 SUMNER's RYAN HOUSE
A cache by DuHawks Hidden: 12/14/2006
Size:  (Small) Difficulty:  Terrain: (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
|
|
Please note: To use the services of geocaching.com, you must agree to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.
|
December 16, 2006 FTF..by Blue Power Ranger (773
found)........................................... Take care when
doing this cache, as it is on Main Street, no real hiding place.
Watch out for muggles...! ! !
 George Ryan was an early
resident of Sumner who was unusually entrepreneurial and inventive.
He was responsible for a number of Sumner firsts. He created its
first general store, in rooms attached to his hop house. He was
hired by Henry Church and Will Thompson for $1,000 and another $25
monthly to develop Sumner’s first skating rink in 1882. Its
first night of business was a wild success, but its novelty wore
off quickly-Church and Thompson never paid Ryan more than $100 of
the amount he was owed. The structure was used primarily as a
public hall for political meetings, church services, Whitworth
College commencement services, and performances. Ryan’s Hall,
also known as the Ryan Opera House, later became a garage. It was
torn down in 1963 because its south to north list made its
floorboards spread and endangered pedestrians. He build
Sumner’s first train depot in 1873. The Northern Pacific
Railroad was ending its line in Tacoma and had no plans to stop in
the valley. Ryan found this unacceptable, and took steps to remedy
the company's error. He erected a depot across the street from what
is now Sumner Animal Grub, covering the costs of construction and a
year's worth of salary for the stationmaster out of his own pocket.
Northern Pacific later reimbursed him for his expense, and the
depot became a significant spur to Sumner's economic growth. He
established the Sumner Lumber Company in 1883, which logged 5,000
acres of land in an area east of Sumner. He filed the first plat of
the city. He owned Sumner’s first telephone, installed in
1887, which connected his mill to his home. He built its first
brick building in 1890. The Ryan Building housed the offices of
Sumner Lumber, Light and Water Company, the State Bank of Sumner, a
doctor, and a dentist, plus the post office, a barber shop, and a
store. The city council had free use of a meeting room. In the
business district fire of 1895 the structure became a sort of wall
that prevented the blaze from spreading to Sumner's east side. He
was elected Sumner’s first mayor when the town incorporated
in 1891 His home, Ryan House, became Sumner's first Library in 1926
and later its first (and only) museum George and his wife, Lucy,
had only five children: Harry Roger, Lewis David, Edith E., Charles
Alexander, and Warren Wood. Many Ryan descendants continue to live
and raise families in the Sumner area PLEASE BRING A PEN TO SIGN
THE LOG..........FIRST TO FIND PRIZE.....$2.00 If you have some
extra time when you're finished caching, would suggest spending
some time in downtown Sumner or at the Old Cannery Furniture
Warehouse. You will find friendly folks, unique and intersting
shops. To read more about the history of Sumner, WA, check out this
web-site:
http://www.daffodilvalleytimes.com/community/sumner/history_a.html
|
|
|
