Editing Morton, Washington (section)

==Arts and culture==

===Charitable organizations===
Morton's downtown arts center is supported by the Fire Mountain Arts Council (FMAC), a non-profit formally incorporated in 2003. The group purchased the Roxy Theater and managed and found funding for the venue's restoration efforts that was completed in 2024. The FMAC also manages an art gallery and the Tiller Arts and Events Center in Morton.<ref name="BDRBC">{{cite news |last1=Sexton |first1=Owen |title='Backstage Debut': Ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Morton's Roxy Theater to unveil new expansion |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/backstage-debut-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-held-at-mortons-roxy-theater-to-unveil-new,342317 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 19, 2024}}</ref>

===Festivals and events===
The Morton Loggers’ Jubilee is a weekend celebration of the city's history of logging, usually held in August. Due to a lack of permanent records, the actual year the jubilee began is unknown, however there are reports of a beginning timeline of 1937 or 1938.<ref name="MTH80">{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Morton to host 80th annual Loggers Jubilee starting Thursday |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/morton-to-host-80th-annual-loggers-jubilee-starting-thursday,323495 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 9, 2023}}</ref> The event has been a tradition since the 1940s and is proclaimed as the "granddaddy of all logging shows".<ref name="HTWLT">{{cite news |last1=Rietmulder |first1=Michael |title=How this WA logging town shaped Grammy nominee Brandy Clark |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/how-this-wa-logging-town-shaped-grammy-nominee-brandy-clark/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=February 3, 2024}}</ref> Highlights include the coronation of a Jubilee Queen, [[Lawn mower racing|lawnmower]] and bed racing, and competitive [[Lumberjack#Loggersports|logging contests]], which continues the original practice of the jubilee to be a "friendly competition between loggers".<ref name="MTH80"/> A parade, flea market, live music, and street dance performances round out the festivities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rubin |first1=Will |title=The 'Granddaddy of All Logging Shows' Rolls on in Morton |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/the-granddaddy-of-all-logging-shows-rolls-on-in-morton,15760? |access-date=August 12, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vander Stoep |first1=Isabel |title=Granddaddy of All Logging Shows: Morton Loggers' Jubilee Returns This Weekend for 78th Run |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/granddaddy-of-all-logging-shows-morton-loggers-jubilee-returns-this-weekend-for-78th-run,270609 |access-date=August 12, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Morton Loggers Jubilee - Jubilee History |url=https://loggersjubilee.com/jubilee-history/ |website=loggersjubilee.com |publisher=Morton Loggers Jubilee Committee |access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> In her first homecoming show in Morton, [[Brandy Clark]] performed during the 75th anniversary of the event in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nailon |first1=Jordan |title=Homegrown Country Music Star Brandy Clark to Perform Local Shows |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/homegrown-country-music-star-brandy-clark-to-perform-local-shows,27195? |access-date=April 16, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Betts |first1=Stephen L. |title=Brandy Clark to Release Concert Album 'Live From Los Angeles' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/brandy-clark-to-release-concert-album-live-from-los-angeles-117417/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> Visitors to the city are welcomed with a wooden sculpture of a lumberjack, given the title "Big Ole", signifying the jubilee's importance to the community.<ref name="AITPC"/>

===Historic buildings and sites===
The downtown district is home to the Roxy Theater, first opened in 1938; the first film shown was [[Thin Ice (1937 film)|Thin Ice]], starring figure skater [[Sonja Henie]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Morton |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1938/03-15/page-2 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 15, 1938 |page=2}}</ref>{{efn|Although sourcing in the 2000s mentions either 1925 or 1937 as the year the Roxy was opened, the reference listed specifically reports that the theater opened for the first time in March 1938.}} The movie house was previously the site of another venue known as the Arcade Theater. Having been dormant since 1980,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lawton |first1=Mark |title=Arts council to purchase theater |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/arts-council-to-purchase-theater,248024? |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 2, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Pat |title='What's playing at the Roxy? I'll tell you what's playing at the Roxy …' |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/whats-playing-at-the-roxy-ill-tell-you-whats-playing-at-the-roxy,242707? |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=March 25, 2004}}</ref> the site was heavily restored beginning in the early 2000s and finished by 2006. The Roxy was fully opened for films and theater productions the following year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Decker |first1=Sharyn L. |title=Movies Return to Morton |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2007/04-09/page-3 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 9, 2007 |page=A3}}</ref> A further remodeling effort began during the [[Covid-19 pandemic]], which included an addition to the building used as a backstage, and was completed in 2024. The theater holds live theatrical performances and film viewings.<ref name="BDRBC"/> The Roxy is also home to an art gallery.<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=BCJ Gallery in Morton to feature student artwork |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/bcj-gallery-in-morton-to-feature-student-artwork,339369? |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 29, 2024}}</ref>