Anderson, Edward House

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 popular and were sold throughout the country. Many of these homes still exist in Olympia (see, for example, Harmon House, which has a link to the company’s 1924 catalogue). Interestingly, Edward Anderson chose a Mission-revival style home to live in, rather than TLM’s signature Craftsman and Dutch colonial styles. It was built in 1928 and Edward moved into it in 1932. It has a nice view over Budd Inlet to downtown Olympia. The home is on the local register.

Olympia Heritage inventory

Ida B. Smith Studio – 4/27/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Pictured here is the studio of photographer Ida B. Smith, who was active in the late 19th and early 20th century. The studio, shared with her sister, photographer Agnes Mitchel, was near the corner of Jefferson and 4th Avenue, next door…
April 27, 2025
Bus Station by Vibert Jeffers – 4/20/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Vibert Jeffers was a prolific Olympia-based photographer, having inherited the business from his father and mother, Joseph and Opal Jeffers. This photograph of the North Coast (later Greyhound) bus depot in downtown Olympia was taken in 1937, soon after the depot…
April 23, 2025
Ida B. Smith self portrait – 4/14/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Ida B. Smith, pictured here in a self-portrait, came to Olympia with her husband in about 1891. After her husband’s death, Ida took up professional photography, first with her sister Agnes Mitchel and then on her own. Photograph selected and captioned…
April 14, 2025