[Loscho_enews] Monroe Railroad History Dec. 15

[info at snocoheritage.org]

MONROE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
207 E. Main Street, Monroe, WA 98272
www.monroehistoricalsociety.org
360-217-7223

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Dec. 1, 2009
Contact:  Tami Beaumont (360) 794-0313

Monroe Historical Society presents Monroe Railroad History Dec. 15

The Monroe Historical Society invites the community to its quarterly
membership meeting and holiday potluck Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Tualco
Grange. Former Monroe resident and railroad historian Durand Sprau will
present the history of the Milwaukee Railroad in Monroe and its importance
to the Carnation Condensery. The condensery was located between the tracks
of both the Milwaukee and the Great Northern allowing it to load canned
milk onto the trains on both sides of the plant. Durand is the only known
person to have climbed to the top of the condensery smokestack which is
still standing at Highway 2 and Main Street.

The Spraus are one of Monroe’s pioneer families and operated the Sprau ice
cream plant at Hill and Ferry Streets in downtown Monroe. Durand now lives
in Oregon but attended Monroe schools and was an operator for the
Milwaukee Railroad for 35 years.

After the presentation, the winning names will be drawn for the Historical
Society’s annual quilt fundraiser. A potluck dinner will be served at 6:30
followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. Please bring a dish to share and a
donation of non-perishable food for the Monroe Food Bank.

The Tualco Grange is located at 18933 Tualco Road, just outside Monroe
across the Lewis Street Bridge. All ages are welcome. For more
information, contact the Monroe Historical Society at 360-217-7223 or
visit www.monroehistoricalsociety.org.