Bolster, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bolster, Washington
|
|
|---|---|
 Bolster, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Bolster, Washington
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Okanogan |
| Platted | 1899 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Bolster is a ghost town located in Okanogan County, Washington, USA. A ghost town is a place that was once a lively community but is now mostly empty. Bolster was once a small, busy settlement in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Contents
Bolster: A Town That Disappeared
Bolster was officially started in 1899. A man named J.S. McBride planned out the town. He decided to name it after Herman Bolster, a rich businessman from Spokane. McBride began selling pieces of land, called lots, in this new town.
Life in Early Bolster
At one point, Bolster had several stores where people could buy goods. It also had a post office, which was important for sending and receiving mail. There were even three saloons, which were places where adults could gather.
About thirty families lived in Bolster. They often traded goods and services with people from a nearby town called Chesaw. In fact, the two towns sometimes jokingly called each other a 'suburb,' meaning they were very close and connected.
The Bolster Drill Newspaper
Bolster even had its own newspaper, called The Bolster Drill. Newspapers were very important back then for sharing news and information. However, The Bolster Drill struggled to make enough money. Eventually, it had to close down.
Why Bolster Became a Ghost Town
The town's post office, which was a key part of the community, closed in 1909. This was a big sign that the town was shrinking. In 1910, there was a school in Bolster, but it only stayed open for that one year. As businesses closed and people moved away, Bolster slowly became a ghost town. Today, it stands as a reminder of a time when small towns popped up and sometimes disappeared.
