Selleck, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Selleck Historic District
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Selleck, Washington
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| Nearest city | Maple Valley, Washington |
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| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000214 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1989 |
Selleck is a historic place in Washington. It was started in 1908 as a "company town." This means a company built and owned most of the town, usually for its workers. Selleck is special because it's the only company mill town left in King County. Because of its history, it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a King County landmark.
How Selleck Began
Selleck was built by the Pacific States Lumber company. It was led by a lumberman named Frank Selleck. The town was finished in 1916. To get there, people used a railway trestle. This bridge was 204 feet high, making it the world's highest at the time. It crossed over the Cedar River.
The lumber mill in Selleck was very important. It helped rebuild Tokyo, Japan, after a huge earthquake in 1923. Many Japanese workers and their families came to Selleck to work at the mill.
The Japanese Community
Outside the main town of Selleck, there was an area known as Lavender Town. It was named after a local saloon and store owner. However, most people called it Jap Town. Children from Japanese families went to the Selleck School. They also attended a special Japanese-language school on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Today, there are not many signs left of Lavender Town. Even grave markers, which were likely made of wood, are gone. The only visible sign of the Japanese community is a pond with bamboo plants. Because so little remains, Lavender Town is not part of Selleck's historic landmark status. However, future discoveries from digging might change this.
Why Selleck Changed
At its busiest, Selleck had about 900 people living there. It had a hospital, two hotels, a community hall for dances, a school, and many stores. There were also several mill buildings.
But in 1939, the Pacific States Lumber company went out of business. This ended Selleck's time of success. The town was sold many times. In 1971, a builder named Robert Schaefer bought the town with a group of investors.
Schaefer had big plans for Selleck. He wanted to fix up the old millpond for paddleboats. He also hoped to build a train around the pond and a logging theme park. But these plans didn't happen. It was hard to get permission because of rules about wetlands. Also, there wasn't enough money to do everything. In the 1990s, the town also had serious problems with its water system.
Selleck Today
As of 2007, Robert Schaefer's son, Tim Schaefer, owns the town. The old two-story schoolhouse and the community hall are still there. About half of the original single-story company houses remain. People live in about 50 of these bungalow-style homes. Renting a four-bedroom house in Selleck costs about the same as a two-bedroom apartment in other parts of the county.
See also
In Spanish: Selleck (Washington) para niños
