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Articles

The following articles have been prepared in Adobe PDF format. You will need the free Adobe Reader software to read these files.

Photo of North Edgewood School from 1888

North Edgewood School 1888

Federal Way Area School History
This 141 page monograph is intended to discuss the history of schools in the Federal Way area from the late 1800s to the present time. This presents the individual schools known to exist from the late 1800s to 1929, the consolidation of schools into the Federal Way School District 210 in 1929, and the growth of the school system from 1929 until the present.

Federal Way Area School History (PDF - 1.4 MB)

The Barker Cabin

The Barker Cabin
This 19 page article provides a history of the oldest original structure in Federal Way. This homestead cabin was built in 1883 by John Barker. Barker lived in this cabin with his wife and three children for seven years.

Barker Cabin (PDF - 342KB)

Denny Cabin May 1883

The Denny Cabin

David Denny was part of the original party that settled Seattle in 1851. This monograph tells his story including his construction of the Denny Cabin in 1889 for use as a real estate office to promote the sale of land at the foot of Queen Anne Hill, including the land that now makes up the Seattle Center and surrounding land. The 93 page monograph also tells why the Denny Cabin ended up in Federal Way and describes the restoration work accomplished by the Historical Society of Federal Way.

/powercms/files/DennyCabin3July262011.pdf (PDF - 4,1MB)

4.0D D Denny CaDoooof

Father Peter Hylebos

Father Peter Hylebos, St. George's Indian School and Cemetery
This 29 page article provides a discussion of the man, his works and his place in the history of Federal Way. The key activity for Federal Way was the construction and operation of St. George's Indian School.

/powercms/files/FtHylebosJuly92009.pdf (PDF - 643KB)

Federal Shopping Way
A history of the first major shopping center in Federal Way along with it's founder J.R. Cissna. The shopping center opened in 1955 and contained both a large shopping center as well as many recreational activities. The recreational activities included carnival rides, a skaitng ring, a minature railroad that circled the complex and a heritage park that preserved historic buildings.

Federal Shopping Way (PDF - 646KB)

The Natural History and Geography of Federal Way

This 15 page article is intended to provide information relating to the formation and present conditions of the landforms and water resources of the Federal Way Area. Primarily this includes the last ice age which dramatically affected the soil and water of the area. A discussion is made concerning the presence of peat in the area, the present soil consistency, the water table and drainage and the trees and other vegitation..

Natural History (PDF - 203KB)

Muckleshoot Indian Girl

The Native America Presence in Federal Way

This 149 page monograph is intended to provide the information available for the presence of Native Americans in the Federal Way area prior to large-scale settlement by non-Native Americans. It also includes a discussion of Native American relations with the white settlers from 1792 up to the present.

Native American Presence (PDF - 835KB)

Federal Way Dance Halls
A history of the Dance Halls in Federal Way in the first half of the 20th Century.

Federal Way Dance Halls (PDF - 157KB)

Federal Way Schools
A history of the schools and their naming.

Federal Way Schools - Part 1 (PDF - 1.6MB)

Federal Way Schools - Part 2 (PDF - 1.1MB)

For more information on King County History, try HistoryLink.org, the King County and Seattle Historical website.