In early days of western cities’ development, municipal water was conducted through threaded wooden pipes, a healthier and cheaper material than lead. Our thriving port, with its abundant nearby forest resources, was a natural location for wood-based industries. The National Wood Pipe Company established a factory at the north end of Olympia’s central peninsula (near the…
In June 1933, the Studebaker company sponsored a group of Elks Club members on a journey from Los Angeles to Milwaukee, a promotion for their short-lived Rockne model. Here the group poses in front of Olympia’s Elks Club building on Capitol Way. The building is now on the local, state, and national heritage registers. Photograph selected…
State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives On March 18, 1900, the City of Olympia was honored to host the funeral for unclaimed dead Spanish-American War soldiers from Washington State. This photograph shows the funeral procession, which began at the Olympia Opera House (near the current location of City Hall) to the…
Merle Junk photographer, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives On May 5, 1950, the City of Olympia celebrated its centennial with a parade. Here, a float, featuring bathing beauties over the decades, rounds the corner of Capitol and Fifth Avenue. The Funk-Volland Building is in the background, where Olympia Federal Savings is now. Photograph selected…
State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives St. Martin’s College in Lacey, Washington, now St. Martin’s University, was founded in 1895. In this early aerial photograph we see Old Main, constructed between 1913 and 1923, with the steam plant being the only other visible structure among the surrounding fields and forests. Photograph selected…
On this website Walking Tours Unless indicated, these are City of Olympia and neighborhood-sponsored walking tours and brochures, scanned to this website. Note: some of these are out of date and should be relied on with caution. Most places on these brochures can also be found in our Where Are We? Bigelow…
Marking Time: Thurston County Historical Markers by Shanna B. Stevenson Olympia: POSSCA, 1983. Historical markers erected throughout the years by various groups to commemorate persons or events of local historical importance present a valuable resource and recognize in a special way our unique heritage. Listed here are markers throughout Thurston County which show in a…
The Olympia Tribune published a promotional brochure in 1891 highlighting important people and places in and around Olympia. This image is of the Chambers Block at Fourth Avenue and Main Street (now Capitol Way), then and now the center of Downtown Olympia. The building still exists. Its ornate parapets and bay windows were severely damaged during the…
State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives,http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov The institution formally named William Winlock Miller High School, but known by all as Olympia High School, has existed at three locations. The second location, featured here, was built in 1919, on Capitol Way between 12th and 13th, on what is now East Capitol…
In the days when Puget Sound was the equivalent of our Interstate 5, dozens of small, privately owned steam-driven freight and passenger vessels, dubbed the Mosquito Fleet, plied the waterways between Olympia, at the southern end, all the way to Vancouver, in British Columbia. In this photograph, probably from the 1890s, three sternwheelers – the Northern Light,…
[This article by local historian Bernice Sapp was included in Gordon Newell’s small book, “So Fair a Dwelling Place,” fully transcribed here by Ed Echtle. Miss Sapp wrote this about 1950, so her title, Olympia 100 Years Ago, is not meant to be taken literally. Ed Echtle has helpfully created a Google Earth map pinpointing…
On April 13, 1949 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Puget Sound, the largest ever recorded. It caused extensive damage and destruction to downtown Olympia and to the State Capitol Campus buildings, as well as the entire Puget Sound region. The Old State Capitol Building (now Office of Superintendent of Instruction) is shown here undergoing repairs.…
Photographic negative, of a group of three young women identified as the flame princesses,Olympia, WA, Thurston County, evidently a beauty contest associated with the Olympia Fire Department. They are posed outside of the Olympia Fire Department building (now, 2013, the Family Support Center) standing on a fire truck and wearing fire helmets; taken for Olympian…
Click on link to view a PDF of this newsletter, originally issued in print. Scanned March 4, 2014 OHSnews004
Click on link to view a PDF version of this newsletter, which was issued in print. Scanned March 4, 2014. OHSnews003
Click on link to view a PDF version of this letter, which was originally issued in print. Scanned March 4, 2014. OHSnews002
Click on link below to view a PDF of this newsletter, originally issued in print. Scanned March 4, 2014 OHSnews005
This is the inaugural issue of the OHS newsletter, which was issued in print form only; scanned March 4, 2014. Click on the link to view in PDF format. OHSnews001
Vice President Term 2012-2014 Tim Ransom has lived in Washington State since 1974 and in Olympia since 1993. After receiving his doctorate in Psychology from the University of California, he has pursued a number of careers, including behavioral scientist, professional photographer, musician, owner/operator of an art gallery/custom framing shop, and environmental educator (for The Whale Museum…
Holly Borth found herself in Olympia 6 years ago after moving up from Portland, Oregon to work for the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. After 4.5 years, she made the exciting transition to work for the City of Olympia as their Historic Preservation Officer, and currently works for Statistical Research Inc. as…
Location: 219 Percival St NW 219 Percival Street in 1966, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives 219 Percival NW today (2010), photo by Deb Ross The house at 219 North Percival on Olympia’s West Side was built in about 1897. It is another example of the tidy Victorian cottages built on lots…
Location: 2418 Otis Street SE Local Register 2418 Otis House, 1940 Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives 2418 Otis House today (2011), photo courtesy Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation This Tudor cottage in the Wildwood neighborhood was built in 1940 for Roy Graham, a builder. It was added to the Local Register in 2018. …
Location: 421 Quince Street SE 421 Quince, unknown date, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives 421 Quince in 2010, photo by Deborah Ross This modest home is included here for its early date, 1880, and its original elaborate shingling. It has not been inventoried by the City; however, it was included in historian…
Location: Under 7th Avenue between Adams and Columbia Transportation 7th Avenue Tunnel 1913, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society 7th Avenue Tunnel today (2012), Photo by Matthew Kennelly In early days of the Northern Pacific railroad, Olympia was ignominiously bypassed, and had to build its own narrow gauge to hook up with the NP in…
Location: 416 State Ave NE Transportation Acme Fuel Co building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Acme Fuel Co building today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Acme Fuel Company was founded in 1925 by the Springer Mill Company as a way to sell off their waste wood products to homes for heating needs. They soon…
Location: 135 Cushing St NW Local register; Diversity: Scandinavians Adams House 1939, image from Thurston County Assessor files, Washington State Archives Adams House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross The house at 135 Cushing Street NW was built around 1900, or a little earlier, and was owned by John and Elise Adams beginning in about…
Location: 1639 Bigelow Ave NE Local register Adams/Martin House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Adams/Martin House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel The Adams/Martin House is an attractive small bungalow in the Bigelow Highlands neighborhood. It was built in 1927 by J.B. and Ella Prilman Adams. Adams was listed as a carpenter and may…
Location: 1023 Olympia Ave NE Local register; Olympia Avenue Historical District Agnew Duplex, 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Agnew Duplex today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Agnew Duplex was built in 1926 for Elsie and Clifford Agnew. The Agnews owned the City Dye Works and Star Laundry (it’s possible the woman pictured in…
Location: 650 Marine Dr NE Transportation; State and Local Register (Parthia) Fred Wiseman’s plane landing, May 18, 1911, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Tugboat Parthia, photo by Deborah Ross 2024 The Carlyon Fill project in 1910-1911 added 29 blocks to the central peninsula of Olympia, eliminating the Swantown Slough that had divided much…
Location: 3217 Fairfield Rd SE local register Allen House, 1957, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Allen House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross Built around 1920, The Allen House was originally located near Union and Columbia. It was moved to make way for a state parking garage in the late 1950s. The adjacent Partlow House had…
Location: 219 Legion Way SW Local, State, and National registers; Wohleb; Women’s History; Popular Culture American Legion Hall 1950, Susan Parish collection, Southwest Regional Archives American Legion Hall today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The national American Legion was founded in 1919, after World War I. At that time, local newspapers estimated there were about…
Location: 417 Olympic Way SW Local register; Diversity: Scandinavians Edward Anderson House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Edward Anderson House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Edward Anderson was the fourth of the Swedish-born Anderson brothers, who established Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM) Company, which designed and sold pre-cut homes. The homes were very…
Location: 2319 Water St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Diversity: Scandinavians Karl Anderson House, 1946, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Karl Anderson House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross Karl Anderson was the fifth of the seven Anderson brothers to arrive in Olympia from Sweden to help establish the Tumwater Lumber Mills. Unlike his brother Ossian, he did…
Location: 410 Sherman St NW Local register; Diversity: Scandinavians Olof Anderson House, 1953, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Olof Anderson House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This large colonial revival house was built in 1935 by Olof Anderson, the youngest of the Anderson brothers who emigrated from Sweden and founded Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM). TLM…
Location: 205 25th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Diversity: Scandinavians Ossian Anderson House, 1960, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Ossian Anderson House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Ossian Anderson was the third brother to arrive in Olympia from Sweden to help found the Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM) kit home…
Location: 204 4th Ave W Downtown National Historic District, Local Register; Diversity: Gays and Lesbians M.E. George Grocery in the Angelus Hotel building, around 1914, Robert Esterly photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Angelus Hotel building today (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly The Angelus Hotel building was constructed around 1900 and was in use as…
Location: 1129 Washington St SE mid-Century modern Archives Building under construction (from Capitol Way), 1963, Merle Junk photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Archives building today (from Washington Street) (2014), photo by Deb Ross The 1963 Archives Building was one of the last to be built in the first phase of development of East Capitol Campus in the early 1960s.…
Location: 515 Eastside St. SE Schools, Wohleb, Local Register Washington School about 1891, Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue, Washington State Library Armory today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross This location was originally the site of the first Washington School, shown above, which faced onto Quince Street. It housed elementary, middle and high school students. In 1923 the…
Location: 405 4th Ave E Popular culture George Barnes residence, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Artesian well (2012), photo by Deb Ross George Barnes was one of the first merchants to arrive in Olympia, coming here with his wife and brother-in-law, John Miller Murphy (see also the Barnes Bank building, the oldest brick…
Location: 304 4th Ave W Local Register Avalon Office Building, 1950s, Southwest Regional Archives Avalon Office Building today (2017), photo by Deborah Ross The Avalon Office Building was erected in 1928 adjacent to the Avalon Theater. It originally housed restaurants but in later years was the home of various commercial endeavors, including C.R. Harris Paint and the Christensen…
Location: 308 4th Ave E Popular culture Avalon Theater, 1936, Jeffers photograph. Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Avalon Theater (Griswold’s) building (2014), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Avalon Theater was built in 1928, one of several movie theaters in downtown Olympia. The architect was Franklin Cox Stanton, who adopted the Mission style that characterizes much…
Location: 511 7th Ave SE Popular culture Track House party, about 1996, courtesy Pat Castaldo Track House after fire, March 2023, Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Track House, so called due to its proximity to the railroad tracks adjacent to the house, was likely built in the late 19th century and moved…
Location: 616 Boundary St SE Diversity: Scandinavians Backlund House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Backlund House today (2014), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross This imposing brick home was built by Frank and Ida Backlund around 1936, shortly before the photograph at above left was taken. The Backlunds were Finnish immigrants. Like many other Scandinavians in our…
Location: 311 9th Ave SE Local register Bailey House, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Bailey House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross The Bailey House, located across the street from the Olympia Timberland Library, is a charming example of a Craftsman style house located near downtown Olympia. W.N. Bailey was listed as an insurance…
Location: 116 4th Ave E National Downtown Historic District, Local register, Wohleb Olympia Cafe, 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Baretich building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross Since Olympia’s beginnings, there have been small but popular commercial establishments along Fourth Avenue, including numerous cafes and bars. The Olympia Cafe…
Location: 114-118 Capitol Way N Downtown National Historic District 118 N. Capitol, Roxie Moore’s saloon, as it appeared in 1880-1890, photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Barnes Bank Building, 114 N. Capitol, today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The brick building seen at upper right is the Barnes Bank building. George Barnes was…
Location: 201-211 Fourth Ave. W Washington State Register, Local Register, National Historical District; Women’s History Farmer’s Cash Market, 203 W Fourth as it appeared in 1930 photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society As the Barnes Building at this location appears today Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The corner of Fourth and Columbia was part…
Location: 209 Fourth Ave W Olympia Downtown National Historic District, Local Register Bohac Harness and John’s Cigar Shop, 1914, by Robert Esterly, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Barnes Floral House today (2010), photo by Matthew Kennelly The Bohac Harness Store and John’s Cigar store at above left were typical of the wooden buildings…
Location: 1633 Eastside St SE Barnes/Osterhout House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Barnes/Osterhout House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross When it was erected in about 1908, this home on Eastside Street would have been considered remote from downtown. It abutted the city’s waterworks in what is now Watershed Park. The home is of a…
Location: 516 4th Ave W 98502 Women’s History, Diversity: Japanese, Native American; mid-Century modern; Transportation J.J. Brenner, 1914, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Bayview Market now (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly The western end of Fourth Avenue has been a host to water-based industry since the early days of Olympia. The Bird’s Eye…
Location: 2324 7th Ave SE Local register Fiskal House, 1969, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Fiskal House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Tucked into a quiet street off Boulevard Road, this modest Craftsman style home was built about 1915. It belonged to Florentine Beck Fiskal, and her first and second husbands Charles Beck…
Location: 2616 Hillside St Women’s History Belsito House-2616 Hillside, 1942, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Belsito House-2616 Hillside today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross During the late 1930s and 1940s, Trena Belsito built four homes in the neighborhood of 27th Avenue and Hillside Avenue, in the Wildwood Neighborhood of Olympia. Though not a trained…
Location: 2626 Hillside St SE Women’s History; Local register Belsito House-2626 Hillside, 1940, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Belsito House-2626 Hillside today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross During the late 1930s and 1940s, Trena Belsito built four homes in the neighborhood of 27th Avenue and Hillside Avenue, in the Wildwood Neighborhood of Olympia (see…
Location: 408 27th Ave SE Women’s History; Local Register Belsito House-27th Ave House 1950, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Belsito House-27th Ave House today (2012), Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation During the late 1930s and 1940s, Trena Belsito built four homes in the neighborhood of 27th Avenue and Hillside Avenue, in the Wildwood…
Location: 2716 Hillside St Women’s History; Local Register Belsito House-2716 Hillside, ca. 1940, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Belsito House-2716 Hillside today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross During the late 1930s and 1940s, Trena Belsito built four homes in the neighborhood of 27th Avenue and Hillside Avenue, in the Wildwood Neighborhood of Olympia. Though…
Location: 512 Sherman St SW Wohleb; mid-Century modern Benner House under construction, 1960, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Benner Benner House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross The Norman and Isabelle Benner House is considered one of the more important examples of mid-Century residential architecture in Olympia. Its architect, Gordon Stacey Bennett was working for the Wohleb…
Location: 402 Washington St NE Bergquist Millwork Building, 1954, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Bergquist Millwork building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Bergquist Millwork Building, erected in 1936, is another example of the functional commercial buildings erected in the Port area in the early part of the 20th Century. In the 1940s it was…
Location: 1501 Capitol Way S Clarence Bethel Grocery, 1914, Robert Esterly photo, Courtesy of Washington State Historical Society location today (2012), photo by Deborah Ross In 1914, Tumwater resident and photographer Robert Esterly took photographs of many of the businesses in Olympia. They provide a snapshot of a city in transition, when most citizens were able to…
Location: 312-324 Fourth Ave. SE Diversity: Jewish heritage The Bettman Block around 1891 photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Bettman Block today (2012)Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Bettman Family was a dynasty of merchants beginning with the early days of Olympia. Louis Bettman had a men’s store on Main Street (now Capitol Way),…
Location: 312 Capitol Way N Diversity: Jewish heritage “Lower Main Street,” detail, Asahel Curtis studio, 1902, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Site today (portion) (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Bettman name is associated with several sites in Olympia. In the very earliest years of Olympia’s history, settlement was clustered between Fourth Avenue and…
Location: 410 Capitol Way S National Downtown Historic District, Diversity: Jewish Heritage Bettman Store around 1885, Image courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Bettman Store site today, Photo courtesy of Matthew Kennelly Louis Bettman came to Olympia in 1853 and, along with his brothers Mose and Sig, opened his general merchandise store soon afterwards, at the…
Location: 216 9th Ave SE Local Register; Diversity: Jewish heritage Bettman-Oppenheimer House about 1983, courtesy Washington State Archives, Olympia Planning Department collection Bettman-Oppenheimer House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross The Bettman-Oppenheimer House was built by local merchant Louis Bettman as a wedding gift to his daughter Belle Bettman. The elaborate Queen Anne style was…
Location: 727 4th Ave E Bigelow Apartments, 1980s, courtesy Olympia Planning Department, Washington Archives Bigelow Apartments now (2010), photo by Deb Ross The Bigelow Apartments were built by Ray Bigelow, son of pioneers Daniel and Ann Elizabeth Bigelow, in 1922 (see Bigelow House). The handsome, symmetrical design with its Tuscan columns at the entryway is…
Location: 936 Glass Ave NE Local register Bigelow-Bailey House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Bigelow-Bailey House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This pretty L-shaped house was built by the Bigelow family in 1897 as a rental unit. It is just two doors up from the Bigelow House on Glass Street. Although built in the simple Pioneer…
Location: 918 Glass Ave NE National register, State register, local register; Women’s History Bigelow House, 1866 Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum collection Bigelow House, 2012, photo courtesy of Deborah Ross The Daniel and Ann Elizabeth Bigelow House, now the Bigelow House Museum, is one of the oldest existing documented homes in Olympia,…
Location: 205 15th Ave SW Women’s History; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood George and Georgiana Blankenship House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives George and Georgiana Blankenship House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Among the most popular citizens in Olympia in early days, George and Georgiana Blankenship forged a partnership that has…
Location: 120 4th Ave E Local register; Downtown National Historic District; Diversity: Gay and Lesbian history Boardman Building, 1964, State Archives, Thurston County Assessor Boardman Building 2013, photograph by Marisa Merkel The Boardman Building at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Washington Street stands at one of the more important commercial intersections in Olympia from its…
Location: 406 18th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Boardman House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Boardman House now (2014), photograph by Deb Ross The Boardman House, built in 1920, is a fine example of a large and well maintained arts and crafts style home. It is located in the Maple Park neighborhood, now part…
Location: 405 Water St SW Transportation; Diversity: Vietnamese heritage; mid-Century modern Pearl City Cleaning and Dye Works around 1914, Robert Esterly photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Boat and Motor Mart building in 2012, photo by Deb Ross Water Street, at the western edge of downtown Olympia, was created on fill in the…
Location: 148 Rogers St NW If you have a vintage photograph of this house to share, or would like to sponsor the scanning of the photograph linked below, please contact us at olyhistory@gmail.com Bolster House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross The Bolster House was built about 1918, according to the 2001 inventory. In 1921,…
Location: 214 18th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Boyles House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Boyles House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This well-preserved Craftsman home was built around 1922. Albert Boyles was a telephone rate engineer for the state, and the family lived here from the time…
Location: 116 18th St SE South Capitol National Historic District Brazel house in 1939, photo from Thurston County assessor’s records, Washington State Archives Brazel House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross The Brazel House on 18th Street was built by George Brazel in about 1891. It is an unusual design for Olympia with its…
Location: 1107 4th Ave W Brenner House in 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Brenner House today (2012), photo by Deb Ross If the Thurston County Assessor’s 1878 build date is to be believed, this is one of the oldest homes in West Olympia. It has not been inventoried, so available documentary…
Location: 122 Sherman St. NW Wohleb Earl Brenner House 1966, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Earl Brenner House today (2013), photograph by Deb Ross Earl Brenner was the son of JJ Brenner, founder of the JJ Brenner Oyster Company. Several homes associated this family are located on the Westside, including this house, the JJ…
Location: 130 Sherman St. NW J.J. Brenner House 1966, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives J.J. Brenner House today (2014), photograph by Deb Ross JJ Brenner entered the oyster business in Thurston County in the early 1890s. Like many other Euro-Americans in the area, he purchased rights to oyster beds in the Mud Bay area and used Indian labor to…
Location: 301 21st Ave SW Women’s history; Diversity: Jewish Heritage; South Capitol National Historic District Bridges/Goldberg House 1955, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Bridges/Goldberg House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross One of the finest homes in Olympia, the Bridges/Goldberg House is connected with women’s history in two ways. It was built in 1923…
Location: 1510 Water St SW local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District Bryan House, 1939, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Bryan House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Mary Arnold Bryan, a widowed employee of the State Office of Public Instruction, purchased this lot in 1908 and built the home in 1910. It…
Location: 301 21st Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Buell House, 1939, State Archives, Thurston County Assessor Buell House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel The Buell House was built in 1931 by Arthur and Naomi Buell, who lived here until the early 1980s. Mr. Buell was a bridge builder for the State of Washington, and incorporated…
Location: 1517-1519 Columbia St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s History Burford House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Burford House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Burford House is the fourth location in our Where Are We? feature to be associated with the pioneer Yeager family. Ida Yeager Burford’s grandfather,…
Location: 3316 Windolph Lp NW Transportation, Women’s History Butler’s Cove, Presbyterian Picnic, 1884, Image courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Butler Cove today (2012), Photo by Deb Ross The French and Brown families were early pioneers in Olympia, who staked out Donation Act claims here, at the far northwestern edge of Budd Inlet, soon after their arrival.…
Location: 1106 Olympia Ave NE Local Register, State Register, National Register, Olympia Avenue Local Historic District, Women’s History Byrd House, 1970, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Byrd House now (2010), photo by Deborah Ross Listed on the local, state and national registers, the Byrd House is the quintessential Queen Anne style home,…
Location: 404 17th Ave SE Local Register, South Capitol National Historic District We have not located a vintage photograph of this home. If you have one to share, please contact us. Campbell House now (2014), photo by Deborah Ross The Campbell home was built around 1922 in what has been termed a Colonial style. Roy Campbell…
Location: 402 Capitol Way S State Register, National Downtown District, Wohleb, Diversity: Germans Charlie’s Saloon, probably around 1902, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society US Bank (Capital National Bank building) today (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly The intersection of 4th Avenue and Capitol Way (formerly Main Street) has been considered the center of commercial life…
Location: 222 5th Ave SE mid-Century modern; National Register, State Heritage Register; Downtown National Historic District Capital Savings and Loan Building 1964, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation files Capital Savings and Loan Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Inspired by the 1963 World’s Fair in Seattle, the local firm of Sibold and Nesland…
Location: 410 5th Ave NW mid-Century modern Capitol Center Building late 1960s, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation collection Capitol Center Building in 2014 before remodeling (2014), photo by Deb Ross Widely criticized for a time, for its obstructing views and deteriorating condition, the Capitol Center Building was at one time the feather in local…
Location: Water Street and Legion Way mid-Century modern; Diversity: gay and lesbian history Capitol Lake Restrooms, undated, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation collection Capitol Lake restrooms today (2014), photo by Deb Ross In late 1960, a civic group was formed named the Committee for the 60s, to study and recommend possible capital improvement projects…
Location: 1063 Capitol Way S Women’s history, Popular culture Capitol Park (1063) Building, 1951, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Capitol Park (1063) building in 2014, photo by Deb Ross The large structure pictured here was originally called the Capitol Park (also spelled Capital Park) building but was generally referred to as the “1063” building for…
Location: 1517 Capitol Way S mid-Century modern Capitol Terrace Apartments, 1951, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Capitol Terrace Apartments today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross Architectural historian Michael Houser notes that the Capitol Terrace Apartments on Capitol Way south of the campus are a relatively rare local example of the International style, developed in the 1920s…
Location: 204 5th Ave SE Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb 5th Avenue looking west, with Capitol Theater, 1942, Vibert Jeffers, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Capitol Theater today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Capitol Theater is one of Olympia’s most treasured and iconic buildings. It was erected in 1924 with a design by…
Location: 1015 Olympia Ave NE Local register, Olympia Avenue Local Historic District No vintage photograph of this house has been located. If you have one to share, please contact us. Carlson House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Carlson House was built around 1937 by Henry and Edna Carlson. Carlson worked at Olympia Veneer, as…
Location: 114 Columbia St NW Downtown National Historic District Carlton Hotel, 1902, William Romans and Asahel Curtis, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Location today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Olympia Downtown National Historic District states that this site, adjacent to an alleyway between State and Fourth Avenues, was once an Indian encampment. It was…
Location: 201 14th Ave SW Wohleb Carlyon House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Carlyon House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Carlyon House, or the UPI building, as it is commonly known among legislators, the press, and lobbyists, was erected by Philip H. Carlyon and Edna Rogers Carlyon in about 1921. It was…
Location: 201 Union Ave SE Heritage Tree O’Brien home in the background, 1949, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Centennial Park today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Rossell O’Brien, an Irish immigrant, fought in the Civil War, and arrived in Olympia in 1870, appointed as revenue collector under Governor Salomon. He married Fanny Steele, daughter of…
Location: 211 21st St SW mid-Century modern; South Capitol National Historic District; Popular Culture Welcoming pole installed at State Capital Museum 1963, Daily Olympian photo courtesy Washington State Historical Society Century 21 pole in 2015, photo by Deborah Ross The 1962 Century 21 World’s Fair in Seattle was a major event Puget Sound, garnering attention,…
Location: 1821 Water St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood, Women’s History Andsworth Chambers/Flo Brodie House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Andsworth Chambers/Flo Brodie House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Although modest in size, this home in the South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood is associated with two prominent Olympia citizens. Andsworth…
Location: 110 N Capitol Way Local Register, Downtown National Historical District, Wohleb; Diversity: Native Americans, Gay and Lesbian History Chambers Block around 1891, Drawing by Edward Lange from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue 1891, Washington State Library Chambers Block today (2012), Photo courtesy of Deb Ross The Chambers Block was and still is one of the most important…
Location: 2519 Fire Ct SE Local register No vintage photograph has been located; if you have one to share, please contact us Joseph and Marion Chambers house today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Until well into the 20th century, the Boulevard Road section of east Olympia was rural, consisting of modest homes, many with…
Location: 2053 East Bay Drive NE Local register Chandler House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Chandler House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Chandler House is situated on the east shore of Budd Inlet, just south of Squaxin Park. It was built around 1920 by Elbert Chandler, an engineer who was responsible…
Location: 2415 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Chandler-Brown House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Chandler-Brown House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel This attractive Spanish revival style home was built in 1930 by the Chandler family. For several years it was owned by teacher Leland Brown, for whom…
Location: 425 Rogers St. NW Local Register Chaplin House in 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Chaplin House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross The Chaplin House at 425 Rogers Street was occupied for many years by Emery Chaplin, son of JR Chaplin, who was a Congregational minister turned real estate developer.…
Location: 620 4th Ave E Popular culture Charlie’s Restaurant, 1954, Thurston County Assessor, S0uthwest Regional Archives Charlie’s Tavern today (2015) photograph by Deb Ross Depending on how you calculate it, several downtown taverns can claim to be the oldest in the city. One of them is Charlie’s Tavern, at 640 Fourth Avenue East (the Spar and the Brotherhood…
Location: 406 4th Ave E Transportation; Diversity: Chinese; Popular culture Haskins and Peele Shoe Shop about 1914, Esterly photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society China Clipper Club Cafe today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross Fourth Avenue as it worked its way east towards the Swantown Bridge was an important commercial section of town, with stores…
Location: 123 5th Ave SW Diversity: Chinese Heritage ; Downtown National Historic District Chinatown around 1902, photograph from National Archives, Pacific Alaska Region Location today (2003), Photo by Ed Echtle Although the Chinese population of Olympia was historically spread throughout the city, the group of buildings known as “Chinatown” was a focal point for the commercial,…
Location: 2020 Water St SW Local register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Christensen House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Christensen House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This house was built for attorney Frank Christensen in about 1920. A distinguished Craftsman-style home, it features a “rolled roofline,” which is unusual for Olympia, although…
Location: 108 Franklin St. NW Local Register; Popular Culture Avalon Annex building, 1964, Southwest Regional Archives Christensen Radio/Avalon Annex Building today (2017), photo by Deborah Ross The Avalon Annex was added in 1949 to the Avalon Theater and Avalon Office complex, extending along Franklin Street. It housed a number of commercial establishments, including Christensen Radio and Fox’s clothing store. It was the…
Location: 201 8th Ave SE Religious institutions; Diversity: Jewish heritage Christian Science church, 1961, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Temple Beth Hatfiloh (Christian Science building) today (2014), photo by Deb Ross A group of Christian Science students began to meet in Olympia early in the 20th century. According to historian Bernice Sapp, they met in the…
Location: 2129 4th Ave E Religious institutions Church of the Brethren congregation, in front of their original building at this location, in about 1911, used by permission Church of the Brethren building today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Christian denomination Church of the Brethren, sometimes referred to as the Dunker Church, was founded in Germany in 1708.…
Location: 900 Plum St SE mid-Century modern; Wohleb; Diversity: African-Americans; Women’s History Aerial of City Hall postcard, around 1960s, from Moody Collection City Hall-Plum Street Building (Creighton Justice Center) today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The City Hall Building on Plum Street was the third purpose-built city hall for Olympia, after the Columbia Hall, and…
Location: 147 Rogers St NW Clark House, 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Clark House today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The Clark House is a large Craftsman style home at the corner of Rogers Street and Harrison Avenue. It was built in about 1920 for Robert Stillman Clark. Although the home has experienced many changes,…
Location: 2932 Orange St. SE Wohleb John Clark House 1941, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives John Clark House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The John Clark House is one of several concrete brick homes built around 1940 in the neighborhood of Eskridge and Orange Streets, in the Stratford Place plat that was developed by Frederick Schmidt…
Location: 1126 Olympia Ave NE Local register, Olympia Avenue Local Historic District Thomas Clark House 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Thomas Clark House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross The Thomas Clark House was built at the corner of Olympia Avenue and Puget Street in 1900. It is an excellent example of the fairly spare Pioneer…
Location: 418 18th Ave SE Local register, South Capitol National Historic District Clemons House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Clemons House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross This small bungalow with a somewhat unusual hipped roof was built for John and Della Clemons in 1919. Originally from Germany, John Clemons had a business in the…
Location: 1100 Carlyon Ave SE National, State, and local registers; Wohleb Cloverfields, ca. 1930s, Olympia School District No. 111 Records, Southwest Regional Archives (detail) Cloverfields today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross Hazard Stevens, son of first territorial governor Isaac I. Stevens, is an important personage in Olympia’s history. Arriving here with his father at age…
Location: 1302 North St SE mid-Century modern; schools Cloverfields Farm, ca. 1930s, Olympia School District No. 111 Records, Southwest Regional Archives (detail) Olympia High School today (2013), Olympia School District In 1914, at age 70, Hazard Stevens, son of first territorial governor Isaac Stevens, returned to Olympia from practicing law in Boston (for more on…
Location: 114 Pear St NE Popular culture Kurt Cobain at 114 Pear Street about 1990 114 Pear St NE today (2015) photograph by Deborah Ross The unassuming house at 114 Pear St NE was erected around 1914 and is a triplex, with two apartments on the street and a small third apartment in the rear. Musician Kurt…
Location: 210 4th Ave E National Downtown Historic District, Popular Culture; Diversity: African-Americans Columbia Hall 1902, Washington State Historical Society Columbia Building today (2012) photograph by Deborah Ross The Columbia Hall was built on 4th Avenue near the center of downtown Olympia in 1869. It served a myriad of functions: fire station on the ground…
Location: 1009 Columbia St SW Women’s history; Diversity: African-Americans Gowey house around 1891, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Columbia Manor Apartments today (2012) photograph by Deb Ross The history of the home known as the Tilton House is not completely clear. According to historian Georgiana Blankenship’s account, James Tilton, the first Surveyor…
Location: 110 10th Ave SW Religious organizations; Local register Congregational Manse, 1954, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Congregational Manse now (2013), photo by Deb Ross Although unpretentious in style, the Congregational Manse (sometimes referred to as the Anderson House) on 10th Avenue is significant for its connection with an early church of Olympia, First Congregational, which was next door…
Location: 314 Franklin St NE Women’s History Dr. Lucie Cook’s residence and practice around 1914, Robert Esterly photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Olympia Electric building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The series of photographs of Olympia’s business establishments, taken by photographer Robert Esterly in 1914, offers a wonderful snapshot of Olympia…
Location: 231 Central St NE Wohleb Counsil House, 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Counsil House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This unassuming home was built between 1927 and 1929 with a design by Olympia’s preeminent architect, Joseph Wohleb. Once again Wohleb demonstrates his breadth of abilities by taking a standard bungalow design and…
Location: 117 Washington St NE Downtown National Historic District; popular culture Cowling Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Cowling Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This utilitarian building was erected in 1926 and, until the mid-60s was operated as a hotel on the second floor and a tavern or restaurant on the ground…
Location: 3116 Lorne St SE Local register Crocker House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Crocker House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This modest bungalow was built about 1920, in the early years of the development of the Carlyon Neighborhood. Fred Carlyon owned the property around the Carlyon Racetrack and the local ballfield and…
Location: 113 Columbia St NW Downtown National Historic District; popular culture Crocker Rubber Building 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Crocker Rubber Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This Mission revival style building at the western end of downtown Olympia was erected in 1918. It was originally the home of the Crocker Rubber…
Location: 1512 Columbia St. SW Local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District Crombie House 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Crombie House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross The Crombie House was built some time between 1907 and 1915 by Johanna and Jacob Lenherr, and later sold to the Crombie family. If the 1907…
Location: 1610 Water St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Crow House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Crow House today (2015) photo by Deb Ross The Crow House was built around 1910 and is one of the finer examples of a Foursquare style home in the South Capitol National Historic District. It is inventoried but not…
Location: 311 19th St SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Cunningham House, 1941, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Cunninghan House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Cunningham House is an unusual and beautifully preserved example of an Art Moderne style home in the South Capitol neighborhood. G.B. Reishus was the architect for the home, which…
Location: 325 4th Ave E Local register, Religious Institutions Scott’s Grocery (Cunningham’s Building), 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Cunningham’s building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The building currently known as the Cunningham’s Building was erected in 1896 and is the oldest surviving “pioneer-style” commercial building in downtown…
Location: 903 Glass Ave NE Local register; Women’s History Curtiss House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Curtiss House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Curtiss House on Glass Avenue, across the street from the Bigelow House, is described as a Victorian cottage, built around 1903. The owners have taken pains to preserve the charm of…
Location: 1050 Capitol Way S Wohleb; mid-Century modern; Transportation; Women’s history Dairy Queen building 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Dairy Queen Building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross It is difficult to imagine Capitol Way and Fourth Avenue more congested than they are today, but such was the case after 1926, when these…
Location: 2420 Capitol Way S Local Register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Dalquest House, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Dalquest House today (2021), photo by Deb Ross This Craftsman style bungalow was built for John Dalquest, who worked for the Capital City Creamery. It was added to the local register in 2018 and is…
Location: 1003 Capitol Way S Wohleb; Transportation Menu cover from Davis’ Brown Derby, private collection Davis’ Brown Derby Building today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Davis’ Brown Derby restaurant opened on Capitol Way in 1935, by George and Martha Davis. The Davises moved here from Centralia, where they had operated another small restaurant. Architect Joseph…
Location: 119 22nd Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District L.E. Dawley House, 1956, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives L.E. Dawley House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This beautifully maintained Spanish Colonial home was built in about 1929 by Leo E. Dawley, one of the two Dawley Brothers contractors who were responsible for many…
Location: 120 Union Ave SE and 1007 Washington St SE mid-Century modern Dawley (120 Union) Building, 1960s, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Dawley Building today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross Two side-by-side buildings are representative of the work of the Dawley Brothers, who were responsible for many of the early and mid-century commercial buildings downtown, as well as…
Location: 515 Adams St SE Deane Apartments, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Deane Apartments today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This handsome Mission-style apartment building was erected in 1935, and has changed very little since then. It is known for the palm trees that complement the tropical appearance of the building. Additional resources: Olympia Heritage inventory Looking…
Location: 210 11th Ave SW and adjacent monument Religious institutions; Women’s History; National Register (GA Building); mid-Century modern St. Peter Hospital, ca. 1890, private collection Department of Enterprise Services (GA) building today (2013), Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation The original St. Peter Hospital, shown at left above, was located on a site opposite…
Location: 1100 Plum St SE Transportation; mid-Century modern Dick Lewis Pontiac Cadillac, 1964, Tacoma Public Library Photograph collection Hulbert Auto Park in 2015, photo by Deb Ross The Dick Lewis Pontiac Cadillac building was a bold departure from the largely utilitarian automobile dealerships that dotted the transportation corridors of Olympia and its surrounding landscape. Built in…
Location: 805 5th Ave SW Local register; Wohleb Dohm House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Dohm House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross One of the most outstanding homes in West Olympia, the Dohm House was built in 1922 in a Dutch Colonial style. Edward Dohm was a prominent Olympia citizen with an…
Location: 801 Capitol Way S National Register, State Register, Local register; Women’s History; Religious Institutions Olympia Hotel, ca. 1890, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Dolliver Building (old Post Office) today (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly In the 1880s, it became apparent that Olympia was in urgent need of a hotel that could accommodate the…
Location: 205 5th Ave SE Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb; Popular culture Donald Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Donald Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The inventory listing for this building notes: “One of Joseph Wohleb’s finest commercial designs in the Mission Revival mode, and one of the best preserved small…
Location: 1212 Olympia Ave NE Local register; Olympia Avenue Historic District Donoghue/McCaughan House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Donoghue/McCaughan House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Donoghue/McCaughan House is a large, well-preserved Dutch Colonial located on a large lot at the east end of the Olympia Avenue Local Historic District. The home was built…
Location: 113 5th Ave SW Downtown National Historic District No vintage photograph of this building has been located: if you have one to share, please contact us Dufault Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Dufault Building was erected about 1912, one of the earliest remaining downtown structures. It was owned by Charles…
Location: 1628 Water St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Dufault House, 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Dufault House today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly The Dufault House, on Water Street, was built around 1903 by Charles Dufault, an Olympia commissioner and businessman (see also Dufault Building). It was also occupied for several years…
Location: 1118 Olympia Ave NE Local register; Olympia Avenue Historic District; Women’s History Dunbar House, 1954, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Dunbar House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Dunbar House is one of the four homes in this neighborhood occupied by the White family women: the mother, Margaret White Ruddell (Ruddell House) and her…
Location: 426 17th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic District John Dunbar House, undated, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives John Dunbar House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross As the son of Supreme Court Justice Ralph O. Dunbar, and nephew of attorney Daniel Bigelow, and Justice of the Peace George Byrd, John…
Location: 414 Water St SW Transportation, mid-Century modern Dunkin & Barnes Stable and Veterinary, 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Location today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The photograph at above left is another example of Robert Esterly’s valuable project of photographing Olympia’s commercial and industrial enterprises with their…
Location: 805 4th Ave E Wohleb, Popular Culture, Diversity: Gay and Lesbian History Eagles Building 1965, Thurston County Assessor Photo, Washington State Archives Eagles Building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross Aerie #21 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles was founded in 1899, in the heyday of fraternal organizations in Olympia. This building…
Location: 1306-1318 Capitol Way S mid-Century modern Capital Apartments, 1914, Robert Esterly photograph, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Part of East Capitol Campus today (2012), photo by Deb Ross Long time Olympians remember that until the 1960s, the east side of Capitol Way across from Capitol Campus was lined with tall…
Location: 414 4th Ave E Eastside Barbership, 1914, Robert Esterly photograph, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Obsidian restaurant today (2015), photo by Deb Ross Since the late 19th century, the buildings lining 4th Avenue have been solidly commercial. In 1914 Robert Esterly chronicled many of the commercial and industrial businesses in downtown Olympia, including…
Location: 2023 4th Ave E Transportation, Popular Culture Original “In and Out” stand at this location, around 1948, courtesy of Eastside Big Tom Eastside Big Tom today (2010) photograph by Matt Kennelly The “X” where State Avenue and Fourth Avenue meet and become Martin Way and Pacific Avenue is another example of the importance of…
Location: 2708 Adams St SE Local register Egbert-Ingham, 1975, in original location, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Egbert-Ingham today (2011), photograph provided by Olympia Heritage Commission The imposing Egbert-Ingham House, sometimes called a mansion, was built in 1914 for Dana Seltzer Egbert and her husband, the dentist Curtis Egbert. It was located near the…
Location: 607-613 Capitol Way S Local, State, and National registers; Olympia Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb Gathering of Elks at Elks Building, 1933, Vibert Jeffers Photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Elks Building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Elks Lodge number 186 was founded in Olympia in 1891, on the heels of Washington…
Location: 1603 4th Ave W Local Register; mid-Century Modern Elliott House, 1949, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Elliott House today (2014), photograph by Deb Ross The Donald & Irene Elliott House is on the local register as an example of post World War II residential construction in Olympia. Built in 1948 at the beginning of the…
Location: 211 19th Ave SW Local register, South Capitol National Historic District, Wohleb Ellsworth Duplex 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Ellsworth Duplex today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Ellsworth Duplex is a 1927 adaptation of the popular Craftsman style home by architect Joseph Wohleb, once more demonstrating his range and virtuosity. Ellsworth was a…
Llyn De Danaan and Carol McKinley have created a walking tour exploring Olympia’s Gay and Lesbian History. Thank you to them for permitting us to post this on our website. Gay History Walking Tour May 29, 2012
Location: 203 19th Ave SW Local register, South Capitol National Historic District Ellsworth House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Ellsworth House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Ellsworth House is an excellent example of the Craftsman style typical of this neighborhood. It was built by Harley Ellsworth, a local contractor, who also owned the duplex next door, the…
Location: 212 Maple Park SE mid-Century modern A.D. Rogers House, about 1890 Photograph from Digital Archives Employment Security building today (2012) Photo courtesy of Deb Ross A.D. Rogers was a popular and prolific photographer in the late territorial and early statehood days. Besides being the preferred society and school photographer, he was employed to create…
Location: 1825 Water St SW Local Register; Women’s History; South Capitol National Historic District No scanned vintage photo of this house is available. If you have one we can scan, or would like to sponsor the scanning of the photo linked below, please contact us at olyhistory@gmail.com Eugley House today (2010) photograph by…
Location: 711 Capitol Way S mid-Century modern; Religious institutions; Transportation Unitarian Church, detail from 1879 Bird’s Eye view, linked below (marked #7) Evergreen Plaza today (2014), photo by Deb Ross With the establishment of the Town Square (Sylvester Park) by Edmund Sylvester, the social and religious center of town moved towards the streets adjacent to the…
Location: 2920 Capitol Boulevard S Local register Faris House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Faris House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Faris house was erected about 1925, probably by Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM). TLM was founded by the Anderson Brothers, who designed ready-built homes. There are over 100 TLM homes in…
Location: 7th Avenue and Adams St Farquhar Store, Jeffers Photograph of earlier drawing of unknown date, Susan Parish Photograph Collection, 1889-1990, Washington State Archives Farquhar site today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Alexander Farquhar immigrated from Scotland and settled in Olympia in 1858. He worked for several years for Charles Williams at the Olympia Hardware Store, then…
Location: 701 Franklin St SE Religious institutions; Wohleb; Local register First Christian around 1897, from Lawson, 100 Years of Christian Witness. First Christian Church today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Disciples of Christ (also known as Christian) denomination arrived in Thurston County in the very earliest years of American settlement, when the Longmire family founded a…
Location: 919 Capitol Way S Religious communities First Congregational Church, Main Street around 1878, Washington State Historical Society collection Site of First Congregational today, photograph by Deborah Ross (2017) The First Congregational Church was the fifth church organized in Olympia, in 1874. The building site is another example of the “Musical Pews” phenomenon described in other Where…
Location: 110 5th Ave SE Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb Undated photo, from WISAARD database linked below National Bank of Seattle Annex today (2014), photo by Deb Ross In the early 1930s, the ornate Olympia National Bank building just to the west of here became a branch of the First National Bank of Seattle.…
Location: 1224 Legion Way SE mid-Century modern; Religious institutions; Landmark Tree First United Methodist Church around 1952, photo from First United Methodist website First United Methodist Church today (2013) photograph by Deb Ross The church building located at the corner of Boundary Street and Legion Way is the third purpose-built location of the First United…
Location: 513 Flora Vista Dr NE Women’s history; Religious institutions Five Firs (lower right, cropped from photo that includes Floravista bulb farm), 1947, courtesy Kathy Farr Five Firs Point today (2014) photograph by Deb Ross In the late 19th and early 20th century, it was not uncommon for Olympia’s social elite to own summer homes or land…
Location: 119 7th Ave SE Local register; Women’s History; Popular culture Laying conduit for Fleetwood Building (in background), 1938, Washington State Department of Transportation photo, State Archives Fleetwood Building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Telephone service was first provided in Olympia beginning in 1889, by the Sunset Telephone Company. Its offices moved…
Location: 1717 Jefferson St SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Fleming House, 1942, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Fleming House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Fleming House was built about 1941 for John Gragg, a member of the Olympia Veneer cooperative. It was bought shortly after by the Fleming family, who owned Fleming-Harvey Motors…
Location: 3140 Maringo Rd SE local register Fleming-Longaker House, 1957, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Fleming-Longaker House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross This outstanding Spanish Colonial style house was built about 1932 for Dr. Berton and Anna Fleming. It was the longtime home of Birdie Kegley Longaker, the widow of Dr. Francis Longaker…
Location: 1908 Washington St SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Gust and Nanny Forsberg House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Gust and Nanny Forsberg House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Gust and Nanny Forsberg House is a good and well-maintained example of the English Builder style, built about 1936. Forsberg was…
Location: 911 4th Ave E Religion, Popular Culture Foursquare Congregation, 1941, Vibert Jeffers photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Capital City Studios today (2009), photo courtesy Jason Scragz, posted on Flickr This building was originally the Foursquare Gospel church of Olympia, the denomination founded by Aimee Semple McPherson. It was built in 1939 using…
Location: Fourth Avenue Bridge Transportation Fourth Avenue bridge with drawspan open, ca. 1899, Ed Echtle collection, Olympia Historical Society Fourth Avenue Bridge (Fall Artswalk 2013) photograph by Stuart Reed The need for bridges from downtown Olympia to West Olympia (then called Marshville) was recognized as…
Location: 2804 Orange St. mid-Century modern; Diversity: Racial covenants Fox House, 1946, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Fox House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross Frederick Schmidt and his brother Frank, who were part of the Olympia Brewing Company family, platted Stratford Place during World War II. They built several homes in the subdivision…
Location: 1431 Legion Way SE Local register; Religious institutions Free Methodist church, 1961, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Free Methodist Church building today (2013) photograph by Deb Ross The Free Methodist Christian denomination was founded in the 1860s as an offshoot of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The denomination is considered more conservative and evangelical than…
Location: 221 20th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Judge French House 1948, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Judge French House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel This is an early example of the Craftsman style bungalow, built around 1912 for Mrs. Ursula Clark. It was acquired in 1927 by Judge…
Location: 1418 and 1428 4th Ave E Fuller House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Fuller House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross William Fuller worked in a variety of trades in the early part of the 20th century in Olympia. He and his wife Dorothy, a writer, built this home around 1928. According to the inventory listing, it…
Location: 1202 Olympia Ave NE National, State and Local Register, Olympia Avenue Local Historical District, Women’s History Funk House in 1939, Thurston County Assessor, State Archives Funk House today (2010), photo by Joe Mabel posted on Wikimedia Commons The Funk House, one of the most elaborate Queen Anne homes in Olympia, was built in about…
Location: 325 Plymouth St NW Schools Garfield School in 1919 (original location), State Library Photograph Collection, Digital Archives Garfield School today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly According to Olympia School District historian Esther Knox, the first school near this location was the Westside school on Rogers Street, which served all children in West Olympia and…
Location: 125 17th St SE Local Register, South Capitol National Historic District George House, 1940s, courtesy Washington State Historical Society George House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross The George House was built about 1896 and was later sold to Orville George, a grocer. His son Marion George ran the M.E. George grocery…
President’s Message: Merger With Bigelow House Association In the Works, by Mark Foutch (Re)Discover Bigelow House! by Ed Echtle, President of Bigelow House Preservation Association Upcoming Changes on the Board: Thanks (but not Farewell) to Ralph Blankenship, with Statements from Proposed New Board Members Support the Annual Historic Home Tour, Sunday, Dec 8, 2013 History of Egbert-Ingham…
Ed Echtle, President of Bigelow House Preservation Association As those familiar with local history know, the Bigelow House Museum on Olympia’s east side is the oldest surviving home in town. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, more recent homes now obscure its former prominence overlooking the town. What many don’t know is the home not…
Ralph Blankenship not only personifies Olympia history in his family connections to several pioneer families, he has worked tirelessly to preserve and promote local history by serving on the OHS board and through his support of the Sandman and other maritime heritage resources. President Foutch noted, “Even with all his other community service commitments, Ralph…
Mark Foutch The boards of the Olympia Historical Society and the Bigelow House Preservation Association have been discussing a merger of our two organizations. Our boards, and others in the community, see advantages for both organizations in the proposed merger. We have a shared mission to preserve and promote local history. Many of our members…
Watch for more information in bulletins concerning docent volunteer opportunities, ticket sales, and other details. The annual tour of historic homes is by now a cherished tradition, kicking off the holiday season. It’s a fun way to support the preservation of one of Olympia’s oldest existing homes, the Bigelow House, as well as an opportunity…
David Goularte [this article originally appeared in the Fall 2013 Olympia Historical Society Quarterly bulletin and has been updated by the author in 2023 and 2024 with new information about the home] The [Egbert-Ingham] house first appeared in print in the forerunner of The Olympian on December 20, 1914 as having been completed that spring. Called…
Deb Ross On a weekly basis, Members Lanny Weaver and Deb Ross catalogue the State Capital Museum collection now housed at the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) in Tacoma. This project is made possible through a collaboration between the Olympia Historical Society and WSHS, and Deb and Lanny are grateful for the time and cooperation…
Mark Foutch For the remainder of 2002, the Olympia Historical Society continued the process of “standing up” its permanent organization while performing its mission and responding to opportunities. Members elected a Board of Directors, who in turn adopted staggered Board terms and elected officers and adopted a budget for the following year. There were three…
Location: 600 Capitol Way N National Register, Wohleb, mid-Century modern Georgia Pacific building in 1950s, photo from DAHP Georgia Pacific building today photograph from DAHP The plywood industry was an essential part of Olympia’s economy in the early to mid-20th century. Plywood was not only decorative, but used in construction of airplanes during the war. The…
Location: 1017 Capitol Way S Local register, Women’s History Jessie Gibbons and daughter Catherine, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Gibbons House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross This large Foursquare style house, with an adjoining rear annex, was built in 1918 bv contractor E.B. Crews, for his daughter Jessie (sometimes spelled Jesse) Crews Gibbons.…
Location: 331 Rogers St NW Local register Gilbert House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Gilbert House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This is another example of the modest but attractive homes that were built by J.R. Chaplin in order to induce immigrants to come to Olympia and participate in the development of his utopian college…
Location: 727 West Bay Drive NW State Register Giles House, 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Giles House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The Charles Giles House was built in 1885 and is in the Italianate style unusual for existing Olympia homes. It is essentially a tall rectangular building with…
Location: 514 Quince St NE Local Register; Religious communities Glass House, 1970, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Glass House today (2014), photo by Deborah Ross The Glass House near the Olympia Avenue local historic district was erected around 1893, presumably to serve as a Methodist manse, with land donated by Daniel and Ann Elizabeth Bigelow. The…
Location: 1601-1603 Capitol Way S Wohleb; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Glidden Duplex, 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Glidden Duplex today (2015), photograph by Deborah Ross Demonstrating once again the amazing breadth of his talents, Joseph Wohleb designed this classic Colonial style duplex in about 1938, the year the above left photo was taken, for Arno…
Location: 523 Central St SE Glidden House-523 Central, 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Glidden House-523 Central today (2013), photograph by Deborah Ross The house at 523 Central Avenue SE is one of three homes in a row that were built by Arno Glidden around 1924 (the others are at 515 and 503 Central).…
Location: Southwest corner Adams and 5th Religious institutions, Women’s history; Diversity: Scandinavians Gloria Dei Lutheran, 1949, Courtesy of Gloria Dei Lutheran church Former site of Gloria Dei Lutheran today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly Astute visitors to this website may recognize the building at above left as the original First Presbyterian Church building. This building was one of…
Location: 1515 Harrison Ave NW Religious institutions; mid-Century modern Gloria Dei Lutheran in 1961, before addition, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The Gloria Dei Church building on Harrison Street in West Olympia is the second eccelesiastical building associated with this congregation. The congregation began as a small Mission church…
Location: 212 Rogers St NW Goddard House, 1966, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Goddard House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross Built in 1905, the Goddard House is one of the older working class homes in this mixed neighborhood of West Olympia. The home is emblematic of the changes that are often wrought, as styles and needs…
Location: 403 Capitol Way S Downtown National Historic District, Diversity: Jewish Heritage, Mid-century McKenny Block around 1891, Drawing by Edward Lange from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue 1891, Washington State Library Goldberg’s Building today (2012) photo courtesy of Deb Ross The McKenny Block was built in 1890 pr 1891 by General T.I. McKenny, a prominent Olympia businessman. It…
Location: 909 Capitol Way SE Transportation; mid-Century modern Golden Gavel Motel, 1960s, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Golden Gavel Motel building today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross The Golden Gavel Motel building was constructed in 1958. At the time, Capitol Way was still part of the main west coast highway, US Route 99. Motels, hotels, restaurants, and other automotive businesses…
Location: 421 4th Ave E Wohleb; Transportation; Religious institutions United Presbyterian Church, undated, courtesy of Westminster Presbyterian Goodyear tire building (2013), photo by Deb Ross United Presbyterian Church, now Westminster Presbyterian Church, is another participant in the game of “musical pews” described in our listing for Gloria Dei. The church was organized in 1893 in a room of…
Location: 208 20th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Goss House 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Goss House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel An early example of the Craftsman style bungalow, the Goss House was built around 1915 for Orville and Mamie Goss. Mr. Goss was Thurston County Superintendent…
