LACEY THROUGH THE YEARS

Orginally published August 15, 2001

While the city of Lacey wasn't incorporated until 35 years ago, the area has a long and interesting history that began centuries ago when the Nisqually Indians made the prairies and lakes their home.

Some notable events:

- 1848: David and Elizabeth Chambers settle in the area later known as Chambers Prairie.

- 1855-56: Indians rise up against the settlers in protest over the forced loss of land.

- 1890: John M. Adams plats "Adams Acres Tracts adjoining Olympia," the oldest plat now within Lacey's city limits.

- 1891: Isaac Ellis opens the Woodland Driving Park, a horse racing track. The Tacoma, Olympia and Grays Harbor Railroad complete railroad tracks through the community. The community gets its own post office with the name Lacey, after O.C. Lacey.

- 1895: Saint Martin's College opens its doors to young men.

- 1910: The Union Lumber Company builds the first sawmill operation in the country to be run completely by electricity.

- 1922: The Rev. Sebastian Ruth's radio station at Saint Martin's College is awarded the call letters KGY, the first radio station in the state of Washington.

- 1954: The first high school in the Lacey area -- North Thurston High School -- opens.

- 1963: Panorama City is built.

- 1966: South Sound Center opens. Area residents vote to incorporate; Lacey officially becomes a city.

- 1979: A new city hall is built.

- 1991: Lacey Timberland Library opens in its first separate building.

- 1996: Lacey Community Center is built in the Woodland Creek Community Park.

Source: Lacey Museum

The Olympian Copyright 2001

back to main Day in the life of Lacey index