Parsonage?

Dec. 23, 2019

This structure was, and I could very well be mistaken, the parsonage at one time for the Assembly of God Church.

Unusual Mail Drop Off

Dec. 14, 2019

I'm sure there must be a good story in there.

Aircraft Warning Service Lookout Tower

Oct. 23, 2019

Here's a view looking south on 4th with Maple as the cross street. During World War II McCleary had at least one, maybe more, lookout towers designed for the Aircraft Warning Service. This was a program where civilians, armed with little charts showing the shapes of Japanese military planes through the use of silhouettes, would voluntarily give their time to scan the skies for enemy aircraft.

In McCleary the location of one lookout tower I am pretty sure about was on the SW corner of 4th and Maple, on the right hand side of the photo where the brown duplex sits.

Hay! Look!

Aug. 22, 2018

Rolling up hay like this is illegal in some areas because their agricultural authorities say livestock should get a square meal.

Where the sidewalk unbends

Aug. 5, 2018

This sidewalk is only a couple years old at best, but the elements are already catching up to it fast. On 4th near Simpson.

McCleary's microclimates

July 11, 2018. Looking north at Oak and 5th. The fog totally obscures the view of the Simpson plant.

For a city this small McCleary appears to have definite climate zones. This becomes especially apparent with weather involving fog, ice, snow, and even rain. There are times when one stands on the crest of the hills on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and Main streets and can see the visual border between the zones.

Old railroad bed

July 9, 2018

Looks like the City is about to perform some road work on these odd depressions in West Oak Street. By coincidence, or not, this particular swath is where the Henry McCleary Timber Company's  railroad was until the 1930s. The railway ran south between present day 4th and 5th streets and then turned east all the way to Mud Bay, more of less following what is now State Route 8. Vestiges of the old railway bed can still be seen in the empty lot in the background of this photo.

Although the photo has failed to really capture it, this road marking is an inadvertent and wonderful piece of abstract art.

Jake Anderson's gate

Sept. 5, 2016. A surly Norwegian bachelor named Jake Anderson owned everything west of current day 4th Street before Henry McCleary arrived. Anderson lived at the top of the "T" at 5th and Oak, and was known to use a boat to get around the cedar swamp that is now the filled-in downtown area. The gate to Anderson's digs was here, on this northernmost block of Main St.

Until recently, the spot where Anderson's gate stood was marked on the sidewalk, but a redo of the area wiped that out. This particular side of the block has been home to some iconic McCleary business establishments in the past: Timbear Cafe, Golden Rule Store, the office of Dr. James Arima, Hankinson Jewelry, Porter Hotel, a movie theater, Pastime Pool Hall, McCleary Pharmacy, just to name a few.

Public art on 4th St.

Oct. 10, 2010

Either that or someone's muffler fell off. As I recall it stayed there for several days.

Fire hydrant in a hole

Sept. 29, 2010, 4th and Oak.

Split tree

Split tree on Fir and Fourth. Jan. 20, 2012

In the background is "The Jungle" portion of Sam's Canal (named in honor of Sam Lanning, who attempted to channel the community's open sewer back in the old days)

"The Jungle" is a remainder and reminder that at one time most of the flat portion of McCleary was once a cedar swamp.

Hammered tree

4th st., Jan. 20, 2012

Alleyway between 4th and 5th streets

Jan. 20, 2012

Volunteers' Trucks

Vehicles belonging to McCleary Fire Dept. volunteers lined up on Fourth St. after the school building collapse, Jan. 19, 2012

Taping off the danger zone

Jan. 19, 2012

That Building is a Goner

Jan. 19, 2012

McCleary Fire Department at the School Building Collapse

Jan. 19, 2012

School Building Collapse

Fortunately school was closed due to the heavy snow. Fourth Street, Jan. 19, 2012