On This Day in Lewis County History
1888 — Shingle Mill Burns
During this week in July 1888, a Centralia shingle mill burned to the ground.
“About 3 p.m. our citizens were startled by the cry of fire,” The Centralia News wrote. “It was found that Stiger & Montgomery shingle mill was enveloped in flames before the watchman could attach the hose to the pump, flames gained such head-way that it was impossible to save the mill or shingles and bolts that was piled nearby. Total loss $3,000.
“Messrs Stiger and Montgomery have worked hard and faithful and deserves great praise in the way they have managed their business. It seems like writing the obituary of a friend to chronicle the loss of this mill by fire. Messrs S. & M. say they will have another mill on the same site within thirty days.”
In another section of the newspaper, it was noted that Montgomery and Stiger had been in Seatco. “We regret very much to hear of their misfortune, it seems as though Centralia has more than its share of misfortunes. As many of us can yet testify to from self experience, such is life,” The Centralia News reported.
1890 — Vigilantes Patrol to Keep Cows Away
The stock ordinance in Centralia was working, with the help of the vigilance committee.
“The vigilance committee which organized at the north end some few weeks ago for the purpose of enforcing the ordinance forbidding owners to allow stock to run on the streets or unoccupied land of the city after nine o’clock at night, has not been without good results. A number of animals were impounded, with the result that the rest of them were locked up. Another meeting is in contemplation, for it seems that owners are again getting careless, and thinking the committee has disbanded, are freeing their stock again. Friend Stouffer! We hear they have an eye on your cow for one.”
1910 — Centralia Coal Sold to Navy
Tons of coal from Centralia were sold to the Navy.
“E.P. Crary of the Wilson Coal Company last week sold 175 tons of Centralia coal to the government torpedo boat destroyers in the harbors of Hoquiam and Aberdeen,” The Chehalis Bee-Nugget wrote. “The sale was made through the City Transfer company of Hoquiam. Work on bunkers to be built by the Wilson company in east Aberdeen will be started Monday.”
1956 — Wayward Balloon Lands Near Mendota
County and federal authorities were cooperating to recover a large Air Force weather balloon that had landed near the K&K mine in the Mendota area, a coal-mining community east of Centralia.
1997 — $1 Million Dollar Blaze Burns in Downtown Chehalis
The headquarters of the Red Cross and two downtown businesses were destroyed by fire from what investigators said originated from a contractor putting on a new hot-tar roof.
Connie Small, Director of the Red Cross, was one of the first to notice smoke. She said, “It was just like (the movie) ‘Backdraft,’” when she looked upstairs and saw flames. I’m always telling people that fires can happen to anybody, not just someone down the street. I guess that’s true, it happened to us.”
Chehalis Fire Department put out a call for help to fight the blaze. Lewis County Fire Districts 5 & 6, Centralia, Tumwater, Olympia, and Tacoma fire departments responded.
“The area’s newest historic district is going to have a big hole in its teeth”, Dave Campbell, Chehalis City Manager said. In June the Chehalis downtown was admitted to the Washington State Historic Register.
2001 — The Weight of History
Several pieces of history were added to Centralia High School.
Two Tenino sandstone columns from the high school that had been demolished in 1969 (where Centralia College is now) were being erected behind the current school sign. Between the two was hung a school bell that been donated by the class of 1897 and had hung at the old North End School until 1909.
2005 — Restored Hotel Adds Rooftop Dining
The historic building in downtown Chehalis that burned in 1997 and rebuilt was now opening its roof to the public as an open-air restaurant.
The Washington Hotel, an 1889 building that was restored after a devastating mid-1990s fire, had opened a rooftop patio. The patio was open for special events and is also open to members of the public eating at the Italian restaurant located in the building's main floor.
