Wauconda in Okanogan County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Wauconda Community Hall
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 15, 2017
1. Wauconda Community Hall Marker
Inscription.
Wauconda Community Hall. . In 1897 three brothers named Hedges found gold about three miles east of the present Wauconda store. The town started in 1898 just east of the Wauconda summit and was named after the Hedges hometown in Illinois. Several roads were built to connect the town with Republic and over Cougar Creek to Old Toroda and Bodie. By the end of 1902, the ore proved unprofitable, so the mine closed and the people moved. Some went to Old Toroda or Bodie, while others took up homesteads in the area. In 1903, the store and post office were moved to this location and the second Wauconda sprang to life. On June 14, 1914 a Wauconda school teacher, Agnes Lorz, organized a flag raising ceremony. She taught the children patriotic songs, drills, and skits. A community picnic followed the program. Everyone enjoyed the events so much it was decided to have the same ceremony the next year. But in 1915 a sudden rainstorm forced the crowd to take shelter in the big barn on the Van Brunt place. After lunch there was talk of building a hall in case June 14 of some other year should be wet. Through a combination of bank loans, donated materials, and volunteer labor, three acres were purchased from the Van Brunts for a baseball field and the hall was begun. By 1917 the building and grounds were far enough along so they could be used for the celebration. It was reported that 1500 people from all over Ferry and Okanogan counties attended this full day of events. The Flag Day picnic became an annual celebration that included baseball games, rodeos, dances, tug-of-wars, and many other events. There were 17 annual celebrations. But due to the Great Depression, they were discontinued in 1934. From then until 1950, only a dance was held on Flag Day, except for two rodeos that were held in 1947 and 1948. The Wauconda Flag Day Celebration continues to be held in one form or another since then on the Sunday closest to June 14 of each year., (captions:) , Text below top picture: Baseball Team, Text below middle picture: Flag Day Celebration, Text below bottom picture: Looking West- 1918 Wauconda store and hall. (2nd Wauconda location) ,
In 1897 three brothers named Hedges found
gold about three miles east of the present
Wauconda store. The town started in 1898 just
east of the Wauconda summit and was named
after the Hedges hometown in Illinois. Several
roads were built to connect the town with Republic and over Cougar Creek to Old Toroda and Bodie. By the end of 1902, the ore proved
unprofitable, so the mine closed and the people
moved. Some went to Old Toroda or Bodie,
while others took up homesteads in the area. In
1903, the store and post office were moved to
this location and the second Wauconda sprang to
life. On June 14, 1914 a Wauconda school teacher,
Agnes Lorz, organized a flag raising ceremony.
She taught the children patriotic songs, drills,
and skits. A community picnic followed the program. Everyone enjoyed the events so much it was decided to have the same ceremony the
next year. But in 1915 a sudden rainstorm forced
the crowd to take shelter in the big barn on the
Van Brunt place. After lunch there was talk of
building a hall in case June 14 of some other
year should be wet. Through a combination of
bank loans, donated materials, and volunteer
labor, three acres were purchased from the Van
Brunts for a baseball field and the hall was
begun. By 1917 the building and grounds were
far enough along so they could be used for the
celebration.
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It was reported that 1500 people
from all over Ferry and Okanogan counties attended this full day of events. The Flag Day picnic
became an annual celebration that included baseball games, rodeos, dances, tug-of-wars, and
many other events. There were 17 annual celebrations. But due to the Great Depression, they were discontinued in 1934. From then until 1950,
only a dance was held on Flag Day, except for
two rodeos that were held in 1947 and 1948.
The Wauconda Flag Day Celebration continues to be held in one form or another since then on the Sunday closest to June 14 of each year.
(captions:)
Text below top picture:
Baseball Team
Text below middle picture:
Flag Day Celebration
Text below bottom picture:
Looking West- 1918
Wauconda store & hall.
(2nd Wauconda location)
Erected by Okanogan County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Patriots & Patriotism • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location. 48° 44.098′ N, 118° 59.454′ W. Marker is in Wauconda, Washington, in Okanogan County. It is on Toroda Creek Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 Toroda Creek Rd, Wauconda WA 98859, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Okanogan Highlands. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Cascade Range, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers.
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 15, 2017
2. Wauconda Community Hall Marker
At least 3 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Wauconda (approx. 2.2 miles away); Bodie (approx. 8.1 miles away); The Hee-Hee Stone Legend (approx. 15.2 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
