Benge, WA

The town of Benge was started by the S.P. & S. Railroad as a base camp from which to do the rock work northeast of the site.  A good spring and a small pond of fresh water being the reason for the choice.  In 1906 the land for the town of Benge was donated by Frank Benge and his wife Mary J. and their two daughters, Sarah and Anna.  The town was platted May 13, 1907 in the S.W. ¼ N.E. ¼ of Sec. 1, T. 16 N., R. 37 E., W.M. by railroad engineers or surveyors.    By 1911 the town had two general merchandise stores, a drug store, barber shop, hotel, lumber yard, restaurant, billiard hall, livery stable, meat market, and bank.

The railroad line was built through the site of the original homestead house, so the railroad paid Frank Benge for his house then built him a new house just off the right of way.  They built it of stone taken from a rock cut on the Benge property.  It is being well kept and is lived in at the present time.  This is the reason for the town being named Benge.