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The Columbia Motor Co. Building Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2025 Rainier Valley Historical Society Acquires Historic Building to Establish Permanent Community Museum Seattle, WA — Rainier Valley Historical Society (RVHS) is excited to announce the purchase of the historic Columbia Motor Co. building at 3806 S Ferdinand Street in Columbia City. This milestone marks the start of a permanent home for RVHS. After more than 130 years of collecting, preserving, and sharing the diverse history of Southeast Seattle, RVHS (previously Columbia Pioneers) will now create a dedicated museum space to host public programs and expand access to its archives and collections. “We are thrilled to plant roots in the neighborhood we’ve long served, and we are grateful to everyone who helped us reach this historic moment,” said Karen O’Brien, RVHS Board President. The building will house exhibits and host educational programs and cultural events that reflect the neighborhood’s history of immigration, migration, labor, activism, and resilience. RVHS is currently in the early stages of site preparation and stabilization, with renovation plans underway to transform the building into a welcoming community space. RVHS extends heartfelt thanks to the seller and the donor for their commitment to preserving local history, to our board and volunteers for their tireless dedication, and to the community members whose belief in this vision never wavered. Public meetings will be held later this year to gather community input for the building’s design and future use. To learn more or support this next chapter, visit rainiervalleyhistoricalsociety.org. Media Contact: Rainier Valley Historical Society office@rainiervalleyhistory.org 206-723-1663

Historical society in Seattle, Washington. Our mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the history and heritage of the Rainier Valley. WELCOME TO RAINIER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Learn More Big News! We bought a building! We're excited to announce the purchase of the historic Columbia Motor Co. Building at 3806 S Ferdinand Street in Columbia City. After more than 130 years of preserving and sharing Rainier Valley’s stories, we finally have a permanent home to grow our archives, host exhibits, and create a vibrant community space. Read More Our Mission To collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the history and heritage of Rainier Valley and its community and to educate and promote public involvement in, and appreciation of, its history and culture. Upcoming Events See all events Hillman City - What's Good Block Party Sat, Aug 09 Hillman City Learn more Columbia City Night Market Sat, Aug 16 Columbia City Night Market Learn more 98118 Festival Sat, Aug 23 Columbia Park Learn more Featured Articles See more articles Our Archives Learn more about our archives Become a Member Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. Support RVHS

Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. Become a Member With your support, we provide programs that explore diverse topics including cultural traditions, social activism, architectural history, and environmental stewardship. Your contributions also help us maintain our extensive digital and physical archives, many of which are housed at our Columbia City Office, ensuring public access to this valuable resource. Together, we can preserve and celebrate the heritage of Rainier Valley for generations to come. Join us Members Enjoy These Core Benefits Subscription to all RVHS publications. Presale access and reduced admission to tours, programs, lectures, and special events. Discounted image and document reproduction. Exclusive invites for hands-on participation in local research projects. Membership Levels Scholars & Seniors $20 Core membership benefits with valid ID Individual $30 Core membership benefits Household $30 All core membership benefits for 2 adults and dependents up to 18 years in age Patron $100 All core membership benefits And a copy of the book Rainier Valley Food Stories Cookbook History Maker $350 All core membership benefits + benefits of Patron level And 4 Hours of personalized research assistance Lifetime $500 A one-time payment to gain access to all core membership benefits for life Join us

Rainier Valley Historical Society maintains an ever-growing archive of historic photographs, documents, maps, oral histories, and artifacts. Our Archives & Collections The Rainier Valley Historical Society maintains an ever-growing archive of historic photographs, documents, maps, oral histories, and artifacts. The collection - along with a library of books and other research materials relating to the Rainier Valley - is available to the public during office hours or by appointment and on our online databases. Researchers are encouraged to contact the RVHS to discuss their requests in advance by emailing office@rainiervalleyhistory.org . Contact Our Team Collections Committee In 2009 the RVHS Board adopted a new Collections Policy that outlines our commitment to collect and preserved the historical materials in our care. The new policy establishes a Collections Committee that will oversee accessions, cataloging, and preservation efforts. Collections Scope The collection focuses on the history of the Rainier Valley from 1850 to the present day. Our geographic boundaries are from Dearborn Street on the north to the city limits on the south, and from I5 freeway to Lake Washington. Our collection has historically centered on the Columbia City and the period from 1890-1940, but we are working to expand the collection to include a broader geographic range, materials from WWII and the post war period, and from many ethnic and cultural communities to present the Rainier Valley today. Explore Our Archives Articles & Publications Photographs Newsletters Oral Histories

Rainier Valley Historical Society has photographs of many historic homes and buildings in the Rainier Valley, particularly in and around Columbia City. We also have information about the general history of the neighborhood, which may also be helpful to you. Research Your House The Rainier Valley Historical Society has photographs of many historic homes and buildings in the Rainier Valley, particularly in and around Columbia City. We also have information about the general history of the neighborhood, which may also be helpful to you. Another place to look for historic photographs of your house is the Puget Sound Regional Archives , located at Bellevue Community College. Look under "King County Property Records," find your tax parcel # (it's all right there on the site), and e-mail or call them to see what they've got. They should have a photo of the house from 1937 (a county-wide photo survey was done that year by the WPA), plus information about when the house was built, etc. The archivists there can point you to more resources if you want to keep going. The Seattle Polk Directories are also helpful. A complete set of these directories — essentially the phone book, but they go back way before phones — is available at the Seattle Public Library's downtown site, and at the Seattle Municipal Archives . Many of these volumes also have reverse directories, so you can look up an address and find out what was there in any given year. The Seattle Municipal Archives also has a searchable online database of photographs, but they tend to focus on engineering projects and not residential buildings. If you are interested in restoring your old house, Historic Seattle has wonderful resources for researching architectural history and finding historically accurate building supplies and fixtures. List of Resources Puget Sound Regional Archives Seattle Public Library Seattle Municipal Archives Historic Seattle Need help with your project? RVHS is here to help! Schedule an appointment with our collections team or email your questions to office@rainiervalleyhistory.org . contact us

Rainier Valley Heritage News is a semi-annual publication established in 1993. This newsletter serves as a rich chronicle of historical narratives and community insights, dedicated to preserving the heritage of Rainier Valley. Newsletters The Rainier Valley Heritage News is a semi-annual publication established in 1993. This newsletter serves as a rich chronicle of historical narratives and community insights, dedicated to preserving the heritage of Rainier Valley. Spring 2025 Fall 2024 Spring 2024 Fall 2023 Spring 2023 Rainier Valley Roots: The School Garden Movement Fall 2022 The Dunlaps on Lake Washington Spring 2022 Fall 2021 V is for Veterans Spring 2021 Ron Chew's Unforgotten Seattle Fall 2020 Women in isolation at Rainier Beach Crittenton Home Spring 2020 Fall 2019 Spring 2019 From Wilderness to Park Fall 2018 Spring 2018 History of Mt. Baker Fall 2017 40 Years of Cuts, Shaves & Shines! Spring 2017 A Horse, A Cow, Chickens, and Turkeys, Oh My! Fall 2016 Lakewood Pioneer Family Member Honored As Hero Spring 2016 Celebrate RVHS at our annual meeting for members and friends! Fall 2015 Columbia Electric Bakery - From Spark to Flame Spring 2015 The Newspaper Project Fall 2014 Newspaper Project Spring 2014 Remembering the ‘70s Fall 2013 A Lot of Pie at Seattle Summer Streets and Rainier Valley Heritage Parade Spring 2013 Celebrate our 20 year anniversary Load More

Step into the past with our captivating photo essays. Photo Essays The Rainier Valley Historical Society has curated captivating photo essays that illustrate the rich heritage and evolution of our culturally diverse neighborhood.

Join our team of volunteers who help us process archives, develop programming, and host events. Volunteer Form RVHS has collected, preserved, and shared the stories of the Rainier Valley since 1891. Our volunteers are essential partners in this effort. First Name Last Name Email Availability 1 day a week 1 day a month Occasionally What are you interested in helping with? Archiving Events Office hours Special projects SUBMIT Thanks for your interest! We'll get back to you shortly.

Hillman City Heritage Bell Project Image Gallery Explore Hillman City's rich history and cultural diversity through the transformation of a 120-Year-Old Bell. The Hillman City Heritage Bell project has been nearly five years in the making, tracing back to 2019 when real estate broker and RVHS supporter Ray Akers orchestrated the donation of a 120-year-old cast iron bell. This historic bell was generously given by RVHS Lifetime Members Pete and Helen Sikov, setting the wheels in motion for what would become a significant landmark in Hillman City. Crafted around 1907, this bell once rang out from a church steeple at the corner of Rainier Ave S and S Lucile St, summoning worshippers from various congregations, including the Hillman Methodist Episcopal Church, Pentecostals, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, United Baptist, and Damascus Baptist. Although the exact date of its removal from the tower is unknown, the bell remained on the property as it transitioned to the Dayspring & Fitch Funeral Home, where it continued its presence for three decades until the building was demolished in 2020. Recognizing the bell's historical value, the Rainier Valley Historical Society (RVHS) embarked on a mission to preserve and reintroduce it as a new landmark for Hillman City. In 2021, the restoration began with sandblasting, stabilization, and priming. A "Call for Artists" was issued, leading to the selection of Cathy Fields, a local mural artist and 50-year Hillman City resident, to paint a mural on the bell. Cathy's work tells a captivating visual story, celebrating the cultural diversity of Rainier Valley. Completed in 2022, her mural honors Indigenous Peoples, early pioneers, and notable community members, reflecting Hillman City’s history as a welcoming home for immigrant populations. (Read her full Artist Statement below ) By July 2024, RVHS, with the help of community volunteers and Kohl Construction, developed a stand for the bell at the corner of Rainier Ave S and S Findlay St. The chosen installation site, currently home to "The Flour Box," has a rich history of its own, once being a Shell station turned service station operated by Rudy Hanson from the mid-1960s until his passing in 2008. The Hanson family, who still owns the property, graciously allowed the bell to be installed here, just across from its original home. The project culminated in a grand dedication event on August 10, 2024, during the Hillman City Neighborhood Association Block Party. This significant moment marked the bell’s new role as a symbol of local heritage and community spirit, celebrating the rich history and cultural diversity of Hillman City. Project Timeline 2019: The Hillman City Heritage Bell was donated to RVHS by Lifetime members Pete and Helen Sikov, after the demolition of the Dayspring & Fitch Funeral Home. RVHS begins fundraising efforts at the Annual Founder's Dinner 2021: RVHS initiated the restoration of the bell, with sandblasting, stabilization, and priming, preparing it for a new chapter as a public art piece. A "Call for Artists" was issued, and Cathy Fields was selected to create a mural celebrating the area's diverse history. 2022: Cathy Fields completed the mural, depicting significant moments and figures in Hillman City’s history, from Indigenous Peoples to early settlers and local business owners. The bell was then clear-coated for protection. July 2024: The bell was installed on a custom stand at the corner of Rainier Ave S and S Findlay St, across from its original home. August 10, 2024: The bell was officially unveiled during the Hillman City Neighborhood Association Block Party, marking its new role as a symbol of community and heritage. Meet the Artist Cathy Fields, a mural artist and lifelong resident of Seattle's Hillman City, masterfully blends the real and the imagined in her visual storytelling. Selected by the Rainier Valley Historical Society during their 2020 “Call for Artists,” Cathy’s work intertwines echoes of the past with the blur of contemporary times, resonating deeply with the community she has called home for 50 years. The following is a narrative that goes with the stories circling the bell, beginning with the vignette of native people gathering food and moving to the right around the bell: As the ice age ended, humankind arrived along the Pacific coast. The indigenous people who inhabited what was to become the Seattle area were here for over 10,000 years before the Euro-Americans arrived. The Coast Salish people were made up of various tribes that shared a common language. The scene depicted is of summer time when local tribes come to Lake Washington’s coastlines to harvest food to preserve for the winter. The men would fish and hunt, and women would gather various herbs, berries, fresh water mussels, or, as in this picture, dig camas roots, and much more. Moving right around the bell, the depicted one-room cabin became a neighborhood store in 1901 when Rhineholt and Louise Hausler moved to the area and purchased the property from Clarence D. Hillman. They quickly opened for business on Rainier Avenue at Graham Street. The Hausler store supplied Hillman City residents with a variety of household necessities and kitchen staples. The electric railway stopped a few feet from their porch delivering much of the goods that stocked their store. The Hauslers eventually build a bigger store further south on Rainier Ave. and moved there in 1921. The woman to the right of the store is Mrs. Fumiko M. Noji who, with her husband and family, ran the enterprising Columbia Greenhouse and Nursery between South Orcas and Juneau Streets and what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 1918-1996. They had a reputation for their wonderful tomatoes. Her father-in-law, Isao Noji, was one of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce men who brought the cherry trees from Japan to Seward Park. When the family was interned during World War ll, a good friend who managed the grounds of Sick’s Stadium moved into their home and cared for the property until their return. Eventually a fourth generation family member moved the greenhouses to Kent and the award winning Noji Gardens affordable housing community was planned and built on the property by HomeSight. Also shown in this vignette is the Seattle Renton & Southern Railway that enabled valley farmers to transport their produce into town, make trips to visit friends and family, and encouraged development and new businesses. Sadly funding, safety, and reliability were problematic leading to a loss of licensing. The rails were torn up in 1937 to make way for more buses, trucks and cars. The church building in the distance hosted a number of different faiths over the years. Before it was torn down, the bell was donated to the Rainier Valley Historical Society and is now the “canvas” for this painting. The original Fire Station 28 was built in 1910, three years after Hillman City was annexed into Seattle. It was located at 4525 S. Orcas Street, just east of Rainier Ave. They used horses to pull the hose wagons until they became motorized in 1924. In 1955 the old station was closed and moved to a newly built station at its current location on Rainier Avenue. Rainier Valley wouldn’t be complete without Mt. Rainier. On a clear day it may loom large and appear deceptively near from Seward Park or when driving south on Rainier Ave. Here it is a backdrop for the title section, Looking Back. This Vignette speaks to the valley’s history as a destination for many different immigrant populations over the decades, enriching the area with cultural diversity, perhaps one of our greatest assets. Acknowledgements This project was made possible through the generous support of King County 4Culture, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods' Small Sparks Fund, the Hillman City Neighborhood Association, Khol Construction, Flamespray NW, Puget Sound Coatings, the Sikov family, and the Hanson family. Special thanks go to the RVHS board members, members, and volunteers, whose time, talents, and dedication were instrumental in bringing this project to life. The Hillman City Heritage Bell now stands as a beacon of our shared history and a reminder of the vibrant community spirit that defines Hillman City. We invite you to visit and reflect on the stories it tells, connecting our past to our present and future. Gallery

Join RVHS for a variety of tours, lectures, and special events that showcase Rainier Valley's cultural heritage. Upcoming Events Hillman City - What's Good Block Party Sat, Aug 09 Hillman City Learn more RVHS Calendar Explore our office hours and calendar of events. Become a Member Get exclusive early access to events, enjoy discounted rates, and support the preservation of Rainier Valley! join rvhs

Rainier Valley Historical Society's roots go back to 1891, when the families who bought the first lots in Columbia City gathered to celebrate the founding of their community. The "Columbia Pioneers" continued to meet every April for 100 years. During that time they gathered an extensive collection of photographs documenting the early years of Columbia City and Rainier Valley. In 1993 the group reorganized and became Rainier Valley Historical Society. Rainier Valley Historical Society's roots go back to 1891, when the families who bought the first lots in Columbia City gathered to celebrate the founding of their community. The "Columbia Pioneers" continued to meet every April for 100 years. During that time they gathered an extensive collection of photographs documenting the early years of Columbia City and Rainier Valley. In 1993 the group reorganized and became Rainier Valley Historical Society. RVHS inherited the mantle of the Columbia Pioneers, along with their collection of historic photographs, documents, and artifacts. RVHS has continued to expand their archives, which now includes more than 30,000 photographs, documents, artifacts, and oral histories. Through projects such as Dismantling Racism Series, Images of America: Rainier Valley, Rainier Valley Food Stories, Looking Into Courtland Place, Double Exposures, Hidden Stream of Columbia City, Hillman City Time Capsule, and Honored to Serve, we have involved Rainier Valley neighbors in gathering and sharing more stories about our community's unique history. Learn more about The Rainier Valley See more articles Become a Member Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. get involved

Walk through history with us! The Rainier Valley Historical Society is delighted to introduce a historic walking tour of the Columbia City Landmark District. Walk through history with us The Rainier Valley Historical Society is delighted to introduce a historic walking tour of the Columbia City Landmark District. This immersive experience guides participants through 26 significant sites within the district, providing captivating insights through historical photos and detailed information about each location. To enhance your exploration, utilize the interactive digital map provided below for seamless navigation. Alternatively, you may download and print a copy of the map for your convenience. printable map digital map