Christmas in Sumas...part 1 of 3

This is a great time of year to remember one of the traditions familiar to local folk,

'Christmas in Sumas'...

 

picture 1

The iconic Welcome to Sumas sign, turned into a holiday hello for those entering our city, driving north on State Highway 9 where it turns into Cherry street near the Sumas Rodeo Grounds.

Photo taken by Deborah Morgan, 6 December, 2014

 

 

This is a great time of year to remember one of the traditions familiar to local folk,...Christmas in Sumas!  In my childhood years, growing up in the early 60's, it was a great delight to go to the Grange Hall on the SE corner of Cherry and First Streets, (the building was later converted into the Lone Jack Saloon and is now a shipping company, 'Ship Happens'), where the yearly Santa visit was a great source of excitement and fun for all of us children!  I remember we would first get to sit on the floor and be entertained by cartoon movies shown with a projector.  After the movies, Santa Clause himself would arrive and all the children would line up and get a paper bag of treats with assorted candies and an orange in it.  What fun!

 

picture 2

Santa Clause at the Sumas Grange Hall.

article in the Everson News, 21 December, 1961.

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection.

 

 

Today the tradition continues but has evolved.  Santa Claus stills visit the children of Sumas but with the help of the Sumas Volunteer Fire Department (Whatcom Fire District #14).  The Lions Club sponsors "Christmas in the Park" in which families gather at the utility building in the City Park along Johnson Creek in between Cherry Street and Sumas Street.  The festivities consist of hot apple cider being served, Christmas music being played.  In all types of weather (usually COLD!)  the children wait with great enthusiasm for Santa Clause to arrive in the fire engine with the siren blaring!  Santa then gets out of the fire engine and plugs in the cords to light up the Christmas tree to the cheer of the crowd. 

 

 

picture 3

Fire engine leaving the Sumas Fire Station (on Columbia Street)

 with Santa Claus headed to the City Park.

Photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 1 December, 2014.

 picture 4

Volunteer Fire Fighters Jessie Hoffman (left) and Will Morgan (right) of Whatcom Fire District 14 patiently waiting for Santa Claus as he visits the Children of Sumas.

looking SW on 3rd Street, photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 1 December, 2014

picture 5





Sumas Mayor (and Lions Club member) Bob Bromley and Santa Claus (Terry Bronkema)
Photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 1 December, 2014.

 

Vintage local holiday newspaper ads from days gone by.

 picture 6

Everson News, 30 November, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

 

picture 7

Everson News, 30 November, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

 

Picture 8

Time to go to Everson to buy a new car!

Everson News, 14 December, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

picture 9



Everson News, 14 December, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

Picture 10

Everson News, 14 December, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

 

picture 11

 Everson News, 14 December, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

 

picture 12

Everson News, 14 December, 1961

posted with permission from the Charlie Patterson collection

 

Stay tuned for my next posting featuring more of 'Christmas in Sumas'!

 

 



The Lumber Industry - Miller and Sons Shingle Mill...part 3 of 3

Clarence Leonidas Miller (owner of the Miller and Sons Shingle Mill) and his family were respected and active in civic activities in both Van Buren, WA and then later, Sumas.  Clarence L. was on the Van Buren City Council from 1920 through 1934.  As mentioned in my posting , Sumas Roundup "See 'Em Buck, part 13 of 14 (Sept 14, 2014) - promoting the roundup" he was also one of the officers of the Sumas Roundup Association. 


Around 1918 Clarence L. Miller built a house (see the pink arrow) on the SE corner of Cherry and Vancouver here in Sumas.  It allowed him an easy walk to the mill only 4 blocks away to the SW.

picture 1 

June 4, 1932 Revision of the 1914 Sandborn Fire Insurance Map (portion)

posted with permission from the City of Sumas

The penciled notation above the pink arrow was made to this map in 1932, identifying the yellow structures as belonging to C. L. Miller.  The Miller home was moved from this location long after the Miller family had left the community being replaced by a Texaco gas station that was later operated as a retail dairy operation by Breckinridge Dairy. Today, Edaleen Dairy of Lynden owns and operates the property.

 

picture 2

The original Miller house today on the south side of Mitchell Street, just E of the Sumas Elementary School athletic field.  View looking SE toward Mt. Baker.
photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 29 November, 2014

 

According to his obituary, Clarence L. Miller was a lightweight contender in the Van Buren, WA Wrestling Club in 1909.   As seen in the picture below he was a dashing athlete.

picture 3

Clarence Leonidas 'Leo' Miller as a wrestler circa 1909.

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

 picture 4

A license obtained by Jack Grinder and Clarence L. 'Leo' Miller to operate a wrestling match in Sumas, WA,  December 4th - 5th, 1909.
posted with permission from the M. Miller collection
 

picture 5 

article from the Bellingham Herald,  3 September, 1927

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

A tongue in cheek humorist article written about Clarence Leonidas 'Leo' Miller and his fondness for boxing. At this time Clarence was Vice-President of the Sumas Roundup Association.  The boy with him in the picture is believed to be his son, Clarence Leon Miller, posing as his dad's manager.  

The following pictures are focused on Clarence Miller's wife, Johanna.  According to Mrs. Josephine Fadden, a longtime Sumas resident who knew Johanna, "...she was a stylish, petite lady with her hair always done up in an elaborate hairdo.  Johanna would bring the accounting business to the bank where I would deal with the transactions."  (pers. comm. 3 Dec, 2014)
 

picture 6

 

according to the clipping (circa 1931-1932), Johanna (#1) was involved with the Sumas P.T.A. as President.

undated clipping from unident. newspaper

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

picture 7 

Officers of the P.T.A. for 1931 - 1932

Left to Right:  Mrs. L. Miller,  Mrs. Joe Ellsbree, Mrs. Frank Koehler, Mrs. Roy Hagin

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

 

 

During the evening of 11 October, 1923 a group of 12 talented local ladies gathered in the home of Naomi Nugen here in Sumas and decided to form a club.  Johanna Miller was among the original 12 founders.   She served as a Treasurer for the organization from 1923-1930.  It took three meetings for the ladies to decide on a name and purpose for their organization. 

The meeting of 13 November, 1923 was held in the Miller's home (see picture 3).  That night they voted on and chose the name of their organization, the 'Double A Club'.  The club was devoted to the cultural arts.  There was recitations, music and drama.  The Double A Club continued (as documented in their extensive written records) until the last members disbanded the club 30 August, 1992.

 

Below are the minutes from the November 13th meeting held at the Miller home on Cherry Street, Sumas

picture 8

 

Minutes from the November 13th meeting held at the Miller home on Cherry Street, Sumas 

"The regular Tuesday Evening Nov 13 meeting of this club-still without a name-was held at the house of Mrs. Miller, with the Pres in the chair and Mrs. Cottrell acting as Secretary.  Eleven members are present.  Such of the minutes of the last meeting as wouud be made out were read and afterword consideration, accepted.

The question of the naming of the club was taken up; The names given at the last meeting being re-read, it was moved and seconded that a name be chosen from the them.  The name Amateur Amusers was chosen, to be commonly known as the Double A Club"  Text continued on picture 9

posted from the Morgan family collection

 

picture 9

 

"The following program committee was appointed for Nov 27: Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Lochbaum, Mrs. McGrath.-and for the next meeting Mrs. Lambert, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Tudor.  The President made the suggestion that we give a Christmas program for the old people.  After considerable discussion it was decided to do so on the Sunday afternoon preceeding Xmas.  The following committee to have charge of the program; Mrs. Nugen, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. McGrath, Mrs. Tudor, Mrs. Lochbaum and Mrs. Miller were appointed a committee to make out a list of people to have special invitations. 

The following program was then..."  Text continued on picture 10

posted from the Morgan family collection

 

picture 10

 

 "...given.

Trio     Dutch Dolls,

Mrs. Hicks, Mrs. Lambert, Mrs. Washburn

Readings from a Far Country

Afterwhile by Riley

Mrs. Johnson

Solo- A Dream - Bartlett

(?) Sing the Old Songs

Mrs. Lochbaum

 Piano Solos   Love and Devotion

Mrs. Miller

 After a social half hour over cake and tea the meeting adjourned

 Nell B. Cotrell, Secretary."

posted from the Morgan family collection







 picture 11



Officers of the Double A club for 1928-1929.
posted with permission from the M. Miller collection
 

picture 12

left to right:  Mrs. Miller, Mrs. C.C. Cottrell, Mrs. R.C. Tudor, Mr. D.R. Nugen
posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

---The Miller's leave Sumas---

 Sadly all good things must end.  The Miller's and Sons Shingle Mill had to follow where the lumber was available.  As the Sumas area became logged out it became necessary for the different mills to move. The Miller family rented their house out and moved to Glacier circa 1940 according to Mrs. Josephine Fadden. (pers. comm. 3 Dec, 2014) .  They went into business in the Glacier area, renting cabins and milling logs.

the Miller Mill at Glacier, WA.

Photograph taken by Mr. J. Linn, (circa 1960) 

posted from the J. Linn collection

 

 another view of the Miller Mill at Glacier, WA.

Photograph taken by Mr. J. Linn, (circa 1960) 

posted from the J. Linn collection

 

The Miller & Sons Shingle Mill in Sumas was physically gone by World War II.

Records of its operation are now stored in the archives at the Center of Pacific Northwest Studies at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.

 

  Clarence Leonidas died May 8, 1964 at a hospital in Sedro Wooley, WA.  His wife, Johanna died October 1979.  They are both buried in the historic Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, WA. 

They were indeed an important early family of Sumas and help shaped our town into what it is now.

 

 The holiday season is upon us!  My next posting will be discussing Christmas in Sumas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lumber Industry - Miller and Sons Shingle Mill...part 2 of 3.

Mr. Mike Miller has very generously shared a wealth of photographs and information of his grandfather's business, Miller and Sons Shingle Mill from the early days of Sumas. 

According to Mr. Miller, his grandfather Clarence Leonidas Miller and his Great Uncle Percy, moved from Iowa to Port Angeles, WA in 1889 where their father, Michael Hagar Miller was working at a mill (possibly as the owner).  In 1900, the brothers relocated to Bellingham and attended Western Washington Normal School with their sisters. Michael Hagar also moved to Whatcom County, working at the Washington Shingle Company.

In 1905, Michael Hagar Miller purchased the Hastings Mill at Van Buren, WA.  This facility became the original Miller and Sons Shingle Mill.  The Van Buren townsite has now reverted to farmland but was approx. halfway between Everson, WA and Sumas (3 miles SW of Sumas) on what is now Van Buren Road.

Picture 1

 The original Miller and Sons Mill at Van Buren, WA
posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

Picture 2

Detail from picture 1 

 The young man seated on the left is Clarence Leonidas Miller and Percy Miller is standing. 

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection.

 

In 1906, Michael Hagar Miller's wife Louisa died and in 1908 he also died leaving the boys the mill at Van Buren.   In 1918 Clarence and Percy bought the Cline Mill in Sumas renaming it the Miller and Sons Shingle Mill (see my previous post http://nooksackvalleynostalgia.blogspot.com/2014/11/millers-and-sons-shingle-mill.html.) 

 

Picture 3

It appears from the letterhead in picture 3 that Percy managed the Van Buren mill and

Clarence Leonidas managed the Sumas mill. 

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

Picture 4

 

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

 

 

picture 5

Posted with permission from the M. Miller collection.

 

picture 6

 

 picture 6 shows the mill at Sumas, WA.  Notice the mill owner Clarence Leonidas Miller's son Clarence Leon (M. Miller's father), on the top of the shingle pile

Posted with permission from the M. Miller collection.

picture 7

Another picture of Clarence Leon with an unident. lady at the Sumas mill.

Posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

 



 picture 8



This a picture of Clarence Leon Miller (b. 23 Dec, 1921 - d. 30 Jan. 2008) son of Clarence Leonidas and Johanna Miller, in front of the mill in Sumas. 

Posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

 picture 9

Miller and Sons Shingle Mill was the proud owner of some of the first Duplex 4 trucks. 

'Duplex manufactured one of the early 4 x 4 trucks starting in 1916 until they switched over to making fire engines.  The Duplex manufacturing company was originally located in Charlotte, Michigan.  In 1955, the company was bought out by the Warner and Swasey Company and continued production till 1975. (Michigan State univ. archive and hist. collection) 

In the above picture, the driver of the lead truck was Cliff Howe.  The driver of the rear truck was Glen Vail. (written on the picture back).  Picture 9 was taken in August of 1925.

posted with permission from the M.Miller collection

 

 

picture 10

posted with permission from the collection of M.Miller

 

 

 

 

picture 11

The Miller and Sons Shingle Mill trucks hard at work in the field.   Notice the dog laying in the shade between them.

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

 picture 12

driver Cliff Howe with the mill owner's son, Clarence Leon standing on the front tire (August, 1925).

posted with permission from the M. Miller collection

 

picture 13



driver Glenn Vail with the mill owners son, Clarence Leon standing on the engine cover (August 1925) next to the Mill in Sumas (Johnson Creek).

 

 

According to M. Miller,  during the early 1920s Clarence Leonidas and Percy Miller had a falling out over finances.  The brothers went their own directions and supposedly never spoke to each other again.  Percy ended up in Granite Falls and the mill he founded there is still in operation

and is believed to be the largest supplier of cedar shakes and shingles in the nation.

My next post will be the third and final instalment regarding Miller and Sons and will continue the larger thread covering the lumber industry here in sunny Sumas!  See you then...

 







The Lumber Industry - Miller and Sons Shingle Mill...part 1 of 3.

 

 

In the last posting, I presented pictures of Miller and Sons parade float at the Sumas Roundup in 1923 and planned to follow up on a the mill itself.   The picture below was the only picture I found with the name of the company visible.  

Credited to the Central Washington University, James E. Brooks Library digital collection.

http://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/edward_nolan/256/

 

Miller and Sons shingle mill was established by brothers Clarence L. Miller (b. 1886) and Percy David Miller (b. 1889).  The brothers moved to Whatcom County from Iowa in 1910 and worked in the local lumber industry.  In 1918, they started the business, Miller and Sons, which successfully operated through 1971.   Percy sold his share off in 1921 but continued in the industry in Whatcom, Skagit and King Counties.   Clarence and Johanna Millers son Clarence Jr. was born December 23, 1921.  In 1950 Clarence Junior became a partner in Miller and Sons.  The senior Clarence was also the treasurer of the Sumas Roundup Association and can be seen pictured in my posting, Sumas Roundup "See 'em Buck, part 13 of 14  http://nooksackvalleynostalgia.blogspot.com/2014/09/sumas-roundup-see-em-buck-part-13-of-13_14.html.

 

 

 



A receipt from Miller and Sons shingle mill

Printed with permission from the Wes Gannaway collection.



 

I was fortunate to speak with lifelong Sumas resident Josephine Fadden who used to assist with Miller and Sons banking needs.  She informed me that Miller and Sons was located on the N side of Front Street, in between the bridge crossing Sumas Creek and Cherry Street.  After the mill was removed, the site was turned into a picnic area (with free campsite for weary travelers) .  This picnic area was shut down a number of years ago and it is now overgrown with brush and blackberries  It is hard to imagine a large vibrant mill operating at this location. 

 A panorama, looking NE with Sumas Drugs to the right, taken at the intersection of Front St. (West/East) and the Burlington Northern right of way (North/South).
Photo taken by David Morgan, 12 November, 2014
 





Map 1 

1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (portion)

Printed with permission from the City of Sumas.



Map 1 is a small portion of the 1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing the Cline Lumber Company's shingle mill which went into operation in 1912 (L.M. Cline, owner). 

                                                                           

Map 2

                             1925 revision to the 1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (portion)

                                   Printed with permission from the Krieg family collection.

 

Map 2 shows a 1925 revision of the Sanborn Fire Insurance map and shows the Cline Lumber Co. has been taken over by the Sumas Mill Co.  The Sumas Mill Co operated the mill from sometime after 1914 until 1918 when Miller and Sons purchased it.  It appears the maps weren't revised on a yearly basis.  

 

The lumber industry was one of the leading early success stories here in Sumas.  There have been 18+ lumber mills in the Sumas area since the 1880s.  Those mills have been a major job source and income for the community.  The lumber industry still has an important role here in Sumas and my next posting will share more photographs and information on the topic.

 

See you next time!

 





First prize float at the Sumas Rodeo parade - 1923, Miller and Sons shingle mill



This is a delightful series of photographs of the first prize winning float of the Sumas Rodeo parade of 1923, kindly shared by Mr. M. Miller.  According to Mr. Miller, the rodeo in 1923 was known as the 'Sumas Rodeo'.  The name was changed to 'Sumas Roundup' the following year. 

 

Mr. Miller's grandfather, Clarence Leonidas "Leon" Miller ran 'Miller and Sons Shingle Mill' in Sumas.  Clarence was an active local businessman and involved with the Sumas Roundup over the years.  He served as treasurer of the Sumas Roundup Association.  

 

The photo below, shows the float that won first prize in the Sumas Rodeo parade, 22 September, 1923.   According to Mr. Miller, it was used as a playhouse after the parade by his father (pictured in the bottom photo) and still used through the 1960s and into the 1970s by Mr. M. Miller as well.

 

I bet they were the envy of all of the kids in the neighborhood!



 

 Posted with permission from the M. Miller's collection

 Posted with permission from Mr. M. Miller's collection

Posted with permission from Mr. M. Miller's collection

In my next posting, let's start to explore the history of the lumber industry in Sumas by looking at the shingle mill owned and operated by Miller and Son's and what it meant for the community.

Sumas Roundup - "See em Buck!"...part 15 of 15...the decline of the Roundup and the rise of the Bull-A-Rama!

The Sumas Roundup was a success attracting cowboys from all over the Canada and the United States.  In 1924 there was over $5000.00 of prize money over a three day show, a considerable amount of money for the time.  The success continued through the 1920s and brought in big name cowboys that were thrilling for the spectators to see.  

 

"For those four days, it was really busy. I would be down there by 10:00 a.m. in the morning to help in the grandstands and every night there was a dance.  I wouldn't get home till early morning then sleep 1/2 hour and get up to milk."  Jack Lockbaum, Sumas resident during the Roundup heyday...1979 interview.

 

The Roundup came to a crashing halt due to the Great Depression.  The money simply wasn't available for the luxury of the taking the family to a rodeo.  It was determined that it wasn't economically feasible to continue, so in 1930 the Sumas Roundup was cancelled.

 

In 1937, a promoter named John E. Hartwig decided to try to revive the Sumas Roundup. He leased the Roundup grounds and made elaborate plans of importing animals and inviting President Roosevelt to attend.  The event was a disappointment when it ended up being a rainy weekend (and the President didn't come).   There was also legal challenges due to some mix ups regarding who was granted concession booths.  The 1937 Roundup only brought in about 8000 spectators instead of the 15,000 to 25,000 people of the 1920s.  

 

The attempt to keep the Sumas Roundup active lasted from 1937 through 1940, but there was a lot of struggles financially.  The promoters were busy dealing with a lawsuit from the Whatcom County Humane Society trying to ban calf roping and the prize money was not as lucrative for the professional rodeo cowboys.

 

picture 1

 

The unidentified Sumas Roundup Royalty from 1938.

Photograph from the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives collection, Bellingham, WA

 

The 1940s brought new challenges that hurt the success of the Sumas Roundup.  The already financially strapped venue took another hit when border regulations became more stringent.  It became more difficult for cowboys and livestock to cross the border.  World War II took the men away and there wasn't enough staffing or cowboys available to run the show.

 

In 1944 the town finally offered the Roundup grandstand for sale.  Lumber was in high demand due to all of the wartime construction that was going on.  Virgil Hoffman won the bid on the grandstand and disassembled it.  He used some of the lumber to build the house where he and his wife, LaVoun lived for many years on the SW corner of Sumas and Vancouver Streets.  The house is still standing and is shown in picture 2.   (Who remembers receiving popcorn balls on Halloween night from Mrs. Hoffman while trick and treating at the little house?)

 

picture 2

House built with wood reclaimed from the Sumas Rodeo Grandstand

Photograph taken looking SW at the SW corner of Sumas and Vancouver Streets

by Deborah Morgan, 21 May, 2014

 

All is not lost!  Rodeos still happen in Sumas, maybe not as large or fancy as the Sumas Roundup but the Sumas Junior Rodeo still draws an enthusiastic crowd.  Pictured below is the 1974 Sumas Rodeo Royalty.  On the left is Geris Carlson waving her hat, the other girls are unidentified. 

There still is a Junior Rodeo at Sumas, Washington!

 

 picture 3

Photo by Jack Carver, from the Whatcom Museum Archive collection

 

Sumas is also the proud home of the Bull A Rama!  It is held twice a year and draws a respectable crowd!  The three pictures below show the Bull a Rama, 13 September, 2014!  The community turns out to enjoy the excitement of watching the Bull Riders show their stuff!  The Bull-a-Rama continues to use the Sumas Roundup logo,  "See Em Buck!"



 

picture 4 

 photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 13 September, 2014

picture 5

 photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 13 September, 2014

picture 6

photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, 13 September, 2014

 



  The men who had the vision in the 1923 would surely be proud of what our town offers today as the rodeo is still successful as a community venue and attracts annual crowds.