Gig Harbor in Pierce County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

From Valley to Bay

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

1. From Valley to Bay Marker

Inscription.

Crescent Creek runs three miles from Crescent Lake to the bay. Early on, families began to homestead in Crescent Valley, making their living through ranching, farming, and dairy operations. Joseph Goodman, a Civil War veteran, brought his family to the harbor in 1883. They were one of the first families to homestead in the valley. Joseph Goodman built the family home on 160 acres of land.

Commercial logging started in North Gig Harbor in the late 1800s. The Gig Harbor Timber Co. and D. Cavalero logged the valley for more than seven years starting in 1908. The logs were transported by rail to the bay. The 4-mile line ran along the ridge above the creek to the bay. A boom crew tipped the logs off the loaded cars from a trestle just west of Randall Drive NW. Crescent Valley residents would use the railroad track as their path into town, it was an easier walk than on the trails. Evidence of the rail's roadbed can still be spotted in Crescent Valley.

Crescent Valley School was built in 1915. Children enjoyed fire drills as they were allowed to slide down the chute-style fire escape from the upper floor. The first primary

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grade teacher was Lucy Goodman of Crescent Valley. She was paid $65 for 36 weeks of teaching. The school closed at the end of the 1946-1947 school year. The building was purchased in 1949 and remodeled by the Masonic Temple Association.

In 1946, the school board of the Peninsula School District informed the town that they would donate the property on Vernhardson Street to the city to be used as a park, free of charge. The restroooms, stone wall, and water fountain had been built previously through the Works Progress Administration program in 1936-1937. The new town was excited about acquiring the site that included frontage on Crescent Creek. This became the town's second park, known simply as Town Park. The park was eventually renamed City Park at Crescent Creek.

[Photo captions, top to bottom, read]
• Crescent Valley School, 1948

• Cavalero logging trestle at the mouth of Crescent Creek, early 1900s

• Dr. Hiram Rust on the bridge over Crescent Creek, circa 1920. Originally, two big cedar logs, slightly planed on top, stretched across the creek to serve as a bridge. Crescent Valley School is visible in the background.

Erected by City

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

2. From Valley to Bay Marker

Looking north into the park

of Gig Harbor and Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 47° 20.729′ N, 122° 34.912′ W. Marker is in Gig Harbor, Washington, in Pierce County. It is at the intersection of Vernhardson Street and Randall Drive, on the left when traveling east on Vernhardson Street. Marker is near the entrance to Crescent Creek Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3303 Vernhardson Street, Gig Harbor WA 98332, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Puget Sound Region

and in Greater Seattle.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

Crescent Creek Park WPA-built Pavilion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

3. Crescent Creek Park WPA-built Pavilion

distance of this marker: Crescent Creek Park Totem (within shouting distance of this marker); Streams of Change (within shouting distance of this marker); Peninsula High School Salmon Rearing Program (within shouting distance of this marker); A Pioneering Woman (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Historic Finholm District (approx. 0.6 miles away); Our First Downtown (approx. 0.6 miles away); Two of Our Best on Mount Everest (approx. 0.6 miles away); "Memory Vessel" (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gig Harbor.

Also see . . . Crescent Creek Park History. (Submitted on August 20, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Crescent Creek Park WPA-built Restrooms image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

4. Crescent Creek Park WPA-built Restrooms

Crescent Creek Park WPA-built Entrance Pillars image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

5. Crescent Creek Park WPA-built Entrance Pillars

Crescent Creek Park WPA Mark on Pillar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

6. Crescent Creek Park WPA Mark on Pillar

Crescent Creek Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2021

7. Crescent Creek Park Sign

[Small marker below sign reads]
Jeffrey Downer Anderson
In fond memory of a dedicated
City of Gig Harbor employee,
who passed away July 23, 1991.
He is missed.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 20, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.