Page 13 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

first golf club built west of the Mississippi. It featured
trolley transportation from neighboring city of
Tacoma to Lakewood.

In the early 1900's, the famed Tacoma Speedway
was built. The mile-long wooden track circled the
open prairie and drew racing greats, such as Barney
Oldfield, Louis Chevrolet and Eddie Rickenbacker.
By 1923 the Oakes Pavilion on Lake Steilacoom
opened offering more public amenities like boating,
bathing and picnic grounds.
In 1917 the military built Camp Lewis on land donated
to the federal government by Pierce County. McChord
Field, now part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was
developed from the old County Air Field in 1938. In
later years Camp Lewis and McChord Air Force Base
merged to become Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The
installation remains a prominent player in the local
and state economies today and borders Lakewood
to the east and south.
Panattoni Development Company, Inc. was named one of the Economic Development Board As the area grew, other amenities were added,
of Tacoma-Pierce County’s “Excellent 10” for its 467,000-square-foot spec building in the including a regional hospital and two colleges – Clover
Woodbrook Business Park. Lakewood City Manager John Caulfield (far right) presents the award Park Technical College which recently celebrated
to Panattoni’s development team (from left to right): Brian Mattson, Development Manager, its 75th anniversary and Pierce College which was
Travis Hale, Partner and Bart Brynestad, Partner.

Located midway between the Columbia River and serve as a military post following an Indian attack on
the city of Vancouver, B.C., this prairie land was Fort Nisqually. The new fort, called Fort Steilacoom,
chosen by the British in 1833 as the site of Fort was used to quell Indian uprisings.
Nisqually, one of the fur trading post operated by
Many Army lieutenants and captains who made
the Hudson's Bay Company.
names for themselves during the Civil War came to
Settlers soon set up farming in the area. One of these Fort Steilacoom, including Gen. George B. McClellan,
farms, now the site of state-owned Western State Confederate Gen. George E. Pickett, Union Gen.
Hospital, was leased by the U.S. Army in 1849 to Philip H. Sheridan and Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant,
who later became President.
During the late 1800's homes and roads took over
the prairie. Indians and settlers were learning to named in 2018 as one of 10 finalists for the national
live together, sometimes holding joint celebrations 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
in the summertime on the natural picnic grounds by the prestigious Aspen Institute.
of The Prairie. Contests of horseback riding often
accompanied a traditional Native American salmon
bake.
Stately homes were built along the shorelines of the
lakes, the most impressive being Thornewood Castle Becky Newton, EDFP
on American Lake. Now renovated into a spectacular Economic Development Manager
bed and breakfast and event venue, the mansion was
once considered one of the most beautiful estates City of Lakewood
and gardens in the nation. Another site dating to
Lakewood’s early days is Lakewold Gardens and the 6000 Main Street Sw | Lakewood,
Wagner Home located on Gravelly Lake. The home
and surrounding gardens are a national attraction WA 98499
that are open for tours and events.
PH: 253.983.7738 | FX: 253.589.3774
In its early days Lakewood was known as a weekend
destination for Seattle elite. The Tacoma Country CELL: 253-254-1204
and Golf Club was built in 1894 to further attract
the rich and famous. At the time, the club was the

FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018 13