No Fence Wetlands Site History Includes Mining – Logging – Farming Since 1881.
Mining Came First
Mica Mountain Mining ended over 100 years ago, but Logging and Farming activities continue in the Mica Mountain Watered along Schwartz Creek. The brown Hayfield in the foreground will be reconstructed into the No Fence Wetlands.
Early Map of Mica Mine and Schwartz Ck.
Mica Mountain gained interest around 1881. Prospectors discovered veins of Mica.
“When the mines were opened, it must be remembered that Mica – the common isinglass, resistant to heat – was widely used in the transparent windows of stove doors. Flexible, it was used also in window-like panels in side curtains made for horse carriages… “
Logging Quickly Followed
Later around 1900, Logging in the area was going great guns. Forests full of perfect White Pine were valuable and eagerly harvested. Many logging sites used small gauge temporary railroad tracks to remove cut timbers.
Regular locomotives took larger track and too much area to turn around. A special locomotive, the Shay Engine, was invented to solve these problems.
Shay Engine 103
It was widely used around the local forest areas as part of the logging operations. When logging was completed, the rail tracks were removed leaving only the dirt rail bed.
Farming Started Last
After logging operations were completed, agriculture started. This area was homesteaded. Around 1900, farming and raising cattle became the main use of this meadow. The original old barn was finished in 1906 and still stands today.
1933 Washington National Guard aerial flight photo over East Fork Bear Ck. It had bit of Schwartz Ck at the top edge of the photo.
You can see the farm fields, Vassar Meadows Rd. and Schwartz Ck. before it was moved into a ditch to make more farmland. This ditch currently contains the streamflow.
At the bottom of the photo, the remnant railroad bed is clearly visible as a dark line along the field boundary. This railroad bed also acted as a water diversion barrier to keep water from moving into the fields.
1933 Washington National Guard Aerial Flight.
