FORKS — Hickory shirts, those tough blue-grey and white striped shirts synonymous with loggers and hard work, will be celebrated during Hickory Shirt/Heritage Days in Forks this week.
The shirts will symbolize Forks’ history for four days, Wednesday through Sunday, with the theme, “Bridges Connecting the West End.”
The celebrations begin Wednesday as residents “paint the town hickory” by wearing their best hickory shirt, or other hickory fabric clothing items.
Hickory shirts stand up to the rough, wet work of logging and are ubiquitous on the West End.
For those who don’t yet have one, hickory shirts are available for sale at Forks Outfitters/Thriftway Food Store at 950 S. Forks Ave., or Jerry’s Rentals, Sales and Service at 1051 S. Forks Ave.
(And in Port Angeles at Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St.)
The hickory shirt celebration began in 1981 when Forks Thrifty Mart (later to become Forks Outfitters/Thriftway) wanted to honor the logging industry of the area.
The event has expanded to include a community-wide celebration of the town’s history.
Fred Shaw is the recipient of the 2014 Pioineer Logger Award, which be presented at the West End Business and Professional Association meeting at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Department of Natural Resources building’s conference room, 411 Tillicum Lane.
Shaw, who is in his 90s, will not be present at the meeting because of ill health, said Christi Baron, a Heritage Days organizer and editor of the weekly Forks Forum.
Also Wednesday is a three-hour Logging and Mill Tour beginning at 8:45 a.m.
The tour begins at the Forks Visitor Center, 1411 S. Forks Ave., and will take visitors to working logging sites and an operating mill, demonstrating to visitors modern logging and the base of the region’s economic history.
The tour is free, but donations are accepted to support it.
Volunteer tour guides are retired and semiretired forestry workers with knowledge of the industry.
Seating is limited so reservations are recommended at 360-374-2531.
Children 8 or older are welcome. Closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers or boots, are required.
The Forks Open Aire Market, next to the Forks Timber museum in the south parking area, will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The verbal history of Forks will be spun by local storytellers at the Old Timers’ Round Table at From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, at JT’s Sweet Stuff.
No events are scheduled Friday.
Smoked fish will be judged, beer and root beer will be on tap and live music will be performed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Old Mill Roundhouse at the 110 Business Park, 100 LaPush Road.
Entries for the locally caught fish and brew should be at the Old Mill Roundhouse at noon for judging.
First-, second- and third-place prizes for salmon recipes will be awarded, as well as a People’s Choice selection.
Past entries have included the usual salmon chowder and smoked salmon but also unusual combinations, such as salmon ice cream.
The Loose Gravel band will play. Art by Jack Datisman will be on display. Admission is a $5 donation.
The Little Loggers Contest, sponsored by the Forks Lions Club, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Forks Outfitters.
The Little Loggers Contest will include activities for children from birth to 12.
Children’s hickory shirts and rigging pants costumes will be judged, and prizes will be given in age groups for several categories, including best fake beard.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
