Hoquiam’s History
Logging and shipping are a big part of the history of Washington State. Much of the state is woodland with a large Pacific coast and many rivers. This history has influenced the past and the present of the small town of Hoquiam.
Before European settlers arrived, the two main tribes that lived in the area that became Grays Harbor County were the Chehalis and the Quinault. Their descendants still live in the area, continuing their tribal traditions and communities to this day.
The first white resident to live in the area was a man named James Karr. Soon after he arrived, Ed Campbell moved to the town, becoming the first postmaster of Hoquiam. Today, his family’s home still exists as the oldest home in town. After James Karr and Ed Campbell, many other people moved to the area, and by 1890 the town 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.
Hundreds of logging companies have worked in Grays Harbor over the past hundred and twenty years. The most prominent of these was the Polson Logging Company. Today, the Polson Museum, located in the old Polson home, provides a glimpse into the past of the logging industry. Exhibits and photographs detail the life loggers in the past lived. It houses almost 10,000 artifacts related to local history and the logging industry in the area.
Throughout the Twentieth Century, Grays Harbor’s economy and society reflected the state of the rest of the country. As a one-industry town, Hoquiam felt greatly the impact of the Great Depression and the labor strikes of the times. By the last two decades of the Twentieth Century, logging was on the decline, especially in Grays Harbor. The industry’s effect on the environment caused governmental restrictions on logging, thus causing unemployment and the closing of businesses.
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 strength and humor of Hoquiam’s community is evident in the town today. The residents display pride in their history as well as in their current achievements. They have worked to bring new businesses and events into the area, proving that lumber is not their greatest resource. That would be the local’s ingenuity and passion for their home.
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