Stan the Man with the White Van

It seems like anywhere you go in Roslyn, you can’t avoid hearing the name, “Stan the Man“. Perhaps it’s when someone has had one to many to drink and asks the barkeep to dial up Stan the Man. Or, when the community is holding an event that features music, and Stan the Man is called on to pull it together. Maybe it’s when you’re attending one of Roslyn or Cle Elum’s many open mic nights, where Stan the Man and his instruments take center stage. Whatever the case, you are sure to hear his name if you stick around long enough. As such, it was a real treat for us to catch up with him at Roslyn’s Sunday Market to find out more about his weekend designated driver services and his passion for music. If you wish to contact him, find him on Facebook, or just roll into one of Roslyn’s bars on a weekend and say “dial up Stan the Man!”

The Roslyn Cemetery is Alive with History

The Roslyn Cemetery is actually 27 separate cemeteries bundled together in the wooded Roslyn hillside.  Nearly 5000 graves represent 24 different nationalities that used to live in the town (many worked in the coal mines).  For the most part, the cemeteries are separated into  fraternal organizations that represent particular ethnic groups.  Because of the diversity represented in the cemeteries, visitors will notice a lot of variation in how the graves are marked.  Some are adorned with metal crosses, while others are marked with intricately carved (albeit weathered) stone work.  The arrangement of the plots are also interesting in that most face East, but the Polish cemetery faces North.  The reason for the North facing layout of the Polish cemetary is not entirely clear, though some feel it was so the headstones would face the Church where they worshiped.
The cemetery is also a stark reminder of the hardships and tragedies experienced by those early founders of Roslyn.  Graves memorialize two of the most deadly mine explosions in Washington State, which occurred in Roslyn in 1892 and 1909.  Baby and children’s graves provide a sense of the high infant mortality rate faced in those tough times; and impacts of epidemics like 1918’s Spanish Flu are also evidenced by the high death rates in those periods.
The Roslyn Cemetary Beneficial Association (RCBA) offers a downloadable walking tour on their website.  The RCBA is a nonprofit organization that  focuses financial and community resources toward preserving the cemetery and donations are encouraged.  The Roslyn Cemetery Commission also manages restoration projects, and more information on their activities can be found here.  Additional images from the cemetery can be found on the Why Roslyn Facebook Page.

The Runner Stumbles

Most people remember when the world knew Roslyn as Cicely, Alaska – the fictional town that was the setting for the television show Northern Exposure. However, few may remember when Roslyn was Solona, Michigan – the home of a conflicted priest named Father Rivard and an energetic, young nun named Sister Rita. In the 1979 film, The Runner Stumbles, Dick Van Dyke plays a priest accused of murdering a new nun in his parish. Told largely through flashbacks, the Immaculate Conception Church on North B St. is where much of the story unfolds, and Roslyn is the backdrop for the film’s many outdoor scenes.

It has been over thirty years since that movie was first released and it has never been published on DVD, however, it can be found playing on very rare occasion at the Roslyn movie theater.

Rails to Ales Serves Up a Tasty Evening in South Cle-Elum

On Saturday, July 9th, the 4th Annual Rails to Ales Brewfest took place at the Train Depot in South Cle Elum. In total, 18 breweries, two hard cider makers, and a winery turned out to represent. Being a fan of hoppy beers, my favorites tended to be IPAs (Georgetown Brewing’s Lucille, Diamond Knot’s IPA, and the Snoqualmie Wildcat to name a few). There were some interesting discoveries for me as well (like the Dark Cherry Stout from Horse Heaven Hills Brewery out of Prosser). Of course, the Roslyn Brewing Company was also representing their lagers (but I didn’t get a taste because I had spent the hour before having pints at the brewery!). The Best in Show designation, decided by people’s choice ballots, went to Manny’s Pale Ale from Georgetown Brewing.

Musical acts included Bump Kitchen, Jumpin’ Johnny and Mr. E Band. Additionally, Maverick’s Steakhouse and Casino sponsored a dunk tank that beckoned volunteers from the crowd to be dunkers or dunkies. Food service was provided by vendors including 2R Bar & Bistro, Glondo’s Sausages, The BBQ Schacht, Rustic Root Catering, and Suncadia. As the sun began to set, we were feeling the effects of our festive afternoon, so it was nice to roll back into Roslyn via the free shuttle service provided by the brewfest.

The Run to Roslyn Car Show Stops Down at Runje Field

The 29th annual Run to Roslyn Car Show took place this weekend at Runje Field. Twenty-nine years ago, a handful of guys pooled some money together to promote the first show. Now, all these years later, it has become a tradition that enthusiasts of classic cars look forward to each summer.

Over 200 cars arrived Saturday morning for the show that ran from 8am to 4pm. The event included BBQ, raffles, trophies, give-aways, a poker walk, and plenty of golden oldies to listen to as you checked out the cars from days-gone-by. All that (and no charge for admission) made for a great time in Roslyn on a sunny day in July!

Run to Roslyn Car Show

The Cle-Elum Telephone Museum Connects You to History

There is a very good chance that you are currently reading this article on an iPhone or similar smart phone.  From that standpoint, it’s hard to believe how much things have changed since the first phone was patented in 1876.  It has been 135 years since that patent, by Alexander Graham Bell, but the history of the phone is frozen in time at the Cle Elum Telephone Museum.

Inside the museum (located at 221 East First Street in Cle Elum) you’ll see the evolution of telecommunications told through generations of phones and back-end switchboards ranging from 1901 to 1970.  Though it’s a fairly small space, it is the oldest complete telephone Museum West of the Mississippi.  This is particularly relevant because the museum is in the space that was once the Cle Elum Manual Exchange – the home of the last operating telephone switchboard West of the Mississippi – which connected its last call on September 18, 1966.

In addition to the telephone displays, the museum also features a collection of coal mining artifacts and displays from Cle Elum’s historical bank.  The museum is operated by the Northern Kittitas County Historical Society.  While there is no cost to visit; donations are appreciated.

Tie-Dyed and Gone to Heaven

If you’ve got tie-dye vision lately – you’re not alone.  That’s because a new tie-dye and screen printing shop called Roslyn Rags just opened in the historic NWI building in downtown Roslyn.

As you enter the shop, you are greeted by a rush of color reflecting from the brightly patterned apparel and tapestries hanging on the walls.   In fact, there is even a couch and chair positioned against the South wall in case you’d like to sit and enjoy it for a spell.  The store has some fun screen printed tees (like the shirt that says, “I survived a Roslyn cougar attack” and has claw marks on the back); but mostly, the store is packed with tie-dye apparel including men’s boxers, women’s panties,  hats, bags, bandanas, shirts, and more (even their business card is tie-dyed fabric)!

If you’re in to tie-dye, this is the place to stock up.  If you’re curious how tie-dye patterns are made, check out a video the Alley Kat team posted on YouTube.

Sunday Market Season Begins In Roslyn

The Sunday Market kicked off the year on June 19th in the heart of downtown Roslyn. The event was well represented by farmers, growers, bakers, and artisans – and many members of the community (and tourists) showed up to enjoy the day. Wendy and I listened to some of the musical entertainment, and then treated ourselves to a breakfast croissant and some fresh baked bagels. There was also plenty of scrumptious produce, dairy and meat products on hand. I was too full to indulge in a Casa De Blanca Tamale, but they looked delicious, so it’s definitely on my checklist for next weekend. The Market will take place every Sunday through September 11th and a complete list of vendors can be found here.

Cle-Elum Opens a Disc Golf Course

The front 9 holes of Cle Elum’s new disk golf course (located in the Hanson Ponds area) held a grand opening BBQ event on Saturday, June 18th, 2011.  When completed, the entire park will occupy about 14 acres along the Yakima river. Though I went out to visit the sight, I didn’t have my discs with me, so I was only able to walk the course.  Still, the course appeared to be well designed to provide some fun challenges.

For those who have never played, Disc Golf has the same objective as standard golf:  to complete the course in as few of turns as possible.  However, instead of a hole, you aim for a basket; and instead of a club and ball, you use special Frisbees of varying weights and flight characteristics.  Disc Golf is becoming  more popular because it’s a great way to get outdoors and have fun, but it typically doesn’t come with the higher costs associated with standard golf.

Cle Elum High School Course

The Cle Elum High School also has a Disc Golf Course located in the woods beyond its sports field.  The key difference is that the school course doesn’t have official baskets.  Instead, it has painted posts that have been identified as targets for each hole.  The course could use a little love, as some of the signs and posts have toppled, but the terrain is great (plenty of obstacles, but not a lot of brush to lose your disc in).

A Visit to the Roslyn Brewery

The Roslyn Brewing Company has been brewing quality German-style lagers since 1990.  The Roslyn is a dark lager reminiscent of the original beers the Roslyn Brewery and Malting Company was brewing in the early 1900’s.  The Brookside is a pale lager hopped predominantly with Yakima hops and tastes delicious on a hot summer day.

This memorial day weekend, we had the pleasure of meeting with Kent Larimer, Roslyn Brewing Company’s head brewer, to discuss the brewery and enjoy a beverage in the taphouse.  We had a great time (as we always do) and enjoyed the beers and the conversations that accompanied them.  The next time you’re in town for the weekend, be sure to stop the brewery to see the gang, enjoy a refreshing beer, or fill a growler to go (which is a popular option for Roslyn area campers).

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