"Olympia, Washington -- This is the Capitol City of the State of Washington, and also is a port at the southern tip of Puget Sound."

A view of downtown Oly in the 1960s, looking north on Capitol Way. I could tell 100 stories just from using parts of this image as a starting place.

"State Capitol Group, Olympia, Washington. Capitol lake at right." Some small details in this photo, particularly in the area of the Maple Park Apartments, make me conclude this photo was taken in the early to mid-1960s. Notice the steam plant on the shore of the Fetid Lake of Doom in the lower right hand corner-- winter quarters for the caimans that now inhabit the lake. Sure, they're telling you to stay out due to some little snail. Yeah. Right.

The reverse side of this postcard is blank. I date this in the late Ike era or in JFK period. The Pritchard Building is visible near the right corner making this no earlier than 1959. The residential area across Capitol Way is bereft of any State buildings. I'll guess this is in the timeframe of 1959-1961. The old Olympia High School (the present site of State Archives) and Capitol Park Apartments can be seen. Also those grand original maples on Maple Park, which were ripped out about ten years later. For us local boomers, if you said "Olympia and Rainier" when we were young we would assume you meant the two regional beers.

"State Capitol Group, Olympia, Washington. Capitol Lake at right."

From the early 1960s or 1959 at the earliest. The Capitol Campus has not yet jumped across Capitol Way and displaced all those homeowners. The Capitol Park Apartments (gone now for over 4 decades) can be seen on the left edge.

This postcard is a frightening reminder of the close proximity of the Fetid Lake of Doom to our center of government here in Washington.

"Olympia, Washington. The State Capitol buildings may be seen at right center. Mt. Rainier stands as sentinal [i.e. sentinel] in the distance."

I figure this postcard photo was taken between 1959 and 1965. In the far right of the photo the Washington State Library building (opened 1959) is visible (called the Pritchard Building today). The Capitol Center Building, also known locally as "The Mistake by the Lake" is not visible. It was built in 1965.

Notice the Fetid Lake of Doom has little pedestrian-friendly development. The whole concept of jogging in the JFK era was unheard of.

 

"Olympia, Washington. 4th & Capitol Way."

We moved to Olympia from Spokane in 1958. This is pretty much how I first remember seeing downtown Oly.

So what is the deal here? What a waste of a Discover Pass.

More pix here:

http://www.graysharbordown.com/2013/02/schafer-state-park-now-clearcut.html

http://www.graysharbordown.com/2013/02/schafer-state-park.html

 

Started snowing shortly before dawn and has not stopped

Found in the Olympia Daily Recorder, Aug. 12, 1911, p. 6:

Many passing on Fourth street during the past few days have been interested in the razing of the old pioneer building in East Fourth street, opposite the Rex theater. Its heavy hewn and mortised sills, now decayed, are of a construction a half century past.

In 1854, William Wright, whose sons are now contractors in Olympia, erected this building on the northeast corner of Washington and Fourth streets. It was first used as a harness shop and at the time of building the county court house was occupied as Burmeister's saloon. At that time it was removed to its present location where it has since been used as a meat market by Hans Jacobson.

Daniel Beatty, an old resident, who came to Olympia in 1853, says that he then found but one small house south of Fourth street, on the shore line west of Columbia street. Near this building Mr. Beatty had a cooper shop until interrupted by the Indian war of 1855-56.

It is probable that Millard Lemon will erect upon the site of this building the first absolutely fire proof structure to be erected in the city, plans for which are now being prepared by Architect Samuel G. Ward.

 

 

The kickstarter for Bezango WA (the movie) begins:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1230569287/bezango-wa