Day 24. May 29, 2019. Shelton Washington

For the first time....since leaving Tacoma, I feel like we are actually leaving home now.

So with home in the rearview mirror, our next stop would be just 38 miles up the road in Shelton.

Shelton was an impromptu stop....and I would soon realize that impromptu stops...well they would sorta become our thing.

We left Bremerton on Hiway 3. The plan being to take the backroads, enjoy a little more of the peninsula before hitting hiway101 south.

I'd made plans to visit family in Colorado next and definitely planned on enjoying the scenery all the way.

Two things happened as I drove through the small town of Allen and into Shelton. First...I saw a sign that read "Shelton, Home of the Evergreen Forest"

Next to it was the a sign welcoming me to "Christmas Town USA".

Hmm I thought...

And...the next sign I would see read "Little Creek Casino ahead"

Done.....Next stop Shelton!

Casino's have RV parking....and I have a lot of curiosity....and a camera.

Checking in at Little Creek Casino I was handed my 24 hour parking pass in the RV park along with a hotel key granting me access to all the hotel amenities. I instantly saw a dip in the pool...and some quality hot tub time in my future.

But first...out to grab the boys for a long walk around the casino....then finish setting up camp and settle in.

A quick Bing search would instantly return 4 interesting results

First....Shelton has a council–manager form of government and was the last city in Washington to use a mayor–commission form of government. I had no idea what that even meant...so instantly....there was some learning to be done.

Next...The towns economy was built around logging, farming, dairying and ranching as well as oyster cultivation...yup, more reading!

Third. The Simpson Timber Company mill on Puget Sound's Oakland Bay dominated, not only the towns economy, but the landscape of the downtown area as a whole...

I remembered that as I drove through the town on the way to the Casino I had indeed seen the mill. I've seen mills in small towns all over the place...what I had not seen is a mill smack dab in the middle of a town...Shelton, apparently, grew up around this mill. And city planners, over the years....clearly wanted to maintain the mill in the heart of the towns growth.

And......more reading.

Finally....some quick reading about this Christmas town USA thing and it was clear........I needed to know more

Now I had plan. With the boys settled in after their walk....Dad would hit the pool....the hot tub...and then the bar. Ordered up a bacon cheeseburger from the island grill on my way back to the RV....waiting at the bar the bartender asked it I would like a drink.

Told him I'd love a whiskey sour....but no time.. just gonna grab my burger and head back to the RV

Stayin in the park Paul asked?

Yep....I said.

No problem he said....can I have a peak at your RV parking pass?

5 minutes later I left the Island Grill with a pretty awesome bacon cheeseburger and and even better Whiskey Sour ... in a to go cup!

Thanks Paul! You Rock!

With the belly full....one last run around the park with the boys...it was time to settle in for an evening of all things Shelton

And here we go....

Shelton, is a city in, and the county seat of Mason County Washington. It is the westernmost city on the Puget Sound.

Population....just over 10K

Shelton was officially incorporated in 1890 and was named after David Shelton.

David and his wife, Frances Shelton, each took a claim of land enabled by the Donation Land Claim Act totaling 640 acres in what would eventually be incorporated as Shelton. They established a farm at the head of Oakland Bay in 1853.

David Shelton would later go on to become a delegate to the territorial legislature.

Territorial Legislature....I wondered? I'd learn that a territorial legislature is a type of legislative body that operates in a territory, which is a subdivision of a country....and for the US at this time....a body that was responsible for making laws in areas that were not yet within the boundaries of existing states. It goes on, and can become more complex when the federal government of the time got involved (go figure)....but at least I had the gist of it. In general...even though the territory may be outside existing states...they were, for the most part, bound by federal precedent.

The area that would become Shelton was originally called "Cota"

Cota was inhabited by the Squaxin Island Tribe, or "People of the Waters"

The People of the waters had lived in the area for centuries before contact with white settlers.

I'm sensing a pattern here.

The land was part of 4000 square miles ceded in the Treaty of Medicine Creek in December of 1864.

Even before it's incorporation Shelton was added to the Mosquito fleets route in 1886 when a sternwheeler name "Willie" began operation between Olympia and Shelton.

Now digging into that first thing I read in my inital search:

"Shelton has a council–manager form of government and was the last city in Washington to use a mayor–commission form of government."

A council-manager form of government? After reading through....this turns out to be the most common form of governance in the US for municipalities with a population of 2500, or more.

A council-manager form of government is a system where an elected council, including a mayor, makes legislative decisions. They appoint a professional city manager to carry out administrative tasks, implement the council's policies, and oversee day-to-day operations. The city manager is accountable to the council and can be dismissed by them at any time.

Next....Shelton was the last city in Washington to use a Mayor-Commission form of government?

Whew!...it was it this point I was wondering wether or not I should have had that whiskey sour.....or maybe I should go get another one?

A Mayor-Commission form of government is a system where voters elect a commission, including a mayor. This commission performs both legislative and executive functions, with each commissioner overseeing a specific department of the city. The mayor typically serves as the chair of the commission...which was interesting to me because I also read that in this form of government...the mayor was appointed from within the commission...but for the most part was not much more than a figurehead.

Ok.....Ok.....Ok......to confusing....so I went and got that second whiskey sour and ....... I'm back in the game!

I understand the fundamental differences. My questions is why the oldest form of government in the US....which is Mayor-Commission....go away.

So I did a search asking the following.....Is Mayor-Comission government still utilized in the US....I got the following result:

Yes, the Mayor-Commission form of government is still utilized in the United States, but it's not very common. It's the oldest form of government in the U.S., but today it exists in less than 1% of cities. One city that operates under a city commission form of government is Portland, Oregon.

So then two thoughts I guess......If it went away for the most part.....but is still utilized by a major metropolitan area like Portland Oregon....why?

I then searched the following.....why did the Mayor-Commission form of government fail in the US. I got the following:

The Mayor-Commission form of government faced several challenges that led to its decline:

1. Lack of Expertise: Commissioners were often responsible for areas where they had little or no expertise¹⁴. This could lead to inefficiency and poor decision-making⁴.

2. Inefficiency and Corruption: The system was vulnerable to corruption and inefficiency³. An entrenched city council could consistently block the mayor’s initiatives³. well I guess that goes back to the whole....mayor is a figurehead thing.

3. Lack of Central Leadership: The mayor's role was largely ceremonial, with no additional powers over the other commissioners¹. This could lead to a lack of central leadership and coordination¹.

4. Shift to Professional Management: Many cities switched to the council-manager form of government, which separates legislative and executive functions and involves a professional manager overseeing day-to-day operations¹

Ok....that made sense....but the last question was.....whats up Portland? So yep....I binged it....

There was naturally many long drawn out explanations but in summary....what I took away from it was.....

Because it works for them. The city adopted this form of government in 1913....and at the time....was considered progressive for doing so. While the system failed, for the reasons listed above, around the country....it continued to work for Portland. The voters in the area have, through their voice, maintained this system and stand by it.

That said....I did read articles out there hinting that ballot measures were out there for the 2020 and 2022 elections that could return a shift in this thinking. We'll see

Enough about that!

And....Note to self.....any future web searches that return a result around how a place has been governed.....skip that part!

Next Up!

The towns economy was built around logging, farming, dairying and ranching as well as oyster cultivation...

Oyster cultivation......

Oyster cultivation, also known as oyster farming, is an aquaculture practice where oysters are bred and raised mainly for their pearls, shells, and edible inner organ tissue¹. This practice dates back to the 1st century BC and requires careful planning and attention to detail, including species selection, life cycle management, and maintaining optimal water quality².

There are various cultivation techniques employed in growing oysters, each offering different advantages and challenges for oyster farmers. These techniques include:

1. Bottom culture: Oysters are grown directly on the seafloor².

2. Rack-and-bag system: Oysters are kept in mesh bags on metal racks near the shoreline².

The choice of technique can significantly influence the flavor, texture, and appearance of the oysters.

With the highest oyster production in the US being in the Gulf Coast and Chesapeak Bay regions...how does Shelton figure in? ...fun fact....Alabama, in spite of having only 60 miles of coast line....is a major player in the oyster game....

And yep! I just used the words oyster and game in the same sentance!

Number three on the list of oyster producing regions in the US....The West Coast.

And nearly all of West Coast Oyster production takes place in the Puget Sound Regtion, with over 300 farms.

In fact....Willapa Bay...at the north end of the sound produces more oysters than any other estuary in the US.

Shelton, is a significant player in the oyster farming industry, because of it's location on Oakland bay...and, it is home to Taylor Shellfish Farms.... one of the largest producers of farmed shellfish in the United States.

Huh! Oysters!

Next....lumber. Lumber is big, and always has been....nearly everywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

Unlike eastern Puget Sound, where old growth timber harvesting began almost immediately following non-Native settlement, Shelton's timber remained untouched for decades.

That would all change when The Simpson Logging Company began operation of it's first sawmill...the Reed Mill in 1925

The company was founded 35 years prior by Sol Simpson and was already a major player in the industry. With the addition of the Reed Mill...Simpson Logging would go on to innovate the industry and be a key player in the development of forest products throughout the Pacific Northwest.

One of the Company's most notable achievments was the installation, operation, and maintenance of an extensive network of 80 miles of track used to haul timber out of the surrounding mountains directly into mill in Shelton. These rail lines were in continual use for 120 years and became the last privately owned logging railroad in operation in the continental United States.

In later years the company would shift direction, selling the Shelton facility to Sierra Pacific Industries in 2015, so they could focus on aspects of their Business.

Sierra Pacific Industries announced upon acquisition that they would not operate the existing mill. Instead, they would spend nearly 6 years investing in, and bringing the mill into the 21st century with state of the art equipment.

Today, the new mill produces 2 by 4, 2 by 6, and 2 by 8 boards at a high speed.

The mill is the fourth or fifth largest lumber producer in the U.S. and the No. 1 producing sawmill in Washington state.

The mill now employs 267 people and is continuously hiring.

It appears that Shelton has another innovator on it's hands....an a bright future with it's new partner.

And Finally....Chrismas Town USA?

Looks like Shelton has another feather in it's cap. The town, is renowned for its festive spirit and annual holiday celebrations

After achieving a spot in the Guiness book for "Most lit Christmas Tree's in 1 Display"....the annual festival would kick into high gear and include

The Festival of Firs....features a christmas tree maze A bazzilion lights makes it the ideal spot for holiday photos while wandering the maze.

Holiday Magic...features fire pits for marshmellow roastin, kiddie train rides, Santa photos/letters, Christmas Karaoke

A gingerbread challenge...a competitive event to determine who can come up with the most creative ginger bread house.

Christmastown Market....features Santa & Mrs Claus, live music, food, crafting and wreath workshops, and local artisans

Wagon Rides....Evening tours to see the lights, complete with hot chocolate, cookies, and caroling

Well Done Shelton!

It might be tough to feel the spirit of Christmas in Late May....but the spirit of Shelton.....that's alive and well!

Check it out...

For this trio....it's one last walk on a beautiful spring day in Shelton Washington, then pack up....and roll out.....

Climbing into the drivers seat wondering....where next? I dunno....Out there somewhere!