, 1892-04-23

OF early days, like Simmons, Smith, Fergu
son, Kindred, Rabbison, MeElroy, Harne,
and others. AS builder, his services wer
always in demand. He acted too, as hi
own architect, and built way back in tn
early ffties, what is now Young's hotel
the present Congregational church, anC
other structures.
The greater number of Ethridge's asso
clates were masons, and naturally, one o
the first things they did while hewing ouf
the wilderness, was to organize masonic
lodge M. 4. Simmons then had an ole
building which stood not rs feet from
Ethrldge's boat house, and in this building
| the first and present Olympia Lodge No. j
was organized. This building soon became
inadequate for the needs of the fraternity
and new lodge was talked of. Simmons
| who was then running a sawmill at Tum.
4 water, agreed to donate the lumber. Eth.
ridge designed the plans, and superintend,
| ed the building which was finished in 1854
and which stands now, opposite the 0lyn1-
] pia hotel, sound and solid, and an evi
/ dence of bis superior workmanship This
historic nall, the oldest in the state, is held
as sacred by the masonic fraternity moi
state. In it, many old and worthy
settlers were admitted to the
mysteries and workings Of ma
sonry, and it is held dear to the
fraternity. So dear, in fact, that it will
probably never be removed. 1t is the in
tention, when new temple is built to
build it right over the old one, enclosing
the old one in an arch, and TINS preserv-
ing 1T, sacred to the memory of masonry.
Connected with this old building is mys-
terry which has never been solved, and
probably never will be. About ten years
ago the hall was moved back a few feet,
upon supports of brick work. In remoy-
ing it, search was made for the corner
stone, which was a cedar block made by
Mr.. Ethridge, himself, and laid with the
usual ceremonies. Strange to say, this
could not be found, although diligent
search was made and the ground was exca-
waited for several feet around where the
block or corner stone should have been.
Its mysterious absence will probably never
be accounted for.
talk, and you would be surprised to learn
some of the vocations in which they were
engaged. Not few of them tried their
hand at the printers case. It is impossI-
BILE to recall them all, but on the Standard
alone, there were several. John Miller
Murphy started his paper thirty two years
ago, with his office then at the foot of Main
street. 1t was republican paper in those
days, but with the overthrow of Andrew
johnson, Murphy stayed with him, and
his paper and politics changed Among
those who stuck type on the old Standard
We're ElWood Evans, who remained at the
case about six months. Sam Woodruff for
three years set type, rolled the ink and
served in the various capacities of a print
er's devil. Robert Frost put in four years
with Murphy, and T. F. McElroy, father
of Harry McElroy, Sam Crawford, now Of
Seattle, r. L. Doyle, at one time pub
lie printer, L. P. Leach, afterwards
surveyor general, and others were
also adepJs at type sticking. Mr..
Murphy takes a great deal of pleasure in
relating an incident of Sam Woodruff's APP
premiership. Sam had early become in
stilled with the principles of Tepubicanism
and when Murphy gave him a red-hot dem
ooeratie articleto set, Sam objected and asked
for another take Murphy ordered him
back to his case, lreproving him for such
nonsense. That was the last he saw of
Sam for three days, and then it was that
when the day came to run off the paper,
Sans services were particularly in demand
at the crank. Murphy found him in swim
ming and was glad enough to induce him
to return,