PIERCE COUNTY — The Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission will accept applications for the 2021 Preservation Grant Program through Jan. 8, 2021. These grants assist in funding preservation efforts in Pierce County. The program’s goal is to distribute small, yet meaningful, grants to help promote historic preservation throughout the county. Application details Grant…
Category: History
History of the communtiy
Our local Suffrage Centennial Aug. 26
There is a National Historic site in Parkland of which not many are aware. No, not the Oregon Trail marker at the former Brookdale Golf Course, although that is significant too. The historic designation is at is the former home of Emma Smith DeVoe at 133rd and B Street East. Born in Illinois, Mrs. DeVoe…
Earth Day at 50 years – April 22, 1970
Editor: Marianne Lincoln 50 years ago today in the United States, we held the very first Earth Day. I was 13 years old and in 7th grade at Bethel Junior High. We cleaned up landscaping and planted flowers. We drew pictures of Earth and other planetary art work. We heard the new movement of environmentalists…
Toxic chemicals found on Brookdale site
The development of the Brookdale Golf Course and its associated historical assets has been controversial for many years. The presence of wagon ruts on the property was preserved by the golf course management, as well as the cemetery of its early settlers. Now officially sold to Ichijo USA Co. LTS of Redmond, the golf course…
A Scandinavian Christmas – this week at PLU
Do you speak Norwegian and love their Christmas traditions? The Scandinavian Cultural Center at Pacific Lutheran University hosts a Norwegian language Christmas service inside the Ness Chapel (3rd floor) in The Karen H. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (Eastvold). This year, the service will be held on Wednesday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. This…
Dec 1 Open House at Prairie House Museum
How about a bit of Fa, La ,La, La, La at the Prairie House Museum in Spanaway? On Sunday, December 1, 2019, the Spanaway Historical Society will open the Museum for some old fashioned Christmas fun. Come celebrate from 1-3 p.m. when Prairie House Museum will be open for their annual Christmas Open House. The museum…
Hearings Examiner on Brookdale Golf Course
This link is the report from the Pierce County Hearings Examiner on the development at the Brookdale Golf Course. It is a PDF file. Brookdale PDD Hearings Examiner 2 21 2019
Matching grants help preserve Pierce County landmarks
The Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission is now accepting applications for the 2020 Preservation Matching Grant Program. These grants assist in funding preservation efforts in Pierce County. The program’s goal is to distribute small, yet meaningful, matching grants to help promote historic preservation throughout the county. Grant requests can be made for two…
Kids Day at Prairie House Museum April 3
Do you know the history of Spanaway and it surrounding area? Here is a good opportunity to make use of a day in the middle of Spring Break to explore, play and learn with your children or grandchildren at the Prairie House Museum in Spanaway. April 3, 2019 from 1 to 3 p.m., the Prairie…
Spanaway has a rich history
A few days ago I visited Heritage Bank on the corner of Military Road and Pacific Avenue. As President of the Spanaway Community Association, the new manager began talking about adding photos to the wall, depicting the history of Spanaway. I told her I would bring some in short order. In the past couple of…
The British were coming
If you study the history of Pierce County Washington, you have to recognize the competition between American Settlers and British Settlers in the area. The British settlers were aided by the presence of Fort Nisqually, their general store and purveyor of supplies and utensils to get started in this wilderness. Americans were reprimanded by peer pressure…
Cities of Pierce County Washington
Pierce County, Washington came into existence after Oregon became a state in 1853. Prior to that time, this area was considered to be part of Lewis County, Oregon Territory. That detail makes some historical research tricky. Another complicating factor in Pierce County history is the ownership claim of the Hudson Bay Company (HBC). When Washington…
