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.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Mason County has vanished
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.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Vote Here
Voting by mail has killed off the voting booth and the social ritual of filling out your ballot on the spot.
I poked my head in the door of the VFW Hall on Primary Day 2018 only to see a vast empty room save for two dour senior citizens sitting at a forlorn table with a big box on the surface in which voters could place their ballots. I felt like I had disturbed their nap and they were rather cross about it.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Skidmarks at Anarchy Intersection
Skidmarks at a pedestrian cross walk on the Anarchy Intersection where Summit, Simpson, Main, and Third come together. I believe this is under the jurisdiction of WSDOT who likely won't place a much needed traffic light here until someone is killed or seriously injured.
Munching on apples in the shadow of Simpson
A young deer enjoys a breakfast of apples under a lone tree next to the VFW Hall right across the street from the Simpson complex.
Path through the Pines
This path on the SW corner of Maple and Main goes through the Pines. But where are trees, you might ask.
The Pines was a name applied by Cal Clark in the 1950s to the final incarnation of one of the old-time two-story false buildings in downtown McCleary until it was closed by the IRS who padlocked the doors and then later burned (allegedly by kids playing with matches) after being abandoned for a few years in the 1980s.
On this lot at different times in history was a gathering spot for the local Greeks, it was also a house of prostitution upstairs, a topless bar in the 1960s, a family restaurant, a meeting spot for labor agitators in the 1920s-1930s, and a card room where Cecil "Primo" Boling was the dealer with his giant hands.
I recall watching the high flames shoot up from the roof which pretty much gutted the place. The burned out derelict remained standing for far too long as a wrecked reminder of McCleary's colorful past.
The former Timbear Cafe stands across Maple St.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Where the sidewalk unbends
This sidewalk is only a couple years old at best, but the elements are already catching up to it fast. On 4th near Simpson.
Moron!
Political comment found on the Post Office bulletin board. In the same handwriting the bottom of the article (snipped from the Olympian) is inscribed "traitor."
I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you, to see that someone out there ... is still reading a newspaper in hardcopy form.
Friday, August 3, 2018
And you think moss on your roof is a problem? Check this out.
For a company that has a long history in cutting down forests, it is somewhat amusing to see several young broadleaf trees apparently thriving on the roof of the Simpson lumber dry kilns.
The Three Bears
Bear icons in front of the Bear's Den.
Maybe they could somehow include a Goldilocks figure with a word balloon saying, "The food in this restaurant is just riiiight."
Squaxin Island Tribe bus
The Squaxin Island Tribe bus, which includes McCleary as a stop, has my vote for the most amazing and truly Northwest transportation logo in these parts. If you look closely you can pick out the seven animals representing the seven clans of the Tribe, all united into the form of a fish. There is a lot of history behind that graphic.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
8 Aberdeen
I have lost track how long this detour thing has been going on. Long enough for me to get used to seeing these orange signs be part of the normal landscape.
The detour has resulted in more people from out of town using the eccentric intersection of Simpson/Summit/Third/Main streets, which has now become a case study in anarchy.
The black "up" arrow next to a white silhouette of our first president which has a big "8" numeral in it on an orange background is something Marcel Duchamp would have loved.
The ol' McCleary vegetable tradition
McCleary has a second Food Bank other than the official one which operates out of the kitchen in Beerbower Park. This supplemental Food Bank is evident starting around this time of year when local gardeners who were ambitious in their plantings realize they produced more vegetables than they could use. So what to do with them? Leave them in the Post Office of course! A central place in town.
I don't if this would be allowed in Century 21, but back in the 1960s my brother and I would sell vegetables we raised to Ardy Lencioni and would resell them in his produce section. This was right after he sold the old Quality Market (located where Sam's Food Mart gas station is now) and revamped the grocery store that is now Gordon's.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Entrancing Entrance
The new sign inviting customers to Rain Country is terrific! It has a funky Old West welcome feeling to it that seems to reflect the positives of McCleary. Well done (which how I like my burgers).
Some locals prefer using the side door as a form of feeling part of an inside secret.
This is the first time I have noticed the restaurant no longer has outdoor tables in the front.
Pink tape
Pink tape on the as yet to be inaugurated new mailboxes at Rainbow Park. I guess pink tape is better than cutting through a lot of red tape.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Buffoon & his money laundering partner
I always enjoy perusing the Post Office bulletin board. Occasionally a citizen will make their views on politics known before it is swiftly removed either by Post Office personnel or someone who disagrees.
Generally these political expressions are aimed at local governance. Milton Poulos has been gone for awhile now, but he was usually good for posting items regarding national issues as seen through a socialist lens. McCleary folks from all parts of the political spectrum have made their opinions known in this fashion over the years.
Here are the results of the Nov. 2016 presidential election in McCleary precinct 501 not counting write-ins:
663 votes
Trump, Republican: 344 - 51.88%
Clinton, Democrat: 252 - 38%
Johnson, Libertarian: 45 - 6.78%
Stein, Green: 14 - 2.11%
Castle, Constitution: 5 - 0.75%
Kennedy, Socialist Workers: 2 - 0.30%
La Riva, Party for Socialism and Liberation: 1 - 0.15%
What I found fascinating about McCleary and the 2016 election was the fact that as I walked around town I never saw one single yard sign for Trump, although I did spot a couple bumper stickers. There was only one yard sign I saw for Clinton. Jill Stein (Green) and Gary Johnson (Libertarian), on the other hand, had plenty of signs up in public intersections.
When it comes to third parties, I regard anything 5% or over as impressive, so the Libertarians did pretty well in McCleary.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Friday, July 13, 2018
Elvis on the Hood
I've been waiting to catch the owner of this Ford pickup so I could ask permission to photograph the most awesome vehicle art in McCleary, and today was that lucky day. The owner of this truck created the image himself. I am impressed.
We had a nice talk about The King. I was able to share some of my stories from a recent visit to Graceland.
Anyway, I salute the owner of this pickup for being original and expressive. Way to go!
Thursday, July 12, 2018
McCleary archaeology
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.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
McCleary's microclimates
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.
The parking strip that gathers no moss
Found alongside the long vacant tavern. I'm sure this is a metaphor for something but I need more coffee this morning before I can invent one.
Safe Medication Disposal
At some point in the last month this safe medication disposal box showed up at the Police Station.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Old railroad bed
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.
Float cockpit
A peek inside the McCleary Bear Festival float cockpit reveals what appears to be a highly modified 1980s era Chevrolet Cavalier.
The Day After
A close-up view of the McCleary Bear Festival float the day after the parade. Lots of hard work and dedication behind these rolling displays that must be labors of love for the volunteers.
1957 Plymouth
A pristine and artfully customized 1957 Plymouth on display at the McCleary Bear Festival car show.
Haunted ambulance
This 1962 Pontiac served as an ambulance in the Raymond area many decades ago. The card describing this unusual vehicle during the McCleary Bear Festival car show claims the ambulance is "haunted." Love the skeleton adornment.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
2018 McCleary parade float
The McCleary Bear Festival had a safari theme this year. I see a "wild bear" is also on the float.
Pastel set against drizzle grey
Royalty on their way to board their parade vehicle. McCleary Bear Festival.
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