The city of Centralia is fortunate to have so many interesting and accessible places to visit.
Local residents and visitors can enjoy Fort Borst Park for hikes or picnics. Children can fish in the lake and walk by and read about the blockhouse built in 1856 during the Indian Scare.
Walking through the park or driving, they can see the Victorian gardens taken care of by the Master Gardeners and the arboretum where 142 trees representing 92 species were planted in 1961 and cared for ever since.
The third Saturday from April to September, there will be an open house from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A program from 2 to 2:30 p.m. can be seen at the open house.
July 20 is “A picnic with dear ole Dad.” On Aug. 17, “The Olympia Highlanders Piper and Drums” will perform. On Sept. 21, “Why Cursive Penmanship is Important” will be covered.
At the open houses, people can walk through the Borst Home built in 1860 and the Pioneer School and Pioneer Church, along with the Carriage House.
Here, hands-on items are available for people to hold and learn about their past. The small cemetery points out how many dear children died early in those days.
On June 11, three classes of Centralia third graders had a tour through all the buildings. This was a culmination of the study of the area’s pioneer past.
In 1986, the Centralia School District created the study of leading pioneers and around 300 third graders would visit with Sharon Winningham arranging and leading those tours.
Some of you readers may have been on one of them, and maybe even your children took the same tour years later.
After COVID-19, much of this stopped, and it is gratifying to know the tours are happening once again. A big thank you to the present director, Bev York, and all the tour guides who give of their time and creative efforts.
The upkeep for the city is aided by volunteers who take part in many ways and by interested citizens who keep a watch over the buildings as they walk by.
The Pioneer Church is available to rent for family celebrations. Many feel responsible to keep these historic sites open and available for all to enjoy.
Jean Bluhm
Borst historian
