“Oops, sorry.” These are the famous words joked about all over Pierce County. Ask almost anyone who has live here more than ten years. They will tell you. In Pierce County, it is easier to just do it and then apologize later when you get caught.

The Planning department told the developers on 22^nd Avenue to leave the Ferguson house standing when then their housing developments were built over the former green equestrian pasturland. The grading site preparation began, then suddenly, a random arsonist came along an the Ferguson House caught on fire. Afterward, the developer explained how this “accident” had made that house unstable and the damage was irreparable, so it needed to be torn down.

The rest of the neighborhood was thinking, “Well, how convenient was that? Welcome to Pierce County.”

Losses in the area from Spanaway to Elk Plain include significant history. The Sam Moe house, the Tibbitts Dairy, the Elk Plain Cafe, most recently, the Thiel farm, have all disappeared. Kuper’s Korner, Lee’s Taven, and the John Rohr house (still standing) are here also.

This is the Thiel Farm two years ago and this year, under construction. 22nd avenue used to be called Thiel-Dudleston Road because those two farmers plowed the original roadbed. The Dudleston house, at about 183rd Street on 22nd Avenue is no longer standing. There is a photo at the Prairie House Museum.

Warehouses on the farm to the left and a huge pile of dirt planted with fir and cottonwood trees will soon block this amazing view. People will complain far too late once those trees have grown.

Recently, the Superintendent of Bethel remarked about the Alderton School saying he should take notes because they plan to ask for demolition of the Elk Plain School soon.

Lee’s Tavern was built in 1923 and upgraded into the Hideaway. From the back you could still see the older portions of the building. There is a story about John McLeod visiting a tavern at that site and being hit in the head with a rock and robbed and left for dead. He survived. McLeod was a Donation Land Claim owner on 260th Street whose employment with the Hudson Bay Company, children with local tribal women, and adventure in the California Gold Rush are well known history.

Other losses around the county include the Ryan House in Sumner.

Alderton School in March 2026 and in May 2026, notably demolished without a properly issued permit from Pierce County Planning and Public Works.

And there are so many more pieces of local history scattered throughout Pierce County. The Benston Post Office, The Weyerhaeuser School, the Benston School, Rocky Ridge School, the former Elk Plain Cafe, the Rohr House, Kuper’s Korner. Some are still standing; many are gone forever.

Many of those that remain should have historic status. The Landmarks and Historic Preservation page has guideline for doing this. However, citizens worry that it would control them and prevent use of their property. There do not seem to be enough incentives to preserve history here. If there were, these places would not be disappearing all around us. The Commission rules are here.

Many people do not realize there are some tax incentives and available grants for maintenance and upkeep of historic properties and buildings. Pierce County needs to work harder at making this information available to residents.

The Assessor Treasurer’s Public GIS site needs to have an indicator on it that a property is historic rather than making people go access the historic sites list that they do not know their property may be listed on.

Buyers and sellers need to have access to property information before a transaction. The Assessor Treasurer’s site should include that information by law, including if the property is listed as historic.

There were twenty-three K-8 schools listed in Pierce County Ordinance 86:84 that became Historic Sites. Alderton School was one of them. So was the Parkland School. If we are going to protect these places or lose them is definitely on the table. Last night (6-16-26) the rest of the Alderton School was let go by the Landmarks Commission. It still needs to be approved by the County Council. None of the public was at the Commission meeting to say a peep about it. Will anyone speak up at the Council? This remains to be seen

The real issue here is whether the County has sufficient incentives, records, and will to see these place are denoted and survive. The developers will continue to grab anything they can get and tell you those places are beyond repair and not worth saving. There is currently no independent authority to say otherwise. It is the 11th hour and the clock is ticking for many.

*#*#*#*#*# County Charter

2.88.020Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission.

A Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission is hereby established. The Commission shall consist of eleven members, one from each of seven Council districts and four at-large members. The four at-large members shall be individuals who have a professional or vocational interest in historic preservation and, whenever possible, shall include one or more individuals with knowledge in the disciplines of architecture, archaeology, conservation, library sciences, or history.

The major responsibility of the Commission is to identify historically important places, assist in their conservation, and promote their contributions to local identity.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Commission shall engage in the following:

A. Pierce County Register of Historic Places. The Commission shall periodically review, investigate, and make recommendations to the Executive on buildings, structures, places, or districts of significance to the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the community which should be preserved or protected in Pierce County.

1. The Commission may investigate whether there is federal, state, or other financial assistance for the acquisition and preservation of the site.

2. The Commission shall establish an inventory of buildings, structures, places, or districts of significance to the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of Pierce County which should be preserved, protected, or enhanced based on the criteria described in PCC 2.88.029.

3. This inventory shall be referred to as the Pierce County Register of Historic Places and distributed to all County departments.

4. The Commission shall review nominations to the Pierce County Register of Historic Places as described in PCC 2.88.030.

5. The Commission shall review applications for permits to construct, change, alter, modify, remodel, move, demolish, or significantly affect properties or districts on the Pierce County Register of Historic Places as provided in PCC 2.88.040.

B. Historic Preservation Grant. The Commission will make recommendations on funding and monitoring projects and programs through the Historic Preservation Grant program, which includes funding from the County’s one dollar portion of the five dollar per instrument surcharge charged by the Auditor for each document recorded under the provisions of RCW 36.22.170. The priorities for funding of these projects and programs include:

1. Promote public awareness and education of the historical and cultural heritage of the people and area of Pierce County and its communities;

2. Identify, preserve, and store documents and public records of historic significance, including conversion to electronic and other media;

3. Collect, acquire, catalog, interpret and exhibit historically significant artifacts and documents, including manuscripts, photographs, illustrations, maps, engineering and architectural drawings, art works, music, book reports, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, oral histories, and electronic media in all areas (social and cultural, artistic, scientific and technical, political, commercial and industrial, and natural history);

4. Identify, protect, rehabilitate, restore, excavate, and reconstruct districts, sites, buildings, and other structures, gardens, landscapes and other objects of significance to heritage, history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture;

5. Provide capital funds for capacity building projects to nonprofit historic and historic preservation groups that encourage cultural and historical studies and interpretive efforts.

C. Historic Preservation Special Tax Valuation. The Commission will serve as the local review board for the Historic Preservation Special Tax Valuation and shall:

1. Make determinations concerning the eligibility of historic properties for special valuation;

2. Verify that the improvements are consistent with the Washington State Advisory Council’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Maintenance as provided in WAC 254-20-100;

3. Enter into agreements with property owners for the duration of the special valuation period as required under WAC 254-20-070(2);

4. Approve or deny applications for special tax valuation; and

5. Ensure compliance with Chapter 84.26 RCW to maintain eligibility for the Federal Historic Tax Credit.

D. Other.

1. The Commission shall advise the Council and Executive on the naming of honorary and heritage roadways.

2. The Commission may advise the Council and Executive generally on matters of Pierce County history and historic preservation.

3. The Commission may perform other related functions assigned to the Commission by the Council or Executive.

4. The Commission may provide information to the public on methods of maintaining and rehabilitating historic properties. This may take the form of pamphlets, newsletters, workshops, or similar activities.

5. The duties of the Commission shall include the establishment of definitions, criteria, and procedures required to carry out this legislation.

E. The Planning and Public Works Department shall provide administrative support to the Commission, with additional assistance provided by other County departments as necessary.

(Ord. 2025-524 § 1, 2025; Ord. 2017-12s § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 2007-103s § 1 (part), 2007; Ord. 89-127 § 1, 1989; Ord. 87-59S § 1 (part), 1987; Ord. 84-23 § 1 (part), 1984; Prior Code § 14.04.020)