You know it's really hot when a chunk of the Forks Outfitter's parking lot sticks to your tire.   I made a quick stop at Outfitter's after work last night.  As I left the parking lot I heard ker-chunk, ker-chunk, ker-chunk, what the heck was that?  Stopping and looking at my front tire I found a strip of pavement stuck to it.  After some pulling I got it free.  With 90 degree temperatures predicted again for today, there may be nothing left of Outfitter's parking lot by the end of the day!  A trip to the ocean, where temperatures should be a little cooler, may be in order.

 

The 4^th of July marks the 50^th anniversary of the dedication of the Rayonier 10-spot to the City of Forks.

The 10-spot was built by the Lima Locomotive works around 1930.  From Ohio, she was sent to Milwaukee’s Seattle Round House.   There she sat, no one interested in paying the $27,500 asking price.

The 10-spot had limited sales appeal.  Designed in the Pacific Coast pattern for the western logging trade, she had piston valve instead of slide valve cylinders.  This was beneficial when the locomotive was put in service on the undulant forest roadbeds. Flexibility was what was needed and the 10-spot had it.

As she sat rusting and waiting for a buyer she was cannibalized for parts for her sister engines in the Northwest woods.  Throughout the nine years she waited for a buyer the Lima Corporation became concerned they would never sell the locomotive.

In 1940, she was finally purchased by the Ozette Timber Company for $21,000, a give-away price according to Lima officials.  For the Ozette Company she performed faithfully.  Train crews said she road the ties almost as often as she rode the rails.   The 10-spot was sturdy, she always got where her engineer, my Grandfather Ralph Pedersen, headed her.

In 1955, Rayonier purchased the Shay from Ozette Timber.  It was just a short time and the diesel truck put an end to the 10-spot’s forest hauling days.  Scrap dealers were waiting in the wings but company officials refused to sell.  Then some Forks residents negotiated a deal and the Shay came to where it sits today.

In 1998, the Shay got a makeover and a roof over thanks to the Department of Transportation, City of Forks, Lion’s Club and many local volunteers.

The Shay once again finds herself skirted by woodland ferns as a recent planting greets those that enter Tillicum Park.  The 10-spot, sidetracked but not forgotten, a monument to the geared steam locomotive and our local logging history.

 

 

Forks High School Students gathered in mass on June 10th for the last time in front of their school which is scheduled to be taken down in preparation for a new building replacement.

THURSDAY, JULY 1

• 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. –  Turn in entries for Arts, Crafts & Photo Show at Department of Natural Resource Conference Center, 411Tillicum Lane, sponsored by Don’t Tell Me What To Do Promotions. For information call Martha Paul 374-9105.

FRIDAY, JULY 2

Arts, Crafts & Photo Show Judging, Department of Natural Resource Conference Center, 411 Tillicum Lane, sponsored by Don’t Tell Me What To Do Promotions.
Window Decorations Viewing at Downtown participating businesses, sponsored by Forks Old Fashioned 4^th of July Committee.
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Moonlight Madness in downtown Forks, sponsored by West End Business & Professional Association.

SATURDAY, JULY 3

8:30 a.m. - Horseshoe Tournament Sign-Ups at Tillicum Park (Please sign up early)

9:00 a.m. - Horseshoe Tournament, Tillicum Park
Noon - 2:00 p.m. - Kiddies Play Day at Tillicum Park, Sponsored by the Forks Lions Club
Noon - 4:00 p.m. – Arts, Crafts & Photo Show, Department of Natural Resource Conference Center.
3:00 p.m. – Sack’s Bean Bag Toss, $10 Entry Fee, ages 16 yrs & up, for details call Mike Hirsch 360-870-1100. Tillicum Park.
4:00 p.m. - Frog Jump, Tillicum Park
6:00 p.m. - Cribbage Tournament, V.F.W. Hall, 110 S. Spartan Ave.
Window Decorations Viewing Downtown Forks.

SUNDAY, JULY 4th INDEPENDENCE DAY

Forks Old Fashioned 4^th of July “Fun Run” – Call 327-3849 for route & time
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. - Check in for Grand Parade, Forks Outfitters Parking Lot
7:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Elks Breakfast, Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road
10:15 a.m. - Final Entries, Grand Parade
10:30 a.m. - Parade Judging, Forks Outfitters Parking Lot
Window Decorations Viewing, Downtown Forks.
10:30 a.m. – Check in, Kiddies Parade, Bank of America Parking Lot, Sponsored by the Forks Emblem Club
11:45 a.m. - Kiddies Parade, Bank of America Parking Lot.
12:00 Noon – Forks Old Fashioned 4^th of July Grand Parade.
Noon - 4:00 p.m. – Arts, Crafts & Photo Show, Department of Natural Resource Conference Center
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Salmon Bake, Tillicum Park, sponsored by the Forks Lions Club
3:00 p.m. - Demolition Derby, Tillicum Park Arena, gates open at 2:00 p.m. Tickets - $8, Strollers must have ticket, Ages 2 yrs. And under FREE. (No Dogs, No Coolers).
Dusk - Forks Old Fashioned 4^th of July Fireworks Display, Tillicum Park

• Demolition Derby tickets sold at the West End Youth League Firecracker Stand located downtown Forks at the corner of Main Street & Bogachiel Way.
• Buy a 4^th of July Button for $1 at participating downtown merchants.  All proceeds support the 4^th of July fire works display.
• Support our non-profits and eat at the Park!

• Thank a Veteran, buy them a lunch!  For info call Christi 374-3141 or 374-2244

Contact Information: Forks Old Fashioned 4^th of July Committee President Mark Soderlind, 360-374-9065, 360-640-4298 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or mail to: The Forks Old Fashioned 4^th of July Committee, PO Box 881, Forks, WA 98331

 

 

Although the weather may not feel like it spring will soon turn in to summer, sometimes it is hard to see the difference, but a sure sign that the season is changing is when the coastal wildflowers come in to bloom.  The Fairy Lantern graces the coastal woodlands of the Olympic Peninsula.  The cream colored flowers resemble small lanterns that appear to be threaded through the edge of each leaf.  One can just about imagine the wee folk dancing about under the lighted blooms.

 

Media Frenzy- In the last few weeks Forks and surrounding communities have been inundated by media:

KING 5 News Seattle, North Seattle Herald Outlook Newspaper, USA Today Newspaper and Stern Magazine from Germany.

Stern Magazine is the largest magazine in Germany and their story will focus just on the town of Forks. USA Today will be having their article appear a week before the release of the next movie, Twilight Saga: Eclipse.  King 5 was here to do a follow-up report based on the “Twilight in Forks” video where some of us residents and visitors were interviewed about the town.  So, smile!  You may be on camera.

 

The Fletcher -Wittenborn VFW Post 9106 will hold their annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday May 31, at 10 am at the VFW Hall on Spartan Avenue.  The public is welcome.

May is National Bike Month!  That means it's time to get those bikes out of storage and get out riding.  This year, Bike to Work & School Week is May 17-21, 2010, and Bike to Work & School Day is Friday, May 21, 2010.  Even if you haven't ridden your bike in a while, don't worry--you still have plenty of time to prepare to ride to work or school during May 17-21.  It would be awesome to see some locals--especially some of you Forks students--out there riding in recognition of this event. 

When was your last out-of-car experience?