ENUMCLAW, Wash. - The Cumberland Grocery Store still stands, along with the Eager Beaver Tavern and the Bargain Center dealing in old-time stuff and antiques.
Cumberland was mining country once. A community where husky men drilled and blasted the black earth. The old-timers lived through two world wars, the boom years, crippling strikes and finally the economic death of "King Coal."
Big Mike's Tavern is now known as Eager Beaver Tavern. The pool hall burned down and the Cumberland School is now consolidated with Enumclaw and the building no longer exists. The Cumberland Fire Hall now stands on one corner of the former school yard.
At one time Cumberland had a post office. In the roaring '20s, the first postmaster was "gunned" down. The murderer was never found. In 1923, when the Potocniks bought the Cumberland Grocery Store, Mr. Frank Potocnik was the postmaster. When he passed away his wife, Mary Potocnik, took over until 1958.
Cumberland's post office was phased out. Now, all residents receive mail with an Enumclaw address; a city which lies some nine miles to the south.
Most of the houses are now occupied by families whose fathers work in the woods, for Boeing or in the Green River Valley area. Cumberland has some 400 residents.
The Cascade foothills which climb from the town are covered with trees in various stages of growth farmed mostly by Weyerhauser and Plum Creek Timber Co.
Tragedy nearly struck and wiped out the town in [January] when the Massey Gate fire scorched 290 acres to the east of the community. Winds were clocked as high as 65 miles per hour. About 360 workers were assigned to fight the blaze at its peak this January.
At one point, the foothill immediately east of Cumberland looked like a giant Christmas tree all lit up with countless small fires. It was a scary three days for all the residents. Some people evacuated while others packed prize possessions for a quick exit.
With the help of numerous firefighters and firetrucks from neighboring communities around Puget Sound, no homes or other structures were lost.
Cumberland was grateful to all who helped during the emergency. A community celebration took place at the firehall on Jan. 14. The firefighters and families were guests of a community-sponsored potluck. Approximately 250 people attended to honor these individuals and to break bread.
Frank Potocnik (738) was also honored at the affair as the oldest resident of Cumberland. Frank celebrated his 85th birthday on Jan. 14. He was presented with a beautifully decorated cake which he shared with all present.
Photo of Frank Potocnik and cake captioned "Photo at right: Lodge 738 member Frank Potocnik was presented a cake in honor of his 85th birthday at a potluck dinner held in honor of those firefighters who helped save Cumberland, Wash., from a series of tragic forest fires" accompanied the article.
