Third Street looking north

Apr. 2, 2019
Day two of the months long project, Third and Oak.

Third Street looking south

Apr. 2, 2019
I have read the plans and seen the maps but I must admit I still cannot visualize what the final result will look like. Third and Oak.

House fire on Oak. St. pt. 4

Feb. 6, 2019

House fire on Oak St. pt. 3

Feb. 6, 2019

House fire on Oak. St. pt. 2

Feb. 6, 2019

House fire on Oak. St. pt. 1

Feb. 6, 2019

Mason County has vanished

Aug. 21, 2018

Looking north down 5th Street from Oak. The forest fire smoke is so bad that the hills of Mason County are no longer visible on the horizon. When sunlight does filter through it has a red tint solar eclipse sort of light.

McCleary archaeology

July 12, 2018

The City crew today unearthed two railroad spikes while repairing the portion of Oak St. where the Henry McCleary Timber Company's railroad once crossed.

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.

Oak Street pre-dawn

Oct. 25, 2017, 7:30 AM

Forest fire sun

Sept. 5, 2017, 8:52 AM, Oak St.

First frost

Oct. 12, 2016. Oak St.

Cat trail

Mar. 30, 2013. Oak Street

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.

Sunrise, first day of school

Sept. 1, 2016, 5th and Oak

Oak St.

Dec. 29, 2012

Streetlamp in the fog

Nov. 28, 2011. 5th and Oak.

The happy fire hydrant, 5th and Oak

Nov. 11, 2011

Forest fire smoke, view from 3rd and Oak St.

Oct. 4, 2012