Historic Montesano is the place to
walk
By Anna Harbell
Vidette Staff
This article first appeared in 2002
The Friends of the Library want you to take a hike. Since 1983,
a rotating group of volunteers has delved into the stories of
the homes, businesses and sites of this historic town. They produced
about 40 historic plaques, which can be seen around town, and
half a dozen leaflets, booklets and brochures for their Heritage
Homes project, first started to commemorate Montesano's centennial,
1883 to 1983.
Early brochures just listed houses with historic plaques, but
one booklet from 1998, "Vintage Montesano", featured
a lengthy overland tramp plus a car tour of what used to be wild
backwoods, (now safely tucked into Montesano's city limits.)
The latest leaflet, a 1996 commemoration of the Golden Jubilee
of Fleet Park, the peaceful park across from the Post Office
on Pioneer Ave., was reissued in 2001 for the Festival of People.
That leaflet, as well as some copies of "VM" are available
at the W.H. Abel Library, Chehalis Valley Historical Museum,
Chamber of Commerce and Vidette offices.
So follow the Friends' advice and take a hike, an informative
stroll past flowery gardens and stately homes. Here are some
clues to start you off:
#119, 117: Start at Fleet Park, read the sign at the SE corner
and observe the 1935 Post Office across the street. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt stopped here in 1937 while on a tour of
the Olympic Peninsula. Following the arrows on the map, walk
through the park and up Fleet St., renamed from Second St. in
1946 when the park was dedicated.
#26, 27: At 129 S. Fleet St. is Fleet House, built in 1892 and
substantially remodeled after a fire in the 1930s. D.W. Fleet,
a civil engineer and surveyor, lived here. His children, Reuben
S. Fleet and Lillian Fleet Bishop went on to considerable fame
and fortune.
Next door is the 1908 Abel House Bed and Breakfast Inn, featuring
the same type of sandstone blocks as are seen on the courthouse.
Wm. H. Abel, from Sussex, England, was a leading trial and defense
lawyer. His great love of books led to naming the Montesano public
library in his honor. Stop in for a muffin, a tour, or just enjoy
the gardens.
#31, 30: At the NW corner of Fleet and Broadway is the tall gingerbreaded
Brumberg-Fitz House and on the NE corner is the stately 1912
France House. W.H. France was a pioneer banker and the house
is still in his family. At one time the house had a clay croquet
court, a cow in the barn and beautiful rose gardens in the front.
#46: Following the arrows on the map E on Broadway, observe the
magnificent 1912 Grays Harbor County Courthouse. Built for $125,000,
earthquake damage necessitated a $7.4 million renovation in 2000.
Open during business hours, be sure to walk in to see the stained
glass dome.
Continue E on Broadway past the 1970s era County Administration
Bldg. where the Albert Schafer Mansion used to be. That 1911
house, similar in architecture to the France House, was sold
by the county for $10 and moved one block N to 207 N. Main St.,
#34 on the map.
#48: At the NE corner of Main and Broadway read the plaque on
the 1914 Old Fire Hall - City Hall. The 1892 Volunteer Fire Dept.
is now housed in the 1979 Fire Hall at 310 E. Pioneer.
#66, 50, 49: Continue downhill, S on Main St. where there used
to be cheek-to-jowl business buildings on the busiest commercial
street in town.
There are several plaques to read at the Library, Easter's Annex
and around the corner of Marcy St. at the Vidette and Old Telephone
Bldg., #51, 52 and 53 on the map.
You are back at Fleet Park. Enjoy a quiet moment at the volunteer-built
pavilion, then grab that map and head further afield to see sights
from the 1800s, 1900s and 2000s in beautiful historic Montesano.
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