Toledo was transported back in time this weekend, though it was up to residents to decide what era. From an Elvis impersonator to 1920s garb, partygoers celebrated different eras of the town’s history.
“If you don’t know where you’ve been, you don’t know where you’re going,” said Mike Morgan, president of the Toledo Historical Society.
The town, named after a passing riverboat, was officially incorporated on Oct. 10, 1992. On Saturday, roughly 50 people attended a birthday party hosted by the Toledo Historical Society.
Until 1918, Toledo was a dropping-off point for people from Southern Washington and Oregon looking to make their way up north.
The party included a costume contest, with resident Margaret Shook winning awards for best costume, most creative and most historical.
“I’ve had this for so long,” Shook said of her flapper-inspired costume.
The event served as a fundraiser for an eventual museum, with the society also working to serve funds through a grant.
“Our goal here, of course, is to put in a history museum,” Morgan said, adding the project does not yet have a timeline for completion. “So that’s why we’re having the silent auction.”
While the library has an exhibit dedicated to the town’s history, Donald Brenner with the historical society said, “Our collections have grown so much that it’s stored in my garage.”
One piece of history — an accommodation signed by President Barack Obama in 2016 that recognizes the town for its community spirit — sits in the town library.
“So it’s pretty good to get recognized like that,” Brenner said.
Residents say the town has a lot of things going for it — from the large murals painted on several walls to the people and their generosity. One, Morgan said, was interrupted mid-sentence by a slight humming noise.
“There’s another reason we live here,” Morgan said, gesturing to two ultralight gliders as they made their way across the sky. “We have an airport here, and all kinds of fun stuff.”
Toledo Mayor Pro-Tem Eric Hayes, the town’s top official for about a month, said he’s optimistic about the town’s future. Between the annexation of a little more than 100 acres of land, and multiple new housing developments, Hayes said he hopes the increase in residences will inspire an increase in business in the area “without compromising our essence.”
“While we want to cater to tourists from Mount St. Helens or the local Raceways, we want Toledo to remain a quaint town first,” Hayes said.
Hayes, who moved to the town five years ago, said he remembers his first night as a resident. He closed on his house three days early to attend the Cheese Days festival. His first morning, he woke up to dozens of people staked out in his front yard, waiting for the annual parade. In the years since, residents continue to stake their spot in his yard.
One of the things that makes the town special, Hayes said, is its people.
“The friends I’ve found — nothing tops that,” Hayes said.
