Tales Of Pacific Powerland xx-xx-xx (392) City That Moved

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Tales Of Pacific Powerland (392) City That Moved"

Episode Details:

• Title: City That Moved
• Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Release Date: May 25, 2025

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Introduction

In the captivating episode titled "City That Moved," Nelson Olmsted takes listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio to recount the extraordinary story of Yakima City’s relocation in the late 19th century. Through vivid storytelling, Olmsted navigates the complexities of community division, economic pressures, and the sheer determination that led an entire town to physically move its existence.

Setting the Stage: Yakima City in 1884

The story unfolds in 1884 in the Central Yakima Valley, Washington, where Yakima City, a modest community of 400 residents, faces a pivotal crossroads. The announcement by a Northern Pacific Railway official that the railroad terminal would be situated four miles north of Yakima City ignites a fierce debate among the townspeople.

“We built ourselves a good town here at Yakima City, and I ain't about to move no matter where they put the railroad tracks. Now, now, there's no need to get all riled up...”
— Nelson Olmsted [00:40]

The Great Divide: New Town vs. Old Town

The community rapidly bifurcates into two factions:

• Old Town Backers: Determined to keep Yakima City in its original location, offering the railroad $1 million worth of property to abandon the relocation.

  “We're prepared to offer the railroad people $1 million worth of property if they will give up this hare brained scheme and stay in Yakima City where they belong.”
  — Nelson Olmsted [00:40]

• New Town Advocates: Embracing progress, they argue that relocating will spur economic growth and future prosperity.

  “If they're willing to gamble all that money to move the whole town, I'll gamble with them.”
  — Nelson Olmsted [00:40]

Despite the impassioned pleas from the Old Town supporters, the momentum favors the New Town proponents, leading to the gradual acceptance that moving forward is inevitable.

The Move: Logistics and Community Effort

By the end of 1884, construction crews commence laying tracks bypassing Old Town, solidifying the path to the new terminal in North Yakima, later named Newtown. The relocation process is a monumental task, involving:

• Over 60 buildings transported, including homes, stables, saloons, retail stores, a bank, and a church.
• Iconic structures like the Guyland House and the Great Square Hotel undergo the extraordinary journey on rollers, often hoisted by mule or horse teams.

“The J.C. Farrell home left Old Town at two in the afternoon and was deposited on its new site at five.”
— Nelson Olmsted [00:40]

Notably, the Great Square Hotel took a full month to complete its journey, during which proprietor David Guyland maintained normal operations, serving meals and welcoming guests as if the relocation was merely a temporary inconvenience.

Establishing North Yakima: A New Beginning

Within a year, North Yakima blossoms from a sagebrush wasteland into a thriving community of 1,200 residents. The successful establishment of the railroad terminal ensures regular train schedules, vital for the town's economic vitality.

“Within a year, the sagebrush wasteland had become a thriving community of 1200 persons.”
— Nelson Olmsted [00:40]

Aftermath and Legacy

The move's success is cemented in 1918 when the new town is officially named Yakima, while the original settlement is designated Union Gap. Reflecting on the relocation, an old-timer remarks:

“After the big move in '85, seems like the whole valley just kept on growing and growing. Why, Union Gap's got a population five times what it was then. And it's just like living in the same town. After all.”
— Nelson Olmsted [04:00]

This sentiment underscores the long-term prosperity and growth spurred by the move, highlighting how a bold decision can transform a community’s destiny.

Conclusion

"City That Moved" meticulously chronicles a remarkable chapter in Yakima’s history, illustrating the interplay between tradition and progress. Through Nelson Olmsted's engaging narrative, listeners gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of relocating an entire city—a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its people.

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Notable Quotes:

• Nelson Olmsted [00:40]: “We built ourselves a good town here at Yakima City, and I ain't about to move no matter where they put the railroad tracks. Now, now, there's no need to get all riled up...”
• Nelson Olmsted [00:40]: “If they're willing to gamble all that money to move the whole town, I'll gamble with them.”
• Nelson Olmsted [00:40]: “The J.C. Farrell home left Old Town at two in the afternoon and was deposited on its new site at five.”
• Nelson Olmsted [00:40]: “Within a year, the sagebrush wasteland had become a thriving community of 1200 persons.”
• Nelson Olmsted [04:00]: “After the big move in '85, seems like the whole valley just kept on growing and growing. Why, Union Gap's got a population five times what it was then. And it's just like living in the same town. After all.”

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This episode serves as a fascinating exploration of a unique historical event, bringing to life the spirit of community and innovation that defined the era. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the past, "City That Moved" offers a compelling narrative that resonates with the timeless themes of change and resilience.

Transcript

[A]

Hello there. This is Nelson Olmsted. Today I have the amazing tale of an entire city which moved to a new location. First, here's Clint Gruber speaking for Pacific Power.

[B]

Welcome once again to Stories of Pacific Powerland, a presentation of Pacific Power and Light, the company that has been serving the electric needs of the region's homes, farms and industries through more than half a century of progress and growth. Now, here's Pacific Powerland's favorite storyteller, Nelson Olmstead.

[A]

We built ourselves a good town here at Yakima City, and I ain't about to move no matter where they put the railroad tracks. Now, now, there's no need to get all riled up. Those railroad people figure Yakima said he needs room to spread out. Why, they're even talking about Yakima being the state capital someday. I don't see what all the grousing's about. They're going to pay for the movement anyway. Well, in the year 1884, the Central Yakima Valley in Washington was in the throes of crisis. The battle lines between the Northern Pacific Railway and a small group of irate citizens were clearly drawn. Yakima City had been incorporated the year before as a community of 400 residents. Then a railroad official announced, our terminal will be located four miles north of Yakima City. There is ample room for expansion there, and we feel that everyone will benefit from the location. Well, sharply divided opinion split the young community into factions. New town against Old Town. Old Town backer said, we're prepared to offer the railroad people $1 million worth of property if they will give up this hare brained scheme and stay in Yakima City where they belong. But advocates of Newtown countered. Stay put if you want. I'm moving business and all. I say the railroad people know best. If they're willing to gamble all that money to move the whole town, I'll gamble with them. During the last days of 1884, the work crews laid tracks bypassing Old Town. There were no spurs, no sidings provided. The tracks went straight north toward the sagebrush flat that was to become Newtown. By now, even the die hards among the townspeople realized the march of progress was moving along without them. North Yakima, as Newtown was called, experienced one of the strangest settlements in the history of the West. Building after building was jacked up on the rollers and hauled the four miles north by mule or horse team. The J.C. farrell home left Old Town at two in the afternoon and was deposited on its new site at 5 In the months that followed, more than 60 buildings were moved bodily to North Yakima. Among the migrants were homes, livery stables, saloons, retail stores, a bank and a church. Probably the most notable in the odd procession was the two story Guyland House. Known as one of the best hostelries in the Northwest. The Great Square Hotel was a full month on rollers between Old Town and North Yakima. In transit, David Guyland, proprietor, carried on as usual, serving meals, caring for his guests, and occasionally sitting on the hotel porch smoking a pipe as if nothing on earth were amiss. Within a year, the sagebrush wasteland had become a thriving community of 1200 persons. Most important of all, the trains of the Northern Pacific pulled into the new terminal on a regular schedule. Of course, there were those who stayed behind. In 1918, the new town became officially Yakima and the old town became officially Union Gap. And an old timer will tell you, well, after the big move in 85, seems like the whole valley just kept on growing and growing. Why, Union Gap's got a population five times what it was then. And it's just like living in the same town. After all.

[B]

Pacific Power has.