12 September, 2003 The Third Age Granite Falls second century mirrors its first 8% Townspeople feel pride and share town’s history Perspective On The Past BY: louise lindgren A hundred years ago the town of Granite Falls was incorporated, and townspeople have been cele- brating that fact for the past eight months with special programs and events that will continue through the year. They have much to think about as they look back and then forward, to the changes that are happening at such a swift pace that they almost mirror the early development of the town. The History of Snohomish County, written by William Whit- field in 1926, estimated there were 50-60 people in Granite in 1900. By 1904 there were over 400. Longtime residents of Granite Falls today may be able to relate to the feelings of the pioneers as they have watched their popula- tionjump from 911 in 1980 to over 2,900 today, Another interesting source of' information for comparison in a different way is “The Coast” magazine of June 1902 which waxes poetic about the natural wonders of the area. “Four fresh water lakes lie in one direction from the place, and seven in another, which afford most excellent fishing. In the forests and along the lakes and streams, grouse, pheasants, ducks and Wild geese are plentiful.” The article goes on to describe the train trip leaving Granite for Robe Canyon and the town of Monte Cristo. “u. the train passes for a few miles through a dense forest of fir, cedar, hemlock and larch. Suddenly to the ln"t~cf'tlac track the curtain ofltrees falls away and one can see, hundreds of feet below, the rushing tumbling waters of the Stillaguamish River. Later, we cross the river and marvel at the pure, clear color of the splashing, hurrying waters below, whose roar can be heard above the noise of the train." Such language was used to lure city dwellers to the area for tour- ism and settlement. Does thut differ from the'efl‘orts of real estate developers today who have platted streets with names like Paradise Parkway, Vista Court, and Moun- tain View Street? Or, laid out a series of streets near the Jordan Road with names that evoke the beauty of lush forests — Pine, Cedar, and Dogwood Courts, as well as Hemlock Way? Human nature doesn’t really change all that much. People wtuit to feel pride in their chosen home and want to share their stories with others, putting it all in the best light possible. Back in 1919, an album and history of Granite Falls was created that does just that. , According to the Granite Falls Historical Society, the album, with (nineteenth) century, hunters, trappers, and finally settlers came to locate at or near the present site of Granite, they found that it, and great stretches of the surrounding land, had been burned clean by a great forest fire, such as has never ml .» Pioneer Wil'l Robe and his mother in their store ~ photo courtesy of granite Falls historical society text written in a flowing longhund. was probubly put together by Anna Pugh. Mt. Pugh was named for one of her relatives, so she already must have felt u strong sense of connection with the history of the place, She speaks of the beginning: “When in the early part of the “gal-73mm“ in M- r .. -K a been known in these parts since. They named this then the ‘Big Burn.’ “The settlement carried this name for about three years, when for some unknown reason it was changed to ‘Portage.’ But this caused confusion and after a period of about a year, the name ‘Gr‘nniinF‘nllc 'umc finniiuAmuna , Author: , Accession/Object ID: 2004.44.2, Object Name: Newspaper, Title: , Description: Article on Granite Falls, by Louise Lindgren, from the Sept 2003 "The Third Age", OCR Text: 12 September, 2003 The Third Age Granite Falls second century mirrors its first 8% Townspeople feel pride and share town’s history Perspective On The Past BY: louise lindgren A hundred years ago the town of Granite Falls was incorporated, and townspeople have been cele- brating that fact for the past eight months with special programs and events that will continue through the year. They have much to think about as they look back and then forward, to the changes that are happening at such a swift pace that they almost mirror the early development of the town. The History of Snohomish County, written by William Whit- field in 1926, estimated there were 50-60 people in Granite in 1900. By 1904 there were over 400. Longtime residents of Granite Falls today may be able to relate to the feelings of the pioneers as they have watched their popula- tionjump from 911 in 1980 to over 2,900 today, Another interesting source of' information for comparison in a different way is “The Coast” magazine of June 1902 which waxes poetic about the natural wonders of the area. “Four fresh water lakes lie in one direction from the place, and seven in another, which afford most excellent fishing. In the forests and along the lakes and streams, grouse, pheasants, ducks and Wild geese are plentiful.” The article goes on to describe the train trip leaving Granite for Robe Canyon and the town of Monte Cristo. “u. the train passes for a few miles through a dense forest of fir, cedar, hemlock and larch. Suddenly to the ln"t~cf'tlac track the curtain ofltrees falls away and one can see, hundreds of feet below, the rushing tumbling waters of the Stillaguamish River. Later, we cross the river and marvel at the pure, clear color of the splashing, hurrying waters below, whose roar can be heard above the noise of the train." Such language was used to lure city dwellers to the area for tour- ism and settlement. Does thut differ from the'efl‘orts of real estate developers today who have platted streets with names like Paradise Parkway, Vista Court, and Moun- tain View Street? Or, laid out a series of streets near the Jordan Road with names that evoke the beauty of lush forests — Pine, Cedar, and Dogwood Courts, as well as Hemlock Way? Human nature doesn’t really change all that much. People wtuit to feel pride in their chosen home and want to share their stories with others, putting it all in the best light possible. Back in 1919, an album and history of Granite Falls was created that does just that. , According to the Granite Falls Historical Society, the album, with (nineteenth) century, hunters, trappers, and finally settlers came to locate at or near the present site of Granite, they found that it, and great stretches of the surrounding land, had been burned clean by a great forest fire, such as has never ml .» Pioneer Wil'l Robe and his mother in their store ~ photo courtesy of granite Falls historical society text written in a flowing longhund. was probubly put together by Anna Pugh. Mt. Pugh was named for one of her relatives, so she already must have felt u strong sense of connection with the history of the place, She speaks of the beginning: “When in the early part of the “gal-73mm“ in M- r .. -K a been known in these parts since. They named this then the ‘Big Burn.’ “The settlement carried this name for about three years, when for some unknown reason it was changed to ‘Portage.’ But this caused confusion and after a period of about a year, the name ‘Gr‘nniinF‘nllc 'umc finniiuAmuna , Granite Falls Historical Society,Documents (articles, clippings, letters, papers),General Articles & Documents,General Articles,General Articles 05,Newspaper (2004.44.2),Newspaper (2004.44.2) 1, Newspaper (2004.44.2) 1