Harvey G Richardson

Harvey G Richardson (b. 22 April 1854) was an American inventor, the mayor of Olympia, Washington, and a shingle manufacturer.

Biography

Richardson was born in Lisbon, New Hampshire. He attended public schools and the New Hampshire Institute, learning the trade of millwright and built and operated mills. In 1872 he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, then onto Florida, then California, arriving in Tacoma, Washington in 1889. In 1895 he moved to Olympia, Washington and opened his first shingle factory.[1] Richardson was the mayor of Olympia, Washington in 1904, winning by 10 votes.[2]

Shingle manufacturer

Richardson opened his first shingle mill in Olympia, Washington in 1896.[3] He went on to be the proprietor of the Shore Sawmill, Dimension Shingle Mill, the Westside Shingle Mill[4] Richardson was on the board of directors of the Interstate Red Cedar Shingle Co.,[5] and the President of the Eastside Railroad Co.[6] He was a founding member of the "Commercial Club" for the City of Olympia.[7] Richardson was also a partner in the Six Eagles Mining Co., that mined the Okanogan Smith property in Okanogan County.[8]

In 1902, his mills produced 70,000,000 wood shingles.[9]

Later in his career, his work took him to relocate to Eburne,British Columbia, where he was the owner of Liulu Shingle Co., Ltd.[10]

Richardson held United States patent 560,147 for a shingle-edger, which he invented in 1896.[11]

Prank victim

In the early 1900s Olympia suffered mischief including vandalism and property destruction around Halloween each year. The "pranks" continued as the years went on, and in 1902, Richardson was the victim of a prank gone "too far". Halloween revelers stole three carrier wagons from his shingle mill, forcing the mill to stop production until the equipment was returned. Richardson offered a $50 reward for the apprehension of the "pranksters" and the return of his property.[12]

Personal life

Richardson was born 22 April 1854 in Lisbon, New Hampshire to David Sutherland Richardson and Julia Hannah Whiting. He married Rose Amande Kenney in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1872. He married, second, Mary Elizabeth Knickmeyer in 1877 while he was living in Florida. They had three children, Hortense, Mary Louise, and Lenora Elizabeth. He was a brother to Herbert Archer (H.A.) Richardson, a California pioneer, shipping magnate, and timber baron. Uncle to Grace Richardson Butterfield.

References
  1. Richardson, Harvey (1907). Sketches of Washingtonians (1907 ed.). Seattle, Washington: Wellington C. Wolfe & Co. p. 268.
  2. Richardson, Harvey. "Mayors Under Council Form of City Government". Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  3. Richardson, Harvey (21 Aug 1896). "City News in Brief". The Washington Standard. Retrieved 17 Jan 2021.
  4. Richardson, Harvey (9 January 1903). "City News in Brief". The Washington Standard.
  5. Richardson, Harvey (15 January 1904). "Washington Standard". The Washington Standard.
  6. Richardson, Harvey (15 January 1904). "City News". The Washington Standard. The Washington Standard.
  7. Richardson, Harvey (10 May 1907). "Money is Said to "Talk"". The Washington Standard.
  8. Richardson, Harvey (30 Mar 1900). "Six Eagles". The Washington Standard.
  9. Richardson, Harvey (6 Apr 1903). "View of the Shingle Market". Aberdeen Herald.
  10. Richardson, Harvey (25 June 1915). "City Notes". The Washintgon Standard.
  11. Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents to the Secretary of Commerce. Government Printing Office - Washington, DC: United States Patent Office. 3 Mar 1896. p. 679.
  12. Richardson, H.G. "From Spooky Mischief to Trick-or-Treating, Historic Halloween Changes in Olympia". Thurston Talk. Thurston Talk. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
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