Editor’s note: Look for full coverage of Founder’s Day in Thursday's edition of The Chronicle and at chronline.com. The event continued beyond The Chronicle’s Monday print deadline.
More than 121 years after his death, the City of Centralia still fondly remembers its founder, a man who escaped slavery and discrimination and founded the city of Centerville before Washington had achieved statehood.
George Washington died Aug. 26, 1905, leaving a legacy that lives on today.
The Centralia Downtown Association, led by Executive Director MacKenzie McGee, organized and hosted the 2026 Centralia Founder’s Day Celebration Monday afternoon on the Centralia College campus.
Community members gathered beneath the Centralia College Clocktower at noon for the annual celebration of our local George Washington, a man best known for founding the Hub City and remembered by many for his giving and moral nature.
As she told the story of his life and legacy, local historian Heather Beaird described a man who was wealthy and also charitable despite facing discrimination. She told of a man who donated his first home in the area to be used as a school and of a principled man and landowner who rented to many tenants in the area.
“George platted some 14 new additions for his town, and built many box structures, which are buildings without a foundation or a basement, which he rented to the rapidly thriving newcomers,” Beaird said.
“A man of strict convictions, he refused to rent to a saloon,” she said. “Once, when offered twice the monthly rent to allow one such undesirable tenant to remain, George said he'd rather burn the place down before he'd receive rent for a purpose like that.”
The event featured many speakers representing local residents and local and state governments and agencies and also offered food, information tables and fun activities. This year, the event also focused on the Founder’s Pantry Bag Project, organized by the Downtown Association, and handed out goody bags with essential food staples.
Many speakers during the event spoke of the important legacy of the founder George Washington as it lives on today.
Centralia Mayor Chris Brewer spoke on behalf of the city government. Washington state Assistant Attorney General Raina Wagner spoke on behalf of the attorney general’s office, with Multiculturally Minded Lewis County partnering with the CDA to provide her appearance. Outreach representative for the Washington state Governor’s Office John Anderson spoke on behalf of Gov. Bob Ferguson.
Anderson recited a proclamation from the governor signed Wednesday, Aug. 5, of this year recognizing Aug. 15 as Founder of Centralia George Washington Day in the state of Washington.
