Port Angeles Evening News from Port Angeles, Washington • Page 134

June 16, t.2—-2 Colony important in growth of Port Angeles By JACK MENSON Port Angeles was a huddle of small buildings slumbering in the protection of Edk Hook for ovef 20 years, until members of the Puget Sound Co-Operative Colony started arriving in the spring of 1887. Members of the colony were pledged to establish a model cooperative commonwealth on Port Angeles harbor. The headquarters for the activities were at Ennis Creek, the site of the present Rayonier mill. Whatever its subsequent success or failures, the colony was one of the greatest factor.s in the early growth of Port Angeles. Most of the "first" things in Port Angeles stem back to the colony: It built the first saw mill near Ennis Creek in 1887.

Established the first newspaper, the Model Commonwealth, in 1877. Contracted and built the i school house, Old Central, at the site of the present Washington school in 1888. Using lumber from the colony mill, colonists built the first Protestant church, the First Congregational, at 1st and Vine Streets, in 1888. Built the first office building, on the southeast corner of Front and Laurel Streets, in 1888. Built the first Opera house, east of the office building, in 1890 and dedicated it early in 1891.

It stood until 1923. Built and operated the first steamer, the 60-ton steam schooner "The Angeles" built in the colony shipyard near Ennis creek and launched April 23, 1889. Built the first Catholic Church in 1890 on the present site of the Port Angeles public library. Inaugurated the first eight-hour work day here. The by-laws provided "that eight will constitute a day of labor for men and six hours for women.

Women shall have equal pay with men for the same work but in order COLONY INCORPORATORS These are the men and women who incorporated the Puget Sound Co-Operative colony which brought much of the early growth to Port Angeles. From upper left to right the members were George Moser, J. R. McDonald, E. E.

Vail, Mrs. J. Giddings, Dr. J. W.

Taylor, E. A. Shipley, Paul Land. A. McConnachie, Charles Peters, L.

Williams, E. Hinkley, A. F. Huffman, R. R.

Reynolds, A. Rummers. Thomas J. Davis, P. W.

Gallup, Mrs. Laura E. Hall, George V. Smith, Mrs. Nellie Wood, J.

M. Grant, J. J. Host. J.

Alexander, A. Mason, F. D. McKenley, E. Sanderson, W.

W. Beck, A. C. Spear, Thomas Malony. W.

S. McLaughlin, G. W. Meagher, W. W.

Shearer, G. W. Vail, T. Graybill, Peter Unsinger, C. M.

Armbrust. to get the same pay as men they must work an eight hour day." Inaugurated the first health and old age insurance. The colony bylaws provided "that it is the duty of the corporation to furnish insurance in case of accident to person and property and provide against sickness, old age, for the orphan and widow." INCORPORATED IN 1M7 The colony, titled "A Model Cooperative Commonwealth" was incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Washington May 10, 1887. Its aims according to the articles of incorporation, were: "To provide to members permanent employment in all branches of trade and industry at good wages, and lands, water, lights, schools, libraries, baths and all the conveniences and luturies of the most advanced civilization, A townsite, land and fine harbor, at Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington Territory, Generally, the aims of the col- only were to substitute the colony's collective operation for traditional private enterprise. Thus the declaration of principles stated that "private enterprise and competition between members within said company, or on its premises or within its townsite will be under the control and management of the corporation lor the benefit of the More specifically, the articles provided that "No private enterprise shall be allowed in the company or between any of its members and others.

The company, through its officers, shall own and control all business enterprises, factories and other matters of traffic, production and distribution within the company." Mrs. Laura E. Hall, first editor of the Model Commonwealth, said Peto P. Good, a New York lawyer, first the establishment of a co-operative colony in the Pacific Northwest. He was visiting in Seattle at the time.

Mrs. Hall and others in Seattle liked the idea, and the group formed in Seattle. The Model Commonwealth started publication in Seattle in 1886. Port Angeles was chosen as the site of the colony. Scouts came here' and looked over the location and approved it.

Societies were formed in a number of cities by President George Venable Smith, who toured the country forming the societies. The colonists acquired considerable acreage by purchase of government tracts on the townsite of Port Angeles, and "other acreage bought from private owners, and The membership fee was $60, ntitllng each subscriber to a SO- oot frontage lot in the property be acquired on the government PORT ANGELES on your 100th BIRTHDAY Since 1936- PORT ANGELES FOLKS Have been looking at unsurpassed scenery through window glass supplied by MATHEWS 217 N. LAUREl GLASS GL stabllsned the Puget Sound itfon to the townsite of Port An- ETTLfiRS START COMING Quite a number of colony offi- ers, some members and the htodel Commonwealth to Angeles in the spring of 1887. The early arrivals lived In an partment house on the shore of Creek where they built a aw mill, meeting hall, small chool and store. That spring members of Coop- rative societies in many cities of lie nation were warned not to ome to Port Angeles until suit- ble living quarters were provided or them.

The first tarted building homes on their ots. Most of these homes Were ast of Peabody street along East Front and 1st Streets, and north of Front Street to the bluff. Lumber from the colony mill was ised in the construction of the lomes, many of which are still landing. Access to the colony headquar- era was by what was known as he Gulch Road, now the north- rn end of Francis Street. The colony garden was in the north end of Ennis Creek valley, and took in what is now the Ray- nier parking lot.

USED SCRIP FOR MONEY Workers for the colony were jaid in scrip, which was redeem- ble in groceries and other mer- handise at the Colony Store. No ecords remain to indicate how many coldnists came here with he first group in 1887, or afterwards, but some of the first ar- ivals left in the winter of 1887-88, which was a tough one for the olony. Money was almost non-existent. 'he mill was cutting lumber but ittle of it could be sold for cash. The grocery stock was depleted and no money was available to buy more.

The scrip was not redeemable in cash as little cash was coming in from newly-arriving colonists. Many of the colonists who first ived at the Ennis Creek head- juarters moved to their new homes on the east end hill. Others Ook advantage of the homestead aw and started taking up land in many places in Clallam County. Colonists homesteaded oh much of the area south, east and west of Port Angeles. Some went far up into the Elwha Valley and the foothills south of.

the city. By the spring of 1888, colony officers were making appeals through the columns of the Commonwealth, for contributions to the Colony's capital In November 1888 the company's assets, above liabilities for capital stock, totalled $100,000. Its property consisted of the saw mill, with lath and shingle plant, and a mile and a quarter of waterfront on Port Angeles harbor. It owned 387 city lots of 1,259 acres. Stockholders owned 5,500 shares representing $55,000.

Invoice of personal property was $9,000. Membership required a subscription of $1,000 toward the capital stock of the company, payable $100 at the time of joining and $50 a year in cash or labor until paid. Late in 1888 the finances of the colony became shaky. In the spring of 1889 the cows belonging to the colony were sold for $370.75 to get some cash. That fall the Model Common wealth went, out of existence as the colony newspaper.

By that time very few of the colonists were still living along Ennis Creek. They had scattered back to the cities from which e.y came, or were in homes of their own on the townsite or "proving up" on homesteads in the deep woods nearby. Records disclose that the last annual reunion, of resident mem bership of the colony was at the Ennis Creek picnic grounds, July 4, Maloney, secretary of the colony, remained in business for several years after 1889, and in the name of the colony operat ed the saw mill and other facili ties. The colony went into receiver ship in 1894. Ten years later, on April 28, 1904, R.

c. Wilson filed his last report, and on Dec. 2 that year the final settlenten showed total cash on hand from all sources $1,407.74, of which the receiver received $700. He claims allowed by the court aiu deposited $3.56 for the benefit ol two small claimants. This action was the official end of a Utopian experiment that real ly ended 15 years be fore.

COLONY OFFICERS Officers of the colony, as listec in the Model Cwunoawealth of 5, 1887 were; George Venable Smith, presi dent, Albert E. Sanderson, secre tajry; Mrs. Nellie Wood, treasurer Tjie trustees Smith chairman, Mrs. Wood. Williams, public works; Sander son, law; Francis Hjyockley, pub lie utilities; P.

W. Gallup, safety; A. F. Huffman, com merce; W. W.

Beck, manufacture Mrs. Laura E. Hall, education J. M. Grant, agriculture; and COLONY MILL The Puget Sound Co-operative colony built a sawmill near the mouth of Ennis Creek when it was established here in 1887.

This was the first mill constructed in this area. HEADQUARTERS This was headquarters of the Puget Sound colony hotel is in the foreground. To the right is the co-op Co-operative Colony as it appeared about 1887 on its site near owned sawmill. the mouth of Ennis Creek on the Port Angeles harbor. The McKenley, health.

Laura E. Hall was editor and Mastick Jr. business manager. A list of officers printed in the Commonwealth April 16, 1888, howed Fred R. Thompson, presi- ent; Thomas Maloney, secretary; and Alex McConnachie, treasurer.

The board of directors had Thompson as chairman and gen- ral manager, McConnachie, fiance; Maloney, education; W. Meagher, commerce; Dr. F. S. Lewis, health; Robert shields, W.

W. Maltby, W. S. Mc- L. D.

Stewart, John B. Spears and Herman Culver. Dr. F. S.

Lewis was editor, Thomas Maloney, assistant editor nd A. McConnachie, business manager of the commonwealth. By Nov. 28, 1888, the Commonwealth listed a new set of colony officers: Herman Culver, president; Robert Shields, vice president; Thomas Maloney, secre- ary; and George F. Haines, reasurer.

The board of trustees consisted of Culver, general manager; Shields, Haines, L. D. Stewart, Henry Westphal, John C. Coo- idge, Thomas Maloney, Fred R. Thompson, J.

W. Stewart, Winfield Dean and Adolph Anderson. Dr. F. S.

Lewis and E. B. Mastick Jr. announced they had leased the Commonwealth from the colony and were editing and publishing it. NAMES FAMILIAR An old ledger used to keep store accounts of the Puget Sound Co-Operative Colony and probably those of Robert Shields, who later operated the store, shows names of many who were colonists, and others who came here a little later.

Shields was the father of C. E. Shields and Mrs. May Maple. Some of the surnames appearing in the ledger are Mastick, Grant, Merryfield, Adams Al bright, Russell, N.

R. Smith, Ware, Schieferstein, Burns, lony, a McLaughlin Chambers, Cook, Stewart, Danz, Dilling, Baker, Place, Clegg, Me George, Richter, Church, Coolidge, Bohall, Jacobs, J. A Smith, Seevers, Ayres, Haynes Edwards, Rushworth, Foss, Nichols, Raymond, Reis, Land, Hamilton, Kelly, Meagher, Thompson Nottage, Derickson, Phelps, Jarvis, Ferguson, Haines, Voldo, Eng land, Town, Culver, Ritchie Westphal, Spears, Young, Eac rett, Martin, Goldwater, Brandt, Finch, Henson, Pinyard, Coven ton, Lewis, Liese, Pellerine Wood, Mason, Fisher, Griswold Peters, Forsberg, Christopherson Cosser, Yarnell, Quinn, Howells McGill, Fenn, Harjow, Chitwood Gray, Wait, Bitterwolf, McKay Armbur.st, Williams, Moore, Me Connachie and Fend. Many of those early settlers names sound familiar in Port An geles today. NO 'FREE LOVE' -Because the declaration of prin ciples of the Puget Sound Co-Operative Colony required absolute freedom of religious and politics belief, many stories have circu lated about its members.

It is true that every religious and po litical belief was represented in the colony memberships. There were socialists, anarchists, and atheists, as well as conservative groups. For many years the fable circu lated that it was a "free love' colony in which members ex changed wives at will. This is disproven by the 24th paragraph of the declaration principles, which said: "Marriage is the moral and phy sical foundation of the home and the anchor of stable, upright con duct. This relationship should be held sacred and should be sup ported and encouraged by relieving it of the heavy burdens now almost crushing it under prevailing social conditions and every woman should have one husband and no more." Other stories had it that the colony was a nest of atheists.

But the seventh article of the declaration of principles said. "In the matter of conscience, belief or religion, such liberality of sentiment should prevail that a private religious opinion of each should be respected by all, and while our principles of association shall not conflict with our duties to God, our country or ourselves, we hold it essential to our safety and harmony, that our public halls shall be free alike to all discourses of all creeds, beliefs and sentiment So persons of many beliefs were colony members. Some were cultists, but the rank and file were conservative. Some were Democrats and some Republicans, and many wordy battles raged in the colony meeting hall. Many of the colonists were deeply religious.

The colonists formed the first Congregational, First Methodist, First Baptist and St. Andrew's Episcopal Churches, and had a great part in building the religious structures of those denominations. Churches that came later also had many colonists as members. Many brilliant men and women were among the colonists. There were doctors, lawyers, teachers, orators, ministers and just average citizens.

But all shared one thing in common, in that they prescribed to the principle of bettering the conditions of their fellows and to establish homes for themselves and their children. It Is A Pleasure And Privilege to Congratulations to Port Angeles The progress and development of our beautiful western city are reflected everywhere in the and business establishments. I take pride in the fact that I have been fortunate to grow with this area. KENNETH STEFFEN W. 6th Masonry Contractor OL 7-4360.