Historic Photos

In 1938, Klick­i­tat Coun­ty had var­i­ous elec­tric­i­ty providers, includ­ing Pacif­ic Pow­er & Light and small pow­er plants for local com­mu­ni­ties. On Novem­ber 8, 1938, a pub­lic util­i­ty dis­trict was estab­lished, reflect­ing sig­nif­i­cant progress over the years.

Four men in suits stand beside an old car with a Farmers Unite sign.

Wash­ing­ton State Grange spear­heads Ini­tia­tive No.1.

A vintage building labeled P.U.D. No. 1 Mason County.

The first PUD to go into oper­a­tion was PUD No. 1 of Mason Coun­ty.

A vintage newspaper headline reports a Supreme Court ruling.

After a chal­lenge, the law estab­lish­ing PUDs was upheld in 1936.

Historical street scene with horse-drawn wagons, people gathered outside wooden buildings.

Main Street in Gold­en­dale, July 4, 1880

The Willie Wirehand cartoon figure waves from an old-fashioned tractor.

For many years “Willy Wire­hand” was used as a famil­iar PUD logo

Six people stand outdoors near an industrial structure, wearing mid-20th-century attire.

Ear­ly employ­ees

Two women wash clothes in basins outside a wooden building.

Wash day before elec­tric­i­ty

A vintage office scene with three people in an early 20th-century work environment.

The PUD’s first office, in White Salmon

Four people standing together, looking at a book in a room filled with bookshelves.

PUD com­mis­sion­ers Harold Hill (far left) and Frank Ward (far right) are joined by PUD’s first man­ag­er, Emmet Clouse, and his wife, Mil­dred (cen­ter).