Herald staff
GOLD BAR — When the city’s 22-foot totem pole is restored, it will be placed south of U.S. 2 in a city park, rather than at City Hall where is previously stood.
City councilwoman Debbie Hunt said the council decided to place it in a more prominent location where those traveling through town could enjoy it as well as the locals.
As legend has it, Hunt said, the totem was originally carved by an inmate at the prison in Monroe about 10 years ago.
"He made one for Gold Bar, Sultan and Monroe, from the kindness of his heart," she said.
While prison records don’t indicate who carved the poles, each city still has its totem.
The one in Sultan is near the gazebo in the park at First and Main streets. It was dedicated April 6, 1990, to note American Indian heritage, a plaque says. The names of Arthur Monroe, "Blackwolfe," and Tracy Hoggart , "Twoworlds," appear on the plaque as the donors.
Monroe’s totem pole is at Sky River Park. It is dedicated to residents as a goodwill gesture and pledge of public service from the prison farm, and carved by Arthur Monroe.
The totems are similar in color and style, and are intertribal, denoting tribal unity.
Gold Bar’s totem pole will be restored to its original colors of black, white, blue, brown, red and yellow.
And it will tell the same story, with an eagle at the top, towering over a bear, raven, owl and killer whale. The cross bar will carry a cross, medicine circle, plains buffalo, a coastal thunderbird, a sunrise and crossed tomahawks.
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