Barnes-Osterhout House

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 unique design with a two-story bay window. (When architectural historians cannot use a well-known style to describe a building, they call it “vernacular”.) Frank Barnes, the original owner, managed the Postal Telegraph office downtown. Later on the home was owned by the Osterhout family.

Olympia Heritage inventory

Legislative Building repair – William Conser – 6/8/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. William B. Conser was a photographer for the Olympian who captured many events and people, including an historic series that documented the destruction caused by the 1949 earthquake. Shown here is the elaborate scaffolding and tramway erected to repair the lantern…
June 8, 2025
William Conser – 6/1/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. The 1935 Olympia High School yearbook notes that William P. Conser, pictured here, was involved with journalism as early as high school. He became a photographer for the Olympian and captured many events and people, including an historic series that documented…
June 1, 2025
State Patrol by Merle Junk – 5/25/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Merle Junk, a product of the Olympia school system, turned to photography early in his life. He was prolific and well-respected. He captured images of legislators, local events, and places, often for promotional purposes. This image from 1950, possibly a promotional…
May 25, 2025