Yesteryear built from lumber

Located in western Washington State, Hoquiam is a small town with an interesting and charming present. The settlement’s place near stretches of wooded land and the Pacific Ocean have influenced the past as well as the present. The story of the lumber and shipping industries is the story of the town.

Before European settlers arrived, the two main tribes that lived in the area that became Grays Harbor County were the Chehalis and the Quinault. Their descendants still live in the area, continuing their tribal traditions and communities to this day.

The first white settler in the area was a man named James Karr. Not much later, Ed Cambell moved to the settlement, becoming the first postmaster of Hoquiam. Today, his house stands as the oldest home in town. Other settlers followed, and by 1890, the settlement had a population of over 1300 people.

During the late nineteenth century, logging became the main industry for Grays Harbor. The first lumber company in the area, the Northwestern Lumber Company, found success from the 1880′s until the 1930′s, employing the locals and helping the town grow. More settlers and money came to town when the railroad made its way to the area. The Northwestern Lumber Company basically controlled the local lumber industry into the next century.

Hundreds of logging companies have worked in Grays Harbor over the past hundred and twenty years. The most prominent of these was the Polson Logging Company. Today, the Polson Museum, located in the old Polson home, provides a glimpse into the past of the logging industry. Exhibits and photographs detail the life loggers in the past lived. It houses almost 10,000 artifacts related to local history and the logging industry in the area.

Throughout the Twentieth Century, Grays Harbor’s economy and society reflected the state of the rest of the country. As a one-industry town, Hoquiam felt greatly the impact of the Great Depression and the labor strikes of the times. By the last two decades of the Twentieth Century, logging was on the decline, especially in Grays Harbor. The industry’s effect on the environment caused governmental restrictions on logging, thus causing unemployment and the closing of businesses.

However, the locals have found new ways to keep the town vital and busy. The town is home to many tourist draws, such as the Logger’s Playday, the Shorebird Festival, and the Hoquiam Riverfest. These events teach people about the past and about nature. By bringing visitors to the town, the fairs bring business and money to the town. Many historical sites have been restored and provide education and entertainment.

Today, the community of Hoquiam, WA thrives and continues to work to build a better future. The residents display pride in their history as well as in their current achievements. They constantly strive to bring new businesses and events into the area, and to rebuild what has fallen into memory. Logging is no longer Grays Harbor’s only industry. The area has found the greatest resource in its people.

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