K. A. Erickson

The Curran House was successfully added to the NRHP on March 7, 2012. The University Place Historical Society plans to unveil the plaque at a Homes and Gardens Tour on June 10. The Curran House will be one of the homes available to visit from 1 to 5pm.

Lewis County has several roadside oddities so after doing a search I came up with the answer to your question Bill.

The viewers of Evening Magazine, a KING 5 show that airs out of Seattle, chose Yard Bird as the winner in that category for the Best Northwest Escapes 2011 edition. There are funding efforts to restore the bird as after 40 years sections of it have deteriorated. A benefit concert was held this past summer, June 25, 2011, featuring members of the Ventures and the Kingsmen. Lieutenant Governor, Brad Owen, who also plays in a band made an appearance as part of the back up.

As for what it ran up against? Other Northwest icons more than likely. If this were a Lewis County contest it would square off against the Centralia Art House, which the owner is in process of dismantling, or the Winlock Egg, and possibly the Gospodor Monuments.

In other news I have a Yard Bird refrigerator magnet.

An incipient movement is slowly underway to raise funds for the roof at Lonaconing Silk Mill. It is hoped that whatever is collected will spur others into action as well transforming the landmark into a habitable place for businesses while preserving the machine area as future museum space. This month's efforts involve a charity raffle for hair falls and steampunk-ish goggles.

http://www.facebook.com/savethelonaconingsilkmill?sk=info

This along with the General Administration Building in Olympia is one of those places added to the Historical Registry to mollify preservationists who decry the state not actively taking steps to save heritage and cultural sites. The state of Washington has no interest at all in keeping these buildings, in fact they are campaigning for their demolition so something else can be built at each location. Bureaucracy in action! But don't forget they care about landmarks enough to add them to a list though.

Neilton is one of nearly 4,000 post offices that the USPS has put on the chopping block. Baring is another.

http://landmarkhunter.com/108168-baring-washington/

Check for yourself and see if there are places listed here that may lose their post office.

http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/statelist.htm

Perhaps we can photograph/document before it is too late?

The General Service Administration occasionally auctions or gives away historic lighthouses to suitable stewards, nonprofits, community groups, preservation societies, etc. The Conneaut Harbor West Breakwater Light in Ohio is up for bid until July 20th. Others are listed below.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/286133

Check the satellite imaging. The pool may be the one in the NE corner of the estate. It would appear that there was more land to it at one time but they sold some for the small subdivision now on the West and North.

The former Midway School lapsed into disrepair after the district restructured and abandoned it. In the mid 1970s it was featured as part of a "Down the road" Sunday edition series for the local daily. James Erickson did the story interviewing former students while Warren Anderson took the images. The building has since been purchased and remodeled into a private residence and maintains some resemblance to its original form.

Bill, have you seen any of these?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/75-abandoned-theaters-from-around-the-usa

Within the last year Northwest Baptist Seminary has agreed to merge with Corban University of Salem, Oregon. Corban has also purchased property in Seattle and will consolidate its holdings in Washington there. As such it has currently placed this campus, formerly an estate that belonged to heirs of lumber baron Frederick Weyerhaeuser, on the market for approximately $8 million.

They have installed the bricks from their fundraiser. Alas they did not sell enough to get the torch design sign to hang outside. Efforts continue. In the meantime here is a brick ... intriguing ...

To Bill "Theatre" Eichelberger: I was going to reformat a flash memory and came across these images when I went to see if there was anything still on. Happy New Year Bill!

The McMillin Grange meets here now. The south and back sides of the property appear to be storage areas for 1980's style mobile homes.

It states that the current function is a business and single dwelling but the reality is that Alderton School lies in neglect in sort of a no man's land in between development to the north and the south. Students have long since attended McAlder Elementary, a consolidation with the old McMillin School.

Currently I am working on the North Slope District whenever I have the time and am in the area.

Contributing buildings: 698

Contributing structures: 211

Most of the structures are detached garages. With those you have 909 images assuming I just take a single shot for each.

"You are now viewing image 166 of 909."

Yeah that could be a bit messy.

Sometimes less is more. Give a general sense of what one can find at a particular area be it a house or bridge or district.