Morty the Dog

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Hepfinger's Western Washington Exhibit

This article was found in the Jan. 31, 1903 issue of Gant's Sawyer, a newspaper from Hoquiam that ran from 1902-1903:

Apparently Mr. Hepfinger did indeed carve out the spruce log. The final image comes from an auction website that has this description:

Hi Folks, Here we have a nice antique cabinet photo. This is a photo of a hollowed out log on its ways to the 1904 St Louis Worlds Fair. The sign on the log reads, GRAYS HARBOR TOOTHPICK. THE LARGEST TREE EVER HANDLED WORLDS FAIR AT ST LOUIS. WESTERN WASHINGTON EXHIBIT TENT. Where the bars are is titled, ANIMAL DEN. Inside is a Mountain Lion and a Bear. Next room is titled, PIANO ROOM, SOCIAL HALL. Then a sign on the side reads, WE ARE GOING TO MISSOURI AND WE HAVE TO SHOW EM. The photo measures, 5 3/8' by just about 12". Pretty cool antique photograph.

Other photos of this project can be found on websites from Tacoma Public Library, and Washington State University.

William J. Hepfinger was born Dec. 1865 in Ohio to German/Swiss immigrant parents. By 1900 he was living in Aberdeen/Montesano and serving as a deputy sheriff for Chehalis County. In that same year he had taken out a patent for a puzzle map.

For most of his life he made a living as a house painter and interior designer, as well as a novelty salesman. By 1910 he was living in Nebraska and by 1930 in Chicago where he died Apr. 19, 1941. He apparently never married.

Does anyone out there know whatever became of this amazing exhibit?

Addendum:

Got this great email from Ted Tanner of Kenton, Ohio:

"About the spruce log....

I have a postcard that features this log, It seems after the worlds fair it was given to a senator Palmer of Michigan...After the property was given to the city and it became a park, this was one of the attractions along with an old log cabin...the spruce log is mentioned on the Palmer Park web site under the history page.
I find this very interesting having been born and raised in Grays Harbor."

And here's the link:

http://peopleforpalmerpark.org/2012/05/15/history-of-palmer-park/

Thanks Ted!

The Mysterious Odor of 1941, Grays Harbor

The approaching American involvement in the Second World War was not the only concern on the minds of Grays Harbor residents. I ran across this article from the Oct. 25, 1941 Aberdeen Daily World, page 3.

All these towns not claiming responsibility makes me think of a what happens in a crowded room when everyone is trying to find who is guilty of flatulence! Not me! Not me!

Socialist Found Dead After Lecture and a "Night's Debauch" in Hoquiam

This was found in the Sept. 1, 1911 issue of The Olympia Daily Recorder.

Missing Inflatable Snow People

A local poster from last year. I never heard if the case was solved.

Giles Quimby, Slayer of John Tornow, Given Gold Medal

Those of you familiar with the case of John Tornow might find this interesting. Ran across this bit of trivia in the July 26, 1913 Grays Harbor Post. The text didn't reproduce too well, so I transcribed it:

Quimby Given Gold Medal

COUNCILMAN JAMES EMPEY OF THE 5TH WARD, RAISES FUND IN ABERDEEN TO PURCHASE GOLD BADGE FOR TORNOW'S SLAYER.

PRESENTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT

"From Citizens of Aberdeen to Show Appreciation of Services Rendered Chehalis County, April 16"

Wednesday evening at the city council Chamber, Giles Quimby, slayer of Tornow, the terror of the Oxbow country, who killed six men before he fell in front of the rifle of Quimby, was presented by the citizens of Aberdeen with a gold badge inscribed on the face:

"GILES QUIMBY

Deputy Sheriff Chehalis County,

Washington."

On the back of the medal was inscribed:
"From Citizens of Aberdeen to Show Appreciation of Services Rendered Chehalis County, April 16"

The medal is two and three-fourths inches high and two inches wide, made of solid 14K gold. The fund for the purchase of this medal was raised by Councilman James Empey and was entirely secured from citizens of Aberdeen. Mr. Empey, because of his life as a cruiser in the woods, realized fully the services rendered by Deputy Quimby in ridding the Oxbow country of the menace that had made travel unsafe in that region for many months.

[photo caption]: Cut of Gold Medal Which Citizens of Aberdeen Presented to Giles Quimby at the City Council Chamber Last Wednesday Night.

The presentation of the medal to Mr. Quimby was simple. By invitation Sheriff Mathews, Deputy Quimby and other members of the sheriff's office appeared in the city council chamber Wednesday evening. During a lull in the business of the council, Mr. Empey arose and asked if Mr. Quimby were in the room. Mr. Quimby responded and Mr. Empey, stepping forward handed him the medal with the inscription telling the story. The gift came as a surprise to Deputy Quimby. Chairman W.J. Egerer made a few remarks praising Mr. Quimby's work as a service to the county. This closed the presentation.

The history of the hunt for Tornow is known to the readers of the Post. His tragic death in that last battle on the Oxbow, after trappers Blair and Lathrop had fallen before Tornow's rifle, himself to fall before that of Quimby, was one of the remarkable tragedies of this western coast. That Aberdeen appreciates this service was shown by the incident of Wednesday night.

Last summer, while researching the life another Grays Harbor lawman, William Henry Bush, I happened to encounter the burial place of Giles Quimby in the cemetery at Montesano.

Gertrude Backstrom: Hoquiam's Modern Annie Oakley, 1958

From the magazine section of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Feb. 9, 1958

Army of Motorists at Pacific Beach, 1913

An article from the Seattle Sunday Times, August 10, 1913, written in the days when long-distance automobile travel was a novel thing. This is a fascinating piece about early day motor vehicle travel from Seattle to the Coast almost a century ago. Note that the trip took all day.