Big Lake Historical Society met Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM and a short business meeting was held, with discussion centering on the date and location of the biennial display. 

The business meeting was followed by a presentation by Jim Farmer, formerly of Montborne. Jim shared his research into the life of Nelson Bennett, best known for building the railroad tunnel through Stampede Pass. Bennett, next to Mortimer Cook, was most responsible for opening up Sedro-Woolley to settlement and commerce with the construction of the Fairhaven and Southern Railroad.

Jim also read a poem he had written of his memories of sounds while growing up at Montborne.  

Washboard Memory

             Walker Valley Farms

             Garden, Orchard, Chickens

            Couple cows for milk

             Extra for neighbors four-bits a gallon

            Thick cream on top.

            Up and down the hill each morning

            The Darigold truck rattled.

            Empty cans for full at the stoops

            Evening and morning milk for the creamery.

            Gravity, chains, washboards, and milk cans

            It’s a symphony from Grandmother’s yard.

Jim Farmer

April 2018