STANLEY MAYORS and Village Presidents

Mayor list shows time, change

A long and proud history, with room for more. So far no women, though should one decide to run nothing would bar her in terms of gender.

Taken in sequence, the men who have governed Stanley since its inception as a village back in the 19th century have taken the job in its time, ranging from lumber company executives, to business men and ordinary citizens.Many a mayor has started in the alderman’s ranks.

Starting out the review of the local mayors is Lawrence Gilman “Gil” Moon, born in 1859 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

A man of many talents, Mr. Moon was the firstborn of Delos Rensellaer (D.R.) Sarah Freighly “Sallie” Gilman Moon, married in October 1858 in Illinois before coming north. Both D. R. and Sallie have portraits at the library.

Following the leadership of their son L. G. Moon’ the village presidency for Stanley passed to L. G. Chapman, the second and last village president, after C. B. Culbertson helped draw up articles of incorporation for Stanley to become a city, with C. T. Casterline its first mayor. Culbetson would later run for mayor but fail to secure election.

At any rate and holding the mayorship for a year, Casterline would be succeeded in turn by Chapman, who passed off leadership to Lars Ingebretson (L.I.) Roe, nicknamed “King Louie.”

Passing the city’s leadership in turn to local business owner W. F. Crane, Roe won election to a second administration in 1908, followed in turn by Frank S. (F. S.) Grubb, who gave way to Crane in 1916.

Following the resignation of Mayor Crane in January of 1917, the post passed to Robert M. Potter, with Andrew Sneen replacing Potter in the first ward to fill the resulting vacancy.

Following the April 1917 election, meanwhile, it was George Chapman, Northwestern Lumber Company mill manager and park namesake, who gave way in turn to Harold Gregorsen.

Following the first administration of Gregorsen he was succeeded by Edwin Bjarne Roe, son of L.I. Roe and born at Porter’s Mills in 1889, before the mill moved.

With Gregorsen’s election to a second administration following Mr. Roe it was Andrew Sneen, followed with George Hipke, who later became a state lawmaker.

Initially withdrawing his mayoral candidacy in favor of Hipke before being persuaded to re-enter by friends, veteran council member and Big Four Cannery man Gustav B. Lange took the reins of city government, followed in turn by others, including World War I veteran and local business manager Douglas J. Mackenzie.

Come Centennial time it was time to go retro, with many era mayors taking part in the festivities and getting pictures as they may have looked in 1881. Come 1986 it was Carl Edwardson, who took over from Lester Janisewski after Janisewski moved outside the city limits.

Edwardson gave way in turn to Robert Berzinski, who ceded power to Clarence Hoel. Come 1994 it was Dale Johnson, followed by David Jankoski with over a decade, earning him the informal title of “the Mayor” after office.

Jankoski giving advance notice of his plans to depart, Mike Henke took over, resigning to be suceeded by Norm Christianson, who noted in late 2019 that he wouldn’t seek another term.

As of the present the mayor is Al Haas, but as for the next election,well, who knows?

32. Norm Christianson 2017 – 2020

31. Mike Henke 2012 – 2017

30. David Jankoski 1998 – 2012

29. Dale Johnson 1994 – 1998

28. Clarence Hoel 1992 – 1994

27. Robert Berzinski 1987 – 1992

26. Carl Edwardson July 1986 – April 1987

25. Lester Janisewski 1980 – 1986

24. Edwin Fandry 1979

23. Bernard Moldenhauer January – April 1979

22. John Kessenich 1971 – 1978

21. Willard Mortensen 1966 – 1971

20. Douglas J. McKenzie 1952 – 1965

19. R. B. Moldenhauer 1948 – 1951

18. Armond Christopherson 1937 – 1947

17. Gust B. Lange 1936

16. George Hipke 1932 – 1935

15. Andrew Sneen 1931 (pictured 1910s)

14. Harold Gregorson 1928 – 1930

13. Edwin Bjarne Roe 1926 – 1927

12. Harold Gregorson 1920 – 1925

11. George Chapman 1917 – 1919

10. Robert M. Potter February – April 1917

9. W. F. Crane 1916 – January 1917

Frank S. Grubb 1910 – 1915

7. L. I. Roe 1908 – 1909

6. W. F. Crane 1904 – 1907

5. L. I. Roe 1900 – 1903

4. L. G. Chapman 1899

3. C. T. Casterline, mayor 1898

2. L. G. Chapman, president 1897

1. L.G. Moon, president 1896

The L.G. Moon residence at 901 North Broadway in the spring of 1896, torn down for new construction in the spring of 1963. Photos made possible with digitization and some assistance.