Harrington News

The Harrington City Council met Wednesday evening with all council members present. Much of the evening was spent on the budget for the upcoming year. Resolution 2013-190 for a sales tax levy to increase the property tax was passed with a vote of 4-1. Other discussion topics included repair of the sidewalk at the Hotel Lincoln (which the owner previously stated that won't be done until spring); street repairs; a letter from librarian Vivienne Schultz recommending Stacey Rasmussen to be on the library board (voted 5-0 in favor); the new dog ordinance under consideration; unlicensed vehicles parked on city streets; and the upcoming visit by the state auditor.

The outline of the dog ordinance was a modified version of the ordinance that Sprague follows. Specific fees for dogs running at large, barking excessively, animal waste not removed and impound fees were designated. The suggested license fees were $15 for neutered dogs and $25 for non-neutered dogs, double if the fee is late. Sharon Schultz volunteered the use of her yard as an extra impound yard and also to assist the city clerk at the first of the year with the processing of dog licenses. Mayor Paul Gilliland expressed the council’s need to send the potential ordinance to the city attorney for scrutiny. Discussion followed on the useless nature of the ordinances if they are not enforced.

Non-enforcement of ordinances was also the issue regarding unlicensed vehicles on the streets. The council identified specific locations where vehicles are sitting on public streets without licenses, and with winter weather approaching, there is now a need to enforce this ordinance. Mention was made again of an 18-wheel trailer. Although Scott McGowan had been asked to contact those in violation, he had not done so since the last meeting. Council is considering having the state put violation tags on the vehicles. Then the state would fine and tow the illegal vehicles.

Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, the Mayor called for a moment of silence in respect for and appreciation of the late Mark Wetjen for his contributions to the city.

Harrington Christmas Bazaar

The annual Harrington Christmas Bazaar will be held December 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ten vendors have signed up to participate. Bingo will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with prizes of either cash or hams. The FFA will serve lunch, offering hot dogs, chili, coffee, hot chocolate and water. The Harrington Opera House rummage sale will also be open, with many new items on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Harrington swimming pool

The Harrington heated, indoor swimming pool is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. (6-7 is open swim, 7-8 is adults only) and on Saturday with open swim from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A lifeguard is always on duty when the pool is open, and the fee of $1.50 is charged per session. This is the fourth year the pool has been open year-round. Lessons are available only in the summer. Tony Hamilton is in charge of pool maintenance. With the onset of cooler weather, the Harrington pool provides an easy and healthy exercise opportunity to anyone in the area. Since many adults enjoy lap swimming, one hour is provided for that purpose without interference from the younger crowd.

Harrington's indoor pool was begun in 1934 and completed in 1936 as part of a government program, Works Progress Administration (WPA), and built at a cost of $5,000. In November 1936, Cecil Thompson, foreman of the brick and tile work, was working on the walls of the superstructure. Mortar was being mixed in the basement of the high school. Perhaps 25 years ago the roof overhead needed repairs, and the school was allowed a levy to help support the expense.

An attempt was made five to seven years ago to have the pool demolished to increase the space available for an extra basketball court. Citizens realizing the great asset the pool is to the community rose up to protect the pool and encourage the school to continue to maintain this asset. It remains the only public, heated, indoor pool in Lincoln County, and the community welcomes visitors to come and enjoy the pool.

Hotels in Harrington: Part 1

Three very early hotels existed in Harrington which are poorly documented: The Pickell Hotel (where the tennis courts are), The Tinsley House (later called the Pacific Hotel) and The Harrington Hotel (on Main Street).

The Pickell Hotel was originally built in 1882 by Edward Willis and Charles Billings as the first store in the soon-to-be town of Harrington. Willis and Billings had a general merchandise store in it, which in 1883 became the first post office with Charles P. Billings as the first postmaster, followed in 1884 by Edward Willis. He was followed by Mrs. Alice Willis until 1888, at which time Frederick Graff took charge and had the post office on Main Street.

In 1890, Fred Graff purchased the Pickell building and sold it in turn to William Amon, apparently the same year. Amon did not keep the Pickell building long. John Pickell, his wife Belinda and their five children lived in Iowa until October 30, 1890, when they moved to Harrington. It is known that some of the crews that worked on the Great Northern tracks stayed at the Pickell Hotel, and their work was completed in 1892. Mrs Pickell was praised by all the old-timers for her culinary skill. The hotel was actively advertised in 1912, and hearsay records show that they were in business in 1916, but no ads were seen after the death of their son in 1918, the first death in the flu epidemic at the Harrington Hospital. The Pickell Hotel was sold in 1927 to the Cottrell family, and later to the Seversons, who owned it in 1960, when it was razed for the construction of the tennis courts.

The Tinsley House was another private family boarding house that served food. Records for this hotel are most difficult to locate, hence little is known beyond a photo of the structure with a dozen or more people on the porch. The Tinsley family filed for their homestead in 1883 in Sec 2 T 22 R 36 and in Sec 28 T 23 R 36. Arthur L. and Elizabeth Tinsley died in 1891 and 1895, respectively, with burial in Harrington. Little news was available during the 17 years that the Tinsley family lived there. The Pacific Hotel was advertised from 1894 through 1898.

Much confusion occurs when speaking or writing of the Harrington Hotel on Main Street, since after its demise, the Hotel Lincoln was often referred to as the Harrington hotel. Mrs. Dyke was the originator of the Harrington Hotel in the summer of 1884. Mrs. Dyke was likely an enterprising woman with a tolerance for the rough pioneer life she chose. Johanna Lamp was born in Hyda, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, May 22, 1843 and came to Milwaukee, Wis. with her parents in 1850. She married Henry Dyke in 1868 and had at least four children, Bertha, Jennie, Lula and Herman, prior to the death of her husband in 1878. Johanna married Joseph McCann in Burke, Dane County, Wis. on November 29, 1883. Since news items stipulate that she started the Harrington Hotel in 1884, it is assumed that she came directly to the Harrington area after her second marriage. It is not known who managed the Harrington Hotel during the time she was known to be at Keystone, near Sprague.

By 1889, Johanna was listed on the census at Keystone in Adams County with Joseph McCann and three of his children (Peter, Grant and Ida) and two of her own (Herman and Lula Dyke). Joseph McCann became gravely ill and returned East to Chicago for treatment. He died there in 1896. The McCann brothers were well known in pioneer days in the Harrington vicinity, and it is interesting that Johanna was always referred to in news items as Mrs. Dyke.

When she went back east on vacation, she leased her hotel out for a period of time. She maintained ownership of the Harrington Hotel until April 18, 1904, when she deeded all of the south half of Block 32 in Harrington (being lots 7-12 inclusive of the “property containing the Harrington Hotel Site, said property having a frontage of 300 feet East and West, and 120 feet North and South” to George R. Wilson. The lengthy deed refers to “Johanna Dyke, unmarried, formerly Johanna McCann” and also “known as the widow Dyke.” Interestingly enough, her obituary makes no mention of Joseph McCann or his children.

For the most part, Mrs. Dyke was proprietress of the Harrington Hotel until 1899. “Harrington Hotel. Only First-Class House in the City. Mrs. J. Dyke, Prop. Rates: $1.00 and $1.25 a day. Meals: 25 cents” (ad in the Harrington Citizen from September 15, 1899. By 1900, Johanna’s daughter and son-in-law, Jennie and John Sirginson and family, came to Harrington to help her manage the hotel. In mid-1901, A.H. Dawson became the new proprietor of the Harrington Hotel, until he sold to W.C. Dawson and family in 1902. Rapid turnover occurred with Dawson being replaced by A.S. Young in 1903 and by W.W. Sweezy in early 1904.

“The old Harrington hotel went up in a blaze Wednesday morning at three o'clock. It is not known how the fire started but supposedly from the kitchen stove some way. John Leathers and Frank Brown were the first to see the fire and give the alarm but before the fire department could get out, the building, a huge frame structure, was a mass of flames. All that could be done was to save the adjoining buildings, and fortunately there was no wind to carry the burning pieces and by diligent work the flames were kept from spreading. The building was owned by Geo. Wilson, who was in Wenatchee at the time. The total loss is in the neighborhood of $5,000, partially covered by insurance. Henry Faye was running the hotel. The hotel was erected 20 years ago this summer, being one of the old landmarks of the town. From the time the fire was discovered until the walls were down was probably not more than 30 minutes. The sad part of the fire was the death of Lawrence Tierney, who was sleeping in room 9, and was evidently suffocated by the smoke before the flames reached him, as he was found lying as if in bed, but burnt beyond recognition. He had been in bed but an hour or two, thus accounting for his sound sleeping. 'Larry,' as he was known, was a young man 19 years and 10 months old, the son of John Tierney, a pioneer and prominent farmer who lives a few miles northwest of Harrington. He was practically raised in this vicinity and his death coming as it did was a shock to the whole community. Interment was made in the Harrington Cemetery yesterday at 11 o'clock, under the auspices of the Forresters, of which lodge he was a member. Funeral services were conducted at the Catholic church, Father Van de Van officiating. Several of the lodgers barely escaped so rapidly did the fire spread, and some got out with singed hair and many were only partially dressed. But for the efforts of those who first discovered the fire, the calamity would have been even greater, as every room was taken. All that was in the building was lost and considerable money was left in the rooms by the lodgers in their haste to escape. (Citizen, September 23, 1904)

“Henry Faye, the hotel proprietor of Harrington whose hotel burned early in the morning, burning to death Lawrence Tierney, will be tried for murder in the first degree. A woman cook, who makes the charge of arson against Faye, is held in jail as a witness. The prisoner swallowed an ounce of aconite while confined in the Harrington jail but he recovered. Faye rented the hotel from William Sweezy, a consumptive patient of Spokane. The theory was advanced that Sweezy hired Faye to burn the building. The owner was arrested and shortly afterwards shot himself through the head, death being instantaneous.” (Citizen, November 18, 1904)

In addition to these three earliest hotels, Harrington had another boarding house before 1902, The Home (on Willis street near the railroad tracks), which was not always in use. The taverns also let out some rooms, but they were not well- advertised. Incredible growth marked the little town in 1902, with the vote to incorporate held on April 4, 1902.

“A New Hotel. If the plans now in view do not fall through Harrington will have the finest hotel in the county this fall, slight mention of which was made in last week's Citizen. A stock company is being organized to put up a brick hotel on the corner of Third and Sherlock streets, opposite the office of the Harrington Milling Company. A number of the leading business men of the town and also a number of the farmers have taken stock, (and by the way, it isn’t in every country that the farmers can furnish a large part of the money with which to build a $12,000 hotel). As has been said the building will be of brick, there will be 20 rooms on the second floor, all well lighted, ventilated and commodious, also a bath room while the first floor will be occupied by the kitchen, dining room, store room, office, etc, and the whole building will be fitted throughout with all modern conveniences and improvements, nothing being spared to make it an attractive and comfortable house. It is estimated that $12,000 will build and equip it and one of the features will be a neat and roomy blue-grass lawn, and as it is near the mill what is the matter with lighting it with electricity? A picture of the structure showing both front and side views, with the plans, can be seen at the store of Adams & Mitchum." (Citizen: 8-02-1901)

This magnificent hotel has had many owners, proprietors and tenants through its more than 100-year history. Its story will unfold next week in The Odessa Record.