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Troy was originally
known as Huff's Gulch. In 1890 John P. Vollmer was instrumental in
extending the Spokane & Palouse Railway (later the Northern Pacific) to
Huff's Gulch from Moscow as a start toward completion of its line to
Lewiston.
After establishing a
general merchandise store and a large livery stable, he had the town
renamed after himself. It was incorporated as Vollmer in 1892. As a
businessman Vollmer was very successful, amassing large land holdings and
great
wealth. But in
1897 the citizens rebelled against having their village named after a man
who owned more than 32,000 acres of land, much of
it gained by foreclosing on bank loans to farmers.
A Greek railroad
worker suggested "Troy," the name of "the most illustrious city in the
world" and backed it with an offer of a drink of
whiskey for everyone who would vote to change the name. "Troy"
received 29 votes; "Vollmer", 9. In the early 1900's, Troy had a
bank, a flour mill, a general store, two meat markets, three saloons,
several sawmills, one dentist, and a weekly newspaper. |
