Fall 2004 - National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

feature
Cement Company purchased the Washington
Cement Company and shut down its
plant. Superior Cement then became the
oldest cement plant operating in the state of
Washington. The plant continued under the
operation of Lone Star Cement until 1967
and the business office remained in operation
until 1973 when the plant formally
shut down.
But the story doesn’t stop there. It could
be urban legend or just the historical pride
of the town and the competitive nature of its
workers. As the West was expanding, pioneers
came to the Baker area in the late
1800s and settled on the banks of the Baker
River sometime around 1871. Washington
didn’t become a state until 1889. In 1890,
the town site was officially platted and businesses
began to grow under the name of
“Baker,” Wash. But across the river, the new
Washington Portland Cement settlement
grew up and became known as “Cement
City.” It seems the town took on the personality
and ownership of its favorite industry.
Story has it “Star Cement” was a brand
name of one of the cement companies and
each town hailed from under each name,
“Star City” and “Cement City.” In 1909,
after much debate, the new community
finally settled on the name of “Concrete.”
In fact, as you walk along Main Street, a
short section of town that still houses the
original structures, it seems there was another
reason why this little town took on the
name of Concrete. In or before 1920, at
least once and possibly twice, the town or
parts of it burned down. And each time they
rebuilt it, except the last time. They decided
that rather than continue this self-imposed
building boom they would build it differently.
And they did — in concrete. The liquor
store and bank each have signs today that
indicate when they last rebuilt the structure,
only this time for good and the structures
still stand today.
When you visit “Concrete” today,
although the great limestone giants have
12 ı FALL 2004