Down with the old, up with the new: New set of spar poles placed ahead of Morton Loggers Jubilee

Every year on the second weekend of August, hundreds of people gather in Morton to watch others put their logging skills to the test. And every Friday before the lawn mower races, an American flag is raised between two 80-foot spar poles in a ceremony signifying the start of the Jubilee.

Spar poles were traditionally used by loggers to help with the transportation of harvested trees over rough terrain. Now, as a defining feature at the arena, the spar poles are used for the flag raising and speed climbing contests.

After four years with the same spar poles in the Loggers’ Jubilee Arena, it was time to replace them due to decay. Two new poles were hauled into the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee Arena Tuesday morning as volunteers cut down the weathered poles.

Equipment to lift the poles into the ground was provided by Tacoma City Light, according to event organizers.

After volunteers coordinated the placement of the new spar poles the next day, a crane began to lift the first pole slowly as volunteers guided the bottom into a deep hole. The hole, surrounded by cement, was filled with planks of wood by the volunteers to hold the poles in place.

The 82nd Morton Loggers Jubilee kicks off Thursday, Aug. 7, with the coronation of the 69th jubilee queen at the Morton High School gym at 8 p.m. Gates open for the lawn mower races on Friday, Aug. 8, at 4:30 p.m. and time trials begin at 6:30 p.m. and races kick off at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit https://loggersjubilee.com/.