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Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
Free Resources Stories & Photos
(Seattle & Northern 1890)
Covers from British Columbia to Puget sound. Counties covered:
Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan. An evolving history dedicated
to the principle of committing random acts of historical kindness


Noel V. Bourasaw, editor 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

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Deanna Ammons Clear Lake memories 1
      Deanna Ammons, former postmaster from Clear Lake and now full-time grandma and historian, shares these memories from Lucy Thompson Davis, who grew up in Clear Lake. Can anyone tell us more about these events, places and people?

Fun and dancing in old-time Sedro-Woolley
      The Purple Bubble was a fancy dance hall in Sedro-Woolley during the early 1920s. It was for the more refined folks and one needed nice clothes and an escort to attend the dances held there.
      The Chicken Koop was a dance hall that had originally been a chicken coop on Duke's Hill, north of Sedro-Woolley. The young people would go there on Friday nights and it was the only place in town that the girls who worked in the Fern Rooms [a famous speakeasy/blind pig and sometimes brothel] were made welcome. They would come dressed in their "skimpy" outfits and the loggers especially enjoyed spending Friday evenings there.
      On Saturday evenings the kids went to the Grange on Cook road to dance. They would all pile in big "touring cars" and drive around Sedro-Woolley and Burlington after the dance.
      On Sunday nights the young people would go to either one or more beer parlors that were in local residences. The furniture would be moved out of the living room and a player piano brought in. You could purchase a glass of 3.2 percent alcohol, beer for five cents. At that time you could take a gallon jog to any local drug store and have it filled with "near beer" for $1.00.


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You can read about our prime sponsors:
Read the history websites of our two newest sponsors and supporters:
Oliver Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 82 years
Bus Jungquist Furniture at 829 Metcalf street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 36 years


Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20
Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit river, just a short driver from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley


College Way Antique Mall, 1601 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, (360) 848-0807
Where you will find wonderful examples of Skagit county's past, seven days a week


North Cascade Ford, formerly Vern Sims Ford Ranch,
West Ferry street and Crossroads/Highway 20
either on the Sedro-Woolley page or directly at www.northcascadeford.com
DelNagro Masonry Brick, block, stone — See our work at the new Hammer Heritage Square
See our website www.4bricklayers.com
33 years experience — 15 years as a bonded, licensed contractor in the valley
Free estimates, reference, member of Sedro-Woolley Chamber (360) 856-0101

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