MEETING RECAP
A Fort Steilacoom Friday
Monday, February 21, 2022
By: Paula T. OlsonA Fort Steilacoom Friday
THE LAKEWOOD KEY
Paula T. Olson
Friday, February 18, 2022 started like any other day and Lakewood Rotary’s meeting did as well. President Rooks rang the bell promptly and Bob Peterson gave the invocation. Wendy McGowan did a fine job of leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. President Rooks congratulated Rob Erb and his fine team of meeting organizers: Tom George, James Osundwa, Rick Selden, Bob Martin and Kendra Riconosciuto for another excellent job. John Lowney had his hand out for all fines, Paula Olson took furious notes for the Bulletin, Barlow Buescher manned the $2.00 table and served as Sgt at Arms, and Eric Warn collected money at the Foundation desk. We’re not sure what this means but President Rooks said it, so we dutifully wrote it down: Greg Rediske monitored the Presidential gaffes (looking the term up was a fascinating experience I recommend to all but in the interest of decorum the definition will not be repeated here) and Mary Marlin, the new and official coordinator of Greeters had Bob Martin and Veronica Bronkema out there warmly shaking hands of members when they came in.
Alas, no visiting Rotarians and no guests. It is with sadness that President Rooks announced the resignation of Bob Bruback because of a medical issue. Steve Enquist will temporarily fill Bob’s role as the Chair of the Community Concerns Committee until a permanent chair can be found. Puffins in attendance included James Osundwa, Wendy McGowan, Bob Martin, Andy Phillips, and Veronica Bronkema.
Above; Our Newest Puffin, Veronica Bronkema
Next, a solemn passing and answer to an oft-expressed request. Yes, Veronica Bronkema repeatedly asked, “Where’s the bird? Where’s the bird?” Lest you think she means something different, she was asking where her Puffin was. Eric Warn presented her with the bird and explained the basics of puffin care. If she had any questions, husband Carl Bronkema could help out. Eric stayed up at the podium to ask members to go the distance. He is collecting eye glasses for Lakewood First Lions and is often told by Rotary members of the many pairs of eye glasses lying around the house. Eric pleaded with members to “put them in the car.” Then, on Friday around noon, “take them out of the car,” and “bring them to him.” Everyone got that? Eric reminded members that the glasses can’t get here on their own. They need transportation. President Rooks demonstrated what old eye glasses look like by modeling his old aviator glasses.
President Rooks announced the announcements. Mick Johnson is in need of our thoughts and prayers as he is suffering from dementia and is bed ridden. Since Sally Porter Smith, Rotarian Extraordinaire moved to Seattle, Greg Horn is subbing in as Chair of the Program Committee. He knows he can’t fill her shoes but he’s going to give it a huge try. President Rooks read us a thank you card from the family that Rose Stevens introduced us to. It was our pleasure! Next Gayle Selden got up to announce yet another Auction. Seems like we just got done with our last auction. It’s a virtual event to be held on May 21st. Gayle said the committee can’t do it without our procurement and support. Then Gayle went rogue. She said that the Auction Committee needed new members to get fresh and new ideas. Guess all of us old members can see the handwriting on the wall. We are being replaced! She’ll probably keep a couple of us around but you youngsters better step up. She also said that we have our first auction sponsor: Multicare for $1,000, thanks to Steve Saalfeld.
President Rooks said the IT group that does the hybrid meetings is getting burned out and need a new influx of assistants. He promised it would be easy and no formal education was required. In fact, Jim said that when Kendra was showing him how to set up the board meeting, he actually kinda sorta figured it out. Jim also says that the tooth fairy is real too. If the hybrid process involves more than two clicks, it’s totally over my head. But it’s time for the rest of you to show your techie skills and get over there and help run the zoom thingy
.
Generous Giving:
President Jim donned his lion hunting hat as he went in search of prey for fines and donations. First up was Terry Roarke with $20 for his two weeks in Hawaii. He said he would have given more but the Hawaiians took the rest of his money. Likely story. Rob Erb gave $20 for his assistant. Jim Rooks kicked in to honor Kendra Riconosciuto for her help at the board meeting.
The Program:
Above: Andrew Neiditz
Andrew Neiditz introduced our speaker, Walter Neary, who is Lakewood’s historian. Walter has written two books on Lakewood’s history. As Board President of the Historic Fort Steilacoom Association, and member of the Lakewood Historical Society, he helped establish the Lakewood Historical Museum, and was the first Chair of the Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board for the City of Lakewood. For financial support, he is a Manager of the UW School of Medicine. But it seemed like Walter has another claim to fame, which was only hinted at. Apparently he was partially responsible for naming Andrew Neiditz as the first Lakewood City Manager after the brawl and food fight. Sorry folks, I can’t give you more details but it sounded like a fun time.
Walter talked to us about the history of Fort Steilacoom, that little area on the grounds of Western State Hospital. Originally, the area of the fort was 640 acres and it was the first institution in Washington. It has been shadowed and protected by Western State and is bordered by Pierce College, Fort Steilacoom Park, and Oakbrook. Walter’s dream is reinventing Fort Steilacoom so that more people visit and understand its history. He urged members to join the Historical Fort Steilacoom Association for a nominal fee and get the latest events.
Steilacoom is a Native American word for a flower. The Nisqually Tribe originally lived on the land that became the fort until about the 1840s. In 1840 the British came and created a farm bringing 80 settlers from Canada. One of those settlers was John Flett, who returned and became a businessman in what would become Lakewood. The farm was not a success due to the rocks and gravel in the soil. The last farm left in 1849.
The US Army came next and erected buildings including officers’ quarters. These became the first fort in Puget Sound and Lt. August Kautz was in charge. Since the land belonged to the British, the Army paid rent of $50 a year. Some wives came but not daughters because of the Germans and the Irish who were considered unsavory for them. There was some intermarriage between the soldiers and the natives, including Lt. Kautz. There are about 50 descendants of Lt. Kautz in the Nisqually Tribe.
Above: Walter Neary, our speaker and historian
Beginning in the 1850s, the Native Americans were getting more unhappy about getting squeezed out by settlers and the Indians were forced to move to Fox Island, a place too small for them. A war finally broke out between the settlers and the natives.. The settlers took refuge in the fort. A group from Oregon came with the intent of finishing the conflict once and for all. The culmination of the conflict was the hanging of Chief Leschi after a trial where he was falsely accused of murder. He was jailed at Fort Steilacoom and his brother was murdered there as well. (He was officially exonerated in 2004.) Lt. Kautz testified on Chief Leschi’s behalf. Lt. Kautz later became a general. The natives were pretty much decimated as more Europeans came with diseases, making it easier to take their land.
The fort was finally abandoned and Western State Hospital was built. The chapel of the fort was the first women’s ward for the hospital The building comprising the fort fell into ruins and would have been completely deteriorated but for the hard work and dedication of a group of volunteers called the Historic Fort Steilacoom Association. They started in the late 1970s and renovated the buildings amid lots of politics and naysayers. They started having events there to highlight the history of the fort and surrounding area. Because the buildings were the oldest buildings in Washington, it was hugely important to the volunteers to preserve them.
The relationship between Western State Hospital and Fort Steilacoom is unusual. It had to cooperate with the city and the area became a historic district. The hospital has always provided security for the fort and gave ready access to the volunteers.
There has been confusion between the Town of Steilacoom and Fort Steilacoom but they are very different entities. In 1996, Lakewood was incorporated as a city. As one of the founders of the City of Lakewood, Walter told the story that there was another Lakewood up north around Bellingham. The Post Office wouldn’t put Lakewood on addresses, instead requiring Lakewood Center as the designation. Andrew was responsible for getting the sign for Lakewood taken down around Marysville, finally putting an end to the confusion.
Thank you, Walter, for a snapshot of the interesting history of the fort. I know I, for one, will want to visit as soon as possible to learn more.
Donnnnnn Irwin won the raffle but not the $500 cash. Sorry, Donnnnn, better luck next time.
Above; Our Newest Puffin, Veronica Bronkema
Next, a solemn passing and answer to an oft-expressed request. Yes, Veronica Bronkema repeatedly asked, “Where’s the bird? Where’s the bird?” Lest you think she means something different, she was asking where her Puffin was. Eric Warn presented her with the bird and explained the basics of puffin care. If she had any questions, husband Carl Bronkema could help out. Eric stayed up at the podium to ask members to go the distance. He is collecting eye glasses for Lakewood First Lions and is often told by Rotary members of the many pairs of eye glasses lying around the house. Eric pleaded with members to “put them in the car.” Then, on Friday around noon, “take them out of the car,” and “bring them to him.” Everyone got that? Eric reminded members that the glasses can’t get here on their own. They need transportation. President Rooks demonstrated what old eye glasses look like by modeling his old aviator glasses.
President Rooks announced the announcements. Mick Johnson is in need of our thoughts and prayers as he is suffering from dementia and is bed ridden. Since Sally Porter Smith, Rotarian Extraordinaire moved to Seattle, Greg Horn is subbing in as Chair of the Program Committee. He knows he can’t fill her shoes but he’s going to give it a huge try. President Rooks read us a thank you card from the family that Rose Stevens introduced us to. It was our pleasure! Next Gayle Selden got up to announce yet another Auction. Seems like we just got done with our last auction. It’s a virtual event to be held on May 21st. Gayle said the committee can’t do it without our procurement and support. Then Gayle went rogue. She said that the Auction Committee needed new members to get fresh and new ideas. Guess all of us old members can see the handwriting on the wall. We are being replaced! She’ll probably keep a couple of us around but you youngsters better step up. She also said that we have our first auction sponsor: Multicare for $1,000, thanks to Steve Saalfeld.
President Rooks said the IT group that does the hybrid meetings is getting burned out and need a new influx of assistants. He promised it would be easy and no formal education was required. In fact, Jim said that when Kendra was showing him how to set up the board meeting, he actually kinda sorta figured it out. Jim also says that the tooth fairy is real too. If the hybrid process involves more than two clicks, it’s totally over my head. But it’s time for the rest of you to show your techie skills and get over there and help run the zoom thingy
.
Generous Giving:
President Jim donned his lion hunting hat as he went in search of prey for fines and donations. First up was Terry Roarke with $20 for his two weeks in Hawaii. He said he would have given more but the Hawaiians took the rest of his money. Likely story. Rob Erb gave $20 for his assistant. Jim Rooks kicked in to honor Kendra Riconosciuto for her help at the board meeting.
The Program:
Above: Andrew Neiditz
Andrew Neiditz introduced our speaker, Walter Neary, who is Lakewood’s historian. Walter has written two books on Lakewood’s history. As Board President of the Historic Fort Steilacoom Association, and member of the Lakewood Historical Society, he helped establish the Lakewood Historical Museum, and was the first Chair of the Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board for the City of Lakewood. For financial support, he is a Manager of the UW School of Medicine. But it seemed like Walter has another claim to fame, which was only hinted at. Apparently he was partially responsible for naming Andrew Neiditz as the first Lakewood City Manager after the brawl and food fight. Sorry folks, I can’t give you more details but it sounded like a fun time.
Walter talked to us about the history of Fort Steilacoom, that little area on the grounds of Western State Hospital. Originally, the area of the fort was 640 acres and it was the first institution in Washington. It has been shadowed and protected by Western State and is bordered by Pierce College, Fort Steilacoom Park, and Oakbrook. Walter’s dream is reinventing Fort Steilacoom so that more people visit and understand its history. He urged members to join the Historical Fort Steilacoom Association for a nominal fee and get the latest events.
Steilacoom is a Native American word for a flower. The Nisqually Tribe originally lived on the land that became the fort until about the 1840s. In 1840 the British came and created a farm bringing 80 settlers from Canada. One of those settlers was John Flett, who returned and became a businessman in what would become Lakewood. The farm was not a success due to the rocks and gravel in the soil. The last farm left in 1849.
The US Army came next and erected buildings including officers’ quarters. These became the first fort in Puget Sound and Lt. August Kautz was in charge. Since the land belonged to the British, the Army paid rent of $50 a year. Some wives came but not daughters because of the Germans and the Irish who were considered unsavory for them. There was some intermarriage between the soldiers and the natives, including Lt. Kautz. There are about 50 descendants of Lt. Kautz in the Nisqually Tribe.
Above: Walter Neary, our speaker and historian
Beginning in the 1850s, the Native Americans were getting more unhappy about getting squeezed out by settlers and the Indians were forced to move to Fox Island, a place too small for them. A war finally broke out between the settlers and the natives.. The settlers took refuge in the fort. A group from Oregon came with the intent of finishing the conflict once and for all. The culmination of the conflict was the hanging of Chief Leschi after a trial where he was falsely accused of murder. He was jailed at Fort Steilacoom and his brother was murdered there as well. (He was officially exonerated in 2004.) Lt. Kautz testified on Chief Leschi’s behalf. Lt. Kautz later became a general. The natives were pretty much decimated as more Europeans came with diseases, making it easier to take their land.
The fort was finally abandoned and Western State Hospital was built. The chapel of the fort was the first women’s ward for the hospital The building comprising the fort fell into ruins and would have been completely deteriorated but for the hard work and dedication of a group of volunteers called the Historic Fort Steilacoom Association. They started in the late 1970s and renovated the buildings amid lots of politics and naysayers. They started having events there to highlight the history of the fort and surrounding area. Because the buildings were the oldest buildings in Washington, it was hugely important to the volunteers to preserve them.
The relationship between Western State Hospital and Fort Steilacoom is unusual. It had to cooperate with the city and the area became a historic district. The hospital has always provided security for the fort and gave ready access to the volunteers.
There has been confusion between the Town of Steilacoom and Fort Steilacoom but they are very different entities. In 1996, Lakewood was incorporated as a city. As one of the founders of the City of Lakewood, Walter told the story that there was another Lakewood up north around Bellingham. The Post Office wouldn’t put Lakewood on addresses, instead requiring Lakewood Center as the designation. Andrew was responsible for getting the sign for Lakewood taken down around Marysville, finally putting an end to the confusion.
Thank you, Walter, for a snapshot of the interesting history of the fort. I know I, for one, will want to visit as soon as possible to learn more.
Donnnnnn Irwin won the raffle but not the $500 cash. Sorry, Donnnnn, better luck next time.
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