Roslyn, first and foremost, was a coal mining town, founded in 1886. My great-grandfather Herman was one of the many coal miners. The last of the mines was shut down in 1963 and a couple of years ago, the town made the railroad tressle from Cle Elum, through Roslyn, to Ronald into the Coal Miner's Trail.
Upon arriving in Roslyn Wednesday afternoon, we decided to walk the 3 mile stretch from Cle Elum to Roslyn. Below is Mason and Ellia. Ellia is my cousin Heidi's daughter. Heidi, unfortunately, came down with the flu the day of the trip and couldn't make it.
All along the trail are remnants of the mining days. I can't claim to always know what I was looking at, and it didn't help that the Cle Elum visitor's center was out of trail guides, but we did out best to piece together history and artifacts, such as the structure below.
This appears to be a broken down railway along the trail...
We also found a few other oddities along the way. Mason was pretty certain that he didn't want to take his bubble bath here...particularly with the weed growing in the middle of it...
I don't know the proper description of these hills, but there are many of them that served as the leftovers from the rock that came out of the mines. 
Below is the marker of the #4 mine. In an 1892 mining accident, 45 miners were killed in an explosion of Mine No. 4, the deadliest mining accident in Washington state history. The Cle Elum Echo (a local paper) reported: "The city of Roslyn is situated on land directly over the tunnel of Mine No. 4, and the shock caused by the explosion was not unlike an earthquake, shaking buildings in all parts of the city, while the burning, oil soaked timbers, vomited out of the shaft, were scattered in all directions, falling upon shingled roofs and causing over twenty roof fires, which were controlled by bucket brigades, all the city water and the fire department being concentrated upon the shaft and abutting frame structures, in spite of this all frame structures within two hundred feet of the shaft and tipple No. 4 were entirely destroyed."
If you ever choose to take this hike...beware...horses like the trail too.
Aunt Mary Lou and Ellia on the trail...
After arriving at our previously parked car in Roslyn, my aunt Joanne decided to announce our presence to the town by setting off the car alarm. After 2 minutes of honking, the entire population knew we had arrived.
This is the centerpiece statue of the Miner's Memorial located in the center of town. For the Northern Exposure buffs, the radio station from the show is located in the building behind the statue.
The plaques behind the miner depict the names of all those who worked the mines over the year. We were unable to locate my great-grandpa Herman but here is Clarence's. He didn't work down in the mines, as his father didn't want him down there, but instead was a blacksmith and a machinest for the mines. Yeah, that's me in the background.
After hiking 3 miles, we were all a little worn out. Joanne and Mary Lou seemed to be struggling to even make a decision about what kind of pizza to order.
Mason was rather refreshed however. Probably because I had to carry him 2 of the 3 miles. There's Papa Ron in the background.
Yup, Ellia is worn out too.
Aahhh, the mural. This is probably the most recognizable landmark in town. For the tv show, a "S" was added after Roslyn. However, since Roslyn was named for the town founder's sweetheart's hometown in Delaware, there isn't actually a "Roslyn". For a feel of the size, see Mason at the bottom of the picture.
The main street in town is Pennsylvania. A lot of the shops still have the look of a century ago.
The next morning...here's where I found Mason reading his book after I got out of the shower.
On Thursday, we first visited the cemetary in Cle Elum. That's where Aunt Hannah and Uncle Orville Bullock are buried. Their boys...Larry and David, joined us on this trip as well.
Below is Mason on the War Memorial at the cemetary.
We then went on a walking tour of the houses that the Swanson's lived in during their time in Roslyn. What was peculiar to us was that the moved every couple of years for about the first 8-10 years, each time about 2-3 blocks away. Finally they settled into the house they were in for almost 30 years.
This is the first house they lived in. It had been moved from its original location next to the Fire Station. It now serves as an Inn.
There are many peculiarities around town (such as the random bathtub above). Here is a stairway to nowhere.
This is house #2 (Mary Lou in front). Family lore has it that this is the house where my Grandma Millie ate the lye and had to spend the next month drinking only milk and coffee due to her badly burned mouth. This is also the house where Clarence and Hannah found their hidden Christmas gifts in the cupboard.
This is the next Swanson house. It is at this house that the kids would sled down the hill every winter day until Old Widow Barton would throw fireplace embers and coal dust on the sled run.
This is the house Herman and Anna's grandchildren remember best - the house they were in the longest. It is currently denoted as a historical house and is still in great condition.
Mason and Ellia across the street from the above house. Mason got new sunglasses Thursday morning. Note that by Friday morning, they were broken. This is after they were lost for a spell in the Roslyn Museum too.
Below is the historic Catholic church in Roslyn. This is its second incartnation as the original church burned down in the early 1900's.
Mason is checking out the mining memorabilia outside the Roslyn museam. The museum is fascinating, hands on, and pays wonderful homage to the mining history of the town.
The museum also has some cool old toys. Mason is trying out the "Doodlebug". As most coal mining families were poor, it was the rare "cool" kid who was lucky enough to have a Doodlebug.
One of the museum volunteers took us up to Mine No. 9. The No. 9 was the final mine to close in 1963. Currently surronding Mine No. 9, a new resort is being built with golf courses, bike paths, and swimming pools. Fortunately, the mining relics are being maintained and will be incorporated as part of the resort.
This is the most complete remaining structure from the No. 9. This is where fuses for the dynamite were kept.
The rocks!! (the 8th wonder as Luis calls this place) It is a series of large boulders located in the hills above the town. Below is sliding rock, where a slide has been burrowed into the rock after 100 years of little bums sliding down it. Ellia had no hesitation about climbing up the rock. Mason was a bit more cautious (as he tends to be) but he made it up too.
Papa Ron and Mason on top of sliding rock.
Mason and Papa Ron sliding down Sliding Rock. Not sure if Papa Ron's jeans made it down intact. I can speak from experience that you need some thick jeans to survive sliding down that rock without getting a whole in the bottom of said britches.
Below is Chelsey and Dad on top of Dancing rock. Somewhere on Dancing rock my Grandma Millie carved her initials when she was a kid.
One of the most amazing things about Roslyn is the incredible views from just about everywhere in town. Roslyn is surrounded by mountains and everywhere you look, the scenery is amazing. This is the view from the top of the hill leading up to the rocks.
After climbing rocks, walking through town, and digging in dirt, a couple little kids needed a bath before dinner.
Thursday was also Chelsey's birthday. All day long she kept emphasizing that she didn't want a big deal made of it and that the last thing she wanted was a sombraro. Finally, probably because the local Mexican restaurant appeared to be one of the most promising eating establishements in Cle Elum, she caved and agreed that we could at least go out to Mexican for dinner. I think she caught on to what was in store when, upon walking in the door, the first thing you see is the wall covered in polaroids of patrons in sombraro's celebrating their birthday.
We then went on a walking tour of the houses that the Swanson's lived in during their time in Roslyn. What was peculiar to us was that the moved every couple of years for about the first 8-10 years, each time about 2-3 blocks away. Finally they settled into the house they were in for almost 30 years.
This is the first house they lived in. It had been moved from its original location next to the Fire Station. It now serves as an Inn.
There are many peculiarities around town (such as the random bathtub above). Here is a stairway to nowhere.
This is house #2 (Mary Lou in front). Family lore has it that this is the house where my Grandma Millie ate the lye and had to spend the next month drinking only milk and coffee due to her badly burned mouth. This is also the house where Clarence and Hannah found their hidden Christmas gifts in the cupboard.
This is the next Swanson house. It is at this house that the kids would sled down the hill every winter day until Old Widow Barton would throw fireplace embers and coal dust on the sled run.
This is the house Herman and Anna's grandchildren remember best - the house they were in the longest. It is currently denoted as a historical house and is still in great condition.
Mason and Ellia across the street from the above house. Mason got new sunglasses Thursday morning. Note that by Friday morning, they were broken. This is after they were lost for a spell in the Roslyn Museum too.
Below is the historic Catholic church in Roslyn. This is its second incartnation as the original church burned down in the early 1900's.
Mason is checking out the mining memorabilia outside the Roslyn museam. The museum is fascinating, hands on, and pays wonderful homage to the mining history of the town.
The museum also has some cool old toys. Mason is trying out the "Doodlebug". As most coal mining families were poor, it was the rare "cool" kid who was lucky enough to have a Doodlebug.
One of the museum volunteers took us up to Mine No. 9. The No. 9 was the final mine to close in 1963. Currently surronding Mine No. 9, a new resort is being built with golf courses, bike paths, and swimming pools. Fortunately, the mining relics are being maintained and will be incorporated as part of the resort.
This is the most complete remaining structure from the No. 9. This is where fuses for the dynamite were kept.
The rocks!! (the 8th wonder as Luis calls this place) It is a series of large boulders located in the hills above the town. Below is sliding rock, where a slide has been burrowed into the rock after 100 years of little bums sliding down it. Ellia had no hesitation about climbing up the rock. Mason was a bit more cautious (as he tends to be) but he made it up too.
Papa Ron and Mason on top of sliding rock.
Mason and Papa Ron sliding down Sliding Rock. Not sure if Papa Ron's jeans made it down intact. I can speak from experience that you need some thick jeans to survive sliding down that rock without getting a whole in the bottom of said britches.
Below is Chelsey and Dad on top of Dancing rock. Somewhere on Dancing rock my Grandma Millie carved her initials when she was a kid.
One of the most amazing things about Roslyn is the incredible views from just about everywhere in town. Roslyn is surrounded by mountains and everywhere you look, the scenery is amazing. This is the view from the top of the hill leading up to the rocks.
After climbing rocks, walking through town, and digging in dirt, a couple little kids needed a bath before dinner.
Thursday was also Chelsey's birthday. All day long she kept emphasizing that she didn't want a big deal made of it and that the last thing she wanted was a sombraro. Finally, probably because the local Mexican restaurant appeared to be one of the most promising eating establishements in Cle Elum, she caved and agreed that we could at least go out to Mexican for dinner. I think she caught on to what was in store when, upon walking in the door, the first thing you see is the wall covered in polaroids of patrons in sombraro's celebrating their birthday.
Chelsey's first mistake was ordering a margarita since she still looks young enough to be carded. Her second mistake was sitting next to Auntie Jo who promply announced, as Chelsey was being carded, that it was Chelsey's birthday. So, after we were finished with the food, out came the sombraro and slammer. The slammer is a shot of something or other that gets mixed by slamming it on a thick cutting board. We also sang. It was entertaining for all (except perhaps Chelsey).
Here's Ellia doing her own shot out of her Aunt Chelsey's shot glass...before reporting us all to child protective services, note that it is actually Mason's apple juice in the rinsed out glass.
Here's Ellia doing her own shot out of her Aunt Chelsey's shot glass...before reporting us all to child protective services, note that it is actually Mason's apple juice in the rinsed out glass.And yes, that's Mary Lou assisting Ellia with her shot.
The entire trip was wonderful. I couldn't have asked for better traveling companions that my dad, Mason, Mary Lou and Ellia, Joanne, Chelsey, David, and Larry and Pam. I have always loved coming to Roslyn, be it camping as a kid, coming up for the day, or coming to stay for a couple days as we did this trip. It is truly my favorite place to be.
The entire trip was wonderful. I couldn't have asked for better traveling companions that my dad, Mason, Mary Lou and Ellia, Joanne, Chelsey, David, and Larry and Pam. I have always loved coming to Roslyn, be it camping as a kid, coming up for the day, or coming to stay for a couple days as we did this trip. It is truly my favorite place to be.
2 comments:
Kris,
Great Roslyn blog--and so well illustrated with the photos! One minor (pun) correction: Grandpa Herman Swanson's name was on the mining memorial wall, directly above the one you photographed of Clarence's. It told what mines he had worked in, but you will have to ask David which ones they are.
Mary Lou
Did you stop in at the Brick Tavern? I didn't see if you did or not. Great post by the way.
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