News reports and photos from Black Diamond and the towns of Bayne, Cumberland, Danville, Durham, Elkcoal, Franklin, Kangley, Krain, Kummer, Lawson, Navy, Palmer, Ravensdale, and Selleck
Frank Grens at home with his dog, Tom — Staff photos by Kathy Andrisevic
BLACK DIAMOND—A faded, mahogany-stained crutch hanging on a wall in Frank Grens’ home is mute testimony to 27 years of work in the coal mines.
He’s been using it off and on ever since suffering a back injury December 6, 1941—“the day before Pearl Harbor”—when a roof beam in a mine tunnel near here slid and pinned him.
Grens said he was intent on quitting the mines then. But he stayed on until after the war. And he hasn’t been far from the area since.
Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 6, 1953
By Jim Hill Post-Intelligencer Automobile Editor
GREEN RIVER SCENE—Scenic site pictured here is on Green River several miles above Palmer, Wash. Post-Intelligencer Cartour party noted a number of weekend anglers trout fishing in stream with some success. Fashionable 1953 Nash Rambler used on one-day outing proved roomy and comfortable with lots of engine power and acceleration.
An invitation from Paul Pursley, Nash zone manager, to take a continental-styled 1953 Nash Rambler convertible on this week’s Post-Intelligencer Cartour was received with keen anticipation.
The strikingly modern Rambler, with a wheelbase of only 100 inches, seats six persons in its roomy, comfortable interior and is a very smooth riding and driving unit. Powered by 6-cylinder, 85-horsepower L-head engine, the Rambler has good acceleration and power to spare.
A picnic outing to the Green River Gorge and vicinity was our objective on this week’s trip as we headed south on Rainier Avenue to Renton and via Highway 5 through Kent and fertile Green River Valley to Auburn, where we turned left for 13 miles through wooded hills to Black Diamond. From this latter town, home of our own Welsh forbear coal miners, a good gravel road leads four miles to the Green River Gorge, a total of 43 miles in all from downtown Seattle.
Lake Wilderness Lodge offers many amenities in the days prior to 1923 as it does today. There is boating, fishing, hiking, dancing, and splendid food all vying with one another to offer entertainment for those who love the outdoors.
It has always been picturesque with relaxing views, plenty of activities and fine music for dancing.
Sadly, on April 26, 1923, the entire building and contents owned by Mrs. Carrie Clarke of Seattle were totally destroyed by fire.
Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, March 13, 2002
By Kevin Hanson The Courier-Herald
A full Deep Lake dock at the popular Nolte State Park near Enumclaw is a sign of warm-weather fun.
One of the Plateau’s popular recreation areas, Nolte State Park, could find itself on the chopping block.
The one-time resort—home to grassy lawns, hiking trails, and Deep Lake—is among a long list of parks that could be closed due to the state’s budget crunch.
Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, January 30, 1923
Howard Plass’ body found below precipice he scaled in quest of tracks
Howard Plass, circa 1911
Howard Plass, son of B.T. Plass, farmer who lives near Black Diamond, was found dead at the foot of a two-hundred-foot cliff in Green River Gorge yesterday by neighbors who had searched for him since Sunday night.
Yesterday would have been his twenty-second birthday. Fondness for roaming through the woods, seeking bear and deer trails, is believed to have led the young man to climb the cliff beside the river.
Plass left his father’s home about 10:30 o’clock Sunday morning. Previously he had arranged with another youth to spear fish in the Green River, but because of the heavy snow the other youth declined.
When his son had not returned after he had finished milking the cows in the evening, Mr. Plass started a search. He followed his son’s trail down to the river bank. Neighbors joined Mr. Plass later in the night. Young Plass was unmarried. The body was taken to Scott’s Undertaking Company in Auburn.
[Ed. note: For more about the Plass family, go to “When Coal Was King.”]
Originally published in The Seattle Times, December 9, 1973
By Andy Fuller
Have you been on a suds safari lately?
The safari is out to such remote places as Buckley, Black Diamond, or North Bend in quest of schooners and pitchers brim full of beer.
But a suds safari is more than a trip to the sticks for a beer. Just any old beer joint won’t do.
Taverns included on a suds safari should not only be rustic and out of the way, but also have something extra in the way of color or background or plain honky-tonkiness.
Most of the taverns worth visiting have basic similarities. There’s a certain weathered and ancient dignity in the heavy carved backbar and battered but comfortable wooden tables and chairs. There is always at least one pool table and perhaps a shuffleboard and piano. There usually is a dance area. The country tavern’s interior is more roomy and airy than its counterpart in the city. Often there’s a horseshoe pit out back.
Country taverns of any pretensions have country and Western music Friday and Saturday nights. You can stomp and jostle on a dance floor jammed with loggers and construction hands and their wives and girlfriends and also with a surprising number of city types who go out for the weekends.
Originally published in Maple Valley Neighbors magazine, August 2022
By Susan Goodell Arboretum director at Lake Wilderness Arboretum
Many people are surprised to learn that Lake Wilderness Arboretum has been around for over 50 years. The history of the area and that of the arboretum is an interesting story.
In the 1890s, one of the largest logging mills in King County was located at Lake Wilderness. In the early 1900s, a homesteader offered a few rental cabins on his lakeshore farm to fishermen and hunters.
Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 26, 1922
Vacation time has dawned for devotees to pursuit of the famous Isaac Walton
Just a few beauties
Vacation time has dawned in the great outdoors of Western Washington. This, to the average vacationist, means preparing for the annual pilgrimage to streams and lakes in quest of gamey trout and salmon.
Western Washington has more diversified fishing than any other section of the country, ranging from small trout to huge salmon. The Skagit and other rivers offer good sport in salmon fishing and a fish of this size on light tackle means lively battle. This sport is also becoming popular in the many beautiful saltwater regions of the state.
The railroads of the old mining towns were essential to the transportation of the coal to its final destination. But they also played a significant role in the social life of the community.
Recent interviews [in the late 1980s] with people who spent their childhood in Black Diamond at the turn the century, have revealed a real love affair between the young people and the railroad.
Black Diamond History 