A Whistle Punk was the person in a steam logging “show” responsible for communication between the crew and the donkey operator during the log hauling process. The whistle punk packed a coil of rope or light wire from the steam donkey whistle out into the bush where he was close enough to see and hear the crew. The crew would yell to the punk what they needed and he would tug the rope, sounding whistle codes to the donkey operator, indicating what action was needed.

History98520 Mission: To interpret and preserve area history through community outreach, education, and artifact preservation and restoration.

What’s new at History98520

Over the past 18 months, in addition to contract work for the City Parks Department cataloging the Aberdeen Museum of History collection, the History98520 Board has been focusing on self-assessment, and planning for a sustainable future.

One of the primary goals identified was to expand community engagement and volunteer recruitment. This inaugural issue of Whistle Punk NEWS is a small step of that effort. Our new website: History98520.org is a big step. Check it out and let us know what you think. Is something missing? Would you like to learn more about a subject? How can we better preserve and interpret your history?

Let us know so that we can better serve the community whose history is our mission.

Interesting stories from Aberdeen’s past

The first rails to Aberdeen arrived in Grays Harbor Seven years before the first train did.

The iron-hulled three-masted barque Abercorn was a fine vessel. Built in Glasgow, Scotland by Alexander Stevens and Sons in the Linthouse shipyard in 1885, she was 238 ½ feet on deck, her maximum beam was 36 feet 2 inches and her loaded draft was 21 feet. Two years after her launch, in 1887 after loading 5,000 railroad rails she set sail from Mayport, England, bound around Cape Horn for Portland in the Oregon territory.

Arriving off the mouth of the Columbia River in a strong winter gale and heavy seas she took aboard Captain Charles F. Johnson, a Columbia River pilot. Captain Johnson directed the vessel out to sea to wait for better conditions.

Heavy weather continued for days, followed by a heavy fog that shrouded the coast. On the morning of February 1, 1888, after 14 days of waiting, the weather appeared to clearing.

At 5 am, under sail and making four knots on a Southeasterly course, thinking that they were approaching the Columbia River bar, Abercorn ran hard aground. Her cargo of railroad rails shifted, and seas were immediately breaking over her stern. By 11 am the foremast and the mainmast were carried away, falling

Salvage divers standing on salvaged rails preparing to work the wreck of the Abercorn

to seaward and splitting the deck open. Of the 25 souls aboard, only two men and a boy managed to make it ashore alive.

Over the previous two weeks the upwelling of the Humboldt Current had set Abercorn 55 nautical miles north of the Columbia River, causing her to run aground at the mouth of Grays Harbor.

The Abercorn and her cargo of 5,000 railroad rails lay at the mouth of Grays Harbor for six years before being salvaged and sold at auction. In October 1894. Mill owners Charles Wilson and J.M. Weatherwax along with Attorney W.P. Book purchased all 5,000 rails and agreed to donate the rails needed to bring the rail line from Junction City to Aberdeen.

Seven years after the wreck of the Abercorn, after the rail line to Aberdeen was completed, and most of the rest of the rails were sold, it was discovered that perhaps the salvage operation had not been entirely legal. A lawsuit was filed . . . but that is another story.

Sources: Caledonian Maritime Research Trust – Scottish Built Ships Registry, The Daily Astorian Feb. 16,1888, Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba Feb.11, 1888, Wilson Bros. & Co. documents 1894 – 1895 Aberdeen Museum of History archives Photo: Roy Vataja

What’s going on and how you can participate

History98520 Micro-Museum hours: Thursday and Friday 1 to 4.

First Friday of the month 1 – 8 pm with Special Presentations from 6 – 7 pm.

April programs and exhibits feature Aberdeen Murals, and mural artists, Bergstrom Foundry and its role in creating Aberdeen’s Walk of the Stars.

First Friday, April 4^th 6 – 7 pm – Mural artist, Jenny Fischer will speak about her mural work and her creative process.

May and June programs and exhibits will feature Aberdeen Authors, Music, and Bands

First Friday, May 2^nd 6 – 7 pm – Entertainment and rock photographer, Darrell Westmoreland will talk about his life documenting the music industry since 1972. Signed copies of his book, ‘SNAP CLICK FLASH: All Access Pass’ will be available for purchase.

History98520 Summer Tours and Events will include tours of Aberdeen’s historic downtown district as well as special events in July, August and September.  Check our new website History98520.org for details.

Visit the History98520 Micro-Museum at 200 East Market Street. Use the K St. entrance.

History98520 Goals for 2025 – 2029.

• Formal clarification of long-term relationship with the City-owned Museum collection
• Expand community engagement and volunteer recruitment
• Develop and secure ongoing financial support (Financial sustainability)
• Integrate HISTORY98520 and its programs into local school curriculum

We will be talking more about our goals and how we plan to achieve them in future issues.

Want to help us achieve these goals? – Become a member or a volunteer.

CLICK HERE for more information

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