Preface
Last month, after extensive research for my article about Olympia parks, I wrote, “No one knows anything about the life of Harry Fain.” I initially meant this literally, since I was coming up with nothing.
No one at the Parks Department and no one in the neighborhood had anything on Harry or why the park was named for him. But it turned out there was another kind of truth in my comment: Fain was a master of secrecy.
This story was made possible by a comment posted by The JOLT reader Sandi Gray (Sandig).
Sandig: “Harry Fain was my Aunt Eve Cole's father. The park is part of the original land he (or his parents) owned going back to the 1920s or before. There is a book/memoir in the state library written by Aunt Eva, which tells some of his story. The park land was donated to the City of Olympia by Aunt Eva.”
I found the book. It was only available for reading under supervision. The story is incredible. Harry Fain lived multiple fascinating secret lives: some involve children born out of wedlock, some went with Harry to the grave — which is where I have presently set up shop.
It was the evening of Feb. 15, 1937. Had Harry Fain come home just a little bit later, he might have lived. But his pregnant mistress and his wife Mabel had only been sitting in the living room for a short while. The shock of his infidelity was fresh when he walked in.
A year before, 25-year-old Charlotte Oxnard met the strikingly handsome 41-year-old Harry Fain in a basket. The basket was strung on a wire going across the Skykomish. The wicker hamper was only big enough for two. In those days, this was an accepted way to cross rivers. While Harry operated the crank-pulley device, Charlotte operated another. By the time they reached the far side, they were far more than friends.
On the night of the shooting, something was in the air. Harry’s 11-year-old daughter Eva could feel the tension. She tackled her dumbfounded father, still standing in the doorway. This initially rescued him.
Eva was a perceptive kid. She also loved her father dearly. She was his favorite. The two frequently went to wrestling matches at the old Legion Hall on Water Street where cauliflower-eared men battled on a canvas mat.
That night was the last time Eva saw her father alive. Shortly after falling asleep, Eva woke up to the sounds of gunfire. Harry died immediately. The Fain kids were sent to their grandparents, and Mom was sent to jail. It would be weeks before anyone found out what happened.
In the trial, Harry’s own family testified against him. It came out that he had countless women all over the state. Some of them Mabel Fain knew about. Charlotte was one she didn’t, and her presence pushed Mabel over the edge.
It didn’t calm Mabel when Charlotte demanded that Harry divorce her. And Charlotte didn’t stop there, she doubled down. She promised to raise Mabel’s four kids as her own. This gave Mabel the opposite feeling Charlotte was going for. Mabel went for the revolver. It’s a miracle she only shot her husband.
Charlotte was eight months pregnant. Was it even Harry’s kid? Did Harry switch his allegiance to Mabel? Was it Charlotte who fired the gun? How many other kids did Harry have? We’ll never know. The answers got buried with Harry.
The crude grave marker of Harry Fain at Masonic Cemetery in Tumwater.
David Scherer Water | For The JOLT News
By the middle of the following month, after a lot of local press coverage, Mabel Fain was acquitted on temporary insanity, and she returned to her kids at the house on the land that is currently the Olympia park where it all started.
Around town, everyone knew, but no one talked about it in front of the family. No one talked about it at home. They pretended like nothing happened. Young Eva felt ashamed and struggled to admit her last name in school.
The park was named after Harry to make it seem like he had more of a positive legacy. They wanted to shift the focus to his time in the Navy operating one of America’s first 72 submarines during World War I.
Charlotte died of pneumonia a few years after Harry. Their son became an accordion player. Beyond this, Eva Fain's oral history transcription offers another hundred pages of family trivia. The title of this article is taken from a line Eva used to describe the night her father was murdered.
I think the jury did the right thing. What was the value in sending Mabel to prison? Harry didn’t deserve death, but what can you do when a pretty young mistress tells you that she wants to steal your cheating husband and your four kids?
Harry, your park is good. I think it’s good enough to make up for your mistakes. Rest in peace.
David Scherer Water explores absurdity in local culture through the lens of comedic nonfiction. He is the author of a history book and this column. Both have the same title. Discover more of his work here.
9 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
griffithga
I go by the park almost every day and I've often wondered who Harry Fain was. Thank you David for uncovering the story,
Thursday, June 19 Report this
RondaLarsonKramer
I live near the park, and I'm so grateful to finally know who he was. Thank you.
Friday, June 20 Report this
gypsydjango
Another well-done story David! So interesting to learn these stories, random and witty.
Friday, June 20 Report this
Snevets
Once upon a time ago
Friday, June 20 Report this
HeikeSypeck
That is a interesting story about our area. Here's my 5 cent worth: He does not deserve to have named a park after him! Aunt Eva decided to give the land to the city and as such it should be her name or maybe just "Fain's Park". He was a philanderer and unreliable and most likely would not have donated the land to the city.
Friday, June 20 Report this
DanielFarber
Based on the story and the comment from HeikeSypeck, I would recommend that Heike contact the city's Parks Department and ask for a renaming of the park. There is a process for naming that goes through the Parks and Recreation Committee, and I can see a favorable decision to rename it as she suggests.
Saturday, June 21 Report this
S2345S23456
Uncovering the Faining. I agree with other people here that the park should be renamed. Aunt Eva's Park. Eva deserves credit for gifting us with a quiet place for peace.
Sunday, June 22 Report this
WillStuivenga
The author was incredibly lucky to do his research at the State Library when he did, as almost all the staff there have been laid off, effective at the end of June, 2025, due to a lack of funds, and the reluctance of the governor and legislature to provide any supplemental funding for this purpose. This is an issue that should be covered more thoroughly by Jolt.
Thursday, June 26 Report this
ChristopherDG
Thank you for the great story. I'd heard some of this before but I'd never read Eva Cole's journal. My great uncle was married to Eva Cole, and Harry Fain was his father-in-law. My mother reminded me of a time picking pears at her house around 50 years back.
I have to imagine that Eva Cole was involved in having the park named after her father even though she donated the land, so I'd be disappointed for it to be renamed simply because this particular rendition of Harry's biography focuses on the juicy bad stuff and not his accomplishments. This is what she wanted for her father. I'm curious about the Legion part of the name, I don't think Eva Cole donated resources to landscape the park so maybe the American Legion had been involved. Harry Fain was a veteran of WWI I believe.
Thanks again,
Saturday, June 28 Report this