Small Town News

David Shelton markets his community

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In 1889, David Shelton kept a large advertising announcement running in the Shelton-Mason County Journal, which he headlined "The Town of Shelton, Inducements Offered to Enterprises and Manufacturers." The subheading read "Some of the reasons why Shelton will be one of the important cities of Puget Sound."

Here are some excerpts:

Shelton is an incorporated town of about 500 inhabitants, located on Big Skookum Bay, the most southwesterly arm of Puget Sound. Its educational facilities are fully up to the needs of the people for some time to come, there being one large public school building with two departments at present, under the instruction of competent teachers. Among the numerous substantial buildings is the splendid two-story courthouse and a 32 x 100-foot hall for theatrical and public purposes. Though but two years old, the growth of Shelton has been steady and during the past few months rapid. Many branches of business are represented and several new industries are to be started. A two-story business block is being built, the upper story to be fitted for other purposes.

The Satsop Railroad has been operating here for three years and has substantial permanent buildings. The

Satsop is the largest logging railroad in Puget Sound, and during the busy season an average of two rafts of logs scaling about 500,000 feet each are towed away to the mills each week to be cut into the lumber that is our main article of export. The Mason County Railroad is a new enterprise that will be in operation with the opening of spring, and promises to be an important factor with the development and opening of the region 'round about us as well as to the town. They also have a sawmill of fair capacity to supply local demands. Also, the Port Townsend & Southern Railroad will pass through or near Shelton, and open a new line of travel direct by rail with California and the East.

As for scenic beauty, from the elegant residence ground on the north side of town a superb view of the hoary monarch Mt. Ranier (sic) can be had in almost every weather, while from the upland on the opposite side can be obtained a fine view of the Olympic mountains, with their irregular and snowcapped peaks, which lie between Hood's Canal and the Pacific ocean.

Without a doubt Shelton, lying as it does in a sheltered valley and facing one of the prettiest bays of this region, possesses a most eligible site for a town — one that can hardly be improved upon. It is well watered from continuous streams, from the source of one of which arrangements are being made to supply the town with abundant pure water at a fall of more than 50 feet.

These are a few of our advantages and they are worth investigating. There is no "boom" heralding of trumpets but Shelton is proportionately growing more rapidly than any point on the Sound. Town lots from $50 upward. For further information address David Shelton or The Journal.

Jan Parker can be reached at parkerj@hcc.net.



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