Would You Like to Go to Leavenworth?

 

Leavenworth, Washington, that is. Without the aid of the vibrant photos above and at left, you might have thought of the prison instead. Incidentally, these two areas are named for members of the same lineage. In the case of Leavenworth above, the moniker is connected to Captain Charles Leavenworth. While he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, he earned the captain title during his reign over the shipping business. Before shipping, he was president of the Okanogan Investment Company in Washington and involved in the creation of this town. Why would a company invest in this town? I am glad you asked.

To answer this question, I am drawing on information provided by Coco, our capable and kind tour guide from Bavarian Walking Tours, as well as bits and pieces from the Leavenworth Museum. We perused the heart of this quaint location, often referred to as "A Hallmark Christmas town" and learned of its history. Our knowledgeable host made this trip fantastic in more ways than one. In this post, I hope to give you a glimpse of Leavenworth yet leave much for you to discover on a tour of your own.

First, this area was tribal land of šnp̓əšqʷáw̓šəxʷ ~ Wenatchi. There is an exhibit in the Leavenworth
Museum that shares some of their history. You can also read more about the "The Twelve Bands compose the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation" to garner an appreciation of who lived there long before this became the attraction it is today. It is my hope that I provided accurate information here to honor the people.

Next, Leavenworth became a town in the time the Great Northern Railway was nearly completed. Captain Leavenworth saw an opportunity as the nearby town of Icicle was nearly bursting at its seams. His investment company bought a 40-acre parcel of land from the US Government just a mile from Icicle. His vision was to build a new town right near the tracks. From 1893 to 1927, this was a brilliant and fruitful plan. Leavenworth was reliant on the railroad to support its timber industry – cedar, pine, and Douglas fir, as well as apples orchards from the surrounding areas. The sawmill flourished. The railroad moved the shipments providing income streams. It was a thriving area until the lumber prices dropped, the forests became depleted, the sawmill closed, and one fateful day.

An avalanche occurred resulting in the deadliest train accident in the country. Ninety-five people perished. After this horrible event, the railroad moved to Wenatchee. Without this transportation, the area lost its main source of revenue and all that went along with it. They could not sell apples or wood. Without jobs, residents migrated to other areas of the state. This town was floundering. What could they do? How would they survive?

Around 1950, a group of women decided to gather and brainstorm possibilities to save this doomed point on the map. Eventually they hired a consultant. He was a professor from the University of Washington in Seattle. This academician asked them the question, “What does your town have to offer?” After little debate, the women presented the idea for tourism. As this section of the United States resembled (and still does) European topography, that would be their niche. The mountains with opportunities for hiking, skiing, and snowboarding offered additional possibilities. So began Project LIFE (Leavenworth Improvement for Everyone).

Ted Price and Bob Rogers entered the scene. Years before, these two gentlemen had purchased a restaurant and inn located halfway between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth. Bob fashioned The Squirrel Tree Inn with Bavarian influence due to inspiration of the Alpine villages of Bavaria where he lived (and served) after WWII. They became interested in the struggles of nearby Leavenworth. Joining forces with Project LIFE, Ted and Bob were instrumental in reshaping downtown. 

They sold the Squirrel Tree Inn and purchased property in Leavenworth. They worked with Project LIFE to transform buildings by enhancing facades of existing structures. They replaced flat roof designs with pitched. They covered brick (one remaining brick building with flat roof featured in photo above), some to resemble half-timber and others with plaster. Artists painted Luftels (murals) on the buildings. Carpenters added balconies, plant boxes, and other features. These architectural enhancements combined with the nearby mountains to create a feel of being in Bavaria and even other European cities. On our visit, I felt like I was back in Norway. Uncanny resemblance.


      

                      

Today, approximately two million visitors flock to this picturesque village. Some for recreation. Others for nostalgia. Whatever your interest, I highly recommend the trip. A few of our favorites in case you do make the trek: Bavarian Walking Tours to gain an appreciation of the area. Icicle Village Resort, to stay in walking distance of all the hotspots. Nice accommodations and restaurant. Even if you are not planning a visit soon, click the link and watch the video. You will get a stunning bird's eye view of Leavenworth, the mountains, and the resort. Argonaut - Coffee and Biscuits, for the best coffee in the area. Leavenworth Museum for the full scoop, past and present. You can find additional information and even watch live camera footage on their homepage.

What do you think? Is it time to book a flight or pack the car?

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 110 Plans on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. She is working on her first fiction novel. This story unfolds from the 1830s in Northern Georgia. 

Rebecca shot the photos included with exception of the header. Thank you, Justin, for sharing your memories. Connect with Rebecca: Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Nutcrackers

Nutcracker History by

Martha Rogers

I’ve been fascinated with nutcrackers and the story behind the ballet since I first heard the music many years ago. I decided to find out more about these beautiful Christmas decorations, and learned some interesting facts.

Before the beautiful nutcrackers were created by wood carvers in France and England, they were simple tools consisting of two pieces of wood fastened by a leather strap or metal hinge. Nuts were a common item in Europe, and by the 15^th century, the nutcracker became an elaborate tool carved by great woodcrafters.

These early crafters used wood from around their locality, but boxwood was the wood of choice because of its grain and color. Many of these early

carved nutcrackers can be seen on display at the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Washington. Here is a picture of the more unusual ones. 

By the 18^th and 19^th centuries, craftsmen in Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy were carving nutcrackers in the likenesses of animals and humans.

In German folklore, stories can be found telling how nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to the family and protect the home. Legend says that nutcrackers guard the home from evil spirits and serve as a messenger of good luck and goodwill.

This is the saying surrounding the legend of the nutcracker:

“Don’t be afraid, my beard is long, my head is large, my look is grim but that matters not. I won’t bite you. In spite of my big mouth and grim appearance, I look with my heart for your happiness.”

Nutcrackers were thought to embody the “Cycle of Life” because as the seed of a nut fell to the ground, it rooted and grew into a strong tree producing more nuts and provided wood for the craftsmen. They held a feast celebrated just before harvesting the logs of the Elder trees. At the feast they ate the nuts as if to pass on the magic of the eternal cycle.

Nutcrackers also reflect ancestral dining customs and were carved into whimsical shapes to become part of the social setting and provide conversation pieces for guests as they lingered over dessert.

E.T. Amadeus Hoffman wrote a novel, The Nutcracker and the King of Mice, sometime between 1776 and 1822. Tchaikovsky took the story, set it to music in the magnificent Nutcracker Suite. The ballet with the music debuted in St. Petersburg in 1892 and has become a Christmas tradition around the world.

A family of artisans, the Steinbach family, has

produced fine wood products for over two centuries. Five generations have kept the business nutcracker carving and manufacutre going with the sixth generation being trained even now. The factory is now located at Hohenhameln in northern Germany. On the right is an example of a Steinbach creation. This one costs over $200.

They were the first to come up with the development of the limited edition nutcracker fashioned after King Ludwig II. The response was overwhelming and contributed to the collectability of the nutcrackers and increased their value.

Nutcrackers finally made their way to America in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s after service men stationed in Germany found them and brought them home. A passion ignited for these wonderful creations as the ballet captured the imagination of people and sparked a desire to collect the nutcrackers we know in the costume of soldiers and kings of earlier centuries.

Nutcrackers in the form of soldiers and kings first appeared in German in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. In 1872, Wilhelm Fuchtner made the first commercial production of nutcrackers using the same design for many different figures. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum displays an 1880 miner of Fuchtner along with miners made in today’s Fuchtner family workshops.

Today, soldier and king nutcrackers are manufactured in Germany to meet the high demands

of collectors. These are expensive, authentic nutcrackers and can be purchased only from the company or from stores which feature nutcrackers by these German crafters. 

My own collection of nutcrackers began with one I purchased in Oberammergau in 1994. Here's a picture from the store there. I fell in love with this place.

Nutcracker reproductions can be found anywhere at Christmas time in many sizes and designs. When compared side by side, the craftsmanship of the authentic nutcrackers is evident. That doesn’t keep us from collecting nutcrackers from stores all over our country.

Nutcrackers based on the characters from the ballet are popular and sold at the productions. Here are Clara, her uncle, the Mouse King, the Nutcracker and one of the soldiers.

I have two nutcrackers from Germany, but the others have been purchased at the Nutcracker Ballet Christmas Market and other stores at Christmas time.

The museum at Leavenworth, Washington is a place worth visiting if you are in the area. Below are links to the museum and to information about the Steinbach family.

https://www.christmas-treasures.com/contact_us.htm  Steinbach link

http://nutcrackermuseum.com/history.htm Leavenworth Museum

I'm giving away a copy of my Christmas book, Christmas at Stoney Creek.

News reporter Tom Whiteman befriends a homeless man, Joe, and brings him home to Stoney Creek. Tom’s journalistic instincts suggest there’s more to the old man than appearances tell. A carpenter by trade, Joe works at odd jobs around town and makes many new friends including Faith Delmont, a girl who grew up with Tom. Contradictions in the man’s manners and way of speaking whet Tom’s nose for news and raises even more questions. As he and Faith seek the truth, they learn that God’s love can turn tragedy and loss to triumph and true love comes to those who seek it.     

Answer one of these questions and be entered. (Sorry, US readers only) Please be sure to include your email address with your comment.

Have you ever seen The Nutcracker ballet?
Nutcrackers are a collector item. Do you have any special Christmas collections?

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and multi-published author from Realms Fiction of Charisma Media and Winged Publications. She is a member of ACFW and writes the weekly Verse of the Week for the ACFW Loop. She is a retired teacher and lives in Houston with her husband, Rex. 

www.marthawrogers.com