“Civic Center, Longview, Washington, U.S.A.” by Richard F. Yates

On Sunday, March 3rd, 2019, it was extremely nice and pleasant outside (although my wife tells me it was also very cold. I, apparently, don’t feel cold very easily…) Because these types of days are fairly rare in the Pacific Northwest (although, thanks to global warming, they are become MORE frequent---a minor benefit HERE, though a massive, life threatening detriment everywhere else in the world,) we decided to go for a walk. Though we usually just hoof it around Lake Sacajawea (which is only half-a-block from our house,) primarily so we can say “Hi!” to Sacky, the Lake Monster, this time we thought we'd to go up to the Civic Center, the former HEART of Longview (it HAS no heart these days,) to look at the new gazebo that has recently been constructed there. (In a small town, small things are exciting!)

Mariah and I have lived in this town for 40+ years, and it’s funny, but I don’t know if we’ve ever really LOOKED at the Civic Center---really paid attention to what it's supposed to be---and understood what it is that this piece of real estate IS. I see, now, that it's a history lesson! When I was younger, I used to skateboard around up there quite often with my friends (I HAD friends back then…), and I’ve been to Squirrel Fest a few times, and I’ve had sunny-day walks through the park and the surrounding areas---but I’ve never noticed that this place is actually LAID OUT with historical markers at the four corners (and it’s not easy to GET corners out of a circular park---but they managed to do it there!) The park, it turns out, also had a social purpose and was part of Robert A. Long’s PLAN. (Longview, named after the town’s founder, was known as the “Planned City”---suggesting, of course, that other cities AREN’T planned---which seems weird to me…)

Sadly, two of the three elements mentioned on this plaque about the Civic Center are no longer true. For one thing, the bust of Robert Long was moved to the Library Building. I’m guessing this was done when the city planners decided to build the gazebo that now sits where the bust and the originally raised centerpiece used to be. In addition, some fucking asshole STOLE the cool sundial---I’m guessing so they could sell it as scrap metal and make a few bucks, and in the process destroy a nearly 100-year-old work of art! (I really don’t care from humans, sometimes…)

Anyway, for something to do (and as an excuse to spend some time together,) Mariah and I went to all the buildings and markers that were supposed to make up the Civic Center and snapped a few pictures of them. There is a cool plaque near the new gazebo that tells the dates when the major building in town were built, but my photo of it was too blurry to post, but that’s were I got some of the dates you’ll see below.

Okay! Let’s start our tour of Longview's Civic Center!

Monticello Hotel – 1923 (Apparently, the first building constructed in Longview.)

Post Office – 1933

This is one of two eagles sculpted onto the front of the post office building. I wish I had a better camera (with optical zoom) so you could see the detail a bit better---but I did what I could with the equipment I had!

Longview Public Library - 1926

This is a weird marker that neither Mariah nor I understand very well. I THINK it's saying that Longview will be put onto a tourist trail, so that more folks will come visit---but we're not certain. What we really LIKED about this marker, though, was the weird "motto" printed at the bottom!

Yeah! Don't forget your vine and fig! (Whatever the hell THAT means!?!?)

This is a cool, old marker---but it's tough to read, even when you're standing right in front of it. The fact that these markers are from different TIMES (this one has no date, but it LOOKS older than the rest of them) makes me wonder if they come from different places, but were gathered together here, at some point. There's probably something written about it somewhere...

This veterans memorial section is significantly newer than the other markers, and although I'm fundamentally against the idea of war, I don't see any reason not to treat the people who died in these conflicts with respect. One weird thing about this section is the tiny American flag on the center stone seems to have been PAINTED red, white, and blue, for some reason. Knowing the climate around here (we get a LOT of rain,) I'm not sure why someone thought paint was going to last for very long.

This is the bust of Robert A. Long, which used to be in the dead center of the Civic Center, but now sits in front of the library building. I'm not sure why, but the sculpting on this piece makes me chuckle just a bit... Maybe it's the half-smile on Long's face---maybe it's because he's sort of green (when your standing in front of the piece it looks a lot more green than it does in this photo.) Who knows??? Maybe I was just getting tired from all the adventuring...

Anyway, it was a very nice day---a day for walking around outside and doing a bit of exploring---and I had a great time strolling around, reading about all those folks who made huge waves (in this very small pond)---but who have now thrust off this mortal coil… The fact that I don’t recall ever taking the time to stop and look at each of these markers and monuments before makes me wonder what OTHER fascinating things---even right here in my home-town---I’ve been missing because of how FAMILIAR they are. (You get used to something being there, so you don't pay the proper attention to the details!) Mariah and I also noticed that we are only about FOUR YEARS from the centennial of the incorporation of Longview as a town! I wonder if there will be any kind of celebration???

So the moral here is to get off your ass and go outside. Explore things. If you don’t care about the history of the place you live, (fair enough,) then try strolling off into the woods (not TOO far into the woods, unless you know for sure how to get back…) Just do SOMETHING! There is a world beyond computers and television screens and phones, although I’m not against using technology for taking photos and sharing your account of your experiences once you GET BACK from going outside. Am I right? Are you with me??? Okay. Go have an experience, and then come back and tell us all about it! We’ll be waiting…

---Richard F. Yates
(Primitive Thoughtician and Holy Fool)

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