PRESERVING THE STORIES OF ISSAQUAH

A Memory Book Project of the

Issaquah Historical Society

Personal Bio

Name:

Archie Howatson

Local Businesses

What local businesses do you remember?  What items did you purchase there?  Who owned the business?  Where was it located?  What do you remember most about it?

I remember Tom Lewis is the school bus driver on the Hobart route.

World War II

How did World War II affect the town of Issaquah?  Did you know men or women who went to fight in the war?  Did you leave Issaquah to join the war efforts?

There are a number of family names in the veterans section of Hillside Cemetery.  I have a grave reserved there.  My late wife is buried there.  Her maiden name was Helen Prien.  She was a graduate of Issaquah High.

Issaquah Round-Up—Salmon Days—Labor Day Celebrations

What are your memories of the Rodeo?

I remember the horse races and chariot races.  There were also riders trying to stay on bucking broncos and bulls.  In 1929 there was a tremendous downpour.  The clown stayed on the race track and entertained the crowd till the rodeo was finally called off.  I think this was the last rodeo in Issaquah.

Logging and Sawmills

How did the logging industry affect Issaquah?  How did it change?  Did you work in logging?  For what logging camp or sawmill?  What do you remember of your logging days?  What type of machines did you use for logging?  How did you transport logs? How large were these logs?

I was a timber cutter in the logging industry for twenty years.  Worked at North Bend Timber Co. where I worked as a faller where I used that 12 foot falling saw that is in the Issaquah museum.  Also worked Mountain Free Farm Co. at Cedar Falls and St. Regis Paper Co. at Mineral.

Do you remember the Monohon Mill, the Red Hall sawmill by the fish hatchery, the High Point Mill, the Preston Mill, or the Issaquah Lumber Company Mill on Front Street South?

Was born on a 5-acre place near Monohon.  Went to school there in the first grade in 1924 and 25.  In June1925 the mill and the town burned.  We then moved to a place 6 miles south of Issaquah on the Hobart road.

Do you remember when there was a fire at the mill?  Did you help fight it?  Did you see the fire?

Before 1929 it was Neukirchen's Mill.

Farming and Dairy

Do you have any memories of Pickering Farm?

The schools in the picture is very familiar.  On the first floor on the right was the first grade, taught by Miss MacMaster.  On the left lower floor was the second grade taught by Miss Donavan.  On the second floor left was the fourth grade taught by Miss Cook.  On the right on the second floor was the seventh grade.  (Taught by Mr. Stevenson.)  The sixth and eighth grade were in the back of the building on the second floor.  Miss Willis taught the sixth grade.  The third and fifth grades were in the annex buildings to the right.  The third grade taught by Miss Bresnahan and the fifth grade which was taught by Miss McKay.  I don’t remember the eighth grade teacher.  We moved to Hobart when I was in the sixth grade.  The top floor was the high school.

Railroad—Transportation

How did the construction of I-90 change life in Issaquah?

I think U.S. 10 which is now Gilman Boulevard changed Issaquah more than I-90 by encouraging expansion toward the north.

AUTHOR of THIS MEMORY BOOK (signature and date)

Archie Howatson 3/21/01