Wilkeson will celebrate its rebuilt arch with a day of 1920s-style fun

Published 1:03 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Jessica Keller

The Courier-Herald

More than 75 years after the dedication of the original Wilkeson Arch, the town will commemorate the rebuilding of the community landmark with a huge celebration Saturday.

The last step in the rebuilding of the arch - the hanging of the sign - was completed Thursday, and all that remains is a formal rededication, heralding Wilkeson as the Gateway to the Carbon Glacier.

The original arch was built in 1925 when members of the Wilkeson Booster Club provided $2,000 for two 6-foot square, 25-foot high sandstone pillars with a cedar log spanning the width of state route 165 at the entrance to town.

The Wilkeson Arch welcomed visitors for more than three-quarters of a century, but was damaged Feb. 28, 2001, by the Nisqually earthquake. The log and east column were subsequently removed and the town has been working for the past three years on getting the monument rebuilt.

Like the town residents in 1925, who celebrated the original building of the arch with a three-day carnival, the town is having its own day of fun with a 1920s-style festival beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. and a parade following. The parade line-up begins at 10:30 a.m. on Albert Street.

The fun continues throughout the day with activities for the whole family.

"Laurel & Hardy" silent movies by Andy Crow will be showing at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

A vintage car show will also be taking place from noon to 5 p.m.

Well known storyteller Roger Fernandes will be telling Salish stories for children at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Vivian and Philip Williams will provide fiddle music at noon and 3 p.m.

A Firemen's Hose Cart display will be featured and hose cart races will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church will host an open house all day.

A 1920s slang contest will be held until 4 p.m. at the Eagles Hall.

An Old Timer's Oral History Video Presentation will be at the Carlson Hotel, and there will be exhibits throughout the town celebrating 1920s history, including the Old Town, mining, Wilkeson Sandstone Quarry, the Prohibition, the Flapper Era and more.

People can also enjoy refreshments and the old photograph collection of Robert Peloli from noon to 5 p.m. at the Eagles Hall.

There will be a dance by the Boxcar Valley Riders from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Eagles Hall.

There will also be karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Eagle Tavern.

Vendors will be selling their wares throughout the town, and Wilkeson Arch Commemorative Coins will be on sale for a limited time only.

Wilkeson is five miles south of Buckley on state Route 165. The event is sponsored by the Wilkeson Booster Club, the town of Wilkeson, Humanities Washington, Wilkeson Eagles Aerie 1409 and the businesses of Wilkeson. For more information, call Donna Hogerhuis at 360-897-6870.

Jessica Keller can be reached at jkeller@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald