Deer Park # 2
A Deer Park U.S. Mail delivery vehicle in the early 1900s. Through all kinds of weather following the stage coach and railroads home delivery was not always an easy task.
Aaron Olson on his white steed fresh off the Indian reservation.
The Kelly building, the old train depot with the water tower, a stark reminder of the early days in Deer Park.
This metal sign came from R. R. Grove's store. It was located on Main Street for many years. Our thanks to Pete Reynolds for donating the sign to our Society.
The original Burroughs School and student body, thanks to the Deer Park School District and Lawrence Zimmerer.
The Short sawmill's head rig with a man riding the rig setting the thickness of the board to be cut. Vast stands of virgin timber covered the area surrounding Deer Park. Some of these logs were huge. Combined with the whine of the saws and planers and the smell of fresh cut lumber the atmosphere in a lumber mill was nothing but a wonderment.
Mr. Walter M Leuthold, the man behind the MILL. Thank you Sue Rehms
Death Notice. Swede Hutchins passed away in mid year, 2010. This man is none other than Eldon "Swede" Hutchins. Swede was a pitcher for the Deer Park Stags circa 1946 - 1949. He was one whale of a pitcher. On top of that we had another one, Everett Williams. It was not unusual for either to get 14 to 17 strike outs per game. It made no difference as the end result was the defeat of our adversaries. After graduation Swede was called up to the Pros. He played Major League Baseball and was very successful. But he says the best years were when he played for the Spokane Indians. Those were the days. Not many young men turn professionl off the the streets of small town America.
Thanks to Sue Rehms and the Owens Museum we can share this photo of a building never before seen by our society.
Jim Swinyard and his wife Betty moved their young family from Utah to Clayton following a tour of duty during WW II in the United States Air Force. His parents, Bert and Katherine, moved to Clayton near the end of the war and opened a service station and garage directly west of Carl and Ray's Service Station. Jim joined his father at the station and when Scotty McGrorty quit driving school bus and retired his old buses as well, Jim assumed duty driving a new bus, covering the Big Foot Valley route. He soon became known in the entire community as the man with a million friends. Both families moved to Deer Park and again started a garage first and then going into the Service station business. Then according to Mr. Tom Costigan, editor of the Deer Park Tribune, Jim ran for city council in 1952, won and was reelected in 1954 and then resigned in 1956. When Earl Mix dropped out as Mayor in 1960, Jim decided to run for that office. He won as there was no opponent. Later some friends talked Mr. Mix into re-entering the race for mayor as a write-in candidate. As Mr. Costigan explains, his campaign never caught fire and Jim Swinyard won re-election. He was mayor for 18 years, second in length only to Mr. Mix. Jim Swinyard died on July 26, 1985 and left behind his wife of 43 years, five children and eight grandchildren. We thank the Deer Park Tribune for allowing us access to this detailed information.
Not every town has it's own Railroad. Thank you again Sue Rehms
This article contributed by Sue Rehms compliments of the Owen Museum tells us the Arcadia Orchards were operational far longer than previously stated. With the assumption it took at least 5 years before the trees commenced producing and did so for at least 15 years tells us it wasn't just a flash in the pan.
And then, there were none.
Those were the days.
Why Sue Rehms included this photo has me Buffaloed.
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It is unknown as to the source but someone deserves credit for braveing the below zero weather & taking the one of a kind photo. This photo is in the Lawrence Zimmerman collection.
Although the Arcadia flume was wide spread, chances are this picture was taken just south of Loon Lake due to the rugged terrain. But where ever it was we know it led to Deer Park.
Royalty at the Deer Park Parade
At this juncture this group of ladies remain unidentified. Help!!!
A view of the Short sawmill operation.
This power plant was Deer Park's original power source providing power to the town in 1909. A Bamonte contribution with a hardy Thank You.
Wally Parker our Editor-in-Chief saw the picture of this truck in the Short mill yard and decided to investigate. He found that it is a Republic, manufactured in about 1917, which was during World War I. So far he hasn't found a person that has ever heard of the Republic brand.
There are few old timers in the vicinity as well recognized as the late centenarian Lawrence Zimmerer and his wife Mary. Here he greets a friend at his 100th birthday party celebration. Notations on his collection of historical photographs meticulously identify the individuals from even a century ago. These records have been invaluable to the construction of this website.
Sue Rehms decided to share some of her rare photo collection with our society and we are very grateful. Some of her collection comes from a variety of publications long since gone. This photo was taken from the rear of D.P. High School with the auditorium visible in the background. Courtesy of the Inlander and Mr. Sam Perrins.
Thanks to the Deer Park Tribune for allowing us to pay tribute to Mr. Earl Mix via detailed information direct from the supplement dated July 25, 2001 entitled "Proud to Serve" which is a summary of every Mayor's administration from 1908 to 2001. The following excerpts were written by Maureen Dobson. Earl Mix was born June 12, 1898 in Shelbina, Missouri and died Jananuary 26, 1980. He spent most of his life in Deer Park and worked for the Deer Park Lumber Company for 15 years. He then started his own business and ran the drug store, soda fountain and theater combination for 30 years. Earl Mix was a member of the Spokane County Planning Commission in addition to being Mayor of Deer Park from 1935 to 1960.
We think this picture of the Arcadia flume was on the south side of Deer Park. This is a very rare photo thanks to Mr. Denuty.
Remnants of the Arcadia Orchard flume stand as reminders of the early attempts to develop an orchard business in the Deer Park area.
This is the head works valve for the Arcadia Orchards irrigation ditch about a half mile south of Loon Lake, WA. This photo was taken by Peter Coffin following a heads up by Tom Colvin as to its location.
THE DEER PARK PINE at full steam.
Sue Rehms blessed us with the forsight of including this short history lesson of the mill ownership which has been a mystery till now.
Now we're truckin.'
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