find-a-Grave Memorial shows that John Magnus Sather was born May 24, 1880 and have his death listed as Sep. 10, 1920 in Gig Harbor, Pierce County, Washington.  However, we know, based upon the news article that his death actually occurred in June.  His grave is in the Gig Harbor Cemetery, Plot: Lot 7, Sec. 2, #5.

Amanda and John’s daughter Lettie married Peter Sound, Marion or Matilda (this name is listed both ways) married Ruldolph Moller.  John Jr. served in the US Army during WWII as a Sergeant and died in 1977, and is also buried in the Gig Harbor Cemetery, Plot: Lot 7, Sec 2, #8.  
Source: Agnes Sund Ward  
Date: May 1975  
The 7 Tollefson Sisters, 3 of whom settled in Gig Harbor.  
Sitting, from left: Emma Peterson missionary to India; Mathilde Moller; Amanda Sather; Mrs. Tollefson; Anna Petrson; Gerhard (Hardy) died of TB at 23.  
Standing: Jennie Anderson; Martha Anderson
 This is the only photo I could find of Amanda Sather; none of her father or her husband..


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, October 24, 1883

Foggy misty & rainy.  Wait for boiler all day but not done at night.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Drugstores in Early Gig Harbor



Have you ever gotten frustrated when trying to put a puzzle together and found that not only were several pieces missing, but even some of the pieces you had didn’t fit nicely into the picture?  If so, you will understand some of the difficulties I found in today’s puzzle on the drugstores in early Gig Harbor.

In the earliest days the local doctors were the ones dispensing drugs, rather than people running to the nearest pharmacies to pick up their medications and related health needs.  The first mention of a drugstore in Gig Harbor that I found was one run by Dr. G. F. Messer in the Polk Directory for Pierce County 1911-1912.  Total population at that time in the Gig Harbor Peninsula was a whopping 50 people.  (Carrie M. Wroten was our postmistress and H. O. Wroten was the town barber.)


By 1922, there was a drugstore in Mrs. Theresa Sweeney’s new multi-commercial building but who was the pharmacist or owner?  According to this picture, it was Allen's Gig Harbor Pharmacy. Did this drugstore decide to move to the new commercial business section of town, when the ferry landing moved to the mouth of the harbor?  When the Gillich-Richardson building (Peninsula Hotel) was completed in 1925/1926, Mr. A. E. Allen opened a drugstore in it.
Mrs. Sweeney's Multi-business Building

In March, 1926, Mr. Harry Tichacek, a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Gig Harbor, purchased Mr. Allen’s drugstore.  Lee Thrash recalls his first venture into business “was the purchase of one half interest in the Gig Harbor Pharmacy from Mr. Harry Tichacek on August 15th, 1927.”

Unfortunately, according to The Peninsula Gateway’s January 31, 1930 issue,  “One evening last week Federal officials raided the Gig Harbor Pharmacy for booze, the outcome of the raid being the arrest of Harry Tichacek and Lee Thrash, who are now under $1,000 bail each.  Tichacek being held for Federal Grand Jury investigation.  They are charged with possession and sale of liquor and with conducting a public nuisance.”  

The Peninsula Gateway goes on to state in an additional entry in the same January 30, 1930 issue that “On Friday of last week the resignation of Harry Tichacek as one of the directors of the First National Bank was accepted by Mr. (Carl) Nielsen, the president of the bank.  The management of the First National Bank is in the hands of competent, reliable men who have been trained in the business, and who have the best interests of the banks patrons and the public at heart.  The readjustment of things is simply in line with the conservative policy which the bank has followed from the beginning.” *
First National Bank of Gig Harbor

By July, 1931 Thrash was able to purchase Tichacek’s remaining one half interest in the drugstore.  He maintained and operated the drugstore known as “The Rexall Store” in the Gillich-Richardson building until 1949.  During that time, Prohibition ended 1934 and Thrash was allowed to sell alcoholic beverages until the State of Washington took over distribution of liquor.  When that happened, Thrash became an agent for retailing liquor in the Town of Gig Harbor.

In 1943, Dr. Arthur S. Monzingo died and Thrash was asked by the community to became their doctor and pharmacist.  He held this position until after WWII when Dr. Warren Wright Bacon started a family practice in Gig Harbor.  Dr. Bacon died age 84 on October 30, 1991 in Edmonds, WA.

In 1949, Thrash partnered with Keith Uddenberg and they built their own building at 3226 Harborview Drive, now owned and occupied by El Puebilto Mexican Restaurant & Cantina as well as other tenants.  One commentary says it had a  bowling alley; another said it was as large as a bowling alley which it became later.
Uddenbery & Thrash Building at 3226 Harborview Drive

Eventually the Gig Harbor Rexall Pharmacy and Drugstore was operated by Lee’s daughter and her husband, Ken Tallman.  Thrash again partnered with Uddenberg in the construction of  the Peninsula Shopping Center on Judson Street.  The drugstore once again moved to the next location  where it remained until 2011 when Tallman sold the business to Walgreens, following a national trend of  independent pharmacies closing because they were unable to compete with chain stores.

NOTES:
* The First National Bank of Gig Harbor was chartered in 1927; it was force liquidation in 1930, paying off 85% of obligations.
*The Peninsula Gateway, January 31, 1930
*Seattle Times, November 11, 1991
*Letter from Lee Thrash to Barbara Pearson

Population:  
  • 1911/12 50 
  • 1950 803
  • 1970 1,657
  • 1980 2,429
  • 2013 7,798

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, October 17, 1883

Cloudy with light mist in PM.  Steamed to Tacoma & took Baby's boiler out & sent it to shops.  Must let the little darling rest.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Spadoni Bros. Inc. Since 1946



I was dropping some items off at the downtown Goodwill location on the corner of Rosedale Street and Stinson Avenue in Gig Harbor, when I noticed this sandwich board.


It brought back a flood of memories when I was working in business insurance and I was assigned to handle Spadoni Bros. Inc. insurance account during the 1980s.  They performed both public and private work:  asphalt paving, land clearing, excavating and road construction.  Their work took them all over Pierce County and ranged from smaller contracts up to $3,000,000 in size.  During the time I helped on their business insurance, I visited this location frequently.

I found this overview of the company in the Research Room at the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor.  This is was published in recognition of their 50th anniversary.  The founding Spadoni Brothers were:  Roy, Julius, Claude and Rudolph and the second generation:  Leonard, John, Roger and Larry.  
Pioneer Way office 1946

SPADONI BROTHERS, INC. has been helping to build Gig Harbor - in the most literal sense of the word build - since they first began logging in 1946.

After Rudolph and Roy returned from WWII, Rudolph joined his other brothers, Julius and Claude (Mike) to start the company and ran the business from their family home.  The only piece of equipment they had was a 1930 Model A Ford truck.  Logging was their primary activity, but the brothers worked at a variety of jobs ranging from house moving to hauling rocks and dirt with that old Model A.

In 1948 the brothers brought the property on the corner of Stinson and Rosedale, where their existing offices remain open for business.  With the property, they purchased the business that occupied that corner, McKenzie Fuel.  The selling of coal & presto logs was now added to their variety of jobs and with the purchase of a bulldozer , their also began to clear land.

In 1950 and 1951, the logging business began to slow down.  To make up for the loss, Spadoni Brothers bought a second bulldozer and began to focus more on land clearing and road building.  With the addition of their brother, Roy, as an employee, the brothers were now ready to move ahead in force.

As the population of the Peninsula continued growing, Spadoni Brothers started to oil mat (tar & gravel) public roads.  To cut the cost of oil matting, they bought rock crushers and a gravel pit in Crescent Valley.  At about this time a contract was let for  building the Fox Island Bridge.  Spadoni Brothers built the approaches to the bridge, working all summer and into the fall, placing fill brought in on barges.  

In the mid 50’s the company started asphalt paving.  They bought their first large grader and developed their first subdivision, West Bridge.  To take advantage of all the construction on the Peninsula they added several dump trucks and other newer equipment to their fleet.  With the increase in paving, they bought their own asphalt plant in 1963.

In 1965, the company was restructured and Roy Spadoni joined the ownership with his three brothers.  The 60’s also brought the advent of the second generation.  The sons started working in the business as soon as they were able to push a broom, hold a shovel, or drive a truck.  They were expected to learn the business from the bottom up.

Throughout the 70’s and 80’s the company continued to expand with more equipment, more employees and the second generation became more involved in the daily operations.

Between 1982 and 1985 the four founding brothers retired.  Julius’ son, Roger, Roy’s sons, John and Larry, and Rudolph’s son Leonard, took over the company’s management.

Spadoni Brothers, Inc. still does a variety of commercial and private jobs, asphalt paving and maintenance, construction, storm grain age, building site development.  “If we can’t do a job, we know someone who can.”

In 1996, Spadoni Brothers, Inc. will celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Julius was born in 1914 in Tacoma, and moved to Gig Harbor at age 6 months, and throughout his life was very private about his numerous charitable activities.  His favorite statement about charity was “A good deed done and made known is of no credit to its doer.”  However, following his death in 1984 and the completion of the boardwalk at Murphy’s Landing, that statement was overlooked.  The City Mayor Ruth Bogue, and marina owners Marvin and Janet Turner dedicated the marina boardwalk to Julius in June 1985.  The next time you walk the waterfront in downtown Gig Harbor, walk along the boardwalk where you will find the placque which reads: “Spadoni Boardwalk dedicated 1985 in memory of Julius Spadoni “The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook” Prov.18.4.

Rudolph a plane crash in 1991 and Roy died in 1994.

But the families and second generation company officers, still wanted to celebrate the milestone of their company, and its history.  

However by the time the calendar moved into a new century the economy started its fluctuations again like in the 80s, and by 2001-2-3 it suffered a downturn.  And, of course, the officers were getting older; they had been running the company for 29 years but working in it for far longer.  That might have played a part in their decision to close the business doors, but I cannot say that with certainty.   They sold the property at the corner of Stinson and Rosedale, Gig Harbor to Steve Skibbs  who leased it to Gig Harbor Dirtworks.  Spadoni Bros. stayed in operation, mostly in cleaning up their other properties and asphalt paving, until September of 2005.

Stinson and Rosedale Office Building & former Equipment Yard

But active or inactive as a construction company, Spadoni Brothers, Inc. and the Spadoni family has played a major part in the history of Gig Harbor.  Some of the members are still active as the sign at the beginning of this blog shows us.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, October 10, 1883

Very fine day.  Loaf around town till 2 PM then bring scow down to Pt. Defiance & leave it to wait for wood & we come on home.


© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.