The town of Taylor was part of the triangle with Maple Valley and Hobart in the early days and included in the name of the school district: Ta for Taylor, Ho for Hobart, and Ma for Maple Valley, thus TaHoMa.
News that the Olson Mansion at 21401 244th Ave. S.E. Maple Valley had been sold again brought back memories of family members who once resided there.
Eight Olson children grew up in the home and the youngest, Roosevelt, nicknamed Teddy, related the story of his family’s acquisition of the property.
Sixty years ago, Maple Valley was a small community transitioning from its mining, logging and farming roots to being a bedroom destination for Seattle and the likes. Farms sprouted houses instead of cattle and gardens; cabins were springing up along the banks of the Cedar River. It had everything it needed – grocery store, restaurant, gas station and barber shop, BUT NO fire department. If a building caught on fire it just burned to the ground.
Shake out those memories of the Berry Patch Restaurant, recall peeling those spuds, picking those berries and the aroma of chicken dinners and come to the Maple Valley Historical Society’s Feb. 21 program to share those wonderful days.
