This is a typical sawmill operation for this area from a hundred
years ago.
Pictured is the New Kurchen Mill at nearby Larimer’s Corner.
Photo #99 courtesy of Monroe Historical Society.
Construction contractors for the West Coast Railway (eventually
absorbed by Northern Pacific) first set up a camp in this vicinity
in 1887, the same year that logger Judson Lee obtained the first
land grant in the area. They initially called the area and the
railroad stop Earl in honor of Thomas Earle, one of the
contractors.
Two years later Ole H. Lee established a post office here, which
he named Yew probably because there was already a post office named
Earl in Washington. Lee also owned a local shingle mill and was
connected with most community developments in the early years. The
railroad station was also renamed Yew.
The town of Yew was platted to the south of here in 1891 by
Robert Maltby. Marie Lee Hodgins
related, "people were not inclined to get off the train when Yew
was called out, so a realtor gladly changed it to his name." So in
1893, the Yew Post Office became Maltby as did the railroad station
and the area has been known by that name ever since.
Another in series of caches that focus on Monroe-area
history. Although closer to Woodinville, the Maltby area voted
to annex to the Monroe School District about 35 years ago after SR
522 was completed to Monroe. You are looking for a bison capsule
hidden at the south end, top row, behind the support strut of the
bleachers. During baseball season you may have to come
back.