Located in western Washington State, Hoquiam is a small town with an interesting and charming present. The settlement's place near stretches of wooded land and the Pacific Ocean have influenced the past as well as the present. The story of the lumber and shipping industries is the story of the town.
Before white settlers arrived in the area, Native American tribes lived in what is now Grays Harbor County. The two main tribes in the county were the Chehalis and the Quinault. The descendants of the early Native Americans still live in the area, continuing their tribal traditions and communities to this day.
The first white settler in the area was a man named James Karr. Not much later, Ed Cambell moved to the settlement, becoming the first postmaster of Hoquiam. Today, his house stands as the oldest home in town. Other settlers followed, and by 1890, the settlement had a population of over 1300 people.
The early residents of Grays Harbor made a living primarily from logging. From the 1880's until the 1930's, the Northwestern Lumber Company did booming business, employing locals and supporting the economy of the area. Because of the lumber industry, a railroad was finally brought to the town, bringing with it more people and money. The Northwestern Lumber Company was the primary lumber business in town until the Twentieth Century.
The past century and a half has seen hundreds of logging businesses work the local forests. The Polson Logging Company had the greatest impact on the town. Currently, the Polson Museum, operating in the old Polson mansion, teaches visitors about the history of the local logging industry. Exhibits and photographs show the lifestyle of past loggers. The museum has almost 10,000 artifacts concerning local history and the logging industry in the area.
As the rest of the country experienced tough times throughout the Twentieth century, so did Grays Harbor. As a one-industry town, Hoquiam was hurt by the Great Depression and the labor strikes over the years. By the end of the Twentieth Century, logging was on the decline, especially in Grays Harbor. The government placed restrictions on the business due to environmental concerns, therefore causing companies to close and people to be laid off.
However, the locals have shown great spirit in fighting to stay in business. The town is home to many tourist attractions such as the Logger's Playday, the Shorebird Festival, and the Hoquiam Riverfest. These events celebrate the past while serving the future. By bringing visitors to the town, the festivals fuel money and investment into the economy. The town has worked to restore sites of historical significance and to become a resource for historical research.
The will and personality of Hoquiam's community is evident in the town today. The residents are proud of their history and enjoy sharing it with others. They have worked to bring new opportunities and events into the county, showing that lumber is not their greatest resource. That would be the local's creativity and love for their home.
Before white settlers arrived in the area, Native American tribes lived in what is now Grays Harbor County. The two main tribes in the county were the Chehalis and the Quinault. The descendants of the early Native Americans still live in the area, continuing their tribal traditions and communities to this day.
The first white settler in the area was a man named James Karr. Not much later, Ed Cambell moved to the settlement, becoming the first postmaster of Hoquiam. Today, his house stands as the oldest home in town. Other settlers followed, and by 1890, the settlement had a population of over 1300 people.
The early residents of Grays Harbor made a living primarily from logging. From the 1880's until the 1930's, the Northwestern Lumber Company did booming business, employing locals and supporting the economy of the area. Because of the lumber industry, a railroad was finally brought to the town, bringing with it more people and money. The Northwestern Lumber Company was the primary lumber business in town until the Twentieth Century.
The past century and a half has seen hundreds of logging businesses work the local forests. The Polson Logging Company had the greatest impact on the town. Currently, the Polson Museum, operating in the old Polson mansion, teaches visitors about the history of the local logging industry. Exhibits and photographs show the lifestyle of past loggers. The museum has almost 10,000 artifacts concerning local history and the logging industry in the area.
As the rest of the country experienced tough times throughout the Twentieth century, so did Grays Harbor. As a one-industry town, Hoquiam was hurt by the Great Depression and the labor strikes over the years. By the end of the Twentieth Century, logging was on the decline, especially in Grays Harbor. The government placed restrictions on the business due to environmental concerns, therefore causing companies to close and people to be laid off.
However, the locals have shown great spirit in fighting to stay in business. The town is home to many tourist attractions such as the Logger's Playday, the Shorebird Festival, and the Hoquiam Riverfest. These events celebrate the past while serving the future. By bringing visitors to the town, the festivals fuel money and investment into the economy. The town has worked to restore sites of historical significance and to become a resource for historical research.
The will and personality of Hoquiam's community is evident in the town today. The residents are proud of their history and enjoy sharing it with others. They have worked to bring new opportunities and events into the county, showing that lumber is not their greatest resource. That would be the local's creativity and love for their home.
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