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The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., August 16, 1934, page 1

W.F. BYARS CONTINUES EARLY COUNTY HISTORY

When the writer first saw Goldendale in the summer of 1890, the city was installing a new water system. The water came from the Bloodgood Springs and was pumped by water and steam power from the flour mill of the Goldendale Milling Co., north of the little Klickitat in the north-western part of town. Prior to the organization of the mill company, the flour mill was owned by Joseph Nesbitt and S.H. Jones. Mr. Nesbitt became manager of the company, Mr. Jones selling his holding to the corporation. The mill and warehouses were destroyed by fire at a later date. The old water system was owned by H.D. Young and William Chatfield. The water came out of the Little Klickitat at a point about one-half mile above town. The reservoir was on top of a hill near the A.R. Youngquist residence on the East Broadway.
In 1890 Goldendale had no improved streets or sewers. The only concrete sidewalks were in front of the Ward and Young bricks on Main street. Before the fire of 1888, Main Street, in the business section, was only 66 feet wide. After the fire it was widened to 100 feet, except the Marble coroner on Main and Chatfield streets, which was not set back until the street was paved. South of "B" street, on the west side of the Columbus avenue, was the old John J. Golden home. There were no other homes on the west side of the street south of the Golden home until Hopkins Addition was reached. Railroad Addition was not on the map, and the old county road ran directly from the old school building in the west end of town to connect with the present road at the west boundary of the municipality. Out in this section, south of the auto camp, was the baseball diamond.
Where Terminad Addition is now located was a field owned by the Chatfield heirs. In this enclosure was a race-track, portions of which can be located at this time. East of town, where Ward's and Academy Additions are now located, was the farm of "Father" Hornibrook. His old home is on the south side of Main street, not far from the high school building. The road coming in from the north did not come directly down the hill as at present but made a curve to the east and crossed the Little Klickitat on a short bridge just to the east of the present a bridge site. This bridge was constructed by Arthur Richardson, formerly county engineer, and its location and staked out by the writer.
It may be of interest to give the names of those engaged in business in Goldendale forty-four years ago.
At the southeast corner of Main and a Chatfield streets was located the Phil Carwell wagon shop. Mr. Carwell was the step-father of the Marshall brothers, Howard, Charley and John. The latter two have passed to the great beyond. Mrs. J.L. Rankin is a sister. Charley worked with his step-father, and across the street, where the W.A. Wing blacksmith shop is located, John was in the blacksmithing business. Perry Wing, brother of a W.A. worked in the shop with John. Howard Marshall was driving the Goldendale-Grants stage in 1890. Afterwards he drove the Goldendale-The Dalles staged several years for its C.C. Alvord. He was a deputy county treasurer under A.J. Ahola and Jacob Crocker and then served two terms as treasurer.
Just east of the Carwell shop was the blacksmith shop of Charles Morris. His residence was the present a home of the Mrs. George Brown. Mr. Morris was elected county treasurer on the populist ticket. His son, Charley, was postmaster at Arlington, Oregon, for several terms.
Across the street from the Carwell shop to the west, on the corner, was the machine and blacksmith shop of J.M. Marble. Just south of the shop was his home. This house was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph of Stultz and was moved to North King street in the northwestern part of town.
About 100 feet west of the Marble shop was the residence of Peter Nelson, before the big fire of 1888. He then built the home on the southeast corner of the Columbus Avenue and Court streets. On the Main street property he built the building now occupied by the M.L. Fritts shoe shop and P.P. & L. Co. warehouse. The main room of this building was occupied by the Sentinel office when the writer assume charge of the paper in 1893. Ten years later in 1903, the first train pulled into Goldendale. The last spike was driven April 25 at 10:30 a.m.
Mrs. H. Wing had a grocery store in the stork west of the Nelson building. This store was on the lot now owned by the Goldendale Bakery. John Benson and I.C. Richards conducted a drugstore in the building now occupied by The News office. Dr. Allen Bonebrake and Dr. A.L. Stowell had an office back of the drugstore and Dr. Stewart had an office in the brick across the street in the room at now occupied by the "Agri." Dr. Bonebrake and Stewart afterwards had an office in the Flanary building, now owned by Edward Abeling. Dr. Reeder had an office on Broadway on the southeast corner of his residence property. This location is where a merchant Chas. Dudley and wife now reside.
Victor W. Gobat's jewelry store was in a little brick building on the southeast corner of Main street and Columbus Avenue. W. Leidl afterwards purchased the business. He and family moved to Goldendale from their family farm home in High Prairie. This is the corner now occupied by the Hudson garage.
W.H. Chappell was in charge of the Central Hotel. The hotel was afterwards purchased by Neil MacLeod, then by Ahola and Alvord, Ahola and Hall, and finally Mr. Hall purchased Mr. Ahola's interest.
The last county officials under the territorial government completed their terms in 1890. Joseph Nesbitt was auditor; John Cumming, treasurer; Wm. VanVactor, sheriff; R.D. McCulley, deputy; W.R. Dunbar, probate judge and clerk; John Cumming, treasurer; Judge Nash, of Spokane, circuit judge, prosecuting attorney, A.L. Miller; N.B. Brooks, school superintendent; Simeon Bolton, assessor; Jacob Richardson, surveyor; Dr. A. Bonebrake, coroner and G.W. French, Daniel Jordan and A.J. spoon, commissioners, C.S. Reinhart, editor of the Sentinel, was representative. Mr. Reinhart has been clerk of the Supreme Court for over forty years.

Will give you more next week.

W.F. Byars