Courtesy of Ezra Meeker
A group of Nisqually Indians dug up and moved Chief Leschi's body to the Nisqually reservation in 1895. The memorial service drew hundreds of people from around the Northwest.

Tenino

Originally published Saturday, January 12, 2002

Nearby Tenino was named for an Indian word that means "junction," rather than the local folklore that says the name is derived from a railroad engine with the numbers 10, nine and zero. The town and its surroundings are rich in history.

The Offut Lake Resort bears the historic name of Ada's Resort. It's on the south shore of Offut Lake, and appears to have been built in 1939. Early property records show it was owned in the early 1900s by J.E. Corlette, and eventually sold to Charles and Ada Short in 1938. They built the structure known for many years as Ada's Resort. It was sold in 1953 after she died.

Blumauer Hill, southeast of Tenino, was named for a couple of pioneer brothers. Solomon and Isaac Blumauer owned the Blumauer Lumber Company in the early 1900s. The brothers were regarded as pioneer merchants in the area.

Another rise, Chein Hill, is named after Charles Chein, who had a farm in that spot in the 1890s. He was a saloonkeeper in Olympia before moving to the area, along Old Highway 99 just north of Tenino.

The hill was one of the roughest sections of the old wagon road from Tenino to Olympia, and also is reputed to be the site of an ambush set by Chief Leschi in an attempt to kill Gov. Isaac Stevens during the Indian Wars. Legend has it Stevens took a different route and thwarted the plan.

Frost's Prairie, just south of Tenino, bears Gilbert H. Frost's name. He claimed 322 acres in 1866.

Crowder Road, also in Tenino, bears a pioneer family name, after settlers Reuben and Nancy Crowder.

Johnson Creek, on the other hand, is named for the Johnson Creek Lumber Company. Johnson Creek Road parallels the creek.

The creek flows south to the Skookumchuck River.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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