By Drew Crooks Tumwater is presently a city of over 17,000 inhabitants located in Thurston County. Though now a modern community, the locality’s rich history is reflected in its name. Indeed, Tumwater has long served as a home for people. The first humans in the area were Native American. Archaeologists have found evidence of [...]
By Natasha Ashenhurst Over 40 years ago Bud Johansen founded The Johansen School of Ballet. Now called The Johansen Olympia Dance Center, owners Ken and Josie Johnson and former students Jen and Rebecca share the history of the popular dance studio and its impact on the community. This dance studio is about much more [...]
Submitted by Jennifer Crooks, Saint Martin’s University intern to ThurstonTalk Illnesses and injuries are always a problem at any school. Saint Martin’s University has been no exception. Founded in 1895 in what is now Lacey, Saint Martin’s College became a university in 2005. As the only private Benedictine school of higher education west of [...]
By Amy Rowley The story began almost 90 years ago. A 9-hole golf course was built on a parcel of land along Olympia’s Cooper Point Road. In 1957, almost 30-years after it was originally built, the Olympia Country & Golf Club expanded to an 18-hole golf course. Now, the iconic West Olympia marker is [...]
By Drew Crooks Olympia today is the capital of Washington State, county seat for Thurston County, and home to over 45,000 people. Over time this locality, with its fascinating history, has been known by several different names. The first place name for the Olympia area that we know of is naturally Native American in [...]
By Tom Rohrer The ultimate compliment for the late great Kay Thomas, a pillar of the North Thurston High School community for over a half a century, may have come from his former student and longtime friend Jim Slossan. “There really won’t ever be another Kay Thomas,” said Slossan in an interview with ThurstonTalk.com. [...]
By Jennifer Crooks, Saint Martin’s intern to ThurstonTalk Saint Martin’s University was founded in 1895 in what is now Lacey, Washington. Originally known as Saint Martin’s College, it became a University in 2005. The only private Benedictine institution of higher education west of the Rockies, food has always played an important role at the [...]
By Doris Faltys I stop at the Summit Lake Grocery store on a Friday morning. The morning rush was over. The mist was still hanging low and moving through the trees on the hillside across Highway 8. Inside I introduce myself to Sharon, a 20-year veteran employee. Sharon moved to the area after retiring [...]
By Emmett O’Connell Ira B. Thomas died in Olympia on October 9, 1872. He had only arrived in Olympia a few months before. But, in his short stay here, he almost made Olympia the most important city on Puget Sound. Or, that’s at least how the story goes. In the early 1870s, practically every city [...]
Submitted by Jennifer Crooks, Saint Martin’s University intern to ThurstonTalk Saint Martin’s University was founded in 1895 in what is now Lacey, Washington. Originally known as Saint Martin’s College, it became a University in 2005. The only private Benedictine institution of higher education west of the Rockies, this school has been host to a [...]
