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Gig Harbor Now and Then | The big tree the Meyers did fall

Reverse order of business

In this installment of Gig Harbor Now and Then, the questions for the next column (on Jan. 12) will come first. That provides a quiet, calm space at the end of this column for the relaxing, rustic, rural flavor of today’s story to pleasantly linger in the minds of the readers … or give them time to register complaints with the editor, depending on how they take it.

Questions of the week

In 1907, a man named Albert Jonsoni came to America, specifically to the Puget Sound area, where he intended to start a business. It’s not known if he had any idea of what kind of business it would be. His long-time friend, Louis Gasloli, was already in Tacoma, and had no doubt informed his friend by letter of the immense possibilities of the growing region. Perhaps he had suggested a specific kind of enterprise to Albert. Or maybe Albert decided after he arrived.

No matter how the decision happened to be made, not long after Jonsoni arrived in Tacoma, both men ended up in Gig Harbor, in business together.

The first question this week is:

What country did Jonsoni and Gasloli leave to come to America?

The question is not as easy as it sounds. Given their obvious Italian names, the equally obvious answer would be Italy. They were originally from Italy, but that’s not the country they left to come to America. They had established themselves elsewhere before making the move to the USA. It was a non-obvious and probably unlikely elsewhere.

The second question is:

In 1907, in what Gig Harbor business did Jonsoni and Gasloli engage?

The answers, along with what I hope will be an interesting explanation, will be revealed in this very column on Jan. 12. The story is a rather long one for this venue, so will be split into three parts, the next two being posted Jan. 26 and Feb. 9.

It’s a local story that has never before been told, so there are no mistaken assumptions about it floating around, distorting what really happened. It is an accurate account based entirely on documented facts. With any luck, it will stay that way.

And what the heck — how about an unhelpful hint? Hundreds, if not thousands (I’m not current with local traffic flow volumes), of people drive right through the site of the two Italians’ 1907 business every day.

To add an actual helpful hint, the name of the area where the site is located is a tipoff to the type of business the two men entered into.

Or, if you prefer near dead-giveaway hints, just such a thing can be found in Laurel and Hardy’s 1933 short “Dirty Work.”

Rhyming text sucks

Generally speaking, I don’t care for rhyming text. It’s typically pretty bad, and when it isn’t, it’s nearly always too cute, and sometimes even smug, which is far worse.

However, I dabbled in it myself in an earlier life. I’ve since overcome it, but it seems a shame not to put this particular one to some kind of use, considering that it already exists. And what better way to use it than to inflict it on others, especially when they come to this column expecting something good?

HA! Joke’s on you!

It’s a narrative of a specific episode of local history, so fits perfectly into the purpose of this column.

Logging on the farm

On Saturday, April 24, 1982, a large Douglas fir tree on the Meyer farm in Rosedale was taken down. It was a family affair, with a couple of friends joining in.

One of the unusual aspects to this story, which is noted in the narration, was the ivy that covered most of the trunk of the fir. It can be seen in many of the photos. What’s missing is a picture of the lower portion of the vine. At four inches in diameter, it was so thick that it was cut up for firewood along with the tree trunk.

Herewith, forthwith, and also with apologies in advance for the annoying rhyming text, is:

The Big Tree

The Meyers Did Fall

How big was the tree the Meyers did Fall?

By anyone’s standards the tree was quite tall.

In more precise terms, just how big was that?

It was taller than Jenny when it laid down flat!

But we’re ahead of the story we’re trying to tell.

We have to go back to before the tree fell.

————-

It was a beautiful tree in size and in form,

But they feared it would fall in the wind of a storm.

It had to come down ’cause it threatened the home,

And the task it entailed was the source of this poem.

————-

To be sure of its fall it had to be tied

By a line up the trunk to act as a guide.

But who could be conned up the tangle of vines

That discouraged the placing of any such lines?

————-

Jack Rossi was summoned to climb up the tree

Because of his skill and because he was free!

I’d’ve taken a picture as he climbed into the green,

But because of the ivy, he couldn’t be seen!

————-

The rigging was made and the choker was placed.

The cable was strung and the tree was then braced.

The stage was set for the event of the year —

But we all had to wait while Jack had a beer.

————-

At last it was time to put teeth to the wood.

At the foot of the tree with chainsaw he stood.

He sized up the angle and started his cut;

With sawdust a-flying he knifed through the butt.

————-

He sliced out the wedge then stepped back to see

If the angle was straight on that gigantic tree.

————-

Again he cut wood, on the backside this time,

And severed the trunk he had dreaded to climb.

With a crack and a groan the tree listed to port,

Then swooshed ’til it hit with a violent report.

————-

The branches touched ground with a shattering roar,

Leaving nothing to stand where a tree stood before.

This story sounds over but don’t be confused,

There’s a dozen more pictures that have yet to be used.

————-

Removing the log took several hours, I’d guess,

For the tree on the ground made a gigantic mess.

Then out came the crew and set to the chore

Of cutting and burning ’til the tree was no more.

————-

Led in their working by Kevin, Bruce, and Dick,

They removed every leaf, every needle and stick.

————-

When at last came the dusk of that day at the Meyers’,

The last of the tree turned to smoke on the fires.

————-

But the job is not done with removing one tree,

For although one is gone, there still remain three.

Sixteen of the photos were taken by Greg Spadoni, three by Kevin Meyer.

— Greg Spadoni, December 29, 2025

Greg Spadoni of Olalla has had more access to local history than most life-long residents. During 25 years in road construction working for the Spadoni Brothers, his first cousins, twice removed, he traveled to every corner of the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsulas, taking note of many abandoned buildings, overgrown farms, and roads that no longer had a destination. Through his current association with the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor as the unofficial Chief (and only) Assistant to Linda McCowen, the Museum’s primary photo archive volunteer, he regularly studies the area’s largest collection of visual history. Combined with the print history available at the museum and online, he has uncovered countless stories of long-forgotten local people and events.