Clearview, Washington
Encyclopedia
Clearview is a small unincorporated community located on both sides of State Route 9, where it intersects 180th Street SE (once known as Vine Street) in Snohomish County, Washington
, United States
. It is located between Snohomish
and Woodinville
and the top of the Clearview Hill.
and had been logged by the Snohomish Logging Company. Clarence Dayton Hillman
obtained the logged property and platted it in 1913 as Cathcart Division #1.
There were no roads in the area, so Mr. Hillman eagerly offered right-of-way when the Snohomish Fruit Growers Association sought a shorter route to Seattle. After much controversy, this road was completed in 1925. Now known as Highway 9, the road was initially called the Woodinville Cut-off.
By the time the road opened, the Hillman Company had constructed a real estate building, cannery, café and combination gas station-store along it. As an inducement for settlement, new residents were hired to clear land and build houses or gas stations on various company tracts. To convey the impression of self-sufficiency on small plots, the company established a rabbitry, pigeon and squab farm and poultry model-farm with resident “experts.” Other inducements were free berry vines, fruit trees and plants. Land was donated for a church and a community hall.
The settlement was first called West Cathcart and then Cathcart Heights. The 1930 Census lists 624 residents in Cathcart. On Armistice Day
1931 a celebration was held in recognition of the new name of Clearview. This name, possibly proposed by merchants Albert and Lea DesMarais, fittingly described the fine views residents had of the Olympic
and Cascade Mountains.
When the national Depression
began, the businesses were Albert DesMarais Butcher Shop, Store and Gas Station, D’Aigle’s Grocery, Phillips Store and Gas Station, Bluebird Café, Pigeon Lodge Dance Hall and several gas stations. Other businesses that evolved were firewood (six partners), cordwood (five partners) and Christmas tree contracting (2 individuals). Eventually, a church was built on the Hillman donation and another on land given by George Robinson.
The community was in constant change as residents came and went. Times were economically desperate for many families. The gas stations changed owners frequently, but the other businesses were stable.
Development began in other parts of the plat and adjacent areas. Gilbert’s Corner, Pigeon Lodge, Berry Brook Farms, Woodshire, Sherwood, Roosevelt Plains and City Farms all appeared. Growth continued in spurts and many businesses came and went.
Two major buildings, the Midway and the Begis Trading Center, were built. Three concrete block buildings also arose and housed various businesses. The business center gradually began to expand north along the highway. Three small shopping centers are to be joined by other proposed shopping/business areas. In between them are smaller commercial facilities. Toward the northern terminus is the Willis Tucker County Park.
The boundaries of this unincorporated community cannot be defined. Services such as education, mail and water are provided by various districts. Fire District #7 serves 46 square miles (119.1 km²) and the main station is at Clearview.
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located between Snohomish
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
and Woodinville
Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
and the top of the Clearview Hill.
History
Clearview was established on timberland that once belonged to Isaac CathcartIsaac Cathcart
Isaac Cathcart was a well-known businessman and Snohomish County, Washington pioneer.Cathcart was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1845. He was the son of Isaac F. and Charlott Cathcart....
and had been logged by the Snohomish Logging Company. Clarence Dayton Hillman
Clarence Dayton Hillman
Clarence Dayton Hillman was a prominent businessman and real estate developer in Seattle, Washington at the beginning of the 20th century.Born in Birmingham, Michigan, his parents both died before he was ten years old...
obtained the logged property and platted it in 1913 as Cathcart Division #1.
There were no roads in the area, so Mr. Hillman eagerly offered right-of-way when the Snohomish Fruit Growers Association sought a shorter route to Seattle. After much controversy, this road was completed in 1925. Now known as Highway 9, the road was initially called the Woodinville Cut-off.
By the time the road opened, the Hillman Company had constructed a real estate building, cannery, café and combination gas station-store along it. As an inducement for settlement, new residents were hired to clear land and build houses or gas stations on various company tracts. To convey the impression of self-sufficiency on small plots, the company established a rabbitry, pigeon and squab farm and poultry model-farm with resident “experts.” Other inducements were free berry vines, fruit trees and plants. Land was donated for a church and a community hall.
The settlement was first called West Cathcart and then Cathcart Heights. The 1930 Census lists 624 residents in Cathcart. On Armistice Day
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
1931 a celebration was held in recognition of the new name of Clearview. This name, possibly proposed by merchants Albert and Lea DesMarais, fittingly described the fine views residents had of the Olympic
Olympic Mountains
The Olympic Mountains is a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington in the United States. The mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are not especially high - Mount Olympus is the highest at - but the western slopes of the Olympics rise directly out of the Pacific...
and Cascade Mountains.
When the national Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
began, the businesses were Albert DesMarais Butcher Shop, Store and Gas Station, D’Aigle’s Grocery, Phillips Store and Gas Station, Bluebird Café, Pigeon Lodge Dance Hall and several gas stations. Other businesses that evolved were firewood (six partners), cordwood (five partners) and Christmas tree contracting (2 individuals). Eventually, a church was built on the Hillman donation and another on land given by George Robinson.
The community was in constant change as residents came and went. Times were economically desperate for many families. The gas stations changed owners frequently, but the other businesses were stable.
Development began in other parts of the plat and adjacent areas. Gilbert’s Corner, Pigeon Lodge, Berry Brook Farms, Woodshire, Sherwood, Roosevelt Plains and City Farms all appeared. Growth continued in spurts and many businesses came and went.
Two major buildings, the Midway and the Begis Trading Center, were built. Three concrete block buildings also arose and housed various businesses. The business center gradually began to expand north along the highway. Three small shopping centers are to be joined by other proposed shopping/business areas. In between them are smaller commercial facilities. Toward the northern terminus is the Willis Tucker County Park.
The boundaries of this unincorporated community cannot be defined. Services such as education, mail and water are provided by various districts. Fire District #7 serves 46 square miles (119.1 km²) and the main station is at Clearview.
External links
- A Clearview diarist on wikisource