Voie Commentary: Carrying on a Local Tradition of Goodwill Through Music

After my great-grandpa, John Henry “Jack” Moon, died last year, I happened to be doing some research in The Chronicle archives when I ran across his name in an article talking about the Newaukum Mountaineers.

My great-grandparents, Jack and Marion Moon, were two of the founding members of the mountaineers group (and PROUD Grangers, of course), along with Bummy and Herb Yantis and a few others. I knew about the group and had heard some stories from the 1970s, but the article detailed a story I had actually never heard about my great-grandparents before.

Most of us are familiar with the Lewis County Historical Museum’s current location in the Chehalis Rail Depot. But the museum as we know it today had humble beginnings. In 1975, prior to the depot housing the museum, news reports described the old Chehalis Depot as “abandoned.”

It was at that point that the Lewis County Historical Society proposed the idea of renovating the old depot space into the Lewis County Historical Museum — but they needed funding for the project.

So, in the late summer of 1977, the Newaukum Mountaineers agreed to a weekend concert series to benefit the railroad depot restoration project.

It was not uncommon for the Mountaineers to agree to benefit shows. But this was not any regular old benefit show … not at all. The band and Historical Society must have really wanted to leave an impression! They planned and performed a county wide concert tour, performing on the back of a flatbed pickup truck as the “stage,” visiting nearly every community on the map in Lewis County — all in ONE day.

According to archives from The Chronicle, the first concert of the morning was at the Newaukum Grange. The band caravan then proceeded on a schedule through Napavine, Winlock, Vader, Toledo, Ethel, Salkum, Mossyrock, Onalaska, Chehalis, Yard Birds Shopping Center, Centralia and finally ending at the Lewis County Mall. All in one Saturday.

Members of the Lewis County Historical Society were on hand at each stop of the tour, handing out information about the $50,000 depot restoration project and explaining how each community could support the effort.

A second concert and variety show fundraiser event was held at Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Sunday, the very next day.

Lewis County has always embodied the “can do” spirit and the idea that we can help anyone overcome most anything, if we help our neighbors and stick together. Grangers, like the Newaukum Mountaineers, really understood this. And, they also understood how to leverage their talents and resources to bring the community together for a common cause.

Today, I play bass and sing with my own group of friends. And, as a member of The Prohibition Band, and a descendant of these local artists who left their mark here, I’d like to think we carry on that tradition and spirit of goodwill today, with our own unique flare and style.

In 2012, Chris Rohr opened Flood Valley Homebrew Supply in downtown Chehalis. Later, he relocated his homebrewing supply store to Tower Avenue in Centralia.

Then, through a unique series of events, Rohr had the opportunity to take over the old Matrix Coffee house and Hands-on Guitars space on Prindle Street in Chehalis. The additional space affording Rohr the opportunity to open a craft taphouse, serving all different types of craft beers, ciders (Ace Pineapple Cider is my favorite!), and mead.

Since opening, Flood Valley Brewing Craft Taphouse has hosted local musicians, comedians, karaoke and open mic nights on the stage. There’s even a knitting group that meets at the taphouse weekly.

It’s a unique atmosphere that Rohr has created, where a large updated warehouse space is coupled with a handcrafted pine bar. Rough hewn, upcycled and distressed wood give the space create a warm, open and cozy feel.

After relocating to his new space, Rohr was informed that his building was to be capped at a maximum occupancy of 49 patrons until such time that he could raise approximately $25,000 to update his fire suppression system to current codes.

And, $25,000 doesn’t come real easy when you’re trying to remodel and operate your own business, by yourself.

So, this small business owner has been stuck. Concerts, etc., all limited to 49 patrons.

Thus, the idea of a street concert as a fundraiser was born. You might even have read about Floodstock in Thursday’s edition of The Chronicle.

The city of Chehalis has graciously granted us a permit to shut down the street in front of Flood Valley Brewing Craft Taphouse to throw a street concert and craft beer fest event. Three local bands will take the stage, four local/regional brewers will be on site serving beer, wine, mead and cider, and local food will be available on site.

All three bands performing at the event have waived their performance fees, so that 100 percent of the cover charge at the event can go back to the business. The entire event is funded and made possible financially by three other Chehalis-based businesses.

This is a 100 percent local event, supported by 100 percent local people. The event is even insured by a local business! I believe that when we choose local, when we stick together, when we support our own — we can accomplish really amazing things.

I hope you join us tonight, starting at 4 p.m. with Harmony Ridge kicking off our concert event, followed by local group Straitshot at 6 p.m., and follow by yours truly with The Prohibition Band starting at 8 p.m.

Come support our local event, have a great time supporting local culture and help a local business grow.

Hopefully Grandpa Jack is up there smiling, dancing with Grandma Marion. 

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Brittany Voie is The Chronicle’s senior media developer. She welcomes correspondence from the community by email at bvoie@chronline.com.