On a rainy day in July 1968, Washington State Governor Dan Evans attended a dedication ceremony at Panorama retirement community’s iconic Chalet building in Lacey. Fifty-one years later, current Panorama residents invited the now 94-year-old former governor to attend another celebration – this one to recognize the historic significance of the building and site with an interpretive panel.
Evans couldn’t make it; the event happened to coincide with the grand opening of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy in Seattle, but many other local historians, city officials and residents were on hand for the panel’s unveiling.
The idea of formally recognizing the site’s role in the history of both the original American settlers in the area and the mid-century architect responsible for the Chalet’s unique features originated over four years ago. That’s when resident Peggy Jamerson first approached resident archivist Deborah Ross.
“Peggy suggested that the historic significance of the site hasn’t been sufficiently appreciated,” says Ross. “It was the original homestead of David and Elizabeth Chambers who filed a claim for 640 acres of land in 1848 on what was known as Chambers Prairie. At that point, Washington wasn’t even a territory yet.” One small section of the original homestead building is on display in the Chalet lobby.
The Chalet itself is also architecturally significant. It was designed by George Bolotin, a Russian-born Seattle architect who specialized in mid-century modern apartment buildings. “He incorporated features like a swept-wing design that make the building look like an airplane if you look at it from above,” says Ross.
Karen and Joel Romanelli live in one of two spacious, geometrically designed Chalet apartments that sit directly above the building’s entrance. Natural light pours in through windows overlooking the property and an outdoor patio allows the couple to greet friends and neighbors. “The light all day long is wonderful,” says Karen Romanelli. “Anyone who comes to visit just loves it right away. It reminds me of a New York City apartment.”
Her husband agrees. “It’s a wide open setting and the floor plan is beautiful,” he says. “It’s fun to be able to sit out on the porch and say hello to everybody as they pass through. It’s hard to think about living anywhere else.”
Panorama co-sponsored the panel along with the City of Lacey, which provided technical assistance and the use of historic images from their archives after the Lacey Historical Society jump-started the project with a generous grant. Society President Lanny Weaver says it was a good fit for the organization. “Our role is to act as a voice for the early citizens of Lacey and protect the heritage of the city,” she says. “We recognize Panorama’s origins, development and contributions to society.”
Lacey architect Amber Raney donated her services to create the interpretive panel, which features photos of the Elizabeth and David Chambers, the Chambers homestead, a former golf club located on the site, and the original 1968 dedication ceremony. One central photo shows a famous cherry tree that bears closer examination. “I was cleaning up the picture to bring out the color and when I zoomed way in, there were all of these people visible in the tree,” says Raney. “It was such a focal point of the property and it became the focus of that piece.”
As the former curator of the Lacey History Museum and the Marketing and Design Specialist for Legacy Washington, Raney shares a passion for the past with Ross and Jamerson. “Lacey’s history is dear to me,” she says. “For this project, they had a really good idea for what they already wanted.”
Looking forward, Panorama intends to include the Chalet building in its strategic planning. “It’s such a great piece of architecture and it’s held in such high regard by Panorama residents,” says Murray. “We have a lot of great ideas and plans for it. We want to not only preserve it but accentuate its unique features.”
For more information visit the Panorama website or call 877-208-6274.
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