Location: 515 Eastside St. SE Schools, Wohleb, Local Register Washington School about 1891, Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue, Washington State Library Armory today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross This location was originally the site of the first Washington School, shown above, which faced onto Quince Street. It housed elementary, middle and high school students. In 1923 the…
Location: 308 4th Ave E Popular culture Avalon Theater, 1936, Jeffers photograph. Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Avalon Theater (Griswold’s) building (2014), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Avalon Theater was built in 1928, one of several movie theaters in downtown Olympia. The architect was Franklin Cox Stanton, who adopted the Mission style that characterizes much…
Location: 511 7th Ave SE Popular culture Track House party, about 1996, courtesy Pat Castaldo Track House after fire, March 2023, Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Track House, so called due to its proximity to the railroad tracks adjacent to the house, was likely built in the late 19th century and moved…
Location: 616 Boundary St SE Diversity: Scandinavians Backlund House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Backlund House today (2014), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross This imposing brick home was built by Frank and Ida Backlund around 1936, shortly before the photograph at above left was taken. The Backlunds were Finnish immigrants. Like many other Scandinavians in our…
