TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
Interstate Bridge<br />
The legislatures <strong>of</strong> Washingion and Oregon voted money for <strong>the</strong><br />
construction <strong>of</strong> an interstate bridge across <strong>the</strong> Columbia river. The<br />
governors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two states were reputedly not on friendly terms, so<br />
although <strong>the</strong> Oregon governor signed <strong>the</strong> appropriation measure, <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Washington</strong> governor vetoed it. The bridge was built, however, and<br />
on <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> dedication <strong>the</strong> governor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Washington</strong> came to Vancouver<br />
to visit <strong>the</strong> school for <strong>the</strong> deaf mutes, intending to continue on to<br />
Portland for <strong>the</strong> dedication ceremonies, and had arranged passage on<br />
<strong>the</strong> next to last ferry boat to make <strong>the</strong> trip. He missed <strong>the</strong> boat, as<br />
<strong>the</strong> captain 'inadvertently' pulled out half a minute ahead <strong>of</strong> time.<br />
The governor managed to catch <strong>the</strong> last ferry but, strangely, it developed<br />
engine trouble and stayed out in <strong>the</strong> stream all night. Consequently<br />
<strong>the</strong> governor was not at <strong>the</strong> dedication ceremonies. I believe<br />
that was Governor Lister.<br />
CLARENCE J. HOUSER<br />
Kittitas County<br />
My parents were Pennsylvania Dutch. Fa<strong>the</strong>r crossed <strong>the</strong> plains,<br />
but mo<strong>the</strong>r made <strong>the</strong> trip around Cape Horn. In 1864 <strong>the</strong>y settled<br />
near Seattle, where I was born.<br />
In 1868 my fa<strong>the</strong>r, Tillman Houser, rode over <strong>the</strong> Snoqualmie Pass<br />
and looked on what is now Ellensburg. It looked good to him. He<br />
returned and sold his cow, got ano<strong>the</strong>r horse and a wagon, and drove<br />
back with his family in <strong>the</strong> first wagon that ever came over <strong>the</strong> pass.<br />
He cut <strong>the</strong> way foot <strong>by</strong> foot. When he came to Lake Keechelus, he<br />
built a raft and rafted horses and wagon and family down <strong>the</strong> lake.<br />
The logs were held toge<strong>the</strong>r with wooden pins.<br />
Charles Splawn and family were <strong>the</strong> first ones here excepting two<br />
bachelors, "Dutch Goller and Fred Ludi. The second house fa<strong>the</strong>r<br />
built for us had a shingle ro<strong>of</strong>. I still cut <strong>the</strong> shavings to start <strong>the</strong><br />
morning fire with <strong>the</strong> hand-made two-handled drawing knife with<br />
which fa<strong>the</strong>r planed <strong>the</strong> shakes. The first house was built <strong>of</strong> unhewn<br />
log's, chinked with wedge-shaped bits and daubed with mud. A ro<strong>of</strong><br />
tree went through <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong>. There were two o<strong>the</strong>r poles<br />
parallel ,vith it and three smaller poles. This was covered with rye<br />
grass and dirt thrown over <strong>the</strong> grass. When fa<strong>the</strong>r got a broad axe,<br />
he made a house <strong>of</strong> hewn logs. The place where he felled <strong>the</strong> trees is<br />
known as Houser's Flat.<br />
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