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…
Written by Janet Partlow, a descendant of the Streets and Partlow families Ralph Raymond Streets was born in Brockville, Ontario (on the St. Lawrence seaway) in 1870. His father John Streets had emigrated to Canada in 1865 from Lincolnshire, England. John was a shoemaker, and taught the trade to his son, but Ralph had bigger…
Ralph Blankenship In October of 1852 Sarah Y Yantis rode into Olympia with her father B.F. Yantis and 7 brothers and sisters in their covered wagon. They left from Saline County, Missouri where B.F. had been a superior court judge. Sadly B.F.s wife died during the difficult journey to Olympia. B.F. and family homesteaded on…
Captain Calvin Hale and his House on Tullis Street by Lois J. Fenske There is a unique house on the corner of Tullis and Pine streets in North East Olympia. According to the description from the City of Olympia: “This charming Queen Anne-style cottage was built for Captain Calvin Hale and his second wife, Pamela…
Living with the Pioneers by Elizabeth Bret with photographs from her personal collection, When I was asked to write about what it was like living with the Percivals I wasn’t sure how to begin. I was six years old when we left Santa Monica, my mother driving me and my 15 year old brother Ross …
