“As Clean as a Fresh Cookie” – Clean-Up Day in Turn of the Century Olympia

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By Jennifer Crooks

heritage bankWho wants a messy city? Across the United States in the early 1900s, Progressive Era goals of city beautification, increased sanitation, and better quality of life led to urban improvement efforts. At that time Olympia’s Civic Improvement Club sponsored an annual “Clean-Up Day.” Vowing to make the city “as clean as a fresh cookie” to boost civic pride and visitor appeal, the concept of a Clean-Up Day outlasted the Club. Clean-ups, with different names, continue to the present day in Olympia.

According to historian Shanna Stevenson, Olympia’s Civic Improvement Club was a woman’s organization founded in 1904 that intended to improve the quality of life and appearance of Olympia. Financed by an annual Rose Show, the Club did many activities, including leading beautification efforts for the Maple Park area and building a ladies bath house at Priest Point Park. Their primary activity was an annual Clean-Up Day.

olympia history
This photo shows Olympia during the turn of the twentieth century. A growing population created a lot of garbage that tended to get dumped wherever convenient. Photo courtesy Washington State Archives, State Library Photograph Collection.

The “Clean-Up Day” concept was not unique to Olympia. At the turn of the century, towns and cities around America held Clean-Up Days in order to improve daily life in their towns. In Olympia, the main focus was to clean up the accumulations of rubbish in public and private spaces. Although people created less waste than today, Olympia had no municipal garbage collection and individuals had a natural tendency to be messy.

Private dumping grounds were quick to develop in alleys, vacant lots and backyards. Other trash was typically burned (a very unenvironmental practice) but our typically cold, rainy winters made it nearly impossible to burn until spring. This encouraged Clean-Up Days to be held in the spring before summer heat made trash heaps a health hazard. Besides picking up trash, on Clean-Up Day people were encouraged to do much more. Families were urged to pick up their yards, rake lawns, trim grass and pick up debris.

With the slogan, “For a More Beautiful Olympia,” the Civic Improvement Club’s first annual Clean-Up Day was held Friday, May 11, 1906. It set the pattern for following Clean-Up Days. Dividing the city into three sections, covering both downtown and residential areas, horse-pulled wagons picked up rubbish left in barrels and boxes on the corners of graded streets and took them to the city dump at the end of Main Street (now Capitol Way). The Club often hired teams of wagons and workers to pick up the trash and take it to the dump to be disposed of. Fires were kept burning all day at the dump. Sometimes the city government or the Olympia Brewing Company would donate the use of teams, covering the cost themselves. Members of the Civic Improvement Club went around town to see that things were properly piled up and taken away.

olympia history
On Clean-Up Day, the Civic Improvement Club hired wagon teams to haul rubbish gathered on street corners to the city dump. “Morning Olympian,” May 5, 1917. Photo courtesy Washington State Library.

The amount of trash collected on Clean-Up Day could be considerable. In 1909, for example, 200 wagonloads of rubbish were taken away. That is a large amount of trash, considering that Olympia then had a population of only about 7,000 people (according to the 1910 United Federal Census). Such a fine selection of refuse made Clean-Up Day a boon to junk dealers. Dealers (and interested members of the public) would come to the dump to buy marginally valuable items, such as scrap iron, copper and glass bottles. These sales nearly paid the costs of Clean-Up Day in 1912.

As an event, Clean-Up Day changed over time. By 1909 it was extended to two days and would extend to a week in the 1920s. Additional change also occurred. In 1917 the Civic Improvement Club charged small fees for hauling trash away because they were out of funds. Then in 1918, the Clean-Up Day was held in November after the Armistice ending World War I was signed (rather than Spring). That year’s efforts took place with the cooperation of Camp Lewis sanitation officials in the midst of an influenza pandemic.

Olympia’s Civic Improvement Club voted to disband in mid-June 1920, citing a decline in interest after the end of World War I. The concept of Clean-Up Day, however, did not end. It would continue under different names, led by groups including Olympia High School and the Boy Scouts. Over time clean-up efforts would take place in Olympia in numerous forms although its direction changed with municipal garbage collection being the norm.

There are many modern events keeping with the spirit of Olympia’s old Clean-Up Day with various clean-ups in local parks, neighborhoods and downtown. The Olympia Downtown Association, for example, holds annual Clean-Ups before the Spring and the Fall Arts Walk. Approximately 100 to 200 volunteers weed, sweep, rake, prune and paint to have downtown sparkling. All of Olympia’s Clean-Ups are a fitting legacy to the Civic Improvement Club’s vision of a more beautiful, livable community.

 

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