Lacey Historical Society to mark city’s 60th, America’s 250th anniversaries with celebration 

Lacey’s 60 years as a city and the nation’s 250th anniversary will be commemorated at a celebration organized by the Lacey Historical Society.  

The free public event is being held at Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. SE from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Nineteen partner organizations will showcase local history through exhibits and discussions with visitors. Participants include the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, Squaxin Island Tribe, Olympia-Lacey Amtrak Station and Lacey Fire District 3. 

Jon Halvorson, President of the Lacey Historical Society and a former Lacey mayor, presented details about the celebration during a public comment session at a Lacey City Council meeting on Aug. 18. 

Visitors to the event will have access to resources for researching how the city was formed.

“One of the groups is going to be Olympia Genealogical Society, which will help people get into their history of the founding families of Lacey,” Halvorson said. “We’re hoping to encourage that to happen, and that more people will join us in our work.” 

Five former Lacey mayors, Mark O. Brown, Gene Liddell, Graeme Sackrison, Tom Nelson and Halvorson, are scheduled to take part in a question and answer session.

Former City Manager Greg J. Cuoio, who served from 1987 to 2011, is also scheduled to attend. His appearance comes shortly after the July opening of Greg J. Cuoio Community Park, which was named in recognition of his years of service to the city. 

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., local authors Thelma Jackson, Dick Pust, Paul Webb, Janine Gates, Jerry Farmer, Sandra Crowell, Alan Gorsuch and Jennifer Crooks will meet visitors and discuss their work on Lacey and regional history. 

The program also includes Art Dolan’s “History of Our Flag,” historical photographs of Lacey people and places and Lacey Museum’s “Out of Many, One” community selection. A Quilts of Valor display for disabled veterans and a 3D-printing demonstration from Lacey MakerSpace are also scheduled. 

Other participating organizations include American Legion Lacey Post 94, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 318 and Disabled American Veterans. 

Halvorson encouraged the public to attend and told council members that more information about the celebration will appear through the historical society’s media channels. 

Mayor Andy Ryder thanked Halvorson for his work.

“Thank you for all of your years of giving back to this community and continuing to give back to this community, which is absolutely amazing,” Ryder said. “John was a huge influence in my life, and I just want to thank you again for everything you’ve done for our community.”