History of the City of Lacey
By Curt Cunningham

Lacey is located about 4 miles east of Olympia on the Pacific Highway. The city is surrounded by 5 beautiful lakes that were carved out during ice age. The town is 17.66 square miles and in 2021, had a population of over 50,000. The city also has several championship golf courses, miles of hiking and biking paths, and more than 1,200 acres of public parkland. The 3,700-acre Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge just 5 miles northeast of town, provides residents with virtually unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The East Olympia Prairies

East of Olympia on the 1910 Thurston county map there are 5 named prairies; Chambers', Hawk's (Tyrell's), Little Chambers', Allen's and Barnard's (Conner's). Chambers' prairie is the largest and is located about 6 miles southeast of Olympia and is roughly 17 square miles or 10,000 acres. This prairie is named after the Chambers' family who settled there in 1848. Next is Tyrell's prairie, which is now known as Hawk's prairie, and is located about 6 miles east of Olympia. This prairie is roughly 3.5 square miles or 2,240 acres. The names come from Freeman and Rebecca Tyrell and John and Sarah Hawk.

Little Chambers' prairie is 2 square miles or 1,280 acres. It is located about 3.5 miles southeast of Olympia. The town of Lacey is at the north end of this prairie. In 1848 David and Elizabeth Chambers built a house on this little prairie near Chambers' lake and started a farm. The Panorama convalescent center now occupies the place where the Chambers' cabin and farm used to be. 

Another early resident of Little Chambers prairie was William Rutledge who arrived in 1852 and took a claim on the west side of Hick's lake. Originally it was known as Rutledge lake. The Rutledge homestead is now Wanscher's park. In 1852, Isaac and Catherine Wood arrived on Little Chambers' prairie and took a claim north of Rutledge and east of David Chambers. The Wood's cabin was near Homann park and Lacey is built on his old donation land claim.

Wood and his sons operated a mercantile store in Olympia in the 1850's, and on September 1, 1852 Isaac Wood placed an ad in the paper selling 500 new barrels that were made exclusively for the salmon trade. In the early evening of April 8, 1869 the industrious Isaac Wood suffered a stroke and passed away at his home.

Barnard's or Conner's prairie is located between the lakes of Pattison, Long and St. Clair, and is roughly 3.5 square miles or 2,240 acres. It is named after Lewis D. Barnard and Joseph Conner. 

The last and smallest of these prairies is Allen's prairie at about 1 square mile or 640 acres. Mushroom Corner now occupies the prairie, which may have been named after Robert Allen who had homesteaded there.

George H. Himes of Hawk's prairie wrote the following in the winter of 1853-54; "The coldest day was 5 degrees above zero; and during the week ending Jan. 21, 1854, there were three days when it was 9 degrees above zero, and one day when it was between 7 and 8 degrees above. This particular winter I remember very distinctly, because it was my "chore," at least three times daily, to walk a distance equivalent to at least six Olympia blocks to a lake and chop holes in the ice so that a cow and two horses could drink, and I was almost barefooted at that. There were compensations, however, in the neighborliness manifested by the families of David J. Chambers, Stephen D. Ruddell, "Captain" Tyrell, Isaac Wood and "Bat" Baker. James Baker, the 16 year-old son of the latter, was a famous hunter, and killed many deer that winter, and "a quarter" invariably found its way into my father's (Tyrus Himes) log cabin, which was situated about three quarters of a mile east of the Lacey post office."

The Roads Leading East

The first 2 roads east of Olympia were to the farms of Thomas Chambers and his sons Andrew and David. They were built by the Chambers' family in 1849 and became county roads in 1854. The road to Andrew and Thomas' farm is now a section of the Yelm Highway. Andrew lived near the blockhouse located today at 6909 Rainier Road. This old road originally forked at the intersection with Normandy Dr. SE. and Troon Lane SE, on the Yelm highway.

The right fork continued southeast toward Andrew Chambers' farm and the blockhouse, and then continued southeast to his father's farm. By 1855 the old trail from the blockhouse to the Tenalquot prairie near Rainier was made into a wagon road, which today is known as Rainier Road SE. The left fork traveled east through the golf course and reconnected to the Yelm Highway at Ruddell Road SE. Today the highway has an "elbow joint" in this section. In later years the fork in the road was moved east to the intersection of Rainier Road and the Yelm Highway.

The left fork continues along the Yelm highway to the Red Wind casino, which is near two ancient fords of the Nisqually river. These fords had been used for centuries by the Nisqually people and later from about 1835 to 1870, by the Hudson's Bay Company. The Red Wind casino is also at a junction of the old Nisqually trails going north to the mouth of the Nisqually river (left fork) and the other (right fork) going southeast to the Yelm prairie.

At the mouth of the Nisqually river was another ancient river crossing known as the "lower crossing." The Nisqually would ferry travelers across for a small fee. This continued until the summer of 1853 when William Packwood's ferry replaced the canoes. From the lower crossing, the trail led up the hill and northeast to Fort Nisqually (at Dupont) and further north to Steilacoom. 

The right fork at the casino ran southeast through the Yelm prairie to the "upper crossing" of the Nisqually river at McKenna. From there this trail would take you northeast to the Puyallup river. From there trails led across the Cascade mountains to Yakima, and another trail ran north to Auburn where another fork could take you to either Renton, or North Bend.

The road from Olympia to David Chambers' farm on Little Chambers' prairie began in East Tumwater at or near Carlyon road. From there it traveled east to Boulevard road, where it veered to the north around the tip of Chambers' lake and terminated at David Chambers' farm. Late in 1854 this road was extended to the Packwood ferry at the Nisqually river.

This is why the Pacific Highway through Lacey has the angle in it. Pacific Ave SE coming from the Nisqually river originally extended southwest through Lacey to the tip of Chambers' lake, before turning southwest toward Tumwater. The road between Olympia and Lacey would be passable by wagons sometime in late 1858 or early in 1859 and it became a county road in 1860. The section of road between Lacey and Tumwater would be abandoned by 1890.

On March 30, 1860 Henry Winsor and J. D. Laman began running stagecoaches between Olympia and Steilacoom on the new road. They carried the U.S. Mail, express packages and passengers. The stages departed Olympia on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and departed Steilacoom on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The coaches departed promptly at 8am each day and made connections with Winsor's stages that were running from Olympia to Monticello and the Cowlitz Landing.

The Glorious Fourth

Printed in the Washington Standard on July 7, 1861 is the following article on the 4th of July celebration that was held at a lake near Isaac Wood's residence; The 85th anniversary of American Independence was celebrated with unusual zeal by the good people of Olympia and vicinity, as well as many visitors from different places on the Sound. The day was ushered in by the firing of a Federal salute, while from the masts of the ships and our numerous town staffs, the gorgeous emblem of the free was being unfurled. About 9 o'clock people proceeded in vehicles gaily decked with flags and streamers, to the ground which had been selected for the celebration, on the margin of the lake near Isaac Wood's residence, about five miles east of town.

The Declaration of Independence was read in an impressive manner by Elwood Evans Esq., after which a bountiful repast was spread beneath the trees, and the word given to "march to the conflict." After dinner, our national songs were sung, and about four o'clock all returned to town well pleased with the day's enjoyment.

Another party of our towns-people went on a fishing excursion down the Sound; and still another had a picnic at the Capitol for the children of the M. E. Sabbath School. The day's rejoicings closed with a national salute and a grand display of fireworks. But the crowning affair of the whole was the ball in the evening at the Washington Hall. The room was beautifully decorated with flags, the music excellent, and the assemblage large and brilliant. Much credit is due Mr. Keller in arranging the affair.

Woodland

in 1852, Isaac Wood gave his farm the name “Woodlawn.”  Some years later, his son Rollin came up with the name “Woodland” for the farm and the surrounding community. The earliest I could find in the newspapers using the name Woodland was in the Washington Standard printed on August 19, 1887. Woodlawn was used in December of 1892 as the name of the train station, and in the same article Woodland was used as the place name. The name Lacey was first used as the name for the post office when it was established in 1891.

In 1852, less than 2 miles south of Isaac Wood, Stephen Ruddell arrived and built his home. That was the same year he donated property for a community cemetery. He also helped establish a school house near the cemetery in 1853. This place is now the intersection of Mullen Rd. SE and Ruddell Rd. SE. The Ruddell home was on 45th Street. 

The Ruddell's closest neighbor Gallatin Hartsock arrived in 1853 with his wife Elizabeth and they lived on the little prairie for the rest of their lives. Their home was on Ruddell Loop Rd., which is part of the original wagon road to Chambers' prairie from Lacey. Hartsock passed away in June of 1906, and the following was said of him in his obituary; "Mr. Hartsock was a man who held in an eminent degree the friendship and good-will of his neighbors, and his death leaves a void in the ranks of the hardy pioneers whose lives are interwoven with the early history of our county and State."

A Dream with a Moral

An interesting story was sent to the Washington Standard from Woodland on August 19, 1887; "A well known citizen of Woodland tells of a remarkable dream that came to him a few nights since. He said that he dreamed that he died and took the road that led to the region of Hades. On arriving there he was cordially received by His Satanic Majesty, who designated a piece of land three by six feet, and told him that was his possession to hold and reside on as long as he wished to remain."

"We make it a law here, said his Highness, 'that every man must reside on as large a body of land as he held before leaving the earth. For instance,' said he, pointing to a large land-owner of Woodland, 'that man over there owned 5,000 acres of land before he died. He holds the same amount here; but another edict I have recently issued is that every inhabitant of my dominion must walk around his landed possessions each time before he can be allowed to drink of water. Some of them who have so much land, of course, nearly famish before they make the circuit, but it is the best way I can find to punish these men proportionately with their abominations while on earth, in holding the land from their fellow-creatures.'" 

"The moral of this dream is easily discerned.? Woodland Mail."

The Notorious O. C. Lacey

The expansion of Olympia eastward began in the late 1880's when small sub-divisions began to pop up as the original settlers began to sell off some or all of their land claims. In 1890 J. M. Adams purchased a section of Isaac Wood's claim, and sold lots called the J. M. Adams acre tracts, the first subdivision in Lacey. In the 1890's, Oliver Chester Lacey along with his partner H. L. Forrest sold many lots in the Olympia and Lacey area. O. C. Lacey who arrived in 1889 from Chicago is where Lacey unfortunately gets its name.

O. C. Lacey as he was called, was admitted to the Washington State bar in 1891, and in 1893 he was appointed Justice of the Peace. He was not very well liked by the community as he may not have been a very nice person. He wasn't in town but 3 months when he was sued for non performance of a contract. In the spring of 1889 he had hired H. Martin to break a wild horse and agreed to pay him $5. It only took Martin a single day to break the beast and Lacey refused to pay on the grounds that it wasn't worth that much. The judge ruled in favor of the trainer and Lacey was forced to pay Martin $2.50 plus his court costs.

In the fall of 1893, Justice of the Peace Lacey and Auditor Moore butted heads over the removal of furniture that was used by the Justice but owned by the county. The auditor was moving to a new office on Main street and wanted the furniture. The affair almost came to arms when a deputy sheriff had to be brought in to take possession of the items. The county commissioners settled the disagreement and rented the furniture back to Justice Lacey until the items were needed by the county.

Oliver's wife Emma would divorce her husband on September 6, 1895 on grounds of cruelty. He would fail to pay any alimony and he left Emma in poverty. Emma Lacey would sadly pass away at the young age of 39 in October of 1896 at the residence of John R. Mitchell. During the last years of her life she was in poor health. 

Oliver Chester Lacey was so disliked by the business establishment, he was effectively run out of town. On October 25, 1896 this was said about him; "The indignation among businessmen in Olympia against the notorious O. C. Lacey is of such a nature that it would not be a pleasant thing for him to make an appearance in this city." Lacey left town soon after and traveled to Virginia where he died in 1905.

Lacey Post Office

At the beginning of 1891 Woodland was a small community with a single grocery store. In the spring of 1891 an application was sent to Washington, D.C., to establish a post office with the name Woodland. It is unknown who submitted the application, which was rejected because there was already a town with that name in the state. On June 2, 1891 a second application was sent. The name Lacey was chosen and the application would be granted. On June 29, 1891, the Lacey post office opened in George Warren Carpenter's new general store, and Carpenter was appointed the postmaster.

There is some controversy about who gave the post office the name Lacey, though it is obvious it was named after ol' Chester. In my opinion, it was due to his unpopularity that the town refuses to acknowledge it. Lacey himself appears to have signed the application as it is doubtful another person named Lacey submitted the application. Comparable signatures from court records appear to match the one on the post office application.

On February 22, 1896, there was an attempt to rob the store and post office at Woodland. The Saturday evening burglary was thwarted by the discovery of the criminals in the act, resulting in their arrest and incarceration. It seems that Earl Carpenter, a son of the store keeper and postmaster, had returned from a school meeting about midnight, and while approaching the store building in which he slept, heard noises from within which indicated what was going on.

He immediately aroused his father, at the residence near by, and Deputy Sheriff Chamberlain, who likewise lives near the store, and they soon had the game "treed." The burglars were found to be William Anderson and James Ward, hobos by profession. They were handcuffed and brought to town at an early hour Sunday morning, and had a hearing before U. S. Commissioner R. G. O'Brien on Monday the 24th, and were held to answer in a Federal court on the charge of robbing a post office. They had taken enough stamps from the post office till to make this charge stick, although from the quantity of merchandise they had selected to carry away, it was evident that ordinary plunder was their main object.

On Friday evening June 5, 1896 accused burglars James Ward and William Anderson escaped from the county jail where they were awaiting their trial for robbing the post office. The bars on the windows were filed off and bent to one side and after squeezing through, the prisoners had to drop 15 feet to the ground. This was unless they had assistance, which was probable, as some tool was used for cutting the bars. The exit was quietly made, as the jailer and his wife slept in close proximity to the window. Sheriff Gaston was hot on their trail although it is unknown whatever happened to them.

Northern Pacific

On May 9, 1890 the Tacoma, Olympia & Gray's Harbor Railroad was incorporated by N. H. Owings, W. H. Calkins, H. S. Huson and James M. Ashton in the interests of the Northern Pacific. This railroad began at the mainline in Lakeview and ran south to Lacey and then east toward Olympia where it passed under the town through a tunnel. The Olympia depot and rail yard were on the west end of the tunnel on a landfill. Today the yard is part of Heritage Park. From the depot, the rails crossed Budd's Inlet and turned south to connected with the Northern Pacific's Ocosta branch at Gate junction on the Black river.

Construction on the road began in June of 1890 when J. V. Browne & Co. began operations on the west side of the Nisqually river and started working west towards Lacey. By the end of August the Griggs & Huestis Co. completed their grading to the Black river. They hired 2,000 workers and used with 475 teams consisting of 950 horses and mules to finish the project. By that time the rails had been laid 14 miles to the Nisqually river. At the beginning of 1891, Northern Pacific crews were busy boring a tunnel under 7th Avenue in Olympia.

On April 10, 1891 a large crowd gathered at the Jefferson Street junction to see the arrival of the first construction train over the new line from Tacoma. Freight trains began to use the new road in April and it became a pastime of Olympia citizens to hop on them for a free ride to Tacoma.

On May 1, 1891, the first passenger train over the Northern Pacific's new road arrived in Olympia at 9am. The depot at Lacey was named Woodland although some referred to it as Woodlawn station. On November 7, 1902 the name of the Woodland depot was formally changed to Lacey.

Printed in the Washington Standard, on May 1, 1891, was a half-page real estate advertisement by O. C. Lacey & H. L. Forrest that said; "Olympia will be the railroad center of the Great Northwest. Within one year Olympia will have more separate and independent railroad lines than any other city in the Northwest. Surrounded by one of the finest and most productive agricultural sections in the region with an almost unlimited supply of the finest timber in the world. Olympia is destined to be not only the great railroad center but the metropolis of the wonderful state of Washington. Lots in Olympic Park on the Westside are offered for sale."

Woodland Driving Park

The Woodland Driving Park or Woodland Park was a horse racing venture founded by Isaac Chase Ellis, former mayor of Olympia. It was once of the largest horse racing tracks in the region. The park was across the highway from the train depot and just west of the Isaac Wood homestead. It appears that the horse racing events were sporadic and attendance would be below expectations, which undoubtedly did not fulfill Ellis' dream. The earliest article I could find about the park was on June 6, 1890 when the Washington Standard printed an article about the races at Woodland Park;

"Friday and Saturday, Woodland Park was the center of attraction for many people. Every wagon was on the road for a time and the town seemed depopulated and "corner lot speculation had apparently lost its charm." On Saturday 3 races were run. The best 3 out of 5 trotting races was won by Black Diamond, owned by R. Breeze, followed by Chieftain, Hustler and Eli. In the one-half mile race, Ben El owned by G. C. Ross came in first, with Country Girl, Bay Kit and Sleepy Jack. The free-for-all, best 3 in 5 was won by Sleepy Tom, notwithstanding his somnolent name. He was owned by Pearall and Belles. His competitors were Henry B, Wanda and Eli."

On June 29 1894 it was said that; "the languishing young man who owns barely 60 cents in fee simple can take his girl out to Woodland Park and bring her back in good style, but how to shift for 2 dishes of strawberries and cream, while on the grounds, "There's the rub!" as the immortal bard of Avon exclaimed, Yes, Julius Augustus, there's the rub sure enough."

On February 11, 1898 the Standard said that Ellis had devised a plan to dispose of the park by holding a lottery. He proposed to sell 15,000 one dollar tickets and deed the race track and building to the holder of the lucky number. The lottery did not take place and Ellis ended up selling the park to Henry Schupp on October 22, 1900 for $2,000. The first improvement by Schupp was to convert the clubhouse into the Woodland Hotel. 

On November 8, 1901 the Washington Standard said; "The racing season was a disappointment in attendance and interest taken by sporting men in general, and hence it closed yesterday. The races that were run, however, in the two days, were excellent indications of good stock and of a probability of awakening of more zeal when the weather and other conditions are more favorable."

On October 5, 1906 Schupp sold the park to J. Rising for $4,000. In 1908 George E. Huggins purchased the park from Rising, and on April 3, 1908, Huggins said he was going to spend $10,000 on more conveniences for the horse owners and improve the track. 

In 1912 Thurston county was shopping for a venue to house a demonstration farm, a county poor farm, and a place to hold their annual county fair. The choices were; The Carlyon Driving Park near Tumwater, the Woodland Driving Park, and Priest Point Park. Huggins worked hard to try and convince the county commissions to chose Woodland Park. 

A letter from Huggins to the Thurston County Commissioners was printed in the Washington Standard on October 18, 1912. He offered them free use of the park grounds for the county fair for 5 years. He said; "Gentlemen: Now that the fair ground demonstration farm project has been revived I desire to repeat the proposition I made to you May 29th last, when I offered you my race track and grounds at Lacey, Washington, for a period of five years, free of charge."

"This offer includes everything that I own in and around the race track, save and except the hotel. It includes all of my grounds, 100 stalls, the race track and, full possession of the grounds surrounding it, with power to build any building that you may need or desire to possess, connected with the fair. I offer you these grounds free of charge for a period of five years and make an offer of the exclusive possession of the same for 30 days for the holding of any county fair. If within the five years you desire to purchase these grounds, I will sell the same to you, including the race track, buildings, hotel and all, for a price not exceeding $10,000."

"In case you desire to take up the option at the close of this five-year period I will give you $10,000 for the poor farm property. If within the five years you abandon the fair proposition. I will then buy from you any buildings that may be erected upon the grounds, paying cash for the same. I have been assured that I can obtain the use of at least two automobiles, with a seating capacity of 25 each, that will make the trip from Olympia to Lacey in 16 minutes. The owners of the machines are anxious to avail themselves of this opportunity."

"The Northern Pacific Railroad company, through its agents, has promised me that in case a county fair is held on this property, it will be glad to put on as many trains as necessary in addition to its regular service of six trains a day, at an excursion rate of two-thirds the regular rate."

The county ended up choosing Woodland Park and the fair ran from October 6th - 11th of 1913. Admission was 25 cents and children under 12 were free. The fair was not a success and the promoters who were not happy had criticized Huggins. Huggins shot back with a letter printed a Tacoma newspaper that the Washington Standard reprinted on June 19, 1914; "This criticism is absolutely and wholly unfounded," he declares. "Under no circumstances or conditions will I allow the Thurston County Fair association to use my track and grounds for fair purposes until the whole association is re-organized."

"The fair was not a success last year. It was managed in an unbusinesslike manner, and after it was over I notified J. V. Huntamer and all concerned that under no conditions would I allow them to ever use the fair grounds again for the purpose of holding a county fair." At the end of the letter the Standard said that; "The Lacey fair grounds is one of the oldest and best known in the Northwest. Famous horses from all over the Pacific coast were raced on the track when it was known as the Woodlawn course."

"In recent years it has been used for a training and wintering quarters. This summer an attempt was made to hold automobile races on the track but because of the heavy dust, the races were not staged. The track is considered one of the best in the country, according to the horsemen who have been training on it."

In the spring of 1918 the park was completely repaired and put in first class condition. The park re-opened on May 26, 1918, and the following weekend was Memorial Day where the entire day's program was to consist of auto races, special stunts by soldiers from Fort Lewis in addition to the usual fairground features. It is unknown if the auto races actually took place.

On July 20, 1920 the Standard said that a summer hotel and race track was to open by J. E. Shrewbury of Seattle. The park would be sold again in 1939 to Glenn Granger who continued to board and train horses. In 1976 the property was sold for the last time to developers who built a shopping center and housing project on top of the old grounds.

Camp Washington

On June 15, 1894 General O'Brien announced that the Washington State National Guard will make an encampment at Woodland beginning on June 28th and lasting 10 days. The date that was selected for the encampment was on the 118th anniversary of the battle of Sullivan's Island. Sergeant Box of Tacoma supplied the food for the brigade instead of the regimental mess. Box was commissary sergeant of the cavalry battalion. Each soldier received 50 cents worth of rations each day.

The Northern Pacific promised to place a local train between Woodland and Olympia to run on frequent intervals, but their employees were on strike during that time and the promised train never materialized.

On July 1, 1894, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran an article about life at the Woodland encampment; "The weather is warm and pleasant, and sunbrowned yeomanry of the Second having arrived and been duly installed the militia encampment has settled down to work in real earnest. The selection of camp grounds has left little to be desired, for the surroundings are perfect and life here is really enjoyable. It is not to be inferred from this that there is all play and no work, for what with drills and other duties devolving upon the soldiers there is enough to make their hours of leisure enjoyable."

"The table fare is plain, wholesome and plenty of it, and as a rule the company cooks have proven satisfactory. Woodland Driving Park. Lacey post office, Camp McGraw, Camp O'Brien, Camp Washington, to any one of which names we are perfectly free to help ourselves, was originally prepared for a well-equipped driving park, and Isaac Ellis, its projector, did a good job, for its equipment for the purposes intended is complete. But one horse meeting ever took place here, which was in 1891, since which time it has been practically deserted."

"The idea of its purchase for a permanent encampment ground has been canvassed and can be said to still be a live question, and possibly the state could not do better were it resolved to purchase. If the site is defective in any particular it is in lacking a running stream, though of course water, with a lake so near, is not wanting. Among the many embellishments which were placed upon the grounds is a once handsome figure of a horse in gilt upon the judges' stand. The day before the encampment commenced a detail from Company A, Olympia, was sent to the grounds to make preparations for the militia. Upon arising next morning a good marksman of the detail remarked upon the excellence of the gold horse an a target, took a shot, and since that time the horse has been doing without a head and Ike is swearing about the destructive qualities of the state militia as evidenced by the camp."

"Upon the grounds near the entrance are placed two brass cannons, which have grown historical. They have been the property of the territory, and passed with other property in the transformation. These guns hare done duty at celebrations and political meetings for many years at Olympia, serving all without regard to sex, color or previous condition of servitude. They loudly declaimed upon the downfall of the Confederacy in 1865."

"One night when glad war tidings had arrived Capt. Clancy, father of Capt. Charles Clancy, and Commodore Cleale, both loyal men, secured these cannons and placed them at the foot of Main street in Olympia and fired the first gun of a memorable salute. The gun rebounded and the gunners followed it up and fired a second shot, and so up the length of Olympia's only thoroughfare. Where there had been glass store fronts before, the sun of the following morning looked down and saw not one. The concussions from heavy charges had shattered them."

"At another time one of these brass guns was taken to the end of the dock for a political salute. With the first fire it kicked itself into the bay, which left the disappointed Republicans with plenty of ammunition and a good supply of enthusiasm, but no gun. It was afterward recovered. The guns look like warlike old relics, capable of a great deal of noise, but little else."

"An amusing feature of militia camp life is to note the restraint a private must necessarily exercise to show proper respect for his superior officer, who as a civilian may be a chum or crony. Friday an officer of high rank walked along the main avenue of the camp. It was his first appearance, and he was espied by a private, who, forgetting for a moment the respect due his superior, rushed forward and placing his hand familiarly upon the shoulder of the officer, cried: "Hello Mac, ol' boy!" The astonished look and cold stare of the officer brought the luckless private to his military senses, and he retreated to his tent, there resolving to earn, by heroic conduct on some field of battle, straps for his own shoulders."

"The failure of the trains to run has necessarily kept away many visitors who desired to come to the camp. The inconvenience has been seriously felt, particularly by Olympians, who had looked forward to Woodland excursions during the encampment. It is still hoped that a compromise or settlement will soon be reached by the railroad and their employees whereby this trouble will be overcome. The camp is surrounded by the usual number of vendors of varied kinds of refreshments, a shooting gallery and other catch-penny affairs."

"To avoid the payment of rents, a few, by gaining consent of the county commissioners, are strung along the county road, which passes immediately in front of the grounds. Company K. of Aberdeen, which carried the famous eagle at the last encampment at Camp Murray, two years ago, are on the grounds, accompanied this time by a large dog, which, with close cut hair, is grotesquely painted, and carries inscribed on his sides, "Company K." The dog is not a beauty, but to the boys of Company K he is a joy forever."

"It has at last been officially announced that the camp is to he known as "Camp Washington." which puts at rest a question which has been asked time and again since the opening day. There are three bands on duty here. The First Regiment band, of Seattle, has a reputation so established on Puget Sound as to render favorable comment unnecessary. The Eastern Washington bands are very creditable organizations, and the Second Regiment band is heartily applauded at guard mount."

"Company E, not to be behind its neighbor, Company K, brought into camp a pig captured en route to Woodland. This pet has been given the freedom of the grounds and also of the refuse from the table, and on the last day of the encampment will be the subject of a barbecue."

"Inspection has been postponed until tomorrow at 10 o'clock a. m. General O'Brien is inspector general. Divine services were held this afternoon by Rev. McKinnon, chaplain of the Second regiment, and there was music by the band of that regiment. The Fourth of July will be governor's day. He and his staff will be present to review the troops. This will be the big day of the encampment. A quintet from Company A, Olympia, is tonight serenading several companies of both regiments."

On July 7, 1894, about $32,000 was distributed among the soldiers, the men receiving $1.50 per day and 50 cents for subsistence, and the officers more, according to rank. There was no formal celebration on the 4th, due to the low turnout of visitors due to the railroad strike, and despite the dust and heat going and coming, those that came enjoyed a few hours of novel entertainment in witnessing the Governor's Review in the morning and a sham battle and horseracing in the afternoon, with a ball at night. Most Olympians were satisfied with the excitement of the past month, due to the visits of so many State organizations and thought the 4th would a good time for a go-as-you-please observance of the day. The result was that some Olympians went to Shelton, some to Mound Prairie and Tenino, but far the larger proportion to the military camp at Woodland.

Love on the Prairie

On Sunday March 25, 1866, at the residence of Stephen Ruddell, Augustus Balch was married to Kate W, Ruddell by Nathan Crosby Jr., Justice of the Peace. On January 1, 1880 at the residence of David J. Chambers, James Helmick of Albany, Oregon was married to Amanda Adaline Mayer, and David Chambers Jr. was married to Emily Fleetwood by Francis Henry, Justice of the Peace.

On December 29, 1889 the Washington Standard said that 85 weddings took place that year in Thurston county. That week Maggie Chambers was married to William M. Calhoun at her home on Chambers' prairie by Rev. Elliott W. Brown of the First Presbyterian Church of Seattle. Among the many handsome and costly presents was a cabinet of silverware, a gift from the parents of the groom. Some of the guests at the wedding were; Louisa Ayres, A. Lansdale, Annie Tarbell, Dora Sternberg, Grant Talcotte, A. M. Root, C. H. Ayers and C. C. Crego of Olympia; Jessie Seamans of Sumner, and Mr. Fortson of Fountain; Mr. Cheasty and Mr. Tucker of Seattle. After the ceremony the newlyweds returned to Olympia and boarded a steamer for their new home in Seattle.

A Royal Reception

On December 13, 1891, The Olympia Tribune printed the following article; "Olympia Dentist Dr. A. S. Oliver and his bride were greeted with a rousing reception at Woodlawn station yesterday, on the return from their wedding trip. In the morning Mrs. Stuart, Mr. and Mrs. Hartford, E. B. Simmons, brother to the bride, Alex. Drysdale, E. Eunsen and John Goat left on the morning train for Woodland, a mile from which is the home of Dr. Oliver’s parents. Two large rigs carried the happy party to the house, one of which returned for the bride and groom, who arrived on the morning train from Tacoma."

"As the couple approached the house, they were greeted with a volley of cheers from the party, who had formed themselves into a procession, carrying flags and banners. At the house a royal time was spent, and when the hour of noon arrived the guests were ushered into the dining room where they were comforted by a table so heavily laden with tempting viands that the legs looked unsteady. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, parents of the groom, had neglected nothing for the enjoyment of the occasion, and when train time arrived there was singing, shouting and cheering enough to crack the big fir trees along the roadway. The party reached Olympia at 5:20 last evening."

A Marriage of Two Popular Young People

On November 3, 1899, a pretty wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Chambers at Woodland, four miles east of this city, at high noon, Wednesday, the contracting parties being Harvey J. Chambers and Miss Marion M. Larsen, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Larson, Rev. H. L. Badger, officiating. The home was tastefully decorated with hot-house plants and cut flowers. After the ceremony a wedding breakfast was served, of which about twenty of the immediate relatives and friends partook. Both bride and groom are residents of Woodland, where they enjoy a large circle of friends. The happy couple will begin housekeeping at once in their new home at Chambers lake.

St. Martin's College

On January 26 1894, it was announced that the Benedictine Fathers will locate a Catholic college in Washington. 

On April 27, 1894 the issue of were to build the Catholic college was settled and the Benedictine Order of St. John's Abby would build the school at Woodland. There had been a delay in deciding the location for the school, as the promoters of the project had obtained title to 160 acres of land in Cowlitz county where they had initially proposed to build the college. Father Classens of Olympia induced the promoters to travel to Woodland and view the Woodland site. They agreed, and after viewing the site decided to change plans and build at Woodland providing the citizens of Cowlitz county take the property they purchased off their hands. Cowlitz county agreed and the college was built in Woodland. The property at Woodland was school land and was purchased from the state. 

By the end of summer in 1894, 10 acres had been cleared for the buildings, but work on the project was halted due to a heavy loss to the order by a disaster that destroyed some of their buildings near St. Cloud Minnesota. So instead, the order built a temporary structure for the pupils until such time they were able to construct the permanent buildings.

St. Martin's College opened in the fall of 1895. There were 3 courses of study; preparatory, classical and commercial. The classical course was intended to cover a line of instructions for 6 years. There were 2 sessions, one began in September and the other in February. The academic year consisted of 10 months.

Today the school is known as St. Martin's University and it continues to educate the young. The school says that; "Reflecting the Benedictine virtue of hospitality, the University welcomes and, indeed, seeks students not only from the Pacific Northwest, but also from other parts of the nation and the world at its main and extension campuses. Saint Martin’s treasures persons of all ages, religions, and nationalities as it encourages cognizance of diverse viewpoints and an appreciation of all cultures."

KGY Radio

in 1922, Benedictine Monk, Father Sebastian Ruth founded the "KGY" radio station in an old log shack at the college. Later Father Sebastian moved the studio from his shack to a log cabin, which was formally used by students for clubs. May 8, 1932 was the final broadcast of KGY from St. Martin's campus. The station moved to the Capital Park Building at 11th & Capitol Way. In 2014 KGY was sold to Sacred Heart Radio and it continues to broadcast to listeners on 95.3 FM.

The Bicycle Path to Woodland

Bicycles started to become popular in the 1890's and in the summer of 1895 volunteer cycle enthusiasts from Olympia began construction of a bicycle track from Olympia to Woodland. This track, which was built by bicyclists for bicycles also became very popular with pedestrians. On March 27, 1896 the Washington Standard said that; "It looks as if our local bicyclists would be successful in their endeavor to secure some action to make a passable road at all seasons between this place and Woodland. At a meeting of wheelmen, Monday night, L. P. Ouellette, was appointed chairman of a committee of five and empowered to select the other members of the committee, to present the matter for consideration to the County Commissioners."

"It is proposed to grade a roadbed and gravel it to the depth of eight inches. It is to be made wide enough for a wagon road, and several farmers have volunteered aid with their teams. It is estimated that the proposed improvement will cost about $300 per mile and as the distance to be improved is about about three miles, it is necessary to raise in money and labor nearly $1,000. A track along the roadside for immediate use is now being made by voluntary labor of the wheelmen." 

In the spring of 1897 the newspapers were saying that pedestrians were laughing quietly to themselves when they observe what a nice piece of tramping ground the Bicycle Association is making for them between Olympia and Woodland. The track would be completed in the summer of 1897, and it would take a cyclist 30 minutes to go from the corner of Main and 4th Street to the end to the track at Woodland.

In the spring of 1898 it was said that if; "The bicycle boys continue in the work of improving the paths they have begun it will be possible before long for a lady to walk dry-shod in her gaiters to any point between Olympia, Tumwater and Woodland. An extension has been finished from the Tumwater path to the cemetery." 

On August 11, 1899 the county commissioners appropriated $200 for the graveling of the road between Olympia and Woodland.

Lacey in 1913

The following article was printed in the Washington Standard on February 28, 1913; "The pleasant days of this week have invited a full display of energy on the part of those residents of Lacey and vicinity interested in crop making and in fact all pursuits. New soil has been turned to the sun's rays to the extent of several hundred acres in and around Lacey and more will be made ready before spring has notably advanced on the calendar. Clearing and grading of logged-off spots are to be noted as important operations and a spirit of optimism is manifested in the work and the expressions of all annihilate the political pessimist." 

"While the hands of the woodman, the plowman and other toilers are changing the physical geography of this section the map makers will have their turn, because new people are coming in every few days, buying a small holding and installing their families, several tents and in other instances old sheds being used for temporary homes. The fact that transfers of real estate in small subdivisions are being made hereabouts while such transactions are nil in other communities, is taken as an omen of success in this immediate section. And that the transfers are being made can be ascertained by inquiry of any of the numerous automobile parties seen almost constantly on the thoroughfares."

"D. W. Bagley, proprietor of the hotel, has been making his plans for the entertainment of some portion of the touring travel on the Pacific Highway and expects to have one of the most inviting hostelries on the entire route. Quite the most important event in this vicinity for some time past was the work of a corps of cruisers and estimators on the standing timber of St. Martin's college lands, which was completed early in the week. This was followed by the announcement by a Mr. Cady, a timber operator of Tacoma, that he had purchased the growth and would immediately prepare to log it off."

"He has secured a concession from the Northern Pacific and will put in a spur through the 600 acre area, going around the southern extremity of the hill on which the main college buildings stand. Mr. Cady will put a crew of 40 or 60 men and a number of teams at work and expects to have the denudation complete early next winter. His calculations at present are to haul the logs to Olympia and then boom them to Tacoma mills."

"The work of planting 10 five-acre tracts on the east side of the old Chambers tract, which was acquired about two years ago by Buck & McDonald of Seattle, is now going rapidly forward under the direction of the latter, who is thoroughly versed in horticulture and a close student of soils and varying climatic conditions. Winter Bartlett's and French pears are to predominate in the planting with a few cherries of commercial value and a sprinkling of other deciduous fruits on each tract to meet the domestic requirements of each owner, three of whom will be here early in March to select the sites for buildings which they have announced that they will erect."

"Others of this colony are expected out from the Dakotas during the summer and will probably give orders for construction work. Mr. McDonald announces that he will plant from 10 to 15 acres of berries between the rows of fruit trees at once and that as the trees are planted they will be fortified by adaptable fertilizer and that later the entire orchard acreage will be fertilized. Some 60 acres of the Buck & McDonald tract will be cultivated this season for cereals, but a year hence will be put into orchard."

"Capt. George Huggins has begun the work of putting the Woodland race track in shape for the paring training of horses. He has a number of young colts himself that will be broken to harness over the course. There is a prospect that several strings of horses will do their early work here before seeking the circuits for which their owners design them. The captain announces that he will be pleased to lend every possible encouragement to the horsemen and later will aid a meeting there if it can be arranged."

"At St. Martin's college the excavations for the new building that the faculty hope to have completed before the next semester, are about finished and the award of the contract for the large and architecturally attractive building will very likely be announced during the coming week. This will be followed by almost immediate operations in construction."

"The eldest son of Mine Host Bagley, accompanied by his wife, arrived from Seattle during the fore part of the week and has gotten busy in the care of his cherry orchard just south of Lacey. He has also rented some 60 acres from Capt. Huggins and will plant potatoes and oats. Manager Miller of the Woodland farm continues his work of development in all directions and will have a greater variety of vegetation growing this spring that he had a year ago, notwithstanding the fact that a large acreage has been planted with fruit trees."

"Mr. Miller is now giving special attention to hog breeding and hopes, ere the season has far advanced, to have nothing on the premises but thoroughbreds. It is his emphatic contention that they pay better in every way and are less expensive to maintain."

"Humtamer Bros, on the Meadow lake farm are pushing forward the work of clearing an additional 20 acres of their place and as each stump comes up find that the soil is such as to insure prolific production of any marketable commodity. Notwithstanding the fact that the tendency out this way is to acquire automobiles there is a dearth of good work horses. Farmers are making inquiry of their neighbors as to the availability of teams only to ascertain that the demand by long odds exceeds the supply. This is prompting not a few of them to plan for breeding."

The Pacific Highway Through Lacey

In the spring of 1913 Lacey and Olympia residents were upset with the county commissioners for refusing to maintain the Pacific Highway from Olympia eastward to the Pierce county line. The commissioners said that they didn't have the money that was needed for the maintenance. The county had removed the King road drag that they allowed the farmers to use so they could keep the road in good condition at their own expense. Residents along the highway from Olympia to Lacey and various local roads enthusiasts were subscribing to a fund of $150 for the purchase of their own King road drag so they could continue to maintain the road themselves.

All the local garages subscribed to the fund as well as quite a few auto owners, while ranchers and farmers in the district between Olympia and Lacey whose business required constant travel over the highway were also adding their names to the list. The road was much traveled, particularly by autos and residents of Lacey. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed at the attitude of their county commissioners.

On May 11, 1913 the Tacoma Auto club braved the weather that day and 25 cars departed that city and traveled to Olympia. Governor Lister's car was in front of the pack and lead the club over the Pacific Highway to Lacey where they were met by a large delegation from Olympia headed by The governor's wife Mary Lister. Joseph R. Speckart led the parade on the "around the block road" through Tumwater and to the governor's mansion. From the mansion the parade continued down Main and up 4th Avenue and out to Priest's Point park where they had a picnic.

In May of 1915, bids were opened for clearing, grading and draining 8 miles of an entirely new highway beginning at Lacey and extending eastward to the Nisqually river. The contract was awarded to L. H. Goerig of Seattle. A standard roadbed 30 feet in cuts and 24 feet in fills was constructed. The work was completed on November 6, 1915. This new Pacific Highway between Lacey and Nisqually was opened to traffic at the end of November.

The notorious Nisqually Hill was avoided and several grade crossings were eliminated. This new highway was built on the old Northern Pacific grade between St. Clair and Nisqually. This right of way was donated by the railroad and it enabled the State to secure a location for the Pacific Highway between these points on practically a level grade, and with good alignment. At Lacey, an entirely new road was built by the state. This is now the section of Pacific Avenue that bypasses Lacey Boulevard. This new road eliminated 2 dangerous railroad crossings.

The portion of the new Pacific Highway west of Lacey follows old State Aid Road No. 30 (now Pacific Avenue SE) between Steilacoom Blvd. SE and Chatham Dr. SE. In 1909 State Aid Road No. 30 also known as the Tacoma - Olympia Road was approved. The road had a 4% grade on the west hill and it connected to the old Steilacoom road at the bottom. The Steilacoom road has an 8% grade. The road between Chatham Dr. SE and the Steilacoom road was abandoned in 1915 after the new Pacific Highway through Sherlock was completed.

Concrete paving of the Pacific Highway east of Olympia began in 1917. Project #1 - contract #295 was the first Federal Aid project for the State of Washington under the Federal Aid Road Act of July 11, 1916. This was for the construction of 3.5 miles of one-course concrete pavement 20 feet wide on the Pacific Highway extending toward Lacey from a point one mile east of Olympia. 

On March 7, 1917, formal application was made to the Secretary of Agriculture for $30,865.22 of Federal Aid. The project was approved by the Government on July 19, 1917, although on June 4, 1917, bids were opened for the construction of the project. Contract #295, was awarded to the Independent Asphalt Paving Co. of Tacoma, for the sum of $62,581.16. Sand and gravel was obtained from the Pioneer Sand & Gravel Co. at Steilacoom, and the cement was supplied by the Superior Portland Cement Co. Work began on June 21, 1917 and the project was completed on December 15, 1917.

On Saturday October 27, 1917 the Washington Standard said that the Pacific Highway between Olympia and Tacoma, that had been closed in sections during the previous summer so the roadway could be paved was opened for traffic. The news was a relief for all who had to use the highway and had been compelled to take detours all summer, which made travel between the 2 cities unpleasant and difficult.

The only section of paving that was not completed was on the new road in Lacey that eliminated the 2 railroad crossings. That section was completed on December 15th, and travelers had to use to old road as they passed through Lacey. During that time the old bridge across the Nisqually river was used until the new concrete bridge was built the following year. The Pacific Highway was now paved from Olympia to Tacoma except for a 3.55 mile stretch in The Kyro-Sherlock vicinity.

On May 23, 1918 project #12 - contract 331 was approved for concrete paving of 3.55 miles of the Pacific Highway from Lacey to St, Clair. Construction began on July 25, 1918 and the project was completed on January 1, 1919. Total cost, $98,119.32; average cost per mile, $27,639.24. The old gravel roadway required only a few minor revisions and furnished an ideal base for the pavement.

The Pacific Highway between Olympia and Tacoma was now a continuously paved concrete road and it would remain the main trunk road between Olympia and Tacoma for the next 17 years. In 1935 construction began on a new 4-lane Pacific Highway that will bypass Lacey on an entirely new alignment. This new 7 mile road between Lacey and Dupont was originally known as the Nisqually Cut-off, but is known today as Martin Way.

Olympia Golf and Country Club

The first golf club in Thurston county was the Olympia Golf club, established on March 15, 1898 and their golf course was located at Maple park near the capitol building campus. The club lasted only a few years and was gone by 1904. It would be 10 years before golf would start to become popular again in Thurston county and this led to the establishment of the Olympia Golf & Country club on May 29, 1914.

There were 63 charter members of the club and they selected George W. Draham as it's president. The club then leased the 160 acre farm of David Chambers at Lacey and developed a 9 hole course. The farmhouse on the property was used as the clubhouse. The formal opening of the new golf course was on Sunday June 28, 1914.

On Thursday July 26, 1917 a picnic, and a house-warming later in the evening, marked the formal opening and dedication of the remodeled clubhouse of the Olympia Golf & Country club on the golf grounds it recently purchased near Lacey. Members of the club gathered at the grounds during the afternoon, inspecting various improvements. Dinner was served at 6:30pm and afterwards the guests spent the evening dancing and playing cards. The grounds occupied 50 acres of the old Chambers' homestead and several hundred dollars had been spent in remodeling the house and improving and beautifying the grounds.

After the first world war ended in 1918 people began to take up the game of golf. The Lacey course was becoming a busy place and the road into the park was in need of improvements. By the spring of 1919 the club had raised enough funds to improve the road from the Pacific Highway to the golf grounds, which today is called Golf Club Road SE. On May 30, 1919 the Washington Standard said that; "the doctors, the lawyers, the mayor, and the chief of police - every one in Olympia has felt the spring's enticing beckon - the golf bug."

"The country club is especially attractive this summer and more people than ever are taking an interest in this fascinating and luring outdoor sport. The women members of the club go out together once or twice a week. Tea is served in the afternoon. Women who are golf enthusiasts spend the afternoon on the links while those who do not care to play sew on garments for the Red Cross. A series of dinner dances and informal affairs are being planned by members of the club for the summer season."

The club sold off the property at Lacey in 1925 and moved to their present location at Butler's Cove, which is located across Budd's inlet from Priest Point. The first thing the new owners did was make the course open to the public and then renamed it "Mountain View Golf Course." It operated until 1963 when it was sold to developers who built the Panorama City retirement community in 1966.

Lacey Parks and Resorts

During the 1920’s Lacey became a resort community with around 20 resorts that were built on the shores of the 5 lakes in the area. Gwinwood, nestled on the southeast shore of Hick’s Lake was the most magnificent of the resorts with an 18 room mansion to accommodate the hundreds of guests who came each summer to relax and rejuvenate.

Gwinwood was named after Gwin Hicks, son of Urban East Hicks who came over the Oregon Trail with Stephen Ruddell in 1852. Urban Hicks originally had taken a claim near the Ruddell's but around 1858 he sold it and moved into a cabin on Ruddell's property, which will eventually become Gwinwood. Gwin Hicks was state printer under Governor Rogers, and for years had been prominent in Democratic circles, having for a time been in charge of the state's exhibit at the San Diego exposition.

The park must have been leased to the Country Club of Olympia sometime in the early 1900's. I could not find anything else about this club or if it was connected with the golf club. On August 14 1903, the Washington Standard said that; "Last Monday Father Kusters took about 60 children to Gwinwood. The youngsters were full of enthusiasm and loaded lunch baskets and all the necessary requirements for the different races. The group left in a private car at 9:30am. Arriving on the beautiful grounds of the Country Club of Olympia, they were most cordially received by Gwin Hicks, the owner of the park. Everyone had a great time until 6pm when they all boarded the bus and returned to Olympia tired and worn out - but ready for the next outing."

Gwinwood park was a popular place in the 1910s. Many picnics took place on the grounds, with fishing and swimming along the shore, and in the evenings dance parties were held in the mansion.

Tragedy struck the Hick's family in May of 1915 when Hick's wife and their 2 daughters among others were killed when the car the family was riding in crashed into an interurban trolley at Linwood station near Watts, California. The passengers were thrown 20 feet from the impact and most died instantly. Gwin Hicks survived the crash though he was seriously injured. 

After Hicks retired, the family began to spend the winter at Long Beach with his wife and two young children, Gwendolyn, aged 4, and Mary Louise aged 3. Gwin's mother who was 87 at the time continued to live at the family home at Gwinwood.

On that dreadful day the family and some friends were on their way to Long Beach and it was raining heavily, when the automobile, driven by Hicks, reached an open crossing at Linwood while unbeknownst to them an interurban car was fast approaching. Just before the auto crossed over the tracks, Hicks saw the trolley and he quickly applied the brakes. Unfortunately the machine instead of stopping, skidded in front of the trolley. The impact wrecked the electric car and shattered its windows, while the automobile was totaled. 

On May 23, 1919 Gwin Hicks proposed to give the county his park free of cost so that the children of Thurston county could have a permanent playground and recreation park. He expressed the hope that the arrangement may be consummated within the next month and said that; "if accepted, I should like to arrange for the delivery of the deed and the dedication of the grounds for the children of Thurston county on July 4th next, at which time I should be pleased to become the host for yourselves and your families and as many of the children of the county as should care to participate in the ceremonies."

On Monday, May 26, 1919 the county rejected the offer to deed the Gwinwood estate to the county to be held in trust for the children as a playground. They refused to accept the gift because they said there was a cloud on the title and they did not wish to become entangled in any litigation concerning the property. They also said the county was under a financial strain and could not afford to pay for the upkeep of the park.

Gwinwood became the Gwinwood Retreat center in 1947 and is owned by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations in Western Washington. Today the 29-acre retreat site includes roughly 18 acres of forested land, 4 acres of open meadows and 7 acres of undisturbed wetlands and continues to be a place of welcome for people of all ages, beliefs, and life experiences. Such is the welcoming nature of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

On August 5 1921 the Washington Standard published an article titled Thurston County Lakes Invite Tourists; "Thurston county is a section beloved by the camper and the fisherman. Its special attraction is a group of lakes that are teeming with fish and which offer exceptional sites both for picnic jaunts and for pitching camp for a few days. Thurston is the paramount county of lakes in Southwest Washington, and its 700 miles of highway lead you to these bodies of fresh water."

"No matter what road a motorist takes, the chances are that they will see a sign along the route pointing to a lake. Two leading state highways run through this county. The Pacific Highway, winding southward, crosses the Nisqually river into Thurston, passes through Olympia, and then wends its way into Lewis county and on to Oregon. This highway is paved every inch of the way between Tacoma and Olympia, the new bridge and paving having been completed at the Nisqually river and the detour of the spring and early summer having been eliminated. There is no more pleasant short drive out of Tacoma than the 30-mile drive to the capital of the state, across the beautiful Nisqually valley, and with Puget Sound in view much of the distance." 

This is what the article said about the lakes around Lacey; "Chambers lake and Long lake are south of Lacey, and south of Long lake is Pattison lake. All three of these charming lakes are reached by a road branching off at Lacey. Fishing is good in each, especially in Pattison lake. At Hick's lake there are camping grounds, boats for hire, and the Saledo hotel."

Lacey Becomes a City

By the 1950’s, the settlements of Chambers' prairie and Woodland merged into one town called Lacey although the city had not yet incorporated. In 1964, the residents made an attempt to incorporate, but failed to get enough support. On November 8, 1966, Lacey was incorporated and became an official city.