John Tornow Tours
John Tornow Tours
Tours of John Tornow sites will resume on Saturday, June 4 and June 18 and will likely occur two a month in the summer.
We were elated that nearly 120 signed up for the five tours we held last year. The committee was able to present a check for $300 to the Matlock Museum to help cover expenses for painting and power washing the museum’s exterior.
We thank everyone who participated, and the museum board thanks you as well. We will either continue to help the museum or select a new project for tour proceeds in 2022. The price has been increased to further aid the museum or another project.
Enjoy these photos from the various 2021 tours.
The tours will generally start at the Matlock Museum, caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then visit one of three sites for sack lunch. We will alternate according to availability visits to the Travers’ ranch, the Pavola home on the Decker Creek or the Anderson’s home and garden in Beeville. Other stops include the Tornow Homestead, the Running Anvil Carriage Museum and the shootout site on the Wynooche Valley Road. Signups for the first event are through Eventbrite. Details of the first event and link to sign up follow:
The first tour of the year will be Saturday, June 4, meeting at 10 a.m. at the Matlock Museum adjacent to Mary M. Knight School in Matlock.
After visiting the museum, we will caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then to A.J. Pavola's picturesque home on the Decker Creek. Bring sack lunch and drinks for this stop. Then, it's on to the Tornow homestead and down to Montesano and up the Wynooche Valley Road to the Running Anvil Carriage Museum, where the Tornow buggy is located, among a variety of other carriages and an incredible matchbook collection. The final stop is 26.9 miles north to the shootout site, where Tornow was killed. Books will be available for sale at the museum. Cash or check preferred
Eventbrite is again our online ordering source. Limit again is 35.
Click link or cut and paste to attend the tour of your choosing:
We were elated that nearly 120 signed up for the five tours we held last year. The committee was able to present a check for $300 to the Matlock Museum to help cover expenses for painting and power washing the museum’s exterior.
We thank everyone who participated, and the museum board thanks you as well. We will either continue to help the museum or select a new project for tour proceeds in 2022. The price has been increased to further aid the museum or another project.
Enjoy these photos from the various 2021 tours.
The tours will generally start at the Matlock Museum, caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then visit one of three sites for sack lunch. We will alternate according to availability visits to the Travers’ ranch, the Pavola home on the Decker Creek or the Anderson’s home and garden in Beeville. Other stops include the Tornow Homestead, the Running Anvil Carriage Museum and the shootout site on the Wynooche Valley Road. Signups for the first event are through Eventbrite. Details of the first event and link to sign up follow:
The first tour of the year will be Saturday, June 4, meeting at 10 a.m. at the Matlock Museum adjacent to Mary M. Knight School in Matlock.
After visiting the museum, we will caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then to A.J. Pavola's picturesque home on the Decker Creek. Bring sack lunch and drinks for this stop. Then, it's on to the Tornow homestead and down to Montesano and up the Wynooche Valley Road to the Running Anvil Carriage Museum, where the Tornow buggy is located, among a variety of other carriages and an incredible matchbook collection. The final stop is 26.9 miles north to the shootout site, where Tornow was killed. Books will be available for sale at the museum. Cash or check preferred
Eventbrite is again our online ordering source. Limit again is 35.
Click link or cut and paste to attend the tour of your choosing:
- July 15, 2021
- 8:21 pm
- No Comments
We were elated that nearly 120 signed up for the five tours we held last year. The committee was able to present a check for $300 to the Matlock Museum to help cover expenses for painting and power washing the museum’s exterior.
We thank everyone who participated, and the museum board thanks you as well. We will either continue to help the museum or select a new project for tour proceeds in 2022. The price has been increased to further aid the museum or another project.
Enjoy these photos from the various 2021 tours.
The tours will generally start at the Matlock Museum, caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then visit one of three sites for sack lunch. We will alternate according to availability visits to the Travers’ ranch, the Pavola ranch on the Decker Creek or the Anderson’s home and garden in Beeville. Other stops include the Tornow Homestead, the Running Anvil Carriage Museum and the shootout site. Signups for the first event are through Eventbrite. Details of the first event and link to sign up follow:
John Tornow tour organizers are getting ready. Are you? Here it is April 23.
The first tour of the year is Saturday, April 23, meeting at 10 a.m. at the Matlock Museum. This date was chosen because it marks the death of John Tornow 109 years ago. The actual date is April 16, but that's Easter weekend. After visiting the museum, we will caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then to A.J. Pavola's picturesque home on the Decker Creek. Bring sack lunch and drinks for this stop. Then, it's on to the Tornow homestead and down to Montesano and up the Wynooche Valley Road to the Running Anvil Carriage Museum, where the Tornow buggy is located, among a variety of other carriages and an incredible matchbook collection. The final stop is 26.9 miles north to the shootout site, where Tornow was killed. Books will be available for sale at the museum. Cash or check preferred
Eventbrite is again our online ordering source. Limit again is 35.
We thank everyone who participated, and the museum board thanks you as well. We will either continue to help the museum or select a new project for tour proceeds in 2022. The price has been increased to further aid the museum or another project.
Enjoy these photos from the various 2021 tours.
The tours will generally start at the Matlock Museum, caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then visit one of three sites for sack lunch. We will alternate according to availability visits to the Travers’ ranch, the Pavola ranch on the Decker Creek or the Anderson’s home and garden in Beeville. Other stops include the Tornow Homestead, the Running Anvil Carriage Museum and the shootout site. Signups for the first event are through Eventbrite. Details of the first event and link to sign up follow:
John Tornow tour organizers are getting ready. Are you? Here it is April 23.
The first tour of the year is Saturday, April 23, meeting at 10 a.m. at the Matlock Museum. This date was chosen because it marks the death of John Tornow 109 years ago. The actual date is April 16, but that's Easter weekend. After visiting the museum, we will caravan to the Grove Cemetery, then to A.J. Pavola's picturesque home on the Decker Creek. Bring sack lunch and drinks for this stop. Then, it's on to the Tornow homestead and down to Montesano and up the Wynooche Valley Road to the Running Anvil Carriage Museum, where the Tornow buggy is located, among a variety of other carriages and an incredible matchbook collection. The final stop is 26.9 miles north to the shootout site, where Tornow was killed. Books will be available for sale at the museum. Cash or check preferred
Eventbrite is again our online ordering source. Limit again is 35.
Six openings for July 24, new tour Aug. 14
he pandemic might have put the brakes on book selling, fairs and other events, but tours to sites important to the Tornow story are available.
Six tickets remain for July 24. Link below: We are working on the itinerary and the order, but for sure, we will be visiting the Travers' ranch home for lunch. Bring a brown bag. The logistics of having as many as 18 vehicles and maybe more are a challenge. The forecast is for sunny and mid-80s. Here is the link for the next tour. We had so much fun on the last one and this one promises to be even better. More details soon. See pix below and on other linked FB sites.
Here is the link to the July 24. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/154320616117Here is the link to the Aug. 14 tour: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-tornow-tour-august-14-tickets-161969582381Tours for homeschoolers have been hugely popular. If you are interested in a group tour led by Tracy Travers and "Villain or Victim?" author Bill Lindstrom, contact bill.lindstrom114@gmail.com or tracy@rileyjackson.net

Students check out John Tornow's grave site at the Grove Cemetery.
Look at the various items visitors have left. Beer cans, tobacco cans,
spent bullets and more.

Walking path to memorial

Checking out the Tornow Victims' Memorial

Strange items left at site

The hemlock believed to be where Tornow
was eventually slain by Giles Quimby.

Frog trap

Posse members bring out Tornow's body

Signing the visitors' book.

Artifacts unearthed at shootout site believed
to have been used by Tornow.
Tornowland tours available
If you have any historical items from the original days of the John Tornow story (1911-1913) the Tornow Victims Memorial Committee would like to hear from you. We are particularly interested in the Tornow gun that he had used. That's the .30 .30 Winchester (Actually 30 WCF). I have the serial No. from the sheriff's office, so we can easily identify it. We have heard that the gun is in the area. We are also interested in collecting all the Post Cards. Dana Anderson of the committee says there may be as many as 20 different ones. There may also be a Tornow signature out there somewhere. He did sell pelts and other trapping materials and he also bought property in Aberdeen. If you might have any of these items,
email bill.lindstrom114@gmail.com .
Thank you
Bill Lindstrom
WANTED: ORIGINAL TORNOW ITEMS
If you have any historical items from the original days of the John Tornow story (1911-1913) the Tornow Victims Memorial Committee would like to hear from you. We are particularly interested in the Tornow gun that he had used. That's the .30 .30 Winchester (Actually 30 WCF). I have the serial No. from the sheriff's office, so we can easily identify it. We have heard that the gun is in the area. We are also interested in collecting all the Post Cards. Dana Anderson of the committee says there may be as many as 20 different ones. There may also be a Tornow signature out there somewhere. He did sell pelts and other trapping materials and he also bought property in Aberdeen. If you might have any of these items,
email bill.lindstrom114@gmail.com .
Thank you
Bill Lindstrom
OCT. 29, 2013
New book: John Tornow - 100 years later
Apr. 16, 2013
Several people have asked me how to get the Tornow 100 years later book. This is a full-color, hardback 34-page edition. Response has been terrific. Some libraries and area museums now have it. Perfect for the Tornow enthusiast or the coffee table. It includes a brief Tornow story, but mostly pictures. There are many historic photos that were made into postcards, but it also includes everything that has transpired in the last 100 years - from the tombstone dedication in 1987 to the Matlock forum, to the re-enactment and memorial dedication in March and April,2013. Also included are tours made by the Lathrop brothers when they were here in April. It's a keepsake.
To get your copy, email bill.lindstrom114@gmail.com.
I will send you a link to preview. This book is $68, including tax and shipping.
To get your copy, email bill.lindstrom114@gmail.com.
I will send you a link to preview. This book is $68, including tax and shipping.
This is the 100th anniversary of John Tornow's Death
May. 16, 2013
On April 20, 2013, at 1 p.m. there was a dedication of a monument in remembrance of those who where killed at Tornow Lake in 1913. The site is located at mile marker 27 on the Wynooche Valley Road near Montesano WA. Brochures are available at most museums and historical societies to tell you more about John Tornow, the victims and the Tornow Committee. The brochures will also guide you to the site of the memorial, the site of Grove Cemetery, where John, his parents and the Bauer twins are buried. DVDs of the memorial dedication will be available to purchase soon. Stay tuned for more information.
Re-enactment DVD teaser link
This link will take you to a 2-minute preview of the DVD from the re-enactment and Matlock Forum. Information is there on purchasing the entire DVD.
Cut and paste this address. Or go to the DVD link under re-enactment DVD for a direct link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E1I0_kZJ_s
Cut and paste this address. Or go to the DVD link under re-enactment DVD for a direct link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E1I0_kZJ_s
ROTTEN TREE FALLS ON MEMORIAL
Thanks to Dana and Faaea Anderson, the tree that fell acrosss the memorial is now cut up and mostly cleared away. The path to the memorial is now clear all the way. This photo is one Bill Lindstrom took in early April.Thankfully, the memorial emerged unscathed due to its solid construction. The plaques also didn't appear damaged. The only tree in the area to fall and of all the directions it could have fallen, it hits the memorial. We expect to erect a permanent laminated brochure to identify the cedar posts soon.

John Tornow
Bauer Twins
On a sunday afternoon of September 1911 William Jr. and John Bauer were shot near their home on the Satsop River while hunting a bear. This is when the 19-month manhunt began.

William and John
Bauer's Home
Located near the banks
of the Satsop River.

Bauer Home today
The home still
stands today.






Kind regards
John Towrnow Memorial Committee




