Gig Harbor Lumber Company

I have been quite interested in Gig Harbor Lumber Company since the early 1980s when I purchased a home in the Millville District of Gig Harbor.  So I have been researching on and off the 3 interrelated companies: Lumber, Logging, and Mill but it is very hard to find comprehensive information on them.    In fact, my home was owned from 1890 until 1897 by George M. Savage who was a pile driver and foreman for the GH Mill Company before he went off to become a very successful businessman first as a contractor in Olympia and then, in Tacoma as Savage & Scofield.

George Savage & Annie Sibley Savage

John Novak and Joseph Dorotich along with their spouses have named the area and platted the Town of Millville on June 23, 1888 after the Gig Harbor Mill which was located on the waterfront nearby.

“Along The Waterfront” complied and written by Students of 1974-75 at Goodman Middle School write on page 21, “…The first mill in Gig Harbor was established in 1887 on the west side of the harbor (platted as Millville).  It was called the Gig Harbor Mill Company, and Frank Hall (one of many settlers from Alberta Lea, Minnesota) was president.  ….The Gig Harbor Mill Company employed a large crew, and soon a shingle mill was built near it. ….Because of the growing industry, men drifted into town, and to house them, a group of rough cabins were built in the vicinity of Dorotich Street and Harborview Avenue.  This area became known as “Millville”.

”An Excellent Little Bay, A history of the Gig Harbor Peninsula” by J. A. Eckrom, tells us on page 64 that “The Gig Harbor mill had a wharf 450 ft. long and 80 ft. wide to handle the volume of lumber flowing to the ports of the world.”  Mr. Eckrom goes on to tell us on page 65 that “In November 1891 the West Coast Lumberman told its readers, “The Gig Harbor mill was sold under foreclosure sale to the Washington National Bank of Tacoma for approximately $23,000 (in 2014 = $605,360).  The purchasers contemplate reorganizing the company as soon as the title is settled, and expect to increase the capital stock to $100,000 (in 2014 = 2,500,000).  (Puget Sound Lumberman, January 1893, p.9.

And, lastly, published in an unknown publication and date (c. 1926) Anna Goodman Wheeler wrote the following:  “During the winter of 1887 and 88 the Gig Harbor Mill Co. was organized with Frank Hall of Alberta Lea as president.  A sawmill was erected on the South Side with George Atkinson as manager, he having previously served in that capacity in the Old Tacoma Mill.  Through his influence a number of vessels came to the harbor for cargoes of lumber, among them being the Republic which took a cargo of one million feet of lumber.  A shingle mill was built near the sawmill and it is due to this that Millville became so named.  Although it is now known as either West Side or South Side.  Near the mill a ship yard was erected which built the Steamer Alberta Lea that, used to make daily trips to and from Tacoma; also a large three-masted schooner called the Vine for Capt. John Burns of Tacoma.”

"Vine" built for GH Sawmill, launched 10/7/1890, commissioned by J. E. Burns, First load of Lumber

Ed Shannon, a columnist for the  Alberta Lea Tribune wrote the following on August 19, 2011: 

 

“The Alberta Lea Colony goes west

When museum volunteer Anita Lotts did the research on the local ties with the communities of Gig Harbor and Tacoma, Wash., she used the word colony for a group of area folks who moved to the Puget Sound region.

She made a list of 20 individuals and families who went west by railroad in the late 1880s.  Before these folks are listed, I want to stress that they did not go as a group.  Instead, they went at different times.  In some situations one person might go out west to check on the situation, then return to Alberta Lea for the rest of the family or friends.

Now here’s the list:  Dr. A. M. Burnham family, Hans E. Knatvold family, Major Frank Hall family, Powell family (Ida Hall), George A. Parker, Ed Parker family, Bunk Bickford family, A. H. Bartlett, J. H. Parker, Ozro Fobes, E. S. Prentice family, Cline Wannemaker, E. E. Budlong, George Hyatt, Capt. George T. Gardner, Gunder O. Gunderson family, Judge Ira A. Town family, Dr. M. M. Dodge family, L. P. Lock family and the Van Vechten family.

Some of these people went west to become a part of the operations of the Gig Harbor Lumber Co.  Several years later when the lumber firm went out of business, a few remained in Gig Harbor and the majority soon ended up in nearby Tacoma or other parts of western Washington.”

So it was of great interest to me when I obtained the incorporation documents from the State of Washington for the Gig Harbor Lumber Company and the Gig Harbor Logging Company showing they were incorporated in 1889.  I have been unable to find any documentation from Pierce County Archives of the State of Washington archives showing a license to operate prior to these articles of incorporation.  Still, I thought it might be of interest to be able to read those documents.  The mill is referenced in the Articles of Incorporation of the Gig Harbor Lumber Company (Article VI).  I realize that not everyone will find the Articles of Incorporation as interesting as i, but i still think they are important, and hopefully give a fuller picture of the companies.

We will start Gig Harbor Lumber Company filed on March 24th, 1888 and follow with Gig Harbor Logging Company filed on March 9th,1889. 

 _________________________________________________________________________

The capital at time of incorporation was $100,000 (or if converted to the dollar in 2014 that would be $2,500,000).

The Articles read as follows:

We, Francis Hall, Ozro B. Fobes and Ira A. Town from Pierce County, Washington Territory, and  Edward S. Prentice and James H. Parker of Freeborn County, State of Minnesota, do hereby associate ourselves together, and become a corporation under the laws of the Territory of Washington and the United States of America, and do hereby make execute and acknowledge in triplicate these Articles of Incorporation.

Article I.  The corporate name of the said company shall be and is Gig Harbor Lumber Company.

Article II.  The object for which the said corporation is formed is to lease, purchase, own, hold & sell Real Estate, to construct and operate one or more sawmills.  To buy and sell logs and lumber.  To manufacture lumber, to carry on logging business, to build or purchase or lease all such boats, vessels, wharfs and landings as may be necessary or convenient to carry on said business and to operate said boats overseas for the carriage of passengers & freight.  To buy or build and and all houses, stores or shops there may be necessary or convenient to carry on said business.  To buy & sell goods, wares and merchandize and particularly to buy and sell goods to supply the employees of said company.  To manufacture furniture such as blinds, moldings and any such all wood materials used in building and to erect & operate all mills necessary therefore.

Article III.  The amount of the capital stock of said corporation shares shall be One Hundred Thousand dollars, which shall be divided into one thousand shares of one hundred dollars each share, and which said capital stock may be increased in the manner provided by law to the amount of One Hundred and fifty Thousand dollars.

Article IV.  The time of the existence of said corporation shall be fifty years.

Article V.  The management of the concerns and affairs of said corporation shall be by a board of five trustees, who shall be elected at such times and in such manner as is and may be prescribed by law and provided by ByLaws hereafter to be enacted by said corporation, and for the period of six months from the date hereof.  The following named persons shall be and are the trustees of the said corporation to wit:

Frances Hall, Ozro B. Fobes, and Ira A. Town of Tacoma, Washington Territory, and Edward S. Prentice and James H. Parker of Alberta Lea, Freeborn County, State of Minnesota, all of whom are stockholders in the said corporation and citizens of the United States.

Article VI.  The location of the said mill and the operation of said manufacturing shall be at Gig Harbor, and at such other place as may be hereafter determined, and the general office and principle place of said corporation shall be at Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington Territory.

Signatures of all men were witnessed by Miles L. Clifford and E. S. Shull 

Notary Public:

Territory of Washington}

Pierce County              }

Be it known that on this 23rd day of March A.D. 1888 before me, a Notary Public in and for said Territory & County personally appeared Frances Hall, Ozro B. Fobes, Ira A. Town, Edward S. Prentice and James H. Parker each to me known to be the identical persons described in, and who executed the above and foregoing article of incorporation in triplicate, and they each acknowledge that they signed and sealed the same as their free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purpose therein mentioned.

Miles L. Clifford, Notary Public

Filed and recorded at the request of Ira A. Town March 24th at 1:20 o’clock P.M.

Edward Huggins

Auditor Pierce County

W. T.

________________________________________________________________________________

The capital at time of incorporation was $20,000 (or if converted to the dollar in 2014 that would be $500,000).

____________________________________________________________

Know all men by these presents; that we George E. Atkinson and James H. Parker of Tacoma, Francis Hall, M. J. Darling and George T. Gardner, of Gig Harbor, all of Pierce County, Washington Territory, and Asa W. White of Alberta Lea, Freeborn County, State of Minnesota de hereby agree to become and be a corporation under the corporate name of the “Gig Harbor Loging (sic) Company; for the object and purpose herein after stated that is to say:  To lease, contract, buy, hold, own, release and sell real estate.  To purchase and sell timber, standing or otherwise, to contract, lease, buy, own, and operate loving (sic) roads, tramways and railroads.  To do a general loving (sic) business.  To contract,own and operate booms, to build, buy, run & operate Mills.  To manufacture and sell all kinds of building material and to contract, run & operate barges and boats for transportation.  The capital stock of said company shall be Twenty Thousand Dollars, to be divided into eight hundred shares of Twenty Five Dollars each.

The time of the existance (sic) of said corporation shall be twenty years from the first day of March A. D. 1889.

The concerns of said corporation shall be managed by five trustees, and the name of the trustees who shall manage the concerns of the company for the period of six months from the date of these Articles are George E. Atkinson and James H. Parker of Tacoma, Francis Hall, M. J. Darling and George T. Gardner of Gig Harbor, all of Pierce County, Washington Territory.  The principal place of business of said company shall be located at Gig Harbor, Pierce County, Washington Territory.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 7th day of March A. D. 1889.

In presence of  } George E. Atkinson

W. W. Likens   } James H. Parker

E. S. Prentice } Francis Hall

M. J. Darling

Geo. T. Gardner

Asa W. White

United States of America }

Washington Territory       }  SS

County of Pierce             }

This certifies that on this 7th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, before me a Notary Public in and for Pierce County,Washington Territory personally appeared the within named George E. Atkinson, James H. Parker, Francis Hall, M. J. Darling and George T. Gardner and Asa W. White whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument as party thereto, personally known to me to be the individuals described in & who executed the within deed, and acknowledged the same to be their free and voluntary act and deed.

Witness my hand and Notarial seal the day and year above written.

{Notarial Seal} W. W. Likens

Notary Public Wash. Terry.

Filed and recorded at request of Gig Harbor Logging Co. March 9th 1889 at 1:05 P.M.

Edward Huggins

Auditor Pierce County

W. T. by W. H. Hollis, Deputy

______________________________________________________________

In closing I want to mention a specific blog I came across on the internet which research these companies which is probably the most comprehensive background on the Gig Harbor Lumber Company available.  Unfortunately it is copyrighted and I was unable to obtain permission to use any of it in writing this blog.  It has been written by Greg Spadoni, a member of one of our community’s older founding families.  I definitely recommend you read his piece.  You will find it most interesting.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, August 15, 1883

A very light sprinkle this morn & cloudy all day.  Arose at 11:30 this forenoon, got dinner, wooded & watered the Babe, supplied & go again to bed.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

The Arts and Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor has always, dating back to the early 1900s, has had a warm and welcoming relationship with the arts.   Live theatre, music, visual art, you name it, an it has had a presence in this community.

Today (July 27 to September 14, 2014) you will find the 15th Annual Juried Maritime exhibit at the Harbor History Museum.  Last month the Peninsula Art League held their annual summer art festival and Saturday they will hold a plain air paint out on the museum grounds which includes the grounds themselves, Gig Harbor Bay and the Austin Estuary Park.

The Downtown Waterfront Alliance and the Gig Harbor Gallery Association in conjunction with the City holds a special Thursday Night-Out event every second Thursday celebrating the visual arts along with demonstrations, music and other entertainment at various locations around the harbor.  There are over 12 galleries in Gig Harbor proper, and more throughout the greater Gig Harbor community.

1939 - The Sibellians

Tulip Time - Peninsula Singers

This long history made me think that a special paper entitled “History of the Arts and Crafts Club 1934-1935” would be of interest.  It shows how the more things change, the more things remain the same.  Some of the frustrations expressed in Mrs. Insel’s paper still happen I’m sure, though perhaps not the same frustrations between sexes.  But the economic frustrations, the charitable acts, still exist and are still met with within all organizations.  

1940 Recruiting Nurses for the war effort

This paper was written by Mrs. John H. Insel, Historian (of the Arts and Crafts Club).

The lot of the historian is a difficult one, particularly when the writer is compelled to deal with the hard facts as recorded in the “Minutes of the Last Meeting.”  History, in my opinion, should be framed in romance - not the common garden variety of romance known as love, but the romance of living.  So this writer is going to digress from the cold facts of the secretarial chronicle and endeavor to portray in words the ‘human side’ of the Arts and Crafts Club.

There have been many meetings during the club year of 1934-1935, September to May, when members of the Arts and Crafts club considered many things other than the program of theyr club endeavor.  Serious things, that is.  We thought of things like citizenship and patriotism, and love of one’s country and of one’s neighbors; of friendliness and service, of visions and dreams; and of practical ways of buttering one’s bread.

The courage of the women who crossed the continent in covered wagons is spoken of with reverence and awe, but this is the Black Year of a Bleak Depression, and the women of today have had to face trials, hardship and privation no less difficult than those women who followed the beckoning trial of blue horizons.  (The wail of a hungry child can be as terrifying as the scalping cry of an Indian).  Women still possess a ruddy courage and courage imparts to living a flavor wholly unknown to fear.

Feature the brave discussion of what to do with $2.33, the pitiful amount in our treasury at the beginning of the club year.  Similar to the fate of many other bank accounts, the Club’s funds were lost to our use with the closing of the local bank.  Later, we received a check of $15.80, 35% of our account, from the financial debacle and proceeded to spend it as the safest way of saving our money - by putting it back into circulation - but getting something for it.

The first endeavor of the club year was the making of pottery from clay obtained from pits located at Auburn, Washington.  The making of pottery did not originate with the members of the Arts and Crafts Club of Gig Harbor as it is one of the oldest arts handed down thru the centuries, but most of the designs from the ash trays to vases were decidedly original.  Some of the members attained a good degree of skill and many lovely things were fashioned from the clay.

With the advent of the Christmas season, our thoughts turned to Christmas cards.  The study of block printing was interested to Mrs. Sweet who generously coached the other members.

In the name of sweet charity for an orphan child at the Lacey Home, a doll was dressed and sent to Gladys Leammie in time for her birthday on February 24th.

For the balance of the club year, the members decided to make waste baskets of reed, an inexpensive and useful art.

To gain a broader contact with club work, we have become affiliated with the District Federation of Women’s Club, sending delegates to their several meetings.  The District Board Meeting of March 8th was entertained at the home of Mrs. L. M. Holt with other members of the club assisting the hostess.

New members have entered the club from time to time as vacancies occurred.  They have brought new ideas and new loyalty to the club’s ideals.  Others have resigned for various reasons, but in the majority of cases, their contact with the club was one of inspiration and friendliness.

Our husbands have been prone to scoff at our club and make mean remarks concerning our efforts, but the poor dears do not realize that they are very largely responsible for our passion for club gatherings.  We have banded together where we may air our views on everything under the sun without having to listen to a scathing belittling of our opinions.  However, on May 25th, we gave them a dinner and program, displaying the result of the year’s work.  Mrs. R. H. Berkheimer, Mrs. L. M. Holt, Mrs. George Campen, and Mrs. A. L. Hopkins winning prizes for their efforts.The hospitality of our homes has been extended for our club meetings.  We have “sat at table” in good fellowship and grace and the simple meal of soup, sandwich and coffee has become a feast.  The Arts and Crafts’ Club ’soup’ is a flexible dish - sometimes it has been delicious fried chicken, oyster stew, or goulash.  It has one characteristic, however, which never varies - it is always good.

Apart from the educational advantages received from our club association, we have had the lovely privilege of being “just friends.”  There have been joy and sorrow among us.  The happiness was greater because it could be shared; the burdens lighter because sympathy and understanding.”

1946-47 Sorella Club at Mrs. Betty (Sheldon) Stutz' home:  Mary Ellen Sehmel, Carol Quisinberry, Unknown, Jane Lambing, Dottie Morris

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, August 8, 1883

Tried to start a rain this morn but cleared up & came out sunny & warm as usual.  Cut and piled brush most of the day.  Went below & had music practice.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Gig Harbor Grange No. 445

If you grew up in the mid-west or in an agricultural community, there was probably a Grange in town.  But what is a Grange?  What’s it’s purpose?  Is it a social organization?  Is it an insurance company?  They always seem to be in attendance at State Fairs; in fact, the Gig Harbor Grange won second place in 1972 and third place in 1975 on their booths at the Washington State Fair (Puyallup Fair) for their arrangement of the produce grown on the Gig Harbor Peninsula by their members.

“The Gig Harbor Grange No. 445 was formed on December 30, 1910, but did not have a permanent home until January 27, 1956 when they bought a building located at the intersection of Wollochet Drive and Artondale Drive.  The building was originally built in 1912 as the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became the ‘Artondale Gospel Lighthouse - Pentecostal’ in 1938 or ’39.

GH Grange #445

“…The Grange spent a year repairing and remodeling it before it was ready for use.    The building in the rear is now gone, but it was for horse and buggies to park in during the Sunday services.  

Prior to purchase of the building it is recorded that  “through the years the Grange met at Fortnightly Club House, VFW Hall, Midway School Building, Briesh Shed.”

“The Grange began in 1867 by Oliver Hudson Kelly, District of Columbia Clerk in the Agriculture Department, and 6 associates who felt the need for an agricultural fraternity and is officially known as the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. The Order takes its format from the English rural grange (or farm).  Owner was Master; there was an overseer and steward on these farms; and these are (names of) the officers in the Grange.  The symbol, a sheath, represents the 7 organizers.”

“In 1938, the prize winning entry selected as the definition of Grange was:  “The Grange is a great farm fraternity, building character, developing leadership, encouraging education, promoting community betterment, instilling an appreciation of high ideals teaching through work and play the value of cooperation and service in the attainment of happiness.”

When you read this definition of a Grange, and you look at all the accomplishments of the Gig Harbor Grange No. 445 itself you think our community is so lucky.   Then you discover that our Grange returned its charter to the Washington State Grange on September 30, 2013, just three months short of their 103rd birthday, you feel disappointed. 

Why did the Gig Harbor Grange No. 445 close their doors?  They were unable to attract younger active members from the community.  Our farms have mostly disappeared, there are few industries supporting agriculture in our area, and most families have two working parents and don’t have the time to devote to activities outside their families.  The Grange building and property at 5725 Artondale Drive NW was placed for sale in 2013 and when no buyers were found, the property ownership reverted to the Washington State Grange Association.  And, the Gig Harbor Grange is not alone in closing; Granges are suffering the same lose of active membership across the country.

  

But now, let us concentrate on the community programs and activities that this organization advocated for on our behalf.  

Some of the early  members included Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Trombley who joined in 1924, Milan Mikich joined in 1926, Mrs. Otille Katzenbarger on 1931, Bob Olson in 1933, Robert Roby in 1935.  Those who served as Master prior 1960 included Henry Marcum, Elza Bryant, Robert Olson, John Siebold, Alfred C. Bowman, Albert Roby, Elsie Roby, Robert Teeter, John B. Borgert, Robert Roby, James L. Olson, Florence Hofbauer, G. W. Campen, Elsie Jacobson, C. E. Trombley, M. Jacobson, Albert Hammerlund, W. T. Yarnell, Homer Benson, J. B. Cottle, B. F. Pratt, Homer Pepper, Lee Pace, and the first Master in 1910, J. J. Sellers.

GH Family with Cider Press

1930 Hammerlund Family

Jack Sellers

Arvid Brown's Farm (formerly Hammerlund's Farm) on Dana Drive

In 1912 the local Grange petitioned the US Congress to favor the bills currently in front of Congress to extend the Postal Savings Bank Service, to enlarge railroads, and abolish the interstate restriction on sugar.   In 1923 they started their first fund raising public card parties (the first earned them 10 cents) and they also petitioned President Harding to support a new peace treaty.  1929 their petition to the County Commissioners brought paid deputy sheriff to the Peninsula.  They set up a gas cooperative in 1933 with price for a gallon at 20 cents.

Florence (Mrs. Frank J.) Hofbauer served as Master in 1933 and 1934, and during her service worked under the impetus of the National Recovery Act, the Works Progress Administration and other governmental agencies to achieve objectives such as Rural Electrification and Public Utilities Districts (PUD).  PUD in Washington was initiated and achieved under the Grange Power Bill; Grange Supply units of Washington, Oregon and Idaho; benefits of Grange Life Insurance of Nampa, Idaho; Cooperative Cold Storage plant built at Bethel, Kitsap County; the Well Baby Clinic for Gig Harbor and the peninsula (the first in our County); the Pierce County Rural Public Library and in the 1960s, a Bookmobile and the Supply Credit Union.

Mrs. Hofbauer’s pet project was the Well Baby Clinic.  Through this program the Grange was able to bring doctors to the Gig Harbor greater community and to assist the Pierce County Health Department service on this side of the Narrows.   I found a thank you letter sent to Miss Mary Jane Turner, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Gig Harbor as follows:

Dear Miss Turner:

I have been assigned the pleasant task of writing you a note to thank you and the First Presbyterian Church for the use of the church basement in the conduct of the Well Baby Clinic in the past six years.  In do so I am conveying the Grange’s sincere and often expressed appreciation of your cooperation and the freedom we have enjoyed in the use of premises and the facilities.  In evaluating the combined application in this endeavor we gratefully acknowledge your part and your every effort in bringing about and maintaining this service for the benefit of those many little tots and now we feel that we can lighten your responsibility toward the clinic and we want to assume it, cherishing the knowledge that you have been grand.

With sincere regards, Milan Mikich, GH Grange #445, Patrons of Husbandry, Frances Foster, Sec.

1943 Milan Mikich

They petitioned for more local labor be used in the construction of a high school addition; asked that a national noxious weed program be started, and most important for the local farmers they promoted the interests of rural America.  More recently the Grange petitioned for a traffic light on Point Fosdick Drive and a better grade crossing on Wollochet Drive.

Their “Pies for Polio” raised money until polio was eradicated and them the money raised was donated to the March of Dimes.  The Grange gave high school scholarships for five years to encourage education and vocational training; the recipients were not selected on the basis of high scholastic achievement.  The scholarship program was stopped when the program “Words for Thirds” was started.  This program provided personal dictionaries to every third grader in peninsula schools with the expectation that knowledge of words learned at an early age would increase the children’s ability to learn and grow throughout their lives.  This program was continued until funds ran out.

But not everything the Grange did and provided was public advocacy.  It provided a very needed social community, especially for the wives of the farmers, their children and even the farmers themselves.  It gave them the opportunity to get together for fellowship, discussion, and engagement with the affairs of their community both large and small.    

Notes:

• Thank you to Dorothy Byrant, Former Secretary of the Grange and member since 1948  All Dorothy’s children are active in one way or another with the WA State Grange  Association.
• Peninsula Gateway articles written by Gladys Para
• Tacoma News Tribune article written by Adella Holmaas
• Harbor History Museum Resource Room

According to the US Census, the population of Gig Harbor Greater Community was as follows:

• 1910 623
• 1930 1,095
• 1940 1,283 - The City of Gig Harbor was incorporated in 1946
• 2010 7,798 (City; GH Peninsula 48,599; Key Peninsula 15,595

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's diary entry Wednesday, August 1, 1883

Bright large day.  Steamed up & went to Tacoma with scow for lumber.  Stayed till 9 PM to return

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Memories of a Father

When it comes to naming children, everyone has their own way.  Some people name the children after members of their families from both the present and the past.  Others name their children after celebrities, or make up names that mean something if only to themselves.  And some use names of flowers, most common is Rose.

Although Ebenezer Rhys Roberts’ his first son was named after himself, Ebeneezer Jr, he used more unusual names found in horticulture and botany for his other three children:  Woodland, Reseda and Trillium.   

Wisconsin refers to Mrs. Roberts home - Left to Right: Woodland, Reseda, Trillium

Mr. Roberts, a Welshman, arrived in Tacoma with his wife, Ann Jones Roberts in 1888 after living in several different places in the West.  He was a professional gardener, having served 7 years as a gardeners’ apprentice at Kew Gardens in England. and upon arrival in Tacoma was hired by a Mr. R. F. Radebaugh, owner of the Tacoma Daily Ledger,  to design and develop his 80-acre estate located at Wapato Lake where he had built his cottage.  The lake was formed during the retreat of the Fraser Ice Sheet around 15,000 years ago, and was named by the Native Americans after a wild plant (sagittaria latifolia) that grew there in large numbers, although the spelled it “Wappato”.

1907 - Roberts & spooning benches which he placed tactfully about Pt. Defiance Park for benefit of sweethearts to cuddle in privacy 

Roberts 1907

Two years later, Mr. Roberts was hired by the first Tacoma Park Board where he was befriended by  Edward O. Schwagerl who had originally received a commission to design Wright Park.  But when Mr. Schwagerl became Superintendent of Public Parks in Seattle in 1892, Roberts became the chief designer of Wright Park.  Charles Barstow Wright, a Philadelphian and also president of Tacoma Land Company, had given the 20 acres to the City of Tacoma with the provision that it be developed as a publicpark within a limited time frame in 1886.  In 1891 the City acquired an additional 7 acres.  However it was due a friendship between Roberts and the president of the Park Board George Browne that Tacoma managed to obtain plantings for what was called “the finest botanical collections on the Pacific Coast”.  When Browne was going to Europe for a business trip, Roberts provided him with a letter to some of the officials at Kew Gardens asking their help in selecting some tree seedlings for planting in Wright Park.  

President Theodore Roosevelt visited Tacoma in May, 1903, and in front of a red oak tree known as the Teddy Roosevelt Oak planted in his honor, gave a speech to the crowd in attendance. A copy of that speech can be found at Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt - Complete Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt - Teddy Roosevelt.  The red oak is located in front of the Seymour Conservatory. If you happen to be interested in old trees, Seymour Conservatory has a map of all the champion trees in the park identifying the trees for you.  It was during this visit that a chair built from 6 antlers of elks grown in Point Defiance Park and rumored to be the “largest antlers on record” was presented to the President.  

According to the history of the park on Metro Parks site, “it is believed Roberts personally supervised the placement and planting of the majority of trees, shrubs, and flowers within the park. He spread out its infant roots, and firming it with his foot (heel).”  It is also believed that it was largely due to Roberts’ endeavors that William W. Seymour donated $10,000 for the construction of the Seymour Conservatory in 1907.

While acting as Superintendent of the Tacoma Parks in 1898, the Board of Park Commissioners approved $2,200 to build a residence in Point Defiance Park referred to as the Keeper’s Lodge.  According to Trillium’s description of the Lodge “The beautiful maple paneling of the ‘front parlor’ and the library was a distinctive background for the fine furnishings and rare pieces of bric-a-brac so beloved as home decoration in those days…  The decor of the dining room was a combination of handsome wallpaper and panels of royal-blue burlap.  A grooved, polished plate rail held a collection of hand-painted souvenir plates from every state in the Union.”  Roberts and his family (wife, and three children) lived in The Lodge until 1908 when he retired.

Living in the midst of Point Defiance Park allowed Roberts to provide additional security and to prevent illegal cutting of firewood by vandals.  It also allowed Roberts time and opportunity to tend the plantings and to take care of the zoo animals that also reside there.  But, living there also had some unexpected funny situations.  For example, the streetcars were operated by electricity on the same current to the Lodge and at times when the outbound cars climbed the steep grade on Pearl Street they used almost all the current.  As a result, it made the lights at the Lodge to either dim, or go out entirely.  The Lodge continued to act as a residence for several Point Defiance Superintendents and for Metro Park Executive Directors and their families until 1980.  You can learn so much more about The Lodge at the Metro Parks site; Roberts’ daughter Trillium Roberts Insel is responsible for most of the information known about The Lodge and Point Defiance’s early days from an article she wrote in 1967 for the Tacoma News Tribune.  

The bridge formerly in Pt. Defiance Park with Trillium on the railing, Roberts on walk 1905

While at Point Defiance Park, Roberts started the Rose Garden by involving the school children in 1895.  He asked them each to bring rose clippings to the park, where he planted the clippings.  This result in more than 75 varieties of rose in the Rose Garden in 1898. In 1937 the All American Rose Society was formed and they chose Point Defiance’s Rose Garden as one of the earliest gardens to be accredited.  The accreditation was withdrawn in 1986 but regained in 1990, thanks to the Tacoma Rose Society. Roberts also developed the sloping lawn at the entrance known as “the bowl” area and greenhouses (1901-1920) at the park among other things.  

1907 Left to Right: Reseda, Woodland, Trillium

Following his retirement, Roberts operated commercial greenhouses on Gravelly Lake, and from 1912 until his death in 1918, wrote gardening and horticultural articles for the Tacoma Daily News.  He maintained an office in the Perkins Building at 1101 A Street, Tacoma, where he spent three days a week writing his articles, answering mail, and seeing anyone who wished to consult with him on gardening matters.  Such consultations were offered free of charge. 

Not only did Roberts have his education at Kew Gardens to fall back upon as well as his more recent work in the US, but he was also a contemporary of Frederick Law Olmstead’s )  sons, (1822-1903), John (1852-1920) and Frederick, Jr. (187-=1957.  Olmstead was the designer of New York’s Central Park and considered to be America’s foremost landscape architect.  His sons came to Washington and worked on several parks and playgrounds; to name a few Woodland Park, Volunteer Park, Frink Park and developed plans for several others.  It is hard to believe that the Olmstead’s work did not also influence Roberts.

It’s great that there is so much history about one of the most important park superintendents and botanists connected to the City of Tacoma parks, but what does that have to do with the greater Gig Harbor community.  True, on the infrequent visits to Tacoma, maybe people from Gig Harbor visited Point Defiance and Wright Park.  Few I think but don’t know went to Wapato Park though.  But that still doesn’t explain this blog about Tacoma parks, does it?  Well, in a round-about way it does.  

You see Trillium Roberts Insel, a long-time Gig Harbor resident and Roberts’ daughter, was also a writer for the Tacoma News Tribune through the years.  She wrote many articles for both the Tacoma Times and the Tacoma News Tribune as a news correspondent, but especially some very detailed articles on both her father and the parks.  She was a member of the Tacoma Mountaineers and the Tacoma Manuscript Club as well as being an active member in several civic organizations in Gig Harbor.

Trillium married John H. Insel on June 30, 1926 and they lived in Gig Harbor where they raised their three children.  In the beginning of their marriage, John was a post carrier. John was an active member of the Gig Harbor Lions Club and, because of his service as Sea Scout Skipper during WWII (15 years as skipper), became one of Gig Harbor’s best known-members.  John was also an active member of the Gig Harbor Improvement Club, the Fortnightly Literary Guild and the PTA. 

A devastating fire occurred in 1944 destroying several businesses in north Gig Harbor and John Finholm, his brother Eddie, and several neighborhoods and friends got together and formed an all volunteer fire department.  One of those volunteers was Trillium’s husband, John.  He was later in 1946 to become Fire Chief, and still later a Fire Commissioner. In 1946 the the Pierce County Fire District commissioners announced the selection of a permanent site for District No. 5’s fire station.  The property was leased from Bert Uddenberg and located to the rear of his garage at 3720 Harborview Drive then the main highway and now occupied by Speedy Glass.

The Fire District had been established in January 1945 by special election with John Finholm, Gig Harbor; Keith Swinney, Purdy, and John Sails, Horsehead Bay, all elected fire commissioners.  Mr. Sails resigned in 1946 and Oscar Dulin, Arlette, was applied to succeed Sails.  John Insel, acting assistant fire chief, was appointed to fill the position of chief.  Chief Harold Rucker had moved to Ephrata.  

Trillium died at age 89 on October 15, 1986.

John died December 12, 1988 at age 97.

If you happen to have any photos of the Insel family, or of the Roberts family, we would appreciate your sharing them with us.  Thank you.

Notes:

Tacoma News Tribune articles 

Record of Minutes #1 - City of Gig Harbor DataNet2

Gig Harbor Lions

Metro Parks Tacoma 
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