Tag Archives: WA State – Pierce County

Pierce County Library Administration Building

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My group had a tour of the Pierce County Library Administration Building at 3005 112th St E. Tacoma, WA 98446-2215 and I loved getting to see where the books come into the library system and are process. I didn’t realize there is actually a small public library in the lobby of the building. I’m especially enamored with the wonderful, space saving shelving that wheels flush. And there was a glimpse of the bookmobile! Little known fact, I applied to drive/manage the bookmobile many a year ago! Anyway it was a great tour.

 

I learned something at Election Center for Pierce County

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election center

Dear daughter happily sent off her vote a couple of weeks ago, but soon afterwards she received a letter back politely saying her signatures didn’t match. So on Friday, we popped into the Pierce County Election Center to remedy the problem. The man behind the counter was very efficient and pleasant. He showed her the original signature and her current one. College has really made a difference in how she signs her name!

Anyway while we were there, we picked up a copy of the unofficial results to date. Below is a slightly more recent version from the auditor’s office website (which is full of interesting information!) There are also things to be learned on their Facebook Page.

results voters Results

Things I thought were interesting:

  • Only about 30% of the eligible voter’s have voted. Maybe because we keep hearing that this vote isn’t particularly important?
  • Hillary is way ahead of Bernie.
  • When comparing the two parties, about 10,000 more Democrats have voted
  • The ballot was created prior to Trump being the only real Republican candidate so there are other Republican candidates listed on the ballot, By the time we received the ballots in the mail, only Trump was a viable candidate. But still about 25% of the vote went elsewhere.
  • The Democrats had 193 write in votes and the Republicans had 904. I’d like to know what some of those were!
  • There is a new “Civic Pierce County” mobile app, which works on my phone. It let’s me know my elected officials, voting history, deadlines, a sample ballot and more. Pretty cool.

vote

 

Puget Sound Hospital

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IMG_2374Pierce County Hospital, also known as Mountain View Sanatorium, Puget Sound General Hospital and the Pierce Hospital, (3580 Pacific Ave.) is slated for demolition. It was originally constructed in 1928 and had an addition, including a pool, in 1941/42. In 1951 a second building was constructed as a tuberculosis sanitarium. In 1973 a James Caan, Cinderella Liberty, was filmed at the hospital. In 1977 a sky bridge was constructed connecting it to the adjacent building. In 2011 the buildings were closed and currently there are plans to demolish the structures and construct a new building to house the majority of the Pierce County government services. Information on the project can be found here.

I’ve heard stories of the hospital being haunted with more information on that to be found here.

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Update January 2017

Steilacoom Ferry Landing

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The Steilacoom-Anderson Island ferry has its primary ferry landing in Steilacoom. Ferries depart to Ketron Island and Anderson Island and previously McNeil Island. The ferry route is owned and operated by Pierce County. The first ferry went into service on April 1, 1922. 

Old Settler’s Cemetery, Lakewood

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HarrietThe Old Settler’s Cemetery is located at the Northeast corner of Washington Boulevard SW and 83rd Avenue SW in Lakewood. The almost 5 acres site is partially tree covered with paths leading through the graves. A variety of headstones are there including those flush with the ground, old marble, new marble and wooden. It appears that several of the grave sites are no longer marked. Burials began at the site in 1855 for pioneers and their descendents.

The first headstone I came to belong to Hugh McLeod who died on July 3, 1891 at age 60. His stone stated that he was a native of Scotland. The most recent burial that I’m aware of  was in 1988.

I noticed a bunch of crocuses in bloom all over the site. The explanation for this can be found here “Another settler of note is James Holt, who came from South Wales and settled in what is now Lake City in 1915. He built many of the houses in Lake City as well as donated the land used for the Lake City Community Church. His daughter Janette is credited for planting the crocus bulbs on his grave that still bloom each year.” Information can also be found here

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Faith Dairy

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Faith Dairy at 3509 72nd St. E., Tacoma, WA opened in 1963 and closed in 2007. I remember stopping there for some of their delicious ice cream and some fresh milk. I found a few articles from back when the facility closed.

http://www.dairyexpress.net/FaithDairy.htm

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2007/07/30/121562/ideas-abound-for-saving-iconic.html

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2007/07/16/110871/time-for-a-last-bottle-of-chocolate.html

 

A Glorious Day at Thun Field

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We are going through a miraculous run of lovely weather for the beginning of February. The temperature went up to 57 degrees and it was sunny. I found myself in the South Hill area of Puyallup with a couple of hours to myself. I drove myself to Thun Field and for the price of a cup of tea and a piece of pie I sat outside in the sun and watched small planes take off and land. I especially enjoyed seeing three generations (grandfather, father, son) enjoying a late breakfast and watching the planes.

Thun Field is owned by Pierce County. Their website says “Thun Field was built in 1944 and purchased by Pierce County in 1979. Situated just south of the City of Puyallup in the South Hill neighborhood, Thun Field offers spectacular views of Mount Rainier. There are approximately 225 aircraft based at the airport, and approximately 89,000 operations (take-offs and landings) each year.”

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/pwu/airport/

Habitat for Humanity Store

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Funny story… I’m in the car with my husband and he says let’s go to the Habitat Restore in the Port. Oh boy! I’ve been wanting to see the new estuary nature place that I read about! I was pretty excited that dear husband would suggest it. That’s the spirit of adventure!

And then we pulled up here at the Habitat for Humanity Store at 505 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma, WA 98421. Oh, I see. We need bathroom tiles. No, really its OK. I just had my heart set on seeing ducks!

In actuality the Habitat for Humanity Store is very cool and I’ve been meaning to go there. Folks donate building materials (doors, lighting fixtures, tile, cabinets, mirrors, etc.) and other folks buy them. Habitat makes a little money for their most excellent work. We walked out with some tiles, groat, and a ceramic soap dish to go in the shower. No ducks.

I guess I can do the Habitat for Humanity store again in the future because they are moving to South Tacoma Way and the building is available for lease.

More information about the local Habitat for Humanity is here: http://www.tpc-habitat.org/

The building is on the site of Joe Zehnder’s First & Last Chance Saloon, sadly now demolished. The current building was constructed in 1926 as the Stevens & Vetter, Inc. Garage / Fageol Motor Sales Co. and had been used as warehousing for the adjacent railroad. Although the building has been renovated over the years I can still see the original structure in the roof line. Look here to see the building as it was in 1928: http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=5&n=24097&i=9072#text

Save Our Buses, Proposition 1

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 I don’t usually take the bus. Sure, on occasion, maybe to the Puyallup Fair or when my car is in for repair. But my daughter does and she is afraid service will be significantly reduced if Proposition 1 doesn’t pass during the Pierce County general election on February 8, 2011. Pierce Transit (the folks that run the buses) receives 70% of its funding from local sales tax and because of the recession, sales tax is down. Fair increases, reductions in routes and layoffs have already occurred, but if Proposition 1 does not pass, an additional 35% of the current level of service will be eliminated.

What is the financial impact to my family? On a $10 purchase, we will pay an additional $0.03. What is the real cost impact? My teen daughter will wait longer for bus service, sometimes on dark, cold, rainy evenings. And for other folks? It will be harder to go to their jobs, the doctor, daycare and the grocery store. Like my daughter, folks will have longer waits between buses. Some of these people (those without cars, those with disabilities, etc.) have no other choice.

So my family voted yes for Proposition 1. It just seemed like the right thing to do for the most people.

Additional information can be found here. http://www.piercetransit.org/pdfs/Prop1_FactSheet_Dec10.pdf

http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1915221&more=0

Today’s new place is the Lakewood Transit Center, near the Lakewood Town Center shopping area.

Voting — A right and an obligation

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A right and an obligation

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today I went to the Pierce County Building to drop my voting ballot in the box. I love how they make it so convenient. There were a bunch of complicated ballot measures this time and I spent some serious weekend time working on it. But I’m pretty happy with my choices and, as always, am proud that I voted. It’s an important part of being a citizen.

Click to access 2010generalweblocal.pdf