By Josh Magill

Over the last few months, a proposal to close a portion of 180^th Street E in Frederickson has quietly moved its way through the Pierce County processes. As stated by county engineer, Brian Stacey, at the March 26^th Economic and Infrastructure Development Meeting there is no notification sent prior to a decision being made. Not to surrounding residents or to community organizations like Frederickson’s Clover Creek Community Council (F-CCCC)—nothing—the proposal just squeaks by until a decision is made, then the County quietly will post a sign with small letters that most people won’t stop to read.

Pitiful, huh? But it is the way our government works, and quite frankly we let it happen on a daily basis.

I understand we, the residents, are busy and do not have the time to attend each County meeting or hearing, which is why we elect public officials like Pierce County Councilman Jim McCune. You know him, the former state representative that was redistricted out of his position so he campaigned for a County job. Likable enough guy, acts like he cares about the community, claims to be fighting for the people … and for the most part I believe him.

As I understand it, his job is to review a proposal so he understands it well, then take the time to explain it to the public so we understand it—both pros and cons—allow us to tell him how we feel about said proposal so he can return to the council and act on our behalf.

Except this time, regarding the road closure McCune has done a poor job of that. He hasn’t explained it to the public, especially the residents of Frederickson, a community that mostly doesn’t even know about this proposal to close a road that leads to one of the last remaining pieces of Frederickson history—Salcich Junction.

The community now known as Frederickson was originally identified as Salcich Junction after sawmill owner, William Salcich, who settled down in the area around 1907. Salcich Junction became a bustling little community centered around multiple sawmills, a general store, and a post office named for Olaf B. Frederickson, who operated one of the sawmills between 1910 and 1920. The post office was established on June 10, 1920 and received daily deliveries by train from Tacoma. After a fire destroyed many of the sawmills, and drove most residents from the area, the post office was closed in March of 1931. Eighty-two years later, the general store and post office buildings are still standing, being used as residences, but could one day become landmarks. Today, like many local communities, the community of Frederickson is named for the post office it once had.

So, you see, though this area is important to maintain, and should not be something made harder to access. Yet, after doing my research, digging through the difficult-to-find files of the Pierce County website, watching videos of past County Council meetings, I discovered that if done right the closure of the proposed section of 180^th Street E will NOT be a negative thing. It will be a positive thing for Frederickson. Why am I telling you this? Because our elected official, Jim McCune, did not and he should have.

During my research, naturally, I wanted to go to McCune first. Having tried to reach out to him in the past about other things and not receiving a response or finding that he didn’t check certain emails listed on websites he had, I reached out on the one thing I knew he updates regularly and responds to … Facebook. I posted a message saying I didn’t like the idea of the road closure. He responded three days later with: “It’s too bad you are talking about something you don’t have the correct information on. The junction you are talking about in Frederickson is not going to be part of the ordinance. This project was first started by the former councilmember and the executive office of Pierce County for business in Frederickson. I see this as a great opportunity to keep hundreds working there and get many back to work. I hope you feel the same way.”

Maybe I would if I knew anything about the proposed ordinance, which he offered no further information about, only giving me a simple, as we call in where I grew up, a “talking down to.” I was upset. This is a guy I voted for and I expected to keep the public informed. He could do that many different ways utilizing social media, newsletters, and community organizations like the F-CCCC, but he didn’t and didn’t seem to want to inform me either when he replied to me. Maybe I angered him by questioning the proposal, but I really don’t care about that because, you see, I live in Frederickson and live on 180^th Street E, just down the road from the area. I walk my dogs down that stretch of road and I used it as a quick way to get onto Canyon when construction was happening on 176^th this past year. I am the resident—the citizen—that McCune should be informing and now he has angered me—a voter—by not doing his job and explaining this proposed ordinance.

Now you’re asking: “So how will this road closure be good for Frederickson?”

Simply, it will bring more jobs. Jobs—something we desperately need more of in America right now, but these jobs will be in Frederickson and that is good for the local economy because the workers will spend that money here, close to home. The proposal to close the section of road was initiated by James Hardie, a company that makes fiber cement siding and backerboard, because they want to expand across the road without having the road in the middle. Why? Because they have outgrown their current facility, and though James Hardie would like to stay in Frederickson, it would be easier to find another location outside of Pierce County if this proposal is not approved.

How does this help the historic Salcich Junction general store and post office buildings? Though the road closure still affects easy access to the area via 180^th Street E, it was mentioned that 50^th Ave E would be extended north to intersect with 176^th Street E. This does two things: 1) it allows easier truck access to the many businesses along 50^th Ave and 2) allows easier access to the Salcich Junction area via a newly built road. I can live with this solution.

Yet, I still strongly believe that all the businesses that enjoy the ability to work and grow in Frederickson, not just James Hardie, should give back to the community. Protect the Salcich Junction area and its history because these great businesses are now the legacy that once was a single sawmill. I challenge these businesses to help Frederickson—the community—grow as well by partnering with such groups as the F-CCCC and the Frederickson Business Connections to create a sense of pride and ownership among those that live a work here. Help a community of more than 20,000 residents build a public park by partnering with the Friends of Stan and Joan Cross Park. Be part of the community, not just a building that takes up space in it.

And I challenge Jim McCune to remember that just because a proposal may be good for the community does not mean he shouldn’t take the time to explain it to the community by any means necessary.

This is a reminder that today is Kid’s Day at the Spanaway Prairie House Museum. The event is free although donations are always welcome.

Prairie House Museum will be open from 1 – 3 p.m. It is their annual Kid’s Day event. The museum is next door, to the west of the Fir Lane Memorial Park, you can enter from the parking lot at Fir Lane. The address is 812 East 176th Street, Spanaway.

The Prairie House is a restored 1890’s gable and wing farm house. It has furnishings and articles from the period and other exhibits. Behind the house is a shed with an old board saw and a blacksmith’s shop. A barn behind the house holds more exhibits and photos of Spanaway’s interesting past.

Hundreds of kids and parents visited the Prairie House Museum for Kid’s Day this year. Here are some photos from the event. We hope the all volunteer staff has a restful evening, they put a lot of work into making this happen.

Jerry and JoAnn Bliss are selling their property adjacent to Elk plain Elementary School and the Bethel School District board is likely going to authorize the purchase Tuesday, April 9. Elk Plain Elementary is on a fairly small parcel and often 22nd Avenue is lined with cars on both sides of the street when there is an evening event taking place. Purchase of the property next door could alleviate this and allowing for some expansion of the school site.

Even more interesting is the history of the site. In 1917, a local landmark called “The Firs” was built there. It had a rustic look, constructed of Douglas Fir timbers. An entrance to the property still has the large timbers that supported the sign that said, The Firs. Many social events, dances and large parties took place on the site. In 1974, arson destroyed the building. (Janovich era) Many of the remaining timbers are still on the site, but were being cleared Monday.

The road to The Firs was closed in the mid 1990′s and the Bethel Station Post Office straddles the former road bed. You can read more about the history of Elk Plain, also known as Loveland in this story we posted in August 2012.  http://pierceprairiepost.com/2012/09/06/elk-plain-a-k-a-loveland/

You can find the resolution for the district to purchase the property through this link.

Some photos of The Firs are on the image archives at the Tacoma Library.

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?un=29&krequest=%22The+Firs%22&stemming=On&phonic=&fuzzy=&maxfiles=5000

Thirty-seven sophomore Highly Capable students from Bethel High School, who competed in the regional National History Day competition are now headed to the State Championships. The 2013 Bethel High team qualified 19 of their 33 projects, at the regional event that pitted them against 15 other schools, including Charles Wright Academy, Kennedy High School and public schools from south of Seattle. This year’s NHD theme is, “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events.”

The advancing students will compete Saturday, May 4 at Bellevue College. Students finishing first or second at the state match will qualify to represent Washington State at Nationals, which is held annually at the University of Maryland. The National History Day competition involves 700,000 students each year.

Bethel High students qualifying for State:

1st place, Regionals
· Group Exhibit: Communist China; Stephanie Kaeser, Gabrielle Murphy, and Hazel Olive

· Group Exhibit: Cloning; Nicole Taylor, Quentin Main, and Kyle Leonard

· Indiv. Exhibit: Freud; Chloe McClellan

· Group Performance: Margaret Sanger; Tiffany McDaniel, Peyton Schwartz, and Lisa Thompson

· Indiv. Performance: Darrow and the Monkey Trial; Trevor Hiscox

2nd place, Regionals
· Group Exhibit: Modern Art; Tayler Kindsfather and Deidra McKnight

· Group Exhibit: The Equal Rights Amendment; Leah Peterson and Julie Martell

· Historical Paper: Plastics; Rachel Scott

· Indiv. Documentary: Gorbachev; Jason Gentry

3rd place, Regionals:
· Indiv. Exhibit: Montgomery Bus Boycott; Pagerene Raney

· Group Performance: Flappers; Lyndee Faust and Stacey Baumes

· Indiv. Performance: Martha Graham; Ruth Smitherman

· Indiv. Documentary: Space; Lucien Benvenutti

· Group Exhibit: Boldt Decision; Taylor Mamaril and Britt McCracken

· Group Exhibit: Berlin Wall; Emily Clark, Audrey Young, and Courtney Young

4th place, Regionals:
· Group Exhibit: Manhattan Project; Devyn Christensen, Kylie White, Joseph Portmann, and Marshall Chaplinski

· Indiv. Exhibit: Manifest Destiny; Logan Pruitt

· Indiv. Website: Lincoln; Christian Harris

· Group Exhibit: 1930’s Facism; Colton Schnabel, Cheyne Holmgren, Jessica Talavera, and Jordan Maurin

PIERCE COUNTY — The Milroy Bridge over the Puyallup River at 66th Avenue East and River Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 17 to allow crews to perform a detailed structural inspection and general maintenance. Motorists should use an alternative route during the closure.

Crews from Pierce County Public Works and Utilities and the Washington State Department of Transportation will inspect the condition of the bridge’s structural components, perform routine maintenance, and assess the structure for future maintenance needs. Some of the structural components can be accessed only with special equipment, such as an under-bridge inspection truck, which necessitates closing the roadway.

This work is performed every other year as part of Pierce County’s bridge inspection program that ensures the safety of the traveling public and the longevity of the county’s transportation infrastructure.

The Milroy Bridge is a steel truss bridge that connects state Route 167 (River Road East) and North Levee Road East at 66th Avenue East. The bridge was built in 1931 and carries approximately 10,500 vehicles a day.

OPINION By Marianne Lincoln

The George Milroy Bridge was constructed in 1931 across the Puyallup River between Tacoma and Puyallup. A plaque on the bridge tells a few details of its history. Built by the Kart Construction Company, the steel truss bridge has served the county for 82 years. Though small for a bridge in these days, it was a magnificent structure for its time. The bridge is regularly inspected by the Washington Department of Transportation and Pierce County Public Works. Amazingly, it always seems to come up with a good report of its strength and longevity.

In January, I took a few photographs of the bridge and the gallery is below. You can click on a photo to see them larger on the screen. You will notice that many vehicles have come too close to its steel girders.

Solid or not, this bridge is far too narrow for today’s traffic volumes. Stopping on it travelling south is seriously not for the faint of heart. There are long backups in several directions much of the day at this crossing.

As a pedestrian, I had to wait a log time to cross the several walk signals and past heavy traffic to get onto the bridge. It is a five-way intersection with a long light for River Road. Drivers would smile in amusement as if they understood standing on the bridge as a pedestrian was not something they wanted to do. Seeing me taking photos was an even greater curiosity to them. The crosswalk on River Road had serious pavement damage and several trucks that were too tall, kissed the top of the arch above, leaving some twisted metal.

It is time for WSDOT and the County to create some jobs replacing this structure. It is lovely, and would make a great pedestrian walkway, but it doesn’t adequately serve the community anymore as a roadway. Placing a new structure a little farther east so it can directly connect to 70th avenue and redirect the 5-way intersection would be a magnificent change. This is my opinion, not a plan that I am aware of at this time.

In addition, it could be a better photo opportunity. The view of the river and valley at this location is lovely, but the vegetation along the river is rather scrappy. Some native flowering pear trees, currant and hazelnut set along the way would make it a perfect photo setting, although there would need to be a place to actually pull over to take the shot.

The Parkland-Spanaway Kiwanis will be having their annual graveyard cleanup on Saturday, April 20. The historical Spanaway pioneer graveyard is on 176th and A Street. If you feel like assisting as an Earth Day project a little early, they will surely welcome the help.

Speaking of history, the photos below are pages of a December 1939 newsletter that was circulated in Spanaway. They were forwarded to the Post by Wayne Cooke. His wife was a descendant of the MacKenzie family who had the grocery across from the Exchange Tavern many long years ago. Enjoy the interesting read.

BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT — For the second time in school history, Bethel High School has captured National History Day’s Washington State Championship.  Officially known as the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Outstanding School Award, the “State Cup” belongs to the team whose projects garner the highest total rankings in the finalist round of competition.  Scored like a track meet, Bethel’s point total more than doubled that of the nearest competitor: 34 – 16.  Bethel finished with two, second-place projects, three third-place projects, two fourth-place projects and three fifth-place projects.  Coach Jim Sawatzki remarked, “This is the best History Day team Bethel High has ever produced.  In multiple areas of comparison, the 2013 team far surpasses the state championship team of 2005.”

Bethel High students Taylor Mamaril, Britt McCracken, Tiffany McDaniel, Peyton Schwartz and Lisa Thompson will represent Washington State at the National History Day competition held June 8 – 13, 2013 at the University of Maryland.  Ms. Mamaril and Ms. McCracken qualified with their exhibit – The Boldt Decision, and Ms. McDaniel, Ms. Schwartz and Ms. Thompson with their play – Margaret Sanger.  This year’s competition theme is: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events. Bethel High School qualified ten of nineteen of its Washington State National History Day projects for finals judging Saturday, May 4th at Bellevue College.

Thirty-five Bethel students competed against those representing 59 state-qualifying schools at this national qualifying event. Bethel projects garnered four “Special Awards” sponsored by various historical foundations and state agencies. Students finishing first or second place in each National History Day category advance to represent Washington State at nationals.

The National History Day competition involves over 700,000 students during the course of a school year.  Regional and state competitions whittle this down to 2000 students representing fifty states and multiple Department of Defense overseas schools, each competing for the National Championship. 

Placing at State:

• Taylor Mamaril and Britt McCracken, whose Group Exhibit, The Boldt Decision: Turning Point for Native American Treaty Rights finished 2nd.  They also received the Washington State Archives Regional/Local Research Award.

• Tiffany McDaniel, Peyton Schwartz and Lisa Thompson whose Group Performance, Margaret Sanger: Turning Attitudes Regarding Reproduction finished 2nd.

• Leah Peterson, and Julie Martell whose Group Exhibit, The E.R.A.: Turning Point for Women’s Rights finished 3rd.  They also won the Washington State Archivist’s Award.

• Chloe McClellan for her Individual Exhibit, The Other Freud: Turning Points in Medicine finished 3rd.   She also won the National Archives Research Award.

• Stacey Baumes and Lyndee Faust whose Group Performance, Flappers: Turning Points in Gender Roles and Identity placed 3rd.

• Quentin Main, Kyle Leonard and Nicole Taylor whose Group Exhibit, Turning Points in Cloning: From Weismann to Dolly finished 4th.

• Ruth Smitherman whose Individual Performance, Martha Graham: Breaking Tradition One Dance at a Time finished 4th.

• Tayler Kindsfather and Deidra McKnight whose Group Exhibit, Modern Art: Turning Perspective on its Head placed 5th.

• Lucien Benvenutti whose Individual Documentary, Space: A Turning Point in Human Imagination placed 5th.

• Trevor Hiscox whose Individual Performance, Darrow and the Evolution of Truth: A Turning Point in Scientific Freedom placed 5th.  He also received the Washington State Supreme Court Award.

Here are a few photo memories of the memorial Day tribute at the pioneer Bethany cemetery.

By Marianne Lincoln

Last night, I attended the all classes reunion for Kapowsin High School.  There were 81 in attendance although several children and spouses were included in that number.  Laura Jobe brought out all the class annuals, from 1914 to 1951. They were donated to the Alumni by Ann Johnson, a member of the first graduating class of KHS and a teacher there for 14 years.

I attended with the express purpose of asking the class members to help with a historical information project, particularly concerning the transition of Kapowsin to Bethel. For instance, the first graduating class from the Bethel School District actually attended high school in the Kapowsin building as the Bethel High School building was not yet constructed. That is the explanation for the front page from the annual we published that has both Kapowsin and Bethel in the title.

At the end of the evening, Tessie Ogino, directed by Laura Jobe, handed me a bag full of Kapowsin High School artifacts. At the age of 86, she simply doesn’t need all the extra stuff around anymore. Understandable, but now I have the complicated task of finding the right home for this. The only museum in the Bethel School District is in Spanaway. Other artifacts from the formation of the Bethel District have been donated there as well. The Roy Library has a closet for archives, but there are no other museums in the district.

For now, these will go to the Prairie House Museum in Spanaway. There has been talk in Graham about a historical museum, but it is still just talk. I hope they are able to create a museum, there is more than just the history of Kapowsin that is of interest. The Electron Dam, still operating near Kapowsin, was completed in 1904. It has a rich history of construction and incidents over the years. Also the construction of the lumber railroad caused the discovery of a rich vein of clay material. That started a booming brick industry in the region between Kapowsin and Ohop Lakes called Clay City. It is another marvel of South Pierce County’s business boom and bust. Someday I hope they have an approprite place to tell their stories.

KHS grads, you are the richest resources in the area. We wish you all well and thank you to so many of you for being willing to sign up to share your history.

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The state-owned McMillin Bridge, a historically significant structure spanning the Puyallup River near Orting, may not be long for this world if the state proceeds to tear it down. But Pierce County wants to make sure the bridge’s future remains the subject of continued discussion.

The County Council voted 6-0 on June 18 to have the McMillin Bridge put on the Pierce County Register of Historic Places. This registry identifies buildings, structures, places and districts of historic or architectural significance that deserve preservation and protection.

The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Properties in 1982. By adding the bridge to the Pierce County Register of Historic Places, advocates hope to save what is viewed as an engineering feat of its time.

“It’s just another step in trying to preserve one of Pierce County’s historical landmarks,” said Councilmember Stan Flemming (District 7), sponsor of Ordinance 2013-18. “It’s the only known bridge of its type in the world.”

The bridge was designed by Homer M. Hadley of the Portland Cement Association in the early 1930s. Hadley is arguably one of the most innovative bridge designers of the 20th century, with numerous other landmark bridges in the region featuring his work, including the concrete pontoons on the SR 520 bridge over Lake Washington. When completed in September 1935, the McMillin Bridge stood as the longest concrete truss or beam span in the United States, measuring 170 feet, and was considered an engineering marvel.

However, the bridge’s placement on another historic register does not ensure the structure’s future. The Washing State Department of Transportation, which owns the bridge, is considering demolishing it. The state says the McMillin is too narrow for traffic on State Route 162, rating it “functionally obsolete.” The state wants to tear down the old span a replace it with a new one nearby.

Advocates agree a new bridge is needed, but they want to see the McMillin preserved in some capacity.

“The merit of being placed on the historic register may not ultimately save the bridge, but it is acknowledging that it’s worth the distinction,” said Councilmember Dan Roach, who represents District 1 where the McMillin Bridge is located.

The bridge is named for the nearby unincorporated area of McMillin.

Graham Fire and Rescue held a badge pinning today to officially promote and welcome its new Fire Chief, Ryan Baskett. The 3:00 p.m. ceremony was held at the headquarters fire station on 70^th Avenue. The entire Baskett family was there, some arriving from eastern Washington. Much of Baskett’s wife’s family (she’s a granddaughter of John Thun) was also present.

The event was a traditional process. Reggie Romines, the outgoing Chief, entered with his wife followed by a bag piper and the  new Chief Baskett and his wife Christy.

First, the Graham Fire Commissioners presented him with a plaque. Then, his father pinned on his new badge and his wife pinned on his other formal Chief lapel pins.

Chief Romines then presented the Department banner to Chief Baskett. They shook hands and saluted each other.

Baskett gave an official speech. As memorable as any part was his preface. He began with a wonderful off the cuff comment about the awe he felt as he started to think about how many people helped him to get where he is today. He said, “It’s pretty amazing.” He thanked his father for giving him his work ethic, his four older siblings for setting examples and teaching him never to be late for dinner and his fellow firefighters for teaching him hard work, honor and courage.

Congratulations Chief Baskett!

ELK PLAIN, WA — The site has been the Elk Plain Cafe since the 1940′s and a gas station since about 1901. Earlier this year, the Elk Plain Cafe building was removed along with old manufactured homes and the tall trees.

This week, the excavation began for the new O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store on the corner of the Mountain Highway East and 22nd Avenue across from Elk Plain Elementary. Over the next two months, a new look for the center of Elk Plan will appear.

There is also excavation just north of the Mexican Restaurant in Graham. That is the new Graham O’Reilly’s.

If you are interested in the Elk Plain site history, check out this older story from the Pierce Prairie Post, Farewell Elk Plain Cafe.

From the time Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean, until 1846, the United States and Great Brittain competed for the Pacific Northwest. The area north of the Columbia River was particularly controversial. With considerably more American settlers around Oregon City and a Hudson’s Bay outpost at Vancouver, it was thought highly likely the area north of the Columbia would go to the British.

Settlers from both countries were being urged to move into the area. The Hudson’s Bay Company, through Fort Nisqually, made promises to potential settlers from the Red River area in Canada to encourage their emigration to the Puget Sound region.

In 1846, the two counties finally settled with a border at the 49^th parallel, except for some controversy over the San Juan Islands. In 1848, the Oregon Territory was formed. North of the Columbia the Puget Sound Region was called Lewis County, Oregon Territory (OT).

Descendants of Charles Wren – the Dougherty family visit his grave and old homestead on Fort Lewis Area 13.

Fort Nisqually spent a great deal of effort trying to defend its boundaries from American settlers. Their expansion from the fur trade into agriculture saw them develop many farm sites around south Pierce County. From Patterson Springs in Graham to the East Gate of Joint Base Lewis McChord there was William Benston, John McLeod, John McPhail, Henry Smith, Henry Murray, L.A. “Sandy” Smith, Peter Wilson and Charles Wren. At Spanueh, now Spanaway, there was John Montgomery and between the Fir Lane Cemetery and Crescent Park, there was another farm built by a fellow named Greig. In Elk Plain, there was a place known as Mullock house. On the McChord field side of the present day Shibig farmhouse was a farm known as Sastuc. Other farms were around American Lake and areas of Fort Lewis near the Nisqually River and near the impact zone where the younger Charles Ross had his farm on Nisqually Lake.

The HBC strongly defended their holdings in this area from 1846, stating they were a business, not a country and asked $2 million for the land. Pierce County and Washington State argued with them in court until 1867, when they finally reached a settlement. In 1869, the Hudson’s Bay Company was paid $750,000 for the land. The settlers that had stayed those 23 years, were able to be granted their rights to a donation land claim. You will see those on maps to this day.

On those farms, they raised cattle, sheep, horses and pigs along with various grains like oats and barley. It has been noted that the seed, brought up from Oregon City, also contained acorns and started the Garry Oak trees that are only found in Pierce County. The sheep were sheared and the wool was sent to back to England until the Pendleton Woolen Mill was started in 1863.

New settlers were often supplied by the Hudson’s Bay Company although there was competition encouraging American settlers to buy from the American stores in Steilacoom instead.

Complicating the controversy between the Americans and British was the British relationship with the indigenous tribes. Many of the local Indians were hired by the British to work on their farms. On Sundays, the indigenous people were encouraged to attend the Catholic church services at Fort Nisqually. Many of the HBC employees took native wives, leaving south Pierce County as a common place for families of mixed heritage to reside. For the women, it was a step up in their social standing to have a white husband.

The American settlers did not have such a relationship with the indigenous people. These settlers arrived by boat or up the Columbia River from Oregon to Cowlitz Portage, present day Toledo, Washington. In October of 1853, the first settlers travelled over the Naches Trail, a new, northern branch of the Oregon Trail through the Cascade Mountains from Yakima to Greenwater. The end of the trail is marked by a monument at Brookdale Golf Course in Parkland.

The area north of the Columbia River had to become a territory of its own when Oregon sought statehood. In 1853, Washington Territory was formed and President Millard Fillmore sent Issac Stevens as Territorial Governor and Indian Agent. In order to enhance the settlement of the area, the United States wanted to insure the native residents would not cause havoc with the new residents. Issac Stevens was ordained to arrange treaties with each of the tribes to secure the regions livability.

The first of those treaties was with the Nisqually, Puyallup and Squaxin tribes. Along the shores of Medicine Creek in the Nisqually Valley (where Interstate 5 now climbs toward Lacey), the natives camped in December of 1854 while the treaty was discussed. Although signed on December 25 and 26, there was controversy over whether the Nisqually representatives Leschi and his brother Quiemuth actually signed those X’s. Within a few months, there was an uprising known as the “Indian War” in Pierce County. From the Fall of 1855 to the summer of 1856, the “Indian War” went on. Native people who did not want to be involved in the hostilities were sent to Fox Island. Any native people still on the mainland were referred to as “hostiles.” Governor Stevens hired a volunteer militia to seek out and kill the “hostiles” on sight. Leshi was the main target of the Governor’s wrath.

During that period, several outposts known as block houses were built to help the local settles defend themselves from the Indians. Along the White and Puyallup Rivers, several families had been killed.

Near Clover Creek, the blockhouse was called Camp Montgomery. Military road west of 36^th Avenue has a stone monument in honor of that site.

Spanueh, a Lushootseed word for “dug roots,” had a barn somewhere between where the Little Park Café and the Columbia Bank stand now. John Montgomery ran that station. His home and donation land claim ran from Clover Creek Elementary to the area known as Stoney Lake. At 176^th Street, there was a road from Spanueh Station which ran south of Spanaway Lake and north of the Spanaway Marsh. The road still ran there until the late 1960’s, when it was closed and became only a driveway to the remaining houses that were not sold to the military base expansion. Just past the old 176^th Street crossing over Coffee Creek, the road forked south to Muck Station, which was located near the Joint Base Lewis McChord East Gate on SR507 and north to Sastuc which was on McChord Field. The road that was planned for the present day Cross Base Highway has been the historic main road to and from Spanaway. In fact, there is an old Hudson’s Bay map from the 1840’s that shows the military road ran from Montgomery’s place to the Spanueh Station and crossed south of the lake as well. There is a long and well-worn trail still running over that hill through the blackberries and into the woods. At one time, there was a grade school called Whittier at the top of the hill on the south side of the road. A mile farther up the road was a small town known as Hillhurst.

Among the oldest schools in Pierce County are Spanaway, Whittier, Clover Creek and Muck. They were all started in 1855. As you travel back and forth in your daily routine, you still may see small symbols left over from this older era. Other signs have gone forever save for the records of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Northwest room of the Tacoma Library.

Currently, Jean Sensel, a Spanaway resident and former owner of the historic Exchange Tavern, is working to write a more comprehensive and condensed history of Spanaway. If you have access to any old photographs through your family roots, scanned digital copies might be greatly appreciated.

Marianne Lincoln, editor of the Pierce Prairie Post, is also historian for the Descendants of Fort Nisqually Employees Association. Through the connections of these descendants, they are putting together the combined knowledge and stories to help build a better picture of the early days of settlers to the area. Through letters of the HBC themselves, former Fort Nisqually Museum director Steve Anderson has compiled two Indian Accounts books which show some history of local tribal families and place names as well.

Who we are matters. You can read a former Post story, There’s a reason for love the Braves, which talks about the influence of mixed native families on the history of South Pierce County.

Sunday noon, July 21 is the annual Spanaway Historical Society Potluck Picnic and Annual Meeting. At the Prairie House Museum on 176th Street, next to Fir Lane Memorial Park, many of the oldest citizens of Spanaway will gather with their families to celebrate the historic founding and early days of Spanaway.

2012 – Old Time Fiddlers

The event is a potluck, so participants bring a favorite dish from jello and baked beans to cakes, cookies and pies. The historical Society cooks up the hamburgers and hot dogs and provides lemonade and coffee. There is usually entertainment from the Old Time Fiddlers. Members renew their annual memberships and at the end of the event, they hold their annual meeting.

2012 – Chuck and Sue Overra and Shirley Zlock

During the event, the Prairie House Museum and surrounding buildings are open to view the displays and memorabilia. There will also be a silent auction, contributions will be accepted. Cost of an annual membership is $8 for an individual.

If you have any questions about the event, you may contact Kathy Creso at 253-537-7565. For more history of the Spanaway area, read this story from the Pierce Prairie Post.

The Spanaway Historical Society held their annual picnic and meeting on Sunday July 21 at the Prairie House Museum grounds. They re-elected their officers for the year. Shirley Zlock will remain President for the next year. It was a lovely, temperate, sunny summer day. It was delightful weather for a picnic.

Highlights include delicious dishes brought by the attendees, the exhibits of the museum and a June 27, 1946 copy of the Prairie Pointer, and old newspaper from the area. This Prairie Pointer was a pictorial edition with photos of many local businesses from Johnson’s corner, 98^th and Pacific, Garfield Street, Steele Street and Sales Road and Midland. Jean Sensel spoke about the book she is working on about Spanaway history.

By Marianne Lincoln

Cruising around Spanaway on this lovely summer day of July, wI saw many things happening in the area.

The Washington Ladies Riding Club Association (WLRCA) State Meet Competition was this weekend at the Tacoma Horseman’s Unit in Spanaway. They presented their awards for the weekend riding and horsemanship competition in the outdoor arena. With Mount Rainier in the background, it made for some lovely photos. The Tacoma Lariettes were looking lovely and the horses were so patient waiting for the final presentations to begin. As I walked by, each stuck his/her nose out to be petted. Horses do crave affection. The Rein’n Rowdies had Susie their mascot mannequin brought in on the bucket of a John Deere.

Speaking of mannequins, there is a headless mannequin on the Mountain Highway in military camo beckoning people to check out the new military surplus store, Paracord near the WalMart.

On 176^th Street, there is significant progress on the tree removal for the new, wider roadway. There appears to have been a few homes removed close to the hill between  11^th and 13^th Avenues also. Be aware travel will be getting difficult as roads are being striped, chip sealed, widened and dug up for sewer repair in the area.

Chip sealing notices for Monday July 22 are on 192^nd Street between B Street and 38^th Avenue. Another chip sealing sign is on 168^th Street between Pacific Avenue and 22^nd Ave, this one says Monday/Tuesday.

Hope you have a great week and manage to get where you need to go without too many construction holdups. The weather is beautiful and the road projects are underway.

In the Tuesday, July 23 meeting of the Pierce County Council, the council received notice that Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive had signed ordinance 2013-18, placing the McMillian Bridge on the Register of Historic Places.

Today in response, the Washington State Department of Transportation recognized that status by taking the demolition of the bridge off their project plans for a new bridge across the carbon River on SR162. The McMillan bridge was a one of a kind structure designed by engineer Homer M. Hadley.

The demolition has been stopped, but that does not necessarily mean the bridge will remain in place. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Puyallup Tribe have supported removal of the structure. The new bridge is already funded and slated to have construction begin next Spring.

More detail in the story by the News Tribune, Historic McMillin Bridge outside of Orting may be saved.

By Chuck Haviland

ARTICLE 1:  THE DECISION TO MOVE WESTWARD

The first free black man in the Washington Territory, was George Bush.  He had  lived in Missouri for a couple of years before coming out west, on the Oregon trail in 1843.  Four white families joined in the westward journey: Michael and Elizabeth Simmons, James and Martha McAllister, David and Talitha Kindred  and Gabriel and Keziah Jones. Many of these people were related to one another. Simmons sister Martha  was married to James McAllister and Simmons wife Elizabeth was David Kindred’s sister. Michael Troutman Simmons was a longtime friend of George Bush.  Upon arriving in the Oregon Territory, George was forced to live north of the Columbia River, near Vancouver, since the existing white men had already banned black people from the Willamette Valley. He settled on Puget Sound near what is now called Olympia.   The area became known as Bush Prairie. His full name was George Washington Bush  (no relation to our current or past presidents).

As a young man he served in the US Army and may have participated in the battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812. He married Isabell James on 4 July 1831. She was a Tennessee Baptist of German -  American extraction.  All that is known of her childhood was that she was born between 1804 – 1809.   She had outstanding courage for her time to marry a black man in the Southern United States.  Her marital choice may have been because she saw what no one else saw, a striking (nearly 6 foot) tall man who had already lived a lifetime of adventure and exploration of the unknown.  George must have set quite an impression on Isabell for her to take such a leap.  George was broad shouldered and weighed 180 pounds.  He had dark eyes and a roman nose, with a heavy beard.  He maintained a dashing air about himself and must have been very attractive to a young lady.  George was about 40 when he met Isabell. She was a trained as a nurse although she had yet to practice her profession.  Soon they were married and moving to Missouri.  Once there, George honed his farming practices and became quite successful. While living in Missouri they had ten sons of which only five made it to maturity.  Without today’s medicines life was very short for many people, even if they made it to maturity, death still took its toll.

Missouri was a quasi-free state.  At that time only four states allowed black citizens to vote.  “Free blacks” were only quasi – free.  They had limited voting privileges and most state’s forbade marriages between the races.   Their oldest son Owen was not even permitted to attend school.  As time progressed it became gradually clear to George that he would never gain the respect and consideration of his neighboring white men. The Bush family started the journey, loaded down with seeds, farm implements, various fruit trees (some even in buckets). They also brought porcelain platters and the finer things of a woman’s life.  Of all the books that they brought, the Bible and the traditional dictionary meant the most to them.  At this time their family consisted of the following children:

1)      William Owen Bush 1832 – 1907

2)      Joseph Talbot Bush 1834 – 1904

3)      Rial Bailey Bush 1837 -   ?

4)      Henry Sanford Bush 1841 – 1913

5)      Jackson January Bush 1843 – 1888

6)      Henry Sanford Bush 1841 – 1913

7)      Jackson January Bush 1843 – 1888

To be continued…