Tag Archives: western history

Old Molson Ghost Town – Part One

Continuing on with our one day road trip, we come to Old Molson Ghost Town

Hubby and I were here, perhaps 20 years ago with our children, and it doesn’t look like anything has changed since then.  It is not touristy…no one was here when we visited then, and no one was here this day either.  There are no gift shops, no restaurants, etc.  This is a ghost town after all, folks!

It will be the last ghost town visit this day, but it is also very rich in history.  The town has been made into a museum, free to the public, and with a wealth of antiques that everyone is allowed to touch.  Except for a few smaller items, nothing is roped off.  The buildings are open, and the place is a great hands on educational experience for both the young and the old.

Old Molson Sign

Hubby and I took loads of photos, so the next few blog posts will be photos of farm and logging machinery, and a host of other tools and such.  Old Molson makes it fun and easy to imagine yourself as a miner, a logger, a cowboy, a farmer or a homesteader in days gone by.

Enjoy!

Clicking on any photo will show an enlarged photo.

Wagon Wheel

Wagon

Wagon 2

Shingle Mill/Law Office

Shingle Mill Tools

Law Office Wood Stove

Law Office

Reward Sign

Chesaw Scenery

Scenery, taken near Chesaw, from our little road trip:

Ducks

Ducks 2

Ducks 3

Ducks 4

Farmhouse

Farmhouse Closeup

Farmhouse 2

Mountain View

The Hee-Hee Stone is a sacred place to the Indian.  You can read about it when you click here.  Unfortunately, the stone is now gone.  There is a teepee where those who worship here leave trinkets.

Hee-Hee Stone Legend

Clicking on any photo will show an enlarged photo.

Ranald MacDonald

While on our scenic drive, Hubby and I came across this interesting bluff.  I think it is basalt; we have a lot of that in eastern Washington.    I can see this as inspiration for some free motion quilting!

Textured Rock

It is close to lunch time by now, and we have come to a state park.  Yes, it is the smallest state park in Washington, and it is a gravesite.

Ranald MacDonald State Park

We had heard of Ranald MacDonald, but we didn’t know anything about him.

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board

It was fun to learn about him.  Ranald MacDonald was quite the adventurer!  I wish I could’ve known him…oh, the stories he could tell!

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 2

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 3

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 4

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 5

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 6

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 7

Ranald MacDonald Sign Board 8

Here is the entire state park:

Cemetery

We sat on a bench in front of Ranald MacDonald’s monument, ate our lunch,  enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the Kettle River flowing by.

Ranald MacDonald Tombstone

If you google ‘Ranald MacDonald’, you’ll find quite a bit about him.

Clicking on any photo will show an enlarged photo.