On June 3, 1907, the town of White Salmon in Klickitat County incorporates as a city of the fourth class. The incorporation election is held March 30, 1907, after being advertised in three consecutive issues of the White Salmon Enterprise. Of the 59 votes cast that day, 53 are in favor of incorporation and only six against. C. M. Wolfard (also written Wolford) becomes the town's first mayor, winning 39 votes to his opponent's 25. A city treasurer and four members of the city council are also chosen that day; the fifth city councilmember is selected by lottery that summer.
Voting for Incorporation
The Klickitat tribe inhabited the area around White Salmon for generations. The first non-Native pioneers in the region were Erastus and Mary Joslyn, who arrived in 1853 from Massachusetts, settled on a 320-acre donation land claim, and began a fruit orchard on the fertile farmland. Despite having no legal obligation to do so, the Joslyns voluntarily paid the Klickitat tribe whose land it had been, using blankets, flour, cloth, and other items. In 1862, Reverend E. P. Roberts moved to White Salmon from The Dalles, where his son was born that same year – the first white child born in White Salmon. Other early settlers were the Jewett and Suksdorf families, both of whom arrived in the 1870s.
In the 1900 census, White Salmon had 457 residents while Klickitat County recorded 6,407. An election to decide on incorporation was held March 30, 1907, having been advertised previously in three consecutive issues of the weekly newspaper, the White Salmon Enterprise. On election day, White Salmon residents chose to incorporate by a vote of 53 to 6. The incorporation papers were filed with the secretary of state on June 3, 1907, and announced in The Seattle Times on June 4, 1907.
First Order of Business
At the March election, voters chose C. M. Wolfard as mayor, beating runner-up T. Wyers Sr. by 39 votes to 25. R. Lauterbach ran unopposed for treasurer, earning 56 votes. Four of the five council members were also elected that day: A. H. Jewett, A. R. Groshong, J. W. Gearhart and F. L. Rosegrant. The fifth position was a tie between J. A. Byrne and A. F. Smith, each of whom had received 30 votes. Deciding the fifth council seat was the first order of business for the newly incorporated town:
"It is further ordered that said council shall immediately after their organization, and before transacting any other business, give notice to J. A. Byrne and A. F. Smith, to appear before said council within three days and decide by lot which shall be declared elected council for said municipal corporation, and said council shall so declare" ("Election to Incorporate the Town of White Salmon").
In November 1907, there was a disagreement about whether White Salmon authorities could impose a municipal tax. County commissioners argued that a tax could not be levied because the town was not incorporated on March 1 when the new assessments were due. But Washington's attorney general ruled that the tax would be allowed if White Salmon levied it before March 1; however, if they did not authorize the levy before that date, it could not be imposed after the fact.
The Campaign for a New County
In 1912, a bill was introduced in the state legislature proposing to carve up Klickitat County to create a new county, White Salmon County. "J. C. Chappelle, the senator, is very much in favor of the division of the county by creating White Salmon county out of the eastern portion. Representative N. B. Brooks is antagonistic to the last degree to this plan" ("County Division Fights ...").
The bill passed the Senate but never got out of committee in the House. The following year, it was reintroduced but a decision was made to table it by a vote of 51 to 42. Speaking in favor of creating a new county were Rep. F. Pierce of Kitsap County and Rep. Houser of King County. Speaking against was Rep. N. B. Brooks who represented Klickitat County. Brooks "talked for nearly half an hour and his speech kept the House in almost constant laughter. He was only serious a minor part of the time, but it was plainly evident from the applause that he had won his fight. In concluding Brooks referred to his county as 'the land of sunshine, where even the car wheels sing Klick-i-tat, Klick-i-tat, as they glide over the rails'" ("County Division Measure Killed").
Celebrating 100 Years
In 2007, White Salmon marked its centennial with a variety of activities. The Washington State Senate passed Resolution 8661 to commemorate the city's founding. The document was read on the Senate floor on March 27, 2007. Centennial events were held from May through August and included a commemorative White Salmon postage stamp cancelled by hand, a time capsule buried under a large stone in the park, and a centennial quilt sewn by a team of 26 women over three months. The White Salmon Valley Community Library sponsored a traveling hands-on exhibit called Journey Back in Time.
On August 11, 2007, the city sponsored a community-wide anniversary picnic. The daylong event included a salmon bake prepared by local Native Americans, dancing and music, and displays of antique farming, logging and fruit-processing equipment. A new logo for the city was designed and approved.
