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A New Year and New Roses for the Centennial Rose Garden
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By Gary Ritchie
It required a pickup truck and the back of a Dodge Caravan to transport the 34 5-gallon pots from Raft Island Nursery in Gig Harbor to the Centennial Rose Garden in Tumwater. Each pot contained a beautiful new rose bush to replace Centennial Garden roses that had died or had become infected with a nasty disease called crown gall over the past few years.
It was a lovely spring day in late February when the roses were planted by a team of dedicated volunteers—Master Gardeners and former members of the recently dissolved Olympia Rose Society. The team, which included Charley Barron, Paula Nelson, Doreen Milward, Barb and Rob Baker, Bill Hansen, Dorothy Taylor, and Marilyn and Gary Ritchie, gathered at noon armed with all the tools of the trade: long-handled spades, sturdy gloves, trowels, knee pads, tarps, rakes, pruning shears, weed buckets, and a wheelbarrow.
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April History Talk — The 1883 Schwatka Expedition to the Yukon River
| | | | In 1881, the U.S. Army asked Congress to fund an exploration of the interior of Alaska. Congress refused, so an unsanctioned party of six soldiers and one civilian (a Washingtonian) disappeared into the Arctic wilderness in 1883. Local historian Dennis Larsen tells the harrowing story of their five-month adventure, based on the explorers’ journals. | | | |
Where: Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater
When: Noon, Thursday, April 3, 2025
Cost: Free! Donations are gratefully accepted.
Doors open at 11:30. First come, first seated, until room capacity is reached.
For more info: Karen Johnson, 360-890-2299, karen@olytumfoundation.org
About History Talks
Join us at noon on the first Thursday of each month for an hour-long history talk. We’ll feature captivating programs on social history or natural history, each presented by a recognized expert.
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March History Talk Report
Local anthropologist Dr. Dale Croes presented a very interesting history talk on March 6, speaking about Northwest Coast basketry, and how it offers a tangible connection to the Native American Tribes ranging back thousands of years.
Dale brought several examples of Native-made baskets. Attendees brought baskets from their own collections, which Dale described for the audience. It was a learning experience for everyone!
| | Photo caption: Curator Karen Johnson demonstrated the use of a tumpline gathering basket. A tumpline is a strap attached to the basket; the tumpline is placed across the top of the head, helping to support the basket’s weight. | | | |
Illustrations by "Dwig"
Deep in the archives of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation is a set of colored illustrations on lightweight cardstock. Some of the drawings are humorous, and others portray beautiful women drawn in the Art Nouveau style. All are pencil-dated “1912” on the back and all advertise Olympia Beer. Each card is signed “Dwig.”
A little online investigation showed that the artist’s full name was Clare Victor Dwiggins, who was born in 1874 in Wilmington, Ohio. His first career interest was architecture, but after some of his artwork was published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper, he detoured into cartooning. In 1903, a few of his cartoons were published as postcards by Raphael Tuck and Sons, a well-known British postcard producer. (The early 1900s were the Golden Age of postcards, and publishers were always on the look-out for new artists.) Click here to read the complete story.
Want to see more photos like this?
Explore the history of the Tumwater area through vintage photos! In 2020, OTF was awarded a grant from the Thurston County Historic Commission. This grant allowed OTF to digitize over 4,400 images from its collection. We are still actively adding more photos so make sure to check back regularly!
| | Karen Johnson, Schmidt House Curator. | | Schmidt House Tours and Weddings | | |
Schmidt House Tours
Join us for a free guided tour of the historic Schmidt House, built in 1904 for Leopold Schmidt and his family. Explore all four levels of this remarkable home with a knowledgeable guide. Please note that while the first floor is ADA accessible, accessing the upper levels requires climbing stairs. Tours are held every other Tuesday at 11 a.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. Upcoming tour dates include April 8 and April 22, May 6 and 20. Karen Johnson, 360-890-2299, karen@olytumfoundation.org
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Schmidt House Weddings
The Schmidt House is once again available as a wedding venue in 2025!
With limited bookings available, we encourage you to inquire as soon as possible to secure your date. This historic home provides a charming setting for private events, including weddings, meetings, and more. Join a free guided tour or explore the grounds, open daily during daylight hours!
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Don't forget to check out our website! |
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110 Deschutes Parkway SW, Tumwater, WA 98501 • +1 (360) 943-2550
https://olytumfoundation.org/
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