Flashback

We've got a local newspaper here in Granite Falls that runs a feature section called Flashback in each month's issue. The topics covered by the historical look back usual pertain to logging, railroading, or mining. Accompanying the articles are photographs from yesteryear depicting early life in our fair town. Being a bit of a history buff—especially local history—I make a point to read this section of each issue.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the latest issue to find the following:


. . . but that's nothing new! In 1910, Frank Ashe quit school to open a bicycle repair business on N. Granite Ave, just on the north side of John Ashe's Hardware store (Ashe Hardware sat on the corner where Ike's Drive-In sits today). By 1912, his main business was motorcycles, as you can see from the interior picture of his shop (Frank is in the middle). By 1914, his business partner was his older brother James, and they occupied the Stanley St. building that sat where Bob and Carol's is today. The sign said City Cyclery, and they sold Model T Fords as well as Excelsior motorcycles. The lineup outside were all Granite Falls folks, with old local family names that included Southard, Ashe, Mobius, Baumgartner, Klaus, Allred, Kessner, Liming, Lueniga, Aul, Stoltz, McDonald, McDaniels,and Kenseth. In the early '20s they purchased and occupied the building that is today's firehouse, selling GM vehicles. In 1944, after also serving almost ten years as a Snohomish County Councilman, Frank and his brother split their Oldsmobile/GMC business, and Frank again occupied the Stanley St location, in the building that still stands today. The 1904 Oldsmobile in the Granite Falls Museum was their advertising vehicle.


It seems that Granite Falls has a long relationship with motorcycles and the motorcycling community. Being a gateway to the Mountain Loop Highway, the city has seen its share of bike riders passing through town looking for adventure. Just today, while eating lunch at the Subway, I witnessed a group of at least a dozen bikes roll through town, obviously on a group ride.

I'd like to send out a special Thank You! to Ken Robinson, with Granite Falls Press, for being so generous with his time. I sent him an email asking for permission to reprint this article and if I could get copies of the photographs used. Without hesitation, he not only sent me the images but also the text of the article.