Forest, Washington

Two reliable but differing accounts of the name of Forest exist. One theory is based on old-growth timber that grew in the area, while a second option posits that the moniker was taken after John T. Forrest, an early school teacher in the community.

The first non-indigenous family to settle the area were the Berniers in the 1850s.{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=After 101 Years, Family still down home on the farm |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2004/04-03/page-50 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 3, 2004 |pages=9, 10}} Forest was founded in the 1890s and was referred to as Newaukum Prairie.{{efn|Sources vary on whether Forest was synonymous with Newaukum Prairie or the prairie was its own area, suggesting that Forest was a community within the Newaukum Prairie borders.}} Due to the town's location on Highway 99, Forest was described as a crossroads community where it was often used as a rest stop and a communal gathering spot for nearby residents. The early community once had a grist mill that began after 1875 but burned down in 1913.

The community was a site for a poor farm in the late 1890s. The site often housed destitute or disabled persons, and may have been a temporary location for persons that ran afoul of the law, as some were described as "inmates". During the Great Depression, the Forest Manor Retirement Home was built, remaining as a poorhouse. The site continued to operate during the 1930s but the building was abandoned before being renovated as a tuberculosis convalescence home in 1943. Known as the Macmillan Sanatorium, it lasted until the mid-1950s until becoming a nursing home; the grounds once again were used for retirement needs in the 1970s. By the 21st century, the building was remodeled and is used as a homeless shelter for women and children.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Pat |title=Some Lewis County People Wound up in Poor House |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/some-lewis-county-people-wound-up-in-poor-house,215188? |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=January 6, 2007}}

An open field located near the town was used as a makeshift airfield in the early 20th century.{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=If Towns Could Talk - Towns Once Bastions Of Highway Commerce |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2002/04-06/page-58 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 6, 2002 |page=22}} Forest was a location for a permanent Boy Scout campground with a log cabin; construction began in 1920.{{cite news |title=Permanent Scout Camp |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1920/10-15/page-22 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=October 15, 1920 |page=2}}

Forest, due to its location near the Newaukum River, has a history of flooding. The community was included in updated FEMA flood maps in 2003, the first revised maps since the 1970s.{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=Feds unveil new flood maps |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/feds-unveil-new-flood-maps,250153? |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 17, 2003}} The Newaukum Bridge, located in Forest and built in 1929, was replaced in 2011. The construction cut off traffic flow through the town as the highway was partially closed for a year. The replacement was also hampered by costs as well as caution over possible archaeological finds.{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Marqise |title=Newaukum Bridge Scheduled to Open Next Month |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/newaukum-bridge-scheduled-to-open-next-month,168802? |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=January 14, 2011}}

A post office was created and named in 1896 by the first postmaster, Amanda Monroe.{{efn|Records also list a W.R. Monroe.}} It was moved in 1897 and established in Forest's historic Trodahl store, remaining in operation until 1934.{{cite book|last=Meany|first=Edmond S.|title=Origin of Washington geographic names|url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001444300|year=1923|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle|page=88}}{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=WA |title=Post Offices |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=July 31, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306120103/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=WA |archive-date=March 6, 2016 }}{{cite web |title=Lewis County - Forest |url=https://jtenlen.drizzlehosting.com/walewis/townsal.html |publisher=Lewis Co. WA GenWeb Project |access-date=March 25, 2025}} Early service routes from Chehalis were directed through Forest providing mail delivery to towns and communities located on present-day SR 508 or near Mayfield Lake and Riffe Lake.{{cite news |title=Excellent Mail Facilities |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1901/05-24/page-7/ |access-date=June 6, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 24, 1901 |page=7}} Joseph Gruener, owner of the mercantile business that became known as the Trodahl store, served as postmaster from 1897 to 1929.{{cite news |title=Joseph Greuner , Pioneer Of County, Dies Tuesday |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1936/12-25/page-9 |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 25, 1936}}

At the combined post office and store, Greuner was shot in the back of the neck by a local resident, John Bernier, in August 1909. Bernier, and a male accomplice, were inebriated and the attempted murder was suspected to be a robbery of Gruener's store, though nothing was noted as being taken. The two men were arrested without incident, still intoxicated.{{cite news |title=Another Attempt At Murder |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-news-examiner/1909/08-25 |access-date=March 27, 2025 |work=The Centralia News-Examiner |date=August 25, 1909 |pages=1—2}}

Forest is located at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Newaukum River. The area is referred to as a crossroads community due its central proximity at a crossing of the Jackson Highway (previously part of U.S. Route 99) and an arterial that leads to Alpha and SR 508. The crossing was known as Stinky's Corner and Trodahl's Corner. Forest is situated between Chehalis to the north, and the communities of Klaus and Mary's Corner to the south.{{cite news |last1=Trout Blinks |first1=Ann |title=Horse-and-buggy days recalled by Chehalis woman |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/1994/02-05/page-19 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=February 5, 1994 |page=D1}}

File:Forest, Washington 02.jpg

The Forest Grange, No. 153, was organized in 1904 along with granges in Alpha, Ethel, Silver Creek, St. Urban, and the Hope grange in Winlock. Though recognized for a time as the first granges formed in Lewis County, two granges had been structured in 1874.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Pat |title=Home, home on the Grange |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/home-home-on-the-grange,217156? |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 28, 2006}} The grange celebrated a 100th anniversary in conjunction with its fellow halls in 2004.{{cite news |title=Grange members to dedicate remodeled fair building at this year's fair |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/grange-members-to-dedicate-remodeled-fair-building-at-this-years-fair,242878? |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=March 20, 2004}} The social organization was first known as the Forest Union Grange in 1916, changing the name approximately 20 years later. At the dedication and opening of a new {{convert|40|x|100|ft|abbr=on}} hall in 1916, the grange counted 135 charter members.{{cite news |title=Forest Grange Fine New Hall |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1916/10-27/page-8 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=October 20, 1916 |page=5}}{{cite news |title=Forest Grangers Set 50th Birthday Sunday |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1966/01-28/page-1 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=January 20, 1966 |page=1}} {{As of|2024}}, the Forest Grange and its hall is active.

File:Forest, Washington 03.jpg

At the intersection of North Fork Road and Jackson Highway is the Trodahl store, an historic building first constructed in the 1880s and used as a stage stop and inn. The structure was expanded in the 1890s with an addition of an attached residence. In the 20th century the location began to be utilized as a general store first known as Greeners, after the Greuner family, until 1929. The location was renamed after the Trodahl family that operated the business until the 1980s, when it closed after financial hardship. The site, in 1993, became a convenience mart, continuing as such into the next century.{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Marqise |title=Convenience Store Left Isolated by Bridge Closure |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/convenience-store-left-isolated-by-bridge-closure,177667? |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 11, 2010}}

East of Forest on Centralia-Alpha Road near the North Fork Newuakum River is the Thousand Trails campground. The site was founded in 1969 and opened in 1972, becoming the first Thousand Trails resort ever built.{{cite news |last1=VanTuyl |first1=Aaron |title=A Thousand Trails for 35 YearsParty Today: Membership Camping Started in Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/a-thousand-trails-for-35-yearsparty-today-membership-camping-started-in-chehalis,209105? |access-date=October 29, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 11, 2007}}{{cite press release |title=Thousand Trails Concludes Year-Long 50th Anniversary Celebration Year Filled with Events, Giveaways and Time Capsules |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thousand-trails-concludes-year-long-50th-anniversary-celebration-year-filled-with-events-giveaways-and-time-capsules-300977241.html |access-date=October 29, 2024 |work=PR Newswire |date=December 19, 2019}}

File:Forest, Washington school 01.jpg

Forest was home to a two-room schoolhouse in the early-1900s and the building contained a belfry.{{cite news |last1=Swayne |first1=Aleta |title=Reminesence Of Forest School |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1974/01-04/page-3 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=January 4, 1974 |page=3}} Originally, the school held all classes up to 8th grade in one room, later partitioned into four sections. Enrollment numbers in the school's early days were moderate, with a report of 70 students in 1911.

A district consolidation occurred in 1910, creating the Forest School district No. 205. The following year, the Forest school, due to its location, length of school year, and well-regarded teachers, became the center point of a concentration of smaller schoolhouses in the Newaukum Valley. The school was given a special mention of high praise by the state's Department of Education.{{cite news |title=Forest School Given Praise |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-weekly-chronicle/1911/09-06/page-4 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Centralia Weekly Chronicle |date=September 6, 1911 |page=4}}

In 1926, an $8,000 bond to construct a new school building was passed{{cite news |title=New $8000 Forest School |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1927/12-24/page-1 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 24, 1926 |page=1}} but was rejected the following year.{{cite news |title=Rejects Forest Bond Issue |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1927/02-04/page-22 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=February 4, 1927 |page=11}} The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a $3,500 gym on the grounds in 1937.{{cite news |title=Gym For Forest |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1937/01-22/page-12 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=January 22, 1937 |page=4}} The original schoolhouse was destroyed by fire in 1946, though the gym and teacher's cottage were saved.{{cite news |title=Fire Destroys Forest School |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1946/04-18/page-1 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=April 18, 1946 |page=1}} After the loss of the West Side School in Chehalis during the 1949 Olympia earthquake, students traveled to Forest for their education.{{cite news |title=West Side Elementary School to Disappear From Scene After Almost 40 Years Service |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1950/12-22/page-1 |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=December 22, 1950 }} With the formal closure of the school by 1950, the grounds were still used, especially for a children's handicap education program in the mid-to-late 1950s.{{cite news |title=Handicapped Classes Open |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1955/11-30/page-9 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=November 30, 1955 |page=9}}{{cite news |title=To Be Center |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1958/08-19/page-24 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=August 19, 1958 |page=12}} By 1966, the remaining structures had been available for rent and were officially put up for sale.{{cite news |title=What's News In The Twin Cities - Buildings Offered |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1966/07-14/page-4 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=July 14, 1966 |page=4}} The grounds of the Forest schoolhouse were listed as surplus in 1972.{{cite news |title=Property Not Needed |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1972/03-02/page-1 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=March 2, 1972 |page=1}}{{cite news |title=News Briefs - Meeting Changed |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1972/04-13/page-16 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=April 13, 1972 |page=13}}

Forest maintains a separate voting precinct from neighboring Chehalis and is recognized as being majority Republican and conservative.{{cite news |last1=MacCracken |first1=Gordon |title=This is no Mickey Mouse operation - or is it? |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/1998/11-25/page-5 |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 25, 1998 |page=5}}

The 2020 election included votes for candidates of the Libertarian Party and there were 4 votes for write-in candidates.

Around the turn of the 20th century, Forest was connected to Chehalis and Jackson Prairie, an area around present-day Mary's Corner, via a gravel and plank road;{{cite news |title=Over The County |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1900/03-09/page-4 |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 9, 1900 |page=2}} the thoroughfare became part of Highway 99 and Jackson Highway. A gas pipeline was proposed to be built through the community in 1964.{{cite news |title=Proposed Route Of Petroleum Pipeline In County Disclosed |url=https://www.newspaperarchives.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1964/07-14/page-1 |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=July 14, 1964 |page=1}}

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{{Lewis County, Washington}}

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Category:Populated places in Lewis County, Washington

Category:Unincorporated communities in Lewis County, Washington

Category:Unincorporated communities in Washington (state)