The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA.
Diamond Anniversary Edition, July 1, 1954

GOLDENDALE WAS INCORPORATED AS CITY ON NOVEMBER 14, 1879

     By an act of the Territorial Legislature, Goldenda1e was incorporated as a city November 14, 1879 and this November will mark its 75th birthday. The city was formed on land bought by John J. Golden in 1871 and platted as a townsite in 1872.
     In l878 the county seat was moved from Rockland, now Dallesport, to Goldendale. The following year a wooden building was erected by public donation and served as the first courthouse.
     Trade and population increased rapidly after the county seat was established, and in 1879 and there were 36 business houses here, including The Sentinel, started January 1, 1879.
     The stage line from The Dalles reached here in 1877, and was later extended to Yakima and Ellensburg.
     After the fire of 1888, which wiped out most of the business section, the town undertook a rebuilding program and the Methodist Church was restored the same year as the fire. It had been first built in 1875.
     Goldendale has been a city ten years longer than Washington has been a state. In 1889, with a population of 500,000, the new state was admitted into the Union.
     The first mayor of Goldendale was Thomas Johnson and his clerk was W.F. Ames. Councilmen were Homer Sears, John J. Golden, W.B. Chatfield, Justin Scammon and D. B. Grant. They served until the first regular election in April, 1880.
     Information for this article came from the files of Z.O. Brooks and of Mrs. E.M. Ahola of Washougal, and formerly of Goldendale.

[HOME]
©  Jeffrey L. Elmer