Fragrant hybrid tea roses in the Centennial Garden

Foundation2 Comments

Collage_Fotor

What could be more disappointing than poking your nose down into a sumptuous rose, taking a deep sniff, and coming up empty? No fragrance!  – You might as well be growing dahlias (no offense to you dahlia growers).

When people learn that you have been growing roses for 30 years, as I have, they often comment: “…these modern roses are not as fragrant as the roses I remember when I was young”. Any honest Rosarian will have to admit that there is some truth to this statement. The Old Garden Roses, the ones your grandmother nurtured in her garden, possessed an overpowering fragrance. This fragrance to die for was part of their immense charm. In fact in olden times roses, and the valuable perfume they contained, were often important objects of commerce and even conflicts such as the “War of the Roses” in 15th century England.

Details

LA Times visits Tumwater Falls Park

Foundation, Tumwater Falls ParkLeave a comment

Los Angeles Times¹ travel writer Brian Clark recently visited Tumwater Falls Park while researching an article on weekend getaways in South Puget Sound. Moira Davin from Visit Olympia (formerly OLT Visitor & Convention Bureau) arranged Brian’s media tour and selected the Park as a “must see.” A former resident of Olympia, Brian has fond memories of the area and gets back whenever he can.

Details

WSU Grad Student Finds Liquid Gold in Foundation Archives

Foundation, From the Archives, History1 Comment

WSU grad student Megan Ockerman holds original advertising artwork from the Olympia Brewing Company. Finding a thesis subject for a master’s degree in History can be a daunting task. Professors prefer subjects that are interesting, previously unresearched, yet with plenty of research material available, and open to new interpretations. Olympia resident Megan Ockerman, who already…

Details

Guided Tumwater History Walking Tours at Tumwater Falls Park: The new season has begun

History, Tumwater Falls Park, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Are you ready for a historic adventure?  The Olympia Tumwater Foundation’s “Heritage Builders” program invites you to a free guided walk through history with local historian and Public History Manager, Don Trosper.  The 2016 weekly tours are offered every Thursday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 now through September 15. You’ll begin at the Falls Park…

Details

Mildred Parker, Last Grandchild of Olympia Brewing Founder Leopold F. Schmidt, Dies at 103

From the Archives, History, UncategorizedLeave a comment

A recent donation from the estate of a New Jersey resident has intrigued our archives staff.

In 1912, a daughter was born to Leopold F. Schmidt Jr. (son of Leopold Sr., founder of the Olympia brewery) and his wife, Louise Barksdale Schmidt. The daughter was named Mildred Virginia Schmidt, and she grew up in the family home in Olympia. Mildred died recently at the age of 103, and a box of photos from her estate arrived at our office. We’ll use several of those photos to illustrate Mildred’s life,

Details

Entertaining Videos on Tumwater History

Foundation, From the Archives, History, Tumwater Falls ParkLeave a comment

In a cooperative effort with the City of Tumwater, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation’s local history program partnered with Thurston Community Television (TCTV) to produce twenty, three minute videos focusing on Tumwater’s rich history.

don t

 

Local historian and author, Don Trosper, hosts these short videos featuring music, historic photos, and compelling details about names you may hear and see around Tumwater today, like George Bush, Michael T. Simmons, the Crosby family, and more. Don says, “There is more than enough material to produce many more of these utilizing the rich resources of the foundation archives at the Schmidt House and the City of Tumwater files from Henderson House.  It is great fun and will hopefully be helpful to students in history classes, local area residents and visitors from outside our local area.”

 

Click on the underlined links below to enjoy Don’s folksy interpretation of Tumwater’s past:

01

 

The History of the West Begins in the East

The Founders of Tumwater and their trip over the Oregon Trail.  Why make such a trip?

Details