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03/26/12 08:59 AM |
To those who are wondering, I'm still around. There are still a lot of things going on and my time is stretched to the limit, but I'm hoping that hard work now will eventually simplify my life and Dave and I will be hitting the trails as the summer approaches. I'm getting treatments on my Achilles Tendon and there is some improvement, but I'm not there yet. I'm hopeful and positive, the trails are calling me and I yearn to be there soon!! I hope that you are all starting to enjoy the renewal of spring into summer....it's been a very strange winter!! Take care and be well!!!! |
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02/12/12 02:55 PM |
I am unable to write much in my blog as there is so little time...so many projects going on. Most of them are coming to a conclusion in a month or so, but this one and my other website are going to continue to take much of my time. This will have to be on the back burner for the time being but hopefully will resume soon. To the recent anonomous commenter, I don't communicate with many people on a continuous basis or personal level, especially those who don't identify themselves. I don't understand the number/letters at the start or the meanings of some comments made. I appreciate the visits, but would like to know who they are coming from. |
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09/07/11 08:11 AM |
I knew that the surrounding area was known for coal production, but only after digging into the local history did I realize how much. I had been on this road a couple of times, but only in the summer. I didn't even know about coke ovens and how many there were all over the countryside, covered in blackberries. But on this winter day they stood out in stark contrast to the nature that had buried them. We walked along the line of about 15 ovens in a row and marveled at the construction and use. The bricks inside were really beautiful and the workmanship was amazing. It was hard to imagine there were over 160 of these ovens, burning 24/7. A older gentleman that I talked to remembered the glow of these fires in the darkness of night and said it was a sight to see. In the summer there is a celebration, in Wilkeson the end of July, that features the handcar races....the finish line being in front of these ovens. |
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08/26/11 09:22 AM |
Coal was discovered in the Carbon River Valley in 1875, but not accessible until a rail line was built from the port town of Tacoma, (on Puget Sound). When the rail line headed east a tide of miners from 29 different countries flooded into the dense forests of the area a cut out the communities along the Carbon River. Where there are now 4 small towns remaining with a combined population of about 1500 people there were around 7000 people in 7 close-knit communities in 1900. There were 9 working coal mines with 160 coke ovens, 2 lumber mills and a sandstone quarry (of high-quality stone) supporting a population that enjoyed all the comforts of living available at the time. What was a rough and tumble attitude that came with 13 saloons and 2 churches in the town of Wilkeson, soon became a quality place to live as merchants brought in modern conviences and civic leaders strived to make the area a self-contained, wonderful place to raise your kids. In 1938, the last coal mine was closed, the lumberyards moved a bit north and the people moved away with the jobs. Now the communities are much smaller, or non-existant, but still a great place to raise your kids. You pass thru 3 of these old towns on the way to Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park, at the end of the road. |
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08/22/11 08:44 AM |
I'm setting up a facebook business account and will be using PayPal for any sales of postcards, cards and prints. I'll be posting the cards and postcards here as time goes on. My main gallery will remain the same with mostly photos from hikes in the area. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate all the help I can get.... :-))) This project began with a suggestion by a friend who owns a small but unique store in a very small town. She didn't need more notecards, but felt that there was a need for local postcards. Burnett, Wilkeson and Carbonado were very busy places in the late 1880s to 1930's as coal mining towns...now they are very small communities. Other coal mine towns near by totally disappeared. The history of these places is very colorful and some of the remnants of the past are still around. I have had a wonderful time learning about the past. Enumclaw didn't exist yet.....
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