Heritage Commission Chief Holly Davies revealed five nominees for the 2022 Olympia Heritage Award, focusing on businesses contributing to the city's legacy, heritage and culture.
Davies was at the Community Livability and Public Safety committee meeting yesterday, April 27, and asked the committee members’ support for the commission’s recommendations to the city council.
The five nominees are:
Angelus Hotel
Angelus Hotel, located at 204 4th Avenue West, Olympia Washington, 98501, was built circa 1900. Its original use – around 1900 to 1920 – was a hay, grain and feed store with a grocery store at the corner.
From 1920 to the present, it is used as a retail shop on the first floor and residential units on the upper two stories.
The owners, who purchased the building, renovated it around 2019 to 2020.
According to Davies, the repair has improved building safety and living conditions while preserving its historic character.
“This is a good example of reusing our existing buildings, which is also important for sustainability,” Davies commented.
Eastside Club and Tavern
Established in 1942, Eastside Club and Tavern has been considered an Olympian community staple for decades.
Davies said the tavern had been a part of Olympia’s important beer industry, Evergreen College culture, and music scene.
Babe and Agnes Haumann purchased the club in 1942, with the couple staying active in running the tavern for their entire lives. Babe passed away in 1981, and Agnes in 2009. The business has remained within the family and continues the legacy that Babe and Agnes left behind.
They were the first bar in the area to offer a wide variety and introduce the community to smaller brewers and various beer types.
“While Olympia beer had a large impact on Olympia’s early formation and history, the Eastside continued the tradition and helped foster the large microbrew industry our community enjoys today,” stated in the nomination sheet.
The Eastside Club and Tavern has been serving the Olympia community for 80 years.
KGY Media Group
Located at 1700 Marine Dr. NE Olympia, WA 98501, KGY Media Group is a local, family-owned broadcast radio and digital advertising company serving the South Puget Sound region.
In 1922, Benedictine Father Sebastian Ruth, received the radio call letters KGY rights. Original broadcasts were from his log cabin shack just north of Old Main atop the hill at what was then called St. Martin's College.
The station allowed more performers to showcase their talents. During the priest’s tenure as broadcaster, more than 4,000 visiting performers were featured in live performances on KGY-AM.
In 1939, Tom Olsen purchased KGY and operated the station, working alongside family members. Leading the group of stations today is Nick Kerry, a fourth-generation member and the great-grandson of Tom Olsen and the grandson of Barbara Olsen Kerry.
KGY Media Group operates three local radio brands: 96.9 KAYO-Country (Regional/7-County Coverage Area), Olympia's 95.3 KGY (Local/Thurston County Coverage Area), and KAYO Legends on 96.9 HD3.
Howard Point Place Name Project.
Davies said the nomination of the Howard Point Name Project recognizes the contributions made by project members Dr. Thelma Jackson, Shanna Stevenson, Dr. Terrall H. Bryan (descendant of the Howard Family) and Ed Echtle.
The nomination sheet provided by the commission said the project members re-discovered a forgotten place name along Budd Inlet related to the historically significant Howard Family. They successfully petitioned the Washington State Committee on Geographic Names to officially recognize the name and led a fruitful effort to bring the significance of the place name and the family it commemorates to the attention of local residents.
Howard Point, according to the Project, was a locally known landmark used by developers and locals to refer to the area. But the name does not have official recognition.
Local and regional historians have long acknowledged the contributions of the Alexander and Rebecca Howard family as prominent citizens of early Olympia. The Howards operated the Pacific House Hotel on what is now Capitol Way from the late 1850s to the 1870s.
Rebecca Howard managed the hotel and kitchen, making a reputation for herself as a savvy businesswoman, a fine hostess and an avid community booster. In 1864 the Howards purchased the north half of the Calvin H Hale Donation Claim on Olympia’s east side and established a fine farm on what became known locally as Howard Point.
Jack’s Shoe Repair
Located at 115 Columbia Street SW, Olympia, Jack’s Shoe Repair has continuously served the community for more than 77 years.
Davies said Jack’s was founded in 1945 as Jack’s Shoe Service by Jack Gabino and Elodia Nunez.
Jack was a cobbler born in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, on May 10, 1903. He arrived in the United States in 1919 and the couple relocated to Olympia in 1942.
They initially opened their shop at 417 ½ Capital Way.
In July, 1965, Jack’s moved to 115 Columbia Street, where it continues in business today. Jack retired in 1968 and passed away on October 13, 1970. He was predeceased by Elodia in 1966. The store continued to be operated by their son, Richard Nunez, until the family sold it in 1983.
Sun Hak (Kevin) Nam now owns the business, “continuing the legacy of the iconic small business and its contributions to the fabric of our community.”
Legacy businesses
City council member and committee member Yan Huynh lauded the research efforts made by the commission that led to the nominations of five organizations/businesses. “I think our heritage is not always well-documented, but I just want to appreciate how much research and homework this takes.”
Davies said it is the first time the commission has recognized legacy businesses.
City Mayor Cheryl Selby said the commission has a strong slate of nominees this year. She thanked the commission for bringing the aspect of legacy businesses to recognize small business owners.
“A lot of those small business owners are minorities. I think that is a great way to recognize what they have contributed,” she said.
“As you walk around town, I think this information… bring a little piece of that history to us in the present,” council members and committee chairman Dontae Payne said.
The committee accepted the recommendation for the 2022 Olympia Heritage Award.
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