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| History Tidbits about Sequim, WA |
Sequim History 1914 H.P. Barber was Mayor and Jess Mantle was Clerk/Treasurer. This year, the City set several license fees including peddlers and solicitors ($10 per day); temporary stores ($25 per day); circue ($50 per day); carnivals ($25-$40 per day depending on the number of shows); theaters, opera, concerts, shows, exhibitions or other public amusements were $5 per day or $150 per year; bowling alleys were $15 per year. Billiard tables and pool tables fees were $5 to $10 per table, with operation hours from 7 a.m. to midnight. Dog tags were $2 per year. Taxis were also licensed.The Town Street Commissioner position was created at salary of $3 per day for an 8-hour day. Also the City Attorney position was created on an as-needed basis.Citizens were prohibited from carrying concealed weapons and discharging firearms, and gambling was outlawed within the City limits. Speed limits were set at 15 mph, and speed fines were from $1 to $10. Any citizen jailed who could not afford to pay court costs and fines could provide manual labor in lieu of the fines.Teen curfews for boys under 18 years was 9:30 p.m. and girls under 17 years was 8:30 p.m. from April 1 to October 1; and 8:30 p.m. the balance of the year.J. L. Keeler was given authority to construct, operate and maintain a public light and power plant for 25 years in City of Sequim. Sequim History 1915 W. H. schumacher was the mayor of Sequim. The city attorney position was created subject to appointment or removal by the mayor. Roller rinks had to close at midnight Saturday and remain closed until Monday morning. Dance halls also had to close at midnight on Saturdays; this ordinance was repealed six months later.Regulations were created concerning construction, maintenance and repair of irrigation ditches upon or crossing public streets, alleys and all public grounds of the City. Construction of new sidewalks were made the responsibility of the abutting property owner.Explosives were not allowed within the City limits without the permission of the Town Marshal. A street-naming convention was adopted providing that avenues would run north and south, and strets would run east and west. All business licenses had to be approved by Council, unless it was a very short-term license, such as a public amusement. he last ordinance of the year created procedures for Local Improvement Districts. Sequim History - 1917 A three-member Boar of Park Commissioners was created to control and supervise the parks, including creating rules and regulations for Council approval. A one-mill tax levy was assessed for purposes of maintaining and improving the parks The Sequim Athletic Club offered to sell Athletic Park to the City for $175. The City had a special election on the issue. Forty-sixx ballots were cast in favor; none opposed. The park was purchased.Sidewalk improvements was assessed to property owners in the Robert Burton acreage; First Plat of Sequim; Bell's Addition; Milwaukee Addition and J.B. Knapman areage.An ordinance was passed to prohibit horses, mules and burros from running at large in streets, alleys, public squares or parks. Any such animals were impounded and if not claimed, sold at auction. Sequim History – 1918 This was a somewhat quiet year in Sequim. Sidewalks continued to be built with assessments to the property owners, along with grading of the streets being accomplished throughout the year. April 13 was declared by City County as “Clean Up Day” in Sequim.The year 1918 began carrying forward a deficit in the treasury of $2,505.80; approximately $700 more than the deficit carried forward from 1916 to 1917. It ended with a deficit of $2,008.91. It was decided to adop a 16 mill levy for 1919 to cover the deficit and pay off debt: 9 mills for current expense; 6 mills for indebtedness; and 1 mill for park purposes. This levy would raise $1,397. Receipts were estimated at $403. The annual budget adopted for 1919 was $1,800. A public hearing was held in which no one from the public attended to voice opposition Sequim History - 1923 Sequim's Volunteer Fire Department was formed in April. Elected as Fire Chief was J. N Otto with Fred Evans as secretary-treasurer. Town Marshall Andy Peterson resigned in April and was replaced by J. B. Otto.It was decided that Sequim's May Dan celebration date would be held at the same time as the opening of the Edmonds-Port Ludlow ferry.City election found 112 votes cast for Councilor J. N. Otto, with lesser votes each for Herbert Goddfrey, Stephen D. Merrill, and David burrowes. W. H. Schumacher was elected Town Treasurer. The election inspector and judges received $3 each for their day's work. Sequim History - 1927 Harry E. Peterson was voted in as Mayor by the Citizens. V.A. Grant was given a building permit to building a one-story 26' x 36' frame home with no basement for the cost of $2,250, with estimated completion of 60 days; the City purchased 5-1/2 gallons of gas for $110 - or 20 cents a gallon. The City purchased a chlorinator for use with the City's water system. Sequim History - 1929 Council established a "business center" in Sequim running one block on the east and west sides of Sequim Avenue, and from Hammond to Spruce Streets. Eight foot concrete sidewalks including the curb were declared necessary and essential throughout the business center, with four foot sidewalks required in all other parts of town. A local improvement districct was created apportioning the osts of the sidewalks to property owners. The town implemented a deposit of $5 for use of town water (the current depoosit is $110 or a letter of redit). An ordinance was passed requiring building plans specifying the building materials to be used for construction to be submitted to the Building Committee for approval, thereby issue a permit. (There had been a recent fire in town that encouraged using proper building materials for construction.) (From Sequim News, City of Sequim, Sept. 2006 Sequim History – 1935 Council approved the organization of a Junior Patrol for the Police Department. It was agreed to purchase the necessary signs and rain coats for the boys.Council approved purchase of a hanging lantern with a flasher to be placed at the intersection of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street. The cost of the light and installation was $46.50. This was Sequim’s first stop light.The town joined the Association of Washington Cities and Towns. As of today, Sequim is still a member of that organization.The Town sold a building on Washington Street to the Lehman Brothers.The County donated land on Grennan’s Hill, north of Sequim, to use for a garbage dump. Sequim History – 1935 Letter from Mayor J. S. Bugge - August 17, 1935 to KOMO-KJR News, Seattle, WA "I will try to furnish you with enugh data for your proposed mythical tour of Sequim. "Sequim, an Indian word meaning "Happy Hunting Grounds" and very appropriately names, is situated on the Olympic Peninsula, under the shadow of the Olympic Mountains, 16 miles east of Port Angeles. "Its hundreds of fertile dairy farms, comprising 50,000 acres of irrigated land, are so conveniently located, that the farmer can, within one hour of driving, be on top of one of the many snow covered ridges of teh Olympics, on the other hand only a short distance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, the home of the famous Dungeness Crab. "Two years ago, H.F. Hogue came to the Sequim Valley to experiment with growing peas for commercial purposes, during the month of July and August of this year, there were an average of 300 pickers a day in the fields around Sequim, and the peas were shipped by refrigerated cars to New York City. "Last, but not least, we have our ideal climatic condition which, according to the U. of W. research bureau, lists Sequim and teh area south of Londa, Englad, as the two most ideal climates for human habitation in the world." Sequim History – 1937 Elections in 1936 voted in new Councilors E. H. Brandt, Iris Marshall and Guy Holmes. Mayor Bugge was re-elected. Councilors McMahon and Wagner were not up for re-election. The Sequim Recreational Council was created consisting of a single representative from each civic organization in Sequim. Its purpose was to act in an advisory capacity in connection with all matters concerning recreation and would make recommendations to City Council. The City Garbage Collection office was created making it unlawful for anyone other than this office to collect garbage. Sequim History – 1940 This was another quiet year in Sequim. The Fire Department, which was not part of the city government, was hired to burn the grass in vacant lots because it was a fire hazard. Monthly, the Fire Department would clean the reservoir. Council approved street lights at the intersections of 2nd Avenue West at Spruce, Cedar, Bell and Maple, if PSP&LCo would provide the cost of installation. Does anyone recall such lights? Sequim History – 1942 New councilors Ferguson and Brett were sworn in. Councilor J.P. Jensen passed away late in the year. His postion was filled through an election in December to be seated in January. Sequim played a roll in the war effort. Dr. Wilcox reported for Civilian Defense that the Dim-Out had proved quite effective. A Practice Alert on December 7 at 8 p.m. in Sequim to commemorate Pearl Harbor will activate all City equipment, properly manned and Civilian Defense Workers. A permanent First Aid Station was set up in the Presbyterian Church. The City provided a phone at the church. |
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