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. The event is a…
Category: History
History of the communtiy
Getting your historical bearings – Parkland, Spanaway to Roy
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…
Ground breaking has begun on the Elk Plain O’Reilly’s
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…
Graham Fire and Rescue welcomes new Chief Ryan Baskett
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 70th 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…
McMillin Bridge headed for Pierce County Register of Historic Places
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…
Kapowsin, Electron and Clay City – the former boom towns of South Pierce County
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…
Memorial Day at Bethany Cemetery
Here are a few photo memories of the memorial Day tribute at the pioneer Bethany cemetery.
Bethel High Dominates, Wins State History Championship
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…
Spanaway historical graveyard cleanup Saturday, April 20
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…
The Milroy Bridge, trusses of steel from a different era
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…
Milroy Bridge over Puyallup River to close April 17 for inspection
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…
37 Bethel students headed to State History Day contest
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…
Pierce Prairie Post 