Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-11-26

SacnuSettS, winch farm Is DeauLlHeu
by many stately elm trees, set out
by Mr.. Stevens, planted on either
side of the Pacific Highway. the west
ern boundary of the farm, rows of
elms which have now attained con-
siderable size and add very materially
to the picturesque appearance Of the
highway at this point. To assist in
his work of clearing the land General
Stevens introduced a band of Angora
goats which proved most effective in
getting rid of much of the under
brush People who remember these
pretty little animals will tell you how
in visiting the woods they would be
sure to come across some Of these
goats perhaps peaking at them from
behind a mass OF tall ferns or from
the top of high stump. On account
of these Angoras the place came to
be called the Goat Farm which cog
noman was alternated by that Of the
Mushroom Farm because OF the guam
titles of mushrooms found in the
pastures and in the woods. This Of
course. was before General Stevens
developed his model dairy farm and
christened 1t BY the appropriate name
Of Cloverhelds.
In the days when steilacoom was
an important army post, and perhaps
even q little later. the principal road
from Olympia to that place led
through this property. In conse.
quence Of the fact the main thorough
fare which leads from Pacific High
way to the holdings Of Cloverhelds
Farm and beyond has been styled
Steilacoom Road. Although It does
not strictly follow the course OF the
old road as that started in BY way
Of what il now the ball ground. then
made . curve through the woods and
into the orchard, still the present
road is approximately near enough
to the old one to Justify its being
called in commemoration Of It. In
the days when horse back riding
was a popular pastime with the
young people Of Olympia the road
through the Walker place and back
to town by way Of Fourth Street
was called the short block while the
one which went around by Hewitt's
Lake. called by some Lucy's Lake In
honor Of Judge Hewitt's daughter.
went by the name of the long block.
The bali ground or athletic field
was once an integral part Of these
woods. q word in regard to 1t may
not come amiss. Some twenty years
since the Olympia Light and Power
Company cleared away the trees on
that side of the Walker claim now
used as the field for the purpose Of
making it into q public recreation
ground and by thus doing inducing
the Olympia people to enter more into
athletic sports and out Of door amuse-
ments. As bicycles were then much
in fashion a motordrome was made
on the land thus cleared which for
time proved very popular with
bicycle riders. Then after wheels were
discarded for automobiles. the velo-
drome was given up and the men and
boys encouraged to use 1t a. an
athletic field until now all Olympia
feels that It owns this ball park.
In conclusion let me add tina.
Olympia with its fine modern hotel
and other improvements, especially
with the beautiful, classic structure
Of the Capitol group now being con-
structed SO steadily. is rapidly taking
on metropolitan airs. So that although
to some Of VS. 1t does seem desc.
Grafton to despoil one Of the prettiest
spots in its vicinity BY taking away
its beautiful trees, still we must know
that that was bound to come sooner
or later. BY q little stretch of the
imagination we can fancy people
dwelling in pretty homes on the tract
of land where once stood the woods,
and relating to their children and
grandchildren all about the early
times when the Squaxon Indians hunt
ed bears. cougar and deer there, and
later about the pretty little Angora
goats and the many varieties OF mush .
rooms found in them. These tales
of the woods will prove I am sure,
as interesting to future generations
as have the Mother Goose stories
and the fairy tales of Hans Chris
tian Andersen to those of all times.
COUNTY ENGINEER PREPARES