College of Mines

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, May 1, 1930

The College of Mines Building on the University of Washington campus. See article by Professor Joseph Daniels.

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Going north

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, April 1, 1930

The Pacific Coast Cement Company’s Dall Island crew just before boarding the S.S. Queen for the island. We’ll endorse any statement to the effect that this is a fine-looking bunch. All went north with the exception of W.H. Green, plant manager, standing at the extreme right. Bon voyage.

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The morning after: This is your life, Edo Vanni; new skipper, colorful guy

Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligenceer, March 24, 1964

By Royal Brougham

Edo Vanni, as a schoolboy star

Some things I never knew before (or had forgotten) about Edo Vanni, who is making his debut as skipper of the Rainiers—

As a football player for Queen Anne high, kicked the longest field goal in prep history, 42 yards. (Edo got his leg power from playing soccer all during his grade school days when he was brought up in the coal-mining town of Black Diamond.)

Played on eight pennant-winning teams in his 17 years in baseball, three of them during Seattle’s Golden Years, 1939–40–41. (But there were some unhappy seasons, including three last-place finishes in the Western International League.)

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Enumclaw: Trim, green, and brimming with clean air

Originally published in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 25, 1973

By Kathy McCarthy

This is the 74th visit The Seattle Post-Intelligencer staff reporters and photographers have taken to introduce the people, industry, and lifestyles of Northwest cities, towns, and rural communities. Next week: Othello.

Neatly trimmed lawn and autumn leaves front Enumclaw’s municipal building. (P-I photos by Tom Barlet)

Enumclaw doesn’t hire a professional grass-mowing service, but visitors have been known to get that impression after a quick look at the town’s lawns. Trim, green, and brimming with clean air, the town and its plateau nestle on the doorstep of Mt. Rainier, so close the citizens are apt to refer to it as “our mountain.”

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Roslyn: They came from 24 nations to mine the black diamond

Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 7, 1973

By Joel Connelly

There is a cemetery for each ethnic group inhabiting the town.

This is the 67th visit The Seattle Post-Intelligencer staff reporters and photographers have taken to introduce the people, industry, and lifestyles of Northwest cities, towns, and rural communities. Next week: The American-Canadian border range of the North Cascades.

For 75 years, Roslyn was Washington’s toughest mining town, but it may also have been the most spirited place in the state.

About 1,200 people live there today, a decade after closure of Roslyn’s last coal mine. But more than 4,000 people—a colorful mixture of 24 nationalities, come to work in coal mines operated by the Northern Pacific Railroad—once inhabited the town.

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Victorious

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, September 1, 1929

The New Black Diamond Mine Rescue Team which took the State Trophy and First Honors at the Second Annual State Meet held in Renton on August 17th. Reading left to right: A.G. Wallace, Virgil Wilkinson, Ace Byers, Harold Lloyd, Dave Taylor, and W.F. Evans (Captain). Kneeling is Ted Rouse, who acted as patient. This team also won third place in the First Aid events with a score well bunched with the leaders.

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Diamond’s Labor Day acclaimed best ever

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, September 12, 1973

The Black Diamond Labor Day Celebration was the best every exclaimed longtime resident Mrs. Murial Wing who served as Queen Chairman. She attributed its success to the community’s residents who cheerfully cooperated so well with one another.

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Labor Day events again scheduled in Black Diamond

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, August 29, 1973

By Laura Lorenz

In 1973 the Citizen of the Year was Joe Androsko. The Labor Day Queen was Kari Sawyer and her princess was Kathy Storey. Sid Bergstrom was the Labor Day chairperson.

Swinging in Saturday night, Sept. 1, with a dance and ending Labor Day afternoon, Sept. 3, with a rough-and-tumble tug-of-war, the Black Diamond Labor Day Celebration is just about here again.

The annual event was born out of the coal mining days of the past when vigorous work was complemented with pleasure just as lively.

It has now grown into a diverse two-and-a-half-day program, offering activities for all ages, entertaining both the participant and the spectator.

And, as before, the entire Valley is welcome.

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Memories of Labor Days past recalled by residents

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, August 30, 1978

By George and Dianne Wilson

The 1978 Labor Day citizen of the year was the Black Diamond Eagles and the event chairman was Evan Morris. Queen Debbie Drossart and princesses Carol Storey and Amy Guidetti presided over the annual celebration.

With Labor Day ’78 fast upon us, your reporters talked with local residents about their memories of “Labor Day Past” and came up with the following.

Noni Coby believes she is the first one to have won the “greased pig” contest. As she recalls, she was 10 or 11 years old at the time. After getting a rope on her prize, she waited two hours to go home, afraid of her mother’s wrath. The family had no place to keep a pig! Eventually, after a suitable pen was built, the pig was bred and produced 13 piglets.

Vivian Petchnik recalls that in the early days of Black Diamond Labor Day festivities, the girls desiring to become Queen sold dance tickets for that honor. Some of her favorite memories include the baseball and soccer competitions that were held at the playing field. (In 1960, Bill and Vivian Petchnik’s daughter Audrey, better known as “Cookie,” was Labor Day Queen.)

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The Central Council

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, August 1, 1929

June elections brought some new faces into the Central Council of the Pacific Coast Coal Company. Standing left to right: Al Booth, W.R. Young, Robert Simpson, Robert Scobie, Jr., Ted Sthay, W.A. Wilson, Harold DeBritz, Glen F. Clancy, Martin Hamlin. Kneeling left to right, E.A. Bailey, H.B. McFadden, Albert Allen, Q.C. Hyatt, Leo Stallcop, and Alex Brown. This snap was shot on the twenty-first floor of the Smith Tower.

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