Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-04-12
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 70. 1889
Random Thoughts.

OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL y. 1883.
Random Thoughts.
Whether it i. that the la Sc OF time
ca IS glamor over the early life OF
the individu j, or otherwise, there a e
very few Of our residents who can turn
the pages Ct memory back t. the times
when the population of Olympia could
be numbered by the scores, but who
are impressed with a sense Of tie eace
and contentment OF these day.. Hard
ships were encountered, deprivations
of many things that are considered es-
sentials at the present time existed,
dangers such as now are unknown
were met, and still there was charm,
an exuberance of spirit, a feeling of
free om from conventional forms in
those days, which causes sigh to we'll
up in the heart of the cold settler" as
he contrasts the old with the new.
The population Of Olympia early in
the "fifties," when it with Newmarket
(now Tumwater) were the only villages
on Puget Sound, was composed of a
few stalwart men, much smaller num-
Der of true and devoted women, an
equal number of children, and quite a
large population of Indians. The one
email trading establishment Of Col. M.
T. Simmons, furnished common cloth.
ing, blankets, calico and few staple
groceries for the white population,
with the addition of hard-bread, mo-
lasses, and beads and trinkets, for the
savages. The "drygocds" were piled
on rough tables or counters in promis-
cuous heaps, and we're tossed about in
inextricable confusion whenever an ST.
ticle was wanted. The barrel of " mig.
gerheep was in one corner of the
small room devoted to trade, and a
pair Of the old-time balance scales, sus.
pended from the ceiling, constituted
the paraphernalia by which bareback
and sugar were dealt out to the easily
satisfied customers, whose wants were
few and readily supplied. The advent
Of Geo. A. Barnes, in the fall of 81
with . general assortment of mer.
chandise was an important event in
the history of Olympia. His goods
we're brought from Portland by a little
schooner named the Mary Taylor,
and the several months of eager wait
. ing for the little craft, after he and his
family had made the quick trip over.
land in . weeks time, from that city,
kept the interest of the community
ct fever heat. Every hour If the day
the eyes Of the community were
turned towards Priests Point and
Squaxon Island, to catch the first
glimpse Of the expected white wings
that were to bring some Of the blessings
Of luxuries, rs we'll - the necessities
Of life, for the hardy pioneers. Her
final arrival was the signal for
general rejoicing, and as che lay
beached in the little bay at the foot Of
what il now Second street, q motley
gathering Of the white and rcd assem-
bled while the huge boxes and barrels
were rolled from the vessels side.
This store, with its shelves and coun-
ters. was . wonder to many Of the PEG.
pie, and the result was br SIX trade
which almost daily filed the candle
box used for . money drawer with
The Mexican dollars, which with
the Nodat IS and 30 gold pieces
and the octagon $50 slugs, con.
stituted about al the coin Of the realm
then in circulation. A short time
aftsrwards = rival store was estab.
hshsd BY Capt. John G. Parker, but il
was not till several years later that the
equally pretsntious establishments oil
l. Bettman and Goldman 4 Rosen.
blatt, gave 10 the embryo city fnal
evidences Of metropolitan progress
Except when = farmer came to town
with his wagon, for supplies, the Local
tsade WAS confined mainly to the In
dams, and when not watching them
70 guard against their pil.ering pro
psneities, . large portion Of the time Of
our pioneer merchants was devoted t.
social enjoyment ON the street, where
each could b in sight Of the front en-
trance Of his store, ready to respond te
tho call Of customers. Occasionally
Of afternoons, the business men would
engage in . game Of baseball on the
grassy plat, q the foot Of Main street
where each would b. within easy cal
q business, and Friday afternoons
when The weekly mail MAS expected, Z
large portion Of the whole population
might b sen stretched on the grass
fronting the postofhce, then located or
Warrington street, near Second, spin
ming yarns and retailing local gossip
until The lone horseman." who then
carried Uncle Sans pouches, hove in
sight. The sack was small and the
letters few, but the position Of post
master, held by A. w. Moore, was ex.
eeedinsly onerous. Prepayment Of
postage was not then required, and
every letter had to be weighed and
stamped with the postage due, varying
from five to twenty-five cents. Az
small currency was exceedingly
scarce, The trouble that ensued can
readily be understood.
The means Of recreation in those
days were limited. There were no
carriages and few boats, and picnic
parties generally went in the eaddle or
BY canoe, either plan involving barter
with the Indians. The Custom House
then located at Olympia, in charge of
Simpson P. Moses, had two metallic
ife-boats. and on gala occ ,sions they
were pressed into service, and with