Hoquiam’s History
Hoquiam’s History
Located in western Washington State, Hoquiam is a small town with an interesting and charming present. The settlement’s place near stretches of wooded land and the Pacific Ocean have influenced the past as well as the present. The story of the lumber and shipping industries is the story of the town.
Before European settlers arrived, the two main tribes that lived in the area that became Grays Harbor County were the Chehalis and the Quinault. Their descendants still live in the area, continuing their tribal traditions and communities to this day.
James Karr was the first Caucasian resident of the area. Soon after that, Ed Campbell moved to the settlement village, becoming the first postmaster of Hoquiam. His house still exists in town as the oldest home in the area. Other people soon joined them, and by 1890, the town had over 1300 people as residents.
During the late nineteenth century, logging became the main industry for Grays Harbor. The first lumber company in the area, the Northwestern Lumber Company, found success from the 1880’s until the 1930’s, employing the locals and helping the town grow. More settlers and money came to town when the railroad made its way to the area. The Northwestern Lumber Company basically controlled the local lumber industry into the next century.
Over the past one hundred and twenty years, about three hundred different logging companies have existed in Grays Harbor. The most important of these was the Polson Logging Company. Today, the Polson Museum, operating from the old Polson home, tells the story of the lumber industry in Hoquiam. Exhibits and photographs illustrate the lives of past logger. It holds almost 10,000 artifacts concerning the local history and the logging industry in the area.
Throughout the Twentieth Century, Grays Harbor, like the rest of the country, experienced ups and downs in the economy. As a one-industry town, Hoquiam was hurt by the downturn of the Great Depression and the labor strikes of the following years. By the last two decades of the Twentieth Century, logging was no longer a booming business, especially in Grays Harbor. Logging’s effect on the environment and animals’ habitats caused the government to pass laws restricting logging, thus causing layoffs and fewer businesses.
However, the locals have shown great spirit in fighting to stay in business. The town is home to many tourist attractions such as the Logger’s Playday, the Shorebird Festival, and the Hoquiam Riverfest. These events celebrate the past while serving the future. By bringing visitors to the town, the festivals fuel money and investment into the economy. The town has worked to restore sites of historical significance and to become a resource for historical research.
The will and personality of Hoquiam’s community is evident in the town today. The residents are proud of their history and enjoy sharing it with others. They have worked to bring new opportunities and events into the county, showing that lumber is not their greatest resource. That would be the local’s creativity and love for their home.
Hoquiam’s Polson Museum occupies the F. Arnold Polson House and Alex Polson Grounds. The museum contains artifacts related to the history of Hoquiam