The South Tacoma That Was - A History Walk (12. August 2010, 19:28 by Daniel Rahe) ~

The Tacoma Historical Society is holding a free “History Walk” through South Tacoma this Saturday, August 14, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. In addition to being led through key moments in the vibrant history of this neighborhood, tour participants will be be briefed on current preservation efforts.

This event will focus on the Northern Pacific Shops, the historic business district, and the Oakwood Hill Cemetary and Columbarium. Plans for a South Park Historic District (which would protect 1.8 square miles of urban forest, pioneer cemeteries, buildings and parks) will also be discussed.

Highlights of the event include:

  • A talk with railroad historian Jim Fredrickson at 10:15am;
  • A walking tour of the historic South Tacoma business district with architect Gerald Eysaman at 11:00am;
  • Also at 11:00am, there will be a visit to the Oakwood Hill Cemetery and Columbarium guided by Bill Habermann. This site includes a stunning stained glass dome (pictured above);
  • A chance to view a large quanitity of historic stained glass, recently discovered in South Tacoma and currently stored at 5312 S. Alder Street;

DETAILS
What: The South Tacoma That Was – A History Walk
When: Saturday, August 14 – 10:00am – 1:00pm
Where: Tours depart from Northwest Motor Scooters, 5428 South Tacoma Way

For more information on the Tacoma Historical Society, visit www.tacomahistory.org

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The photo shows the ultimate Tacoma dome, a stained glass wonder which has over 3,200 individual pieces of Kokomo Opulescent Glass and is 9.5 feet across. This photo is taken from the floor 20 feet below. This dome is located in the Oakwood Hill Cemetery Columbarium and Chapel, which was built by the “Cremation Society of Tacoma” and was the only glass columbarium west of the Mississippi at the time.

The Cemetery is often overshadowed by its cousin to the North, the Old Tacoma Cemetery, but they began as one entitity with the first burial in Oakwood occuring on June 11th 1874. This was Miss Frances Desdemonia Coulston, age 19, who “Dropped Dead” after eating a big meal. Because she was not considered an adult at age 19, the burial of Gem McCarver in 1875 (in Old Tacoma Cemetery) is often cited as the first burial.

In Oakwood, one will also find the entire membership of the Gen, George Armstrong Custer Grand Army of the Republic, the grave of Zinna Linnick, and many other historic gravesites.

This will be a super event and I hope you don’t miss a chance to see a very historic part of Tacoma.

1 | Posted by Tim Smith | Aug 13, 07:52 AM

Will there be charging station breaks for my rascal mobility scooter?

2 | Posted by RR Anderson | Aug 13, 09:11 AM

wait a tick… Grand Army of the Republic? I totally hate those guys! They ruined my favorite anarchist colony!!!!!

3 | Posted by RR Anderson | Aug 13, 09:14 AM

Oakwood Hill Cemetery is also the place of interment for the ashes of U.S. Senator Homer T. Bone, a Tacoman who became one of the nation’s most vigorous advocates ever for public-owned electrical power systems. Unlike Wenatchee’s Rufus Woods and Seattle’s James Ross (both of whom have landmark hydro-power lakes named for them) Bone is somewhat forgotten. Take time to remember him at his marker at Oakwood on Saturday. His story is worth recalling—of what can be accomplished in Tacoma.

4 | Posted by j feste | Aug 13, 01:41 PM

His story is worth recalling—of what can be accomplished in Tacoma.

Doing something notable and being ignored by the rest of the state? ;-)

5 | Posted by jamie from thriceallamerican | Aug 16, 08:58 AM

Commenting is closed for this article.

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