McDonald, W.B. House

Location: 2215 Water St SW
South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood

W.B. McDonald House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives

W.B. McDonald House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross

The W.B. McDonald House, erected in 1939, is an art moderne take on a Colonial theme. It was designed by Seattle architect J. Lister Holmes. McDonald owned the Avalon and Olympic Theaters.

The well-maintained home is in the South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood.

Olympia Heritage Inventory

South Capitol National Historic District

Cora Pinson – 12/1/24
Looking Back’s theme for 2024 is Many Streams, celebrating our rich and diverse history. In 1988 Olympia voters helped make history when they elected local community organizer Cora Pinson, pictured here, to the City Council. She was the first African American woman to hold such a position in Washington State. Pinson served on the Olympia…
December 1, 2024
Barb O’Neill: 11/24/24
Looking Back’s theme for 2024 is Many Streams, celebrating our rich and diverse history Barbara O’Neill was a commanding presence in our area for many years. While operating a soul food restaurant on Fourth Avenue, she instituted a practice of providing free holiday meals for those in need. The tradition continued after her death, with…
November 24, 2024
The Bean family – 11/17/24
Looking Back’s theme for 2024 is Many Streams, celebrating our rich and diverse history. Jacob Bean immigrated to Olympia from Russia in 1902, bringing with him his family’s Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Bible). He, his wife Mollie, and their son Earl owned the business now known as Olympia Supply, still in existence in…
November 17, 2024