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August 2025

Happenings

Tickets are selling fast for Summer at the Schmidt; get yours today!

Summer at the Schmidt brings vintage glam to the garden on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the historic Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Pl. SW, Tumwater—and we hope you'll join us!

This isn’t your average garden party. It’s a swingin’ soirée where cool cats and classy dames gather for a night of mid-century magic—all in support of local students and community history.

Expect:

• A 1950s-inspired garden party set against the stunning backdrop of the Schmidt House
• Live tunes to get your toes tappin’
• Delicious local fare and summer refreshments
• An opportunity to support the Olympia Tumwater Foundation’s college scholarship fund and the Tumwater Youth Music program

Meet Our Emcee: Erika Smith!

She may not be the Marilyn Monroe, but Erika Smith brings the same vintage sparkle and star power! Erika will light up Summer at the Schmidt with live vocals (no lip-syncing!), classic Hollywood glam, roving entertainment, and photo ops you won’t want to miss. She’s also our Raise the Paddle host—get ready for a showstopper!

So grab your favorite hep cat, throw on your vintage best, and join us for Glam in the Garden, Giving with Heart. You’ll be making a difference while having the time of your life.

Olympia Tumwater Foundation Presents

Summer at the Schmidt

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater

5 pm — 8 pm

Silent Auction | Paddle Raise | Live Music | Celebrity Sightings | Delicious Bites and Beverages | Tickets, $125 each.

Tickets | Sponsorship Opportunities | Donations

Thank you, sponsors!

A Tribute in Brewery Park: The Unwins’ Lasting Impact

When you rest on this bench in Brewery Park, know that it’s more than a place to sit; it’s a tribute to Donna Faye Anderson Unwin, a spirited woman with a quick laugh, a kind heart, and an uncanny ability to recite every line from M*A*S*H* by heart.

Born in Centralia in 1931, Donna Faye played piano in a local dance band during the 1940s and later worked as a legal secretary. She also served on the board of the Tumwater Timberland Library. After retiring, she volunteered for many years at the Washington State Archives, where break times in the lunchroom were always livelier when Donna Faye was around.

Nat Unwin, formally known as Ellsworth R. Unwin, was born in 1929, also in Centralia, and raised in Bucoda. A standout athlete, Nat played baseball through high school and junior college before serving in the Army during the Korean War. In 1962, he joined the Olympia Brewery and played on their company baseball team, retiring in 1985. Nat was known for his warmth, good humor, and gentlemanly nature.

Nat and Donna Faye married in 1951 and shared 58 joyful years together until her passing in 2009. In a touching gesture of love, Nat dedicated this bench in her memory. He passed away in March 2025. Both are deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing them.

Explore Local History Through the Thurston County Historical Journal

Since 2016, the Foundation has proudly published the Thurston County Historical Journal, a triannual print publication that documents and celebrates the rich history of Thurston County. Hard copies are available through most county heritage societies, and back issues can be accessed online through the City of Lacey’s website: laceyparks.org/lacey-museum/thurston-county-historical-journal.

From time to time, we’ll highlight a featured article from the Journal in this newsletter. If you’re a geology enthusiast, don’t miss Gary Ritchie’s fascinating article exploring the surprising connection between the Yellowstone Hotspot and our own Tumwater Falls.

As Ritchie writes:

“The wonder of Yellowstone pervades our national identity. Show me an American who has not heard of Old Faithful, or seen movies of Yellowstone bison in winter snorting great clouds of steam into the frigid Wyoming air. Who among us was not deeply saddened to learn that 800,000 acres of primeval Yellowstone forests went up in smoke in the terrible fires of 1988?

“Many Americans worry about the volcanic Yellowstone Hotspot, having read that it could erupt again someday and obliterate most of North America.

“But let’s face it—to link the Yellowstone Hotspot to Tumwater Falls is a stretch. How could there possibly be a connection when Yellowstone is in Wyoming, 800 miles away, while Tumwater Falls is right here in Thurston County?”

To discover the answer, read the full article in the April 2022 issue (No. 17), available on the City of Lacey’s website. You’ll also find a full index of past issues online. Click here.

Join us for a free Riverwalk Tour led by local tour guide, Don Trosper—offered twice a month from April through September! Each tour begins at 5 pm, departing from the park office at 110 Deschutes Parkway SW in Tumwater.

Upcoming Dates:

August 5 & 19

September 2 & 16

These fun, informative walks are family-friendly and open to all ages, proudly sponsored by the City of Tumwater. Come learn more about the local landscape and enjoy the beauty of the Deschutes River!

Thank you to the City of Tumwater for supporting this program.