First United Methodist Church-Legion Way/Henry tree

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…

Free Methodist Church

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…

New Caldonia building

Location: 116 5th Avenue Downtown National Historic District Proffitt’s Department Store, 1970, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives New Caldonia building today (2017) photograph by Deb Ross According to its owner, the building now called the New Caldonia building was the site of the Caledonia Hotel in the 1870s. By 1914 it was the home…

Raymond House

Location: 1130 East Bay Drive NE Raymond House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Raymond House today (2015) photograph by Deb Ross Perched on a bluff overlooking Budd Inlet, the Raymond House was built in 1922 by George Raymond, a contractor, to serve as his own residence. The stucco facade of this bungalow is relatively unusual for…

Ray Theatre/Timberland Bank

Location: 423 Washington St SE Downtown National Historic District, Popular Culture Ray Theatre, 1914,  Robert Esterly photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Timberland Bank building today (2012) photograph from Timberland Bank website In about 1914, the Zabel family, who owned several theaters downtown, built the Ray Theatre here, pictured at above left, at the corner…

Wildwood building

Location: 2822 Capitol Way SE mid-Century modern, Wohleb, Transportation Wildwood Building, 1950, advertisement in Olympia Centennial Souvenir program,  Southwest Regional Archives Wildwood Building today (2013) photo by Deb Ross The Wildwood Building (also known as the G.C. Valley Shopping Center) was the first shopping center built in Olympia, in 1938. The building was designed for…

Wiman/Jackson House

Location: 313 Quince St SE Local register   We have not located a vintage photograph of this home.If you have one to share, please contact us. Wiman/Jackson House today (2014) photo by Deb Ross The Wiman/Jackson House was built before 1887 in what is now known as the Bigelow neighborhood on Olympia’s east side. (Thurston County assessor…