History buffs in the area who missed out on the first chance to buy a new copy of the “Red Book” in-person at the Mossyrock Area Historical Society (MAHS) meeting at the beginning of the month can now purchase the book online, according to a MAHS Facebook post.
Previously, the book was only for sale at monthly MAHS meetings and various local events MAHS members were planning to participate in.
Officially called “Memories from Family Albums of School District #206,” it is known as the “Red Book” due to its bright red cover, according to MAHS member Buddy Rose who led efforts to republish the book.
The “Red Book” was originally published in 1976 by members of the Mossyrock Grange #355 as a part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, and Rose and other MAHS members decided to republish the book this year as a part of America250, celebrating America’s 250th birthday coming up this summer.
With the book’s pages transcribed by Rose throughout this past winter, the “Red Book” features the histories of the East County communities of Salkum, Silver Creek, Harmony, Mayfield, Mossyrock, Ajlune, Riffe, Nesika and more, along with local churches, post offices and fire departments, photos, and East Lewis County family genealogical history.
“Frequently it is heard, ‘We should write the history of the area before the ‘Old Timers’ are all gone.’ The reply is a resounding, ‘Yes!’ and that is as far as it goes. The idea occurred that if we could get the families, especially the early-coming families, to write their stories of where they came from, who came, where they settled, and incidents of early living we would have a pretty good collective history. That is what we have attempted to do,” Marjorie Aldrich wrote in the book’s introduction.
Aldrich was the chairman of the 1976 Mossyrock Grange Historical Committee in charge of compiling the original “Red Book,” along with Doris Myers, Lillie Clowe and Marilyn Armit. The book’s original typist was Joan Budai, and photos were reproduced by Earl Clowe. Lightning Printing in Centralia handled the original book’s printing.
Among the many histories included in the book are ones like that of Daniel Shaner, a U.S. Civil War Union Army veteran who had made his way out west after the war after being in Washington, D.C., on the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre.
Reprinting of the Red Book was handled by Gorham Printing in Centralia and limited to 300 copies, though according to Rose, more will be ordered from the printer if the initial 300 sell out.
Proceeds from “Red Book” sales benefit both the MAHS and the Mossyrock Grange.
To purchase a “Red Book,” visit https://mossyrockhistory.square.site/. The book can still be purchased in-person at monthly MAHS meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Mossyrock Community Center.
For more information, visit the MAHS website at https://www.mossyrockmuseum.com or follow the historical society on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/3rtwvjxf.
