The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-09
Pioneers Meet
In Sieilacoom
BYrd's Mill Rood
Formally Morked

Markers at both ends of stats
Historic road No. the Byrd
mill road - were dedicated at
steilscoom and Puyailup Wednes-
day. with Gov. Arthur b. Langlie
heading an imposing delegation Of
diTnitaries at the ceremonies.
The Steilacoom dedication was
held In conjunction with the regu-
lar meeting Of the Pierce County
Pioneer and Historical society at
Steilacoom.
Ceremonies were held at 2 pm.
at the Steilacoom dock with the
unwilling of the new marker off,
cially designating the road as State
Historic Road No. l.
A similar ceremony and unveil-
Ing was held later at the Maple
wood school IN Puyallup.
Governor Attends
Participating in the ceremony
besides Gov. Langlie was 1t Gov.
Victor A. Meyers. Mayor Harry p.
Cain of Tacoma. Mayor W. Z. Nor
ris of steilacoom. John T. Nc
Cutcheon. state representative
from the 26th district: W. r. Bon
ney. secretary of the Washington
State Historical society; o. r.
Dinsmore of the state highway de-
partment: Charles Ross. Puyallup;
George Talcott. Olympia: John p.
Hartman. Seattle, and A. b. Com
fort. Tacoma.
Prominent In both dedications
was p. s. McDcrmott of Puyallup.
who was chairman of the committee
which worked for the erection of
the markers. The road was first
built In 1852 and was the highway
from steilacoom To Seattle.
80 Year, Old
Among other features on the
program for the meeting of the
historical society was a review of
the work of the Washington State
society so years old to-
day. by w. p. Bonney. secretary.
The society was organized in
Tacoma. Oct. 8, 1891. The first
step toward organization was a
held at the Tacoma hotel
In July of that year. called by
c. w. Hobart. one of the leading
Of territorial days. e.
wood Evans. another prominent
figure. was chosen chair
man and Hobart secretary. The
decided unanimously TO
organize a society TO preserve the
history of pioneer days but in
order to have wider representa-
lion postponed organization until
Oct. I. On that date. In the office
Of the Western Washington FIX
position In Tacoma. the Washing
ton state Historical society was
organised.
Officers Chosen
The following officers were
elected:
President. Elwood Evans. Pierce
vice president, Edward
Eldridge. Whatcom county: treas-
urer. Gen. T. l. McKenney. Thurs
ton county; secretary. Charles w.
Hobart. Pierce county.
The first board Of curators In
cluded Charles NJ. Barton. chair
man. Thurston county: Edward
Higgins and James wickersham,
Pierce county: Clarence B. Bagley
King county; Capt. w. p. Gray.
Franklin county: Henry Roedcr,
Whatcom county; r. J. Smith,
Whitman county.
Wickcr~ham Last
Until 1911 the society occupied
rooms in the courthouse and city
jail. In that year the first unit
of the present building was erect
ed. The 1909 legislature appro-
priated $4,000 for the building
and the citizens Of Tacoma raised
$1,000 to buy the site.
Other Legislative appropriations
and generous gifts by the families
a the late Henry Hewitt and Rob
ert L. Mccormick provided the
additional units. Because OF their
large financial assistance one floor
IN the second main unit was named
Hewitt Hall and the other McCor-
mick Hall.
OF the first officers and board
Of curators. all have passed away.
The last was James wickersham.
who died last year in Alaska.
w. p. Bonney. who succeeded the
late w. H. Gilstrap in 1914. has
been secretary Of the society for
q years.