Wildfire Took a Congressman's Ranch
Forest fires in Clallam County destroyed Representative W. R. Hoole's nine-room home, his timber, and the Beaver Leader printing plant.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Word was received in this city yesterday that forest fires had destroyed the home of Representative W. R. Hoole at Beaver, in the west end of Clallam county. It also destroyed a large portion of the valuable timber upon his ranch. A year ago Mr. Hoole had cleared something like twenty acres of his ranch, which he began to cultivate. He also erected a fine residence of nine rooms, furnished it and stocked his farm, intending to make it his home. Subsequently his health failed and he moved to Port Angeles, renting it to his brother-in-law, W. A. Sparks, who began the publication of the Beaver Leader. Not only the house, but all other buildings and the Beaver Leader plant, and Dr. Sparks' own house have been destroyed. The loss is estimated at several thousand dollars.
“Not only the house, but all other buildings and the Beaver Leader plant, and Dr. Sparks' own house have been destroyed.”
Clallam County's forests are still a place where a single fire season can erase a family's home and business. The story is a reminder that wildfire risk in Washington is not new, even as development has pushed deeper into the woods.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.