10 Years Ago 1997

Marysvilles past may have a future. The citys history, over 100 years old, looks like it may have a home in a museum. The Marysville Historical Society has been working toward a museum since its inception 25 years ago. The 100 members of the society, headed by Steven Edin, have been collecting and preserving the artifacts and stores of the citys history. The societys collection, which includes everything from items that belonged to Marysvilles first families to old farm equipment, is spread around town. Much of it lies in a storage locker, and there are items stored in basements, attics and even under members beds, Edin said. Dolores Robbins, a society member, speaking in front of the City Council last week said there is a great concern that valuable pieces will be lost if no home is found. These items need a place to be displayed and stored and restored, she said. Some of the Historical Societys most valued holdings are a series of oral histories recorded in the 1970s and 1980s, Edin said. The citys pioneers, many of them dying, agreed to tell their stories, Robbins told the Council during emotional testimony. Currently there are only limited opportunities for the public to view the collection. Three small displays are in area banks and the library and the society has rebuilt a home that dates from the last century in Jennings Park. The tongue-and-grooved house was built board by board and is the only place where people can taste and see the history, Edin said. The renewed thrust for a museum in Marysville stems from the efforts of a local Rotary Club chapter. Jim Burkett, a Rotary member, chairs a committee, which has studied the feasibility of a museum. He said they finally have a partnership that will bring about the museum. Last week members of the committee presented their proposal to the City Council. In addition to Burkett and Robbins, Council members heard Michael Warner, the assistant director of the Washington State Historical Society, Ken Hilton, an accountant, and Bill Roberts, an engineer, both Rotary club members. Marysville is the only community in the county without a museum, Burkett said. Warner, who advises communities around the state, said museums have become major attractions in Washington. Roberts described a potential facility, which would include display space as well as studios for restoration and upkeep and a meeting room. Hilton told Council members the Rotary club would kick in up to $75,000. The historical society has $50,000 and owns property which may be worth close to $130,000. The money would go toward the construction of the museum, Hilton said, which the group would then gift to the city. The committee appeared at City Council to enlist the city in the beginning states, Burkett said. Council members, several of whom are Society members, pledged up to $2,500 from the citys general fund to match pledges from the Historical Society and the Rotary Club for a study of possible sites, Jennings Park, where the society maintains the Gehl House, is the preferred choice. Edin said space currently held by Washington State Universitys Master Gardener project, would be ideal. However the study will include a search for other sites. Council members Otto Herman and John Myers suggested Jennings Park may not be the best location. The study should take about three to six months, City Administrator Dave Zabell said. The committees goal is to have a complete plan ready once the study is done, Burkett said. Meanwhile their challenge is to raise another $250,000 to $500,000 for the construction, said Hilton.

25 Years Ago 1982

What do you do when youre sitting at in a dark home? There are several things you can do when youve got all your lights turned off, as Marysvilles residents found out last Thursday and Friday nights when they participated in the organized blackout. Some kicked back, turned on the radio or TV and went about their business as usual, except in the dark. Others chilled a bottle of wine and used the blackout as an excuse for a quiet dinner by candlelight. Still others went out to where there were lights, while others went to bed early. But no matter what they did, participants in the two-night blackout felt good about their sign of protest against the Snohomish County PUDs rising electrical rates. Marysville residents Bob and Shirlee Nunlee began organizing the protest some two months ago. They had asked residents to turn off their lights on the two nights and use candles or kerosene lamps instead. And to Mr. Nunlees surprise quite a few Marysville residents did just that. We drove around the neighborhoods and there were a lot of dark houses and candles in the windows, he said. However, he wasnt as pleased with his fellow business owners, whom they had asked to turnoff their reader boards and outside signs. Although the protest was originally planned for the Marysville area, the world soon spread to Everett and other neighboring communities. There were a few houses around the Everett area that participated, Mr. Nunlee said, but for the most part he termed their participation as the pits. Driving around various neighborhoods last Thursday night the Nunleys saw many houses with candles in the windows. About every fifth or sixth house was in some areas were darkened. The La Joy addition participated heavily, Nunlee said, and his neighborhood was totally blacked out. I was pleased, and a little surprised at the number participating, Nunlee said. The blackout was just a portion of ratepayers protest over the increased electric bills. Others around the state have had similar adventures and even now a group of concerned citizens are banding together to try to do more. Nunlee said members of RIP (Rate Increase Protest) have joined forces with Irate Ratepayers and have hired a utility specialties attorney to take the protest even further. Nunlee said those affiliated with there protest were asked to join. There is going to be something done, Nunlee said. Things are beginning to happen.
Esther Orcutt looked over the damage to her living room after a lighting bolt struck her apartment at 1315 Wildwood (N. Cedar Ave.), Friday afternoon. She was about eight feet from the damaged corner when the bolt hit the fireplace chimney and sent pieces of brick exploding 100 feet away. She had just picked up her mail and papers, turned on the television and was about to sit on the daveno at the right when the lightening struck. The resounding explosion was deafening, and a small fire broke out in the corner wall. Mrs. Orcutt used the papers in her hand to knock out the fire. Several windows were broken in an apartment across the street. The lightening bolt hit the chimney and followed a metal gutter along the front of Orcutts apartment, leaving a pattern in the grass below the a downspout. Part of the siding was separated also, at the corner of the building.

50 Years Ago 1957

Ray Schneider, President of Marysville Strawberry League, along with parents, officers and committeemen have planned big doings for the baseball league. The season will get underway with the registration of all boys from 8 to 12 on Saturday, April 13, at Asbery Field. The boys are to be accompanied by both or at least one parent. A few weeks after registration, all boys signed up will take part in a candy sale under the direction of Bill Klim and Clen Berglund. The field, at Tenth and Cedar, that was donated last year for the leagues diamond, is near completion and will be one of the finest in the county. The first week in June has been set for the celebration and dedication of the field. Clen Berglund, Don James and Bill Hill have been named to contact the Seattle Rainiers for some of their players to come to Marysville to take part in the dedication. Working with a committee composed of Ralph Olson, Clarence Gordon and Bob Bowie the adults will conduct a ticket sale on a 12-foot boat which is to be given away at the dedication of the field. The next meeting of the league will take place in the Log Cabin at Memorial Park. It is requested that as many parents as possible turn out for this meeting to help make the season a huge success.