LB 1910s

In 2023 the Sunday Olympian’s theme for its Looking Back feature was the origins of area place names. Mottman Road, Mottman Industrial Park, and the Mottman Mercantile Building at Fourth Avenue and Capitol Way are named for George Mottman, pictured here. He immigrated from Germany and came to Olympia in 1885. He began as a clerk at the Toklas and Kaufman Mercantile store, then bought them out and renamed the store. He was also involved in local politics and business.  

Photo, early 1900s, Mottman Collection, Olympia Historical Society

Text © Deborah Ross and The Olympian 2023 and 2026

In 2023 the Sunday Olympian’s theme for its Looking Back feature was the origins of area place names. Three creeks, a hill, a prairie, a heritage oak tree, and a street in Thurston County are all named for the Schneider family, early area settlers. Pictured here is Swedish-born Albertina Schneider, wife of Konrad Schneider. She was a long-time resident of West Bay Drive, where she and her children operated a farm and wharf at the foot of Schneider Hill.

Photo around 1900 Courtesy Ron Secrist, Schneider descendant