Walker, Levi - Polson Museum, Hoquiam, WA

• Title	Walker, Levi - Polson Museum, Hoquiam, WA
  Short Title	Walker, Levi - Polson Museum, Hoquiam, WA
  Publisher	John Larson (director of Polson Museum, Hoquiam, WA) to Janis Walker Gilmore (Pawleys Island, SC), e-mail, 13 August 2006; regarding Levi H. Walker.
  Source ID	S566
  Text	Hello, Our community librarian, Roberta Holmes, passed along your research request regarding Levi Henderson Walker and his life here in Hoquiam as a fireman. Our museum, the Polson Museum, will be more than happy to do some research on Mr. Walker as well as look for photographs of the fire department around the 1920s. Our main researcher volunteers here on Wednesdays and I'll be passing along your info to him this week. I did do a preliminary search in our collections database and see that we do have a postcard of Hoquiam firefighters that lists a "Walker" as pictured. We also have another HFD photo that lists a Walker as well. I'd guess that this is the great uncle you're looking for so we'll be digging out those images this week. I did give a call to our local mortuary, Coleman Mortuary, who has been in business here now for nearly 100 years. They handled his death arrangements and had some pretty good information on file. Levi H. Walker was born on June 16, 1881 in Willo Springs, Missouri and he died on November 19, 1936 in Hoquiam, Washington. At the time of his death, he was a service station operator at "Walker & Sandstrom" (which we'll do some additional digging on this Wed.). He resided at 714 Hill Ave. in Hoquiam and had lived in Hoquiam for 35 years. He had a sister, M.E. Kelley, who lived in Amory, Mississippi and the records did not indicate who his mother and father were. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Park here in Hoquiam. The funeral arrangements were handled by Reuben Sandstrom who was his partner at the service station. I took the liberty of phoning Basil Sandstrom, a member of our museum, and found out that Reuben was his father. Unfortunately, Levi Walker died when Basil was only four so he had no recollection of Mr. Walker. Basil did note that Levi dated his aunt (Reuben's sister) Mabel Sandstrom and resided with her at the home that was formerly Reuben Sandstrom's parents (Reuben lived at 722 Hill just a few houses down from his parents original home at 714). Anyway, Basil didn't really know much more about Levi as his dad never talked much about the man. Well, I hope this info helps. I'll be writing again with more info and likely with some photographic images as well. It may take us a week or two to get things pulled together for you so stay tuned. Please feel free to contact me with any other info you think may be helpful in our search or other details you'd like us to look for. Sincerely, John Larson, Director Polson Museum P.O. Box 432 1611 Riverside Ave. Hoquiam, Wash. 98550 360.533.5862 «u»www.polsonmuseum.org «/u»