Stanwood marks 100 years with July Fourth celebration

STANWOOD — Ole Eide well remembers the town's Fourth of July celebration in 1915.

A large wooden platform was built outside the old hotel, which the town ladies had decorated with red, white and blue banners. Eide, a 7-year-old boy who lived on a farm outside town, eagerly anticipated the sack races.

"I was just a young person," Eide recalled. "I was always more focused on the games and the things that were planned for the kids."

The day indeed turned out to be memorable for Eide, but not because of the games. Instead, a speech by a local judge sparked something in the young boy that has stayed with him for 88 years.

"The local judge spoke about the Constitution and what freedom meant," Eide said. "He happened to get my ear that day, and it really stuck with me. To this day, Independence Day has been something I've made sure to celebrate in my heart."

This Fourth of July, Eide will be one of five "old-timers" to be honored in the 2003 Stanwood Centennial Celebration. Eide will lead the traditional parade along with Harold Klett, brothers Floyd and Elmer Norgaard, and their sister Norma Norgaard Pearson.

Stanwood has usually had some kind of celebration for Independence Day, said Dave Eldridge, president of the Stanwood Area Historical Society. The early days were much like Eide described: speeches, games for the kids and picnics.

Things stayed that way until World War II, when many young men were away at war and the celebrations were less formal. In recent years, the historical society has worked to bring back the old-fashioned celebrations.

This year's event is planned to be even more special because Stanwood turns 100 years old, Eldridge said. The actual date of the city's centennial is Sept. 19, and the July Fourth event is a public kickoff to the centennial celebration that runs through Sept. 19.

"We're having the traditional parade, and we think we will have more entrants this year," Eldridge said. "And then there will be the ice-cream social, music, lots of games for the kids, and we'll end with fireworks at dusk."

Most of the events will be at Heritage Park, next to the Josephine Sunset Home, 9901 272nd Place S.W. Sack races, footraces and a baseball game are planned. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream, and the local Lions club will host bingo.

A musical presentation will take place from 9 to 10 p.m., just before the fireworks show. The 40-piece Washington Air National Guard Band will play.

And the finale for the day will be the fireworks show, something Stanwood doesn't always have.

"This year is special with the centennial so we decided that we had to have fireworks," said Linda Webb, administrative assistant at the city of Stanwood. "We were able to get local merchants and civic groups to help contribute to the show. It's going to be a great show, and we expect it will go for about 30 minutes."

Much of the reason behind the centennial year celebration is just that — celebrating — said Eldridge.

"But we also want the young kids to know about their history and remember it and honor it," he said. "Stanwood has a very colorful history."

Even its name has a story, he said.

When the town was first settled, it was called Centerville because it was in the center of the commerce area along the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River. But D.O. Pearson, who ran a general store and the post office, kept getting the wrong mail. There were just too many Centervilles in the U.S. So he moved to rename the town Stanwood, after his wife Clara's maiden name.

And at one time there were two Stanwoods, the original town and a new one, which built up on the other side of the hill when the railroad went through.

"That's how we got to be known as the Twin Cities," Eldridge said.

The two joined together in the 1960s, when the state said there were too many septic systems in operation in the area and ordered the Twin Cities to put in sewers.

Eide, now 94, said he's not planning any special costume for the parade.

"I'm hoping for a good day and good weather," he said.

Leslie Moriarty: 425-745-7800 or snohomishcounty@seattletimes.com