The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., August 16, 1935, page 8
The Oregonian, Portland, OR., August 13, 1935, page 5, with portrait
DEATH OF GULER LOSS TO VALLEY
Trout Lake -- Aug. 12, Christian Guler, who died August
8 at his home in Guler, Trout Lake Valley, will have a permanent place in
the history of the valley. He will be remembered by hundreds - scientists,
newspaper men, mountain climbers, sportsmen and globe trotters -- who have
patronized the Guler hotel and his auto park as the perfect host.
Mrs. Guler's father owned a large hotel in the Alps,
Switzerland, and his eldest brother was a mountain guide of note. Christian,
while still in his teens, came to America.
The lure of snow-capped Mount Adams brought him down
the Columbia River and up the valley to the Trout Lake country, where in
1888 he homesteaded in Bear Valley. The following year he returned to The
Dalles, where he married Miss Philomena Hammel, and in the late summer of
1890 the young couple, with their baby daughter, Margaretha Anna, made the
difficult journey to the homestead.
In the late 90's Mr. & Mrs. Guler brought the Stoller
ranch and inn, which they converted into a tourists' hostelry known ever
since as the Guler Hotel, and here, more than 40 years ago, Mr. Guler opened
up the first post office. Years ago when he disposed of the hotel to the
present proprietors, Mr. & Mrs. J.E. Reynolds, Mr. Guler developed in
Trout Lake an artistic auto park. His wife died five years ago.
The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., August 22, 1935, page 4
CHRISTIAN GULER
The death of Christian Guler at his home at Guler, Wash.,
August 7, meant a real loss to the Trout Lake Valley. A pioneer resident
there for many years, he will be remembered as the perfect host by hundreds
- all of whom patronized the Guler hotel and auto park.
Christian was born in Klosters, Switzerland, March 3,
1866 passing away at the age of 69 years, 5 months and 4 days. His father
owned a large hotel in the Alps, Switzerland and his eldest brother was a
noted mountain guide.
He came to America when he was 19 years of age, settling
first in Minnesota where he lived and worked for a period of one year. From
there he went to Seattle, then to The Dalles where his brothers, Anton and
John lived.
The lure of snow-covered Mt. Adams brought him down the
Columbia River and up the valley to the Trout Lake country, where in 1888
he homesteaded in Bear Valley. The following year he was married in the Dalles
to Philomena Hammel on July 11, 1888. To this union one daughter was born,
Margarethra Anna (Mrs. Charles Coates).
The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., August 15, 1935, page 6
GULER NEWS
Mason Have Services at Graveside for Christian Guler
GULER -- (Special to The News) Christian Guler, pioneer resident of Guler, passed away at his home Wednesday, August 7 at 11 p.m. He was an active member of the Masonic Order. Funeral services were held at the church, Friday, August 9 by Rev. George Good and at the cemetery by the Masons.
The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., August 9, 1935, page
10
"Klickitat County Matt..."
Christian Guler, 69, who 40 years ago established the Guler hotel, died August 7 at his home at Troutlake. Born in Switzerland he came to this country when 19 years old. Surviving is a daughter, Mrs. Charles Coate of Troutlake. Funeral services will be held at Troutlake at 2 p.m. today.
The Klickitat County Agricultiurist, Goldendale, WA., August 16, 1935, page 2
CHRISTIAN GULER, PIONEER
Christian Guler, pioneer, of Trout Lake, whose death
was briefly noted last week in the Agri., had been a resident of this county
for over forty years. He was widely known throughout the county and the following
details of his life will be of interest, especially to Klickitat people.
Mr. Guler was the proprietor for many years of the famous
summer resort near Mt. Adams at the place which bears his name. He was a
native of Switzerland, born in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland, at the
foot of the famous Glacier Silvretta, March 3, 1866, the son of Christian
and Margarita Guler, both of whom are now deceased. The elder Guler was born
in 1819 in the hamlet of Klosters, which nestles amid a world of mighty peaks
four thousand feet above sea-level. His father was a harness maker and a
farmer and spent his entire life in Switzerland where he died in 1886.
The Guler family is descended from a line of noblemen
who were among the foremost fighters in the numerous wars incident to the
forming the nations, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, into independent
governments, their greatest achievements being in the strenuous conflict
which resulted in the freeing of Switzerland from the dominion of Austria.
In 1885, at the age of 19, after having learned the harness
making trade from his father, Christian decided to come to the United States.
At Winona, Minnesota, the point where he first stopped after arriving in
the United States, he was employed for two an and a half years in an sash
and door factory, also working part of the time in a blacksmith shop. Finally
he determined to come west. In La Grande, Oregon, he accepted employment
in a logging camp, but went to Seattle shortly afterward, where he became
ill and was confined to a hospital.
Proceeding from Seattle to The Dalles, Oregon, where
a brother lived, the two decided to take up homesteads. The homestead on
which Christian Guler filed was in Bear Valley. Here he "pached" for four
months during which time he possibly underwent more hardships than is usual
to the lot of celibates. There were no roads and he was obliged to pack his
supplies; neighbors were few, and lived too far distant to be of benefit
socially; however Mr. Guler "toughed it out" the required four months. He
then returned to The Dalles where he was employed for a year in the machine
shops.
On July 11, 1889 Mr. Guler was married to Miss Philomena
Hammel, who was a native of western Switzerland, born in the Canton of Soloturn,
July 5, 1868, and who came to the United States with their parents, when
eleven years of age, settling in Minnesota.
With his newly wedded wife Mr. Guler returned to his
farm. The first winter of their residence at the new home was fraught with
trials sufficient to prove the mettle of the bravest. Potatoes and flour
were the chief of articles of diet; torches were used for lighting the humble
cottage at night. Determination prevailed over all adversaries, however,
and Mr. Guler and his wife were later able to speak jokingly over these days
of privation and want.
In 1896 the settlers succeeded in having a mail route
established to White Salmon, and Mr. Guler received the first contract to
carry the mail, also taking charge of the first stage line that attach to
this point. Winter and summer he was obliged to leave his home before five
in the morning to make the arduous journey as mail carrier.
During his service as mail carrier and stage driver the
Trout Lake vicinity became popular as a resort for hunting and fishing. Here
Mr. Guler saw his opportunity. First by renting and later by purchase he
acquired property on Trout Lake which he developed into a popular summer
resort. The property was first owned by Peter Stoller, a Swiss, not inclined
toward the summer resort business. It was the first property for which a
filing was recorded in the Trout Lake vicinity. A commodious hotel was built
and became reputed as one of the most popular resorts in Klickitat county.
Fraternally, Mr. Guler was affiliated with the
Masons.
Mr. Guler left one daughter, Margaret, now the wife of
Charles Coate of Trout Lake. Mrs. Christian Guler passed away several years
ago.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer