Vader, Washington

The community was platted under the name Kraft and became known as Little Falls after the waterfalls of the same name on Olequa Creek. The name was changed to Sopenah by the Northern Pacific Railway after it refused to recognize the moniker because there was already a Little Falls, Minnesota. The townspeople were unsatisfied with the new name and petitioned the Washington State Legislature to change it to Toronto but several communities with that title already existed in the United States, not solving the concern over naming confusion. A dispute then arose which was resolved by a compromise agreement to name the town after a German resident, and Civil War veteran, named Martin Vader. The town name was changed to Vader by the legislature on March 25, 1913. Vader later moved to California or Florida where a myth began that he did not care for the recognition; later reporting stated that he was proud of the honor.{{cite news |last1=Hull |first1=Laurie |title=Spirit of Little Falls still roams in Vader |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2002/04-02/page-1 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 2, 2002 |pages=A1, A7}}{{cite news |title=RR Ticket To Vader Didn't Name Town |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1966/10-10/page-161 |access-date=October 10, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=October 10, 1966 |page=G4}}{{cite web |title= Vader |work= Washington Place Names database |publisher= Tacoma Public Library |url= http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/wanames/ |access-date= March 6, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090309023858/http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/wanames/ |archive-date = March 9, 2009 |url-status= dead}}

Twice in the 21st century motions have been made to change the community's moniker back to its original name, Little Falls, due to a variety of concerns such as the name of Vader did not encapsulate the meaning of the town, or that the title of Little Falls would be more inviting from a tourism and visitor standpoint. The issue was added to the ballot in 2005 and 2015 to determine voter approval; both attempts failed.{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title=Vader name change attempt failing |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-name-change-attempt-failing,226864? |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 9, 2005}}{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Goodbye, Little Falls: Vader to Keep Its Name |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/goodbye-little-falls-vader-to-keep-its-name,67615? |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 5, 2015}} In the 2015 vote, 131 residents voted against the change and 73 in favor.{{cite news |last1=Osowski |first1=Kaylee |title=Incumbent Councilor in Vader Loses Seat; Mayor Retains Position |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/incumbent-councilor-in-vader-loses-seat-mayor-retains-position,67013? |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 25, 2018}}

File:Vader, Washington 02.jpg

As Little Falls, the town was incorporated on January 12, 1906.{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title='Old Houses Matter': Vader Woman Thinks the Town's Past Could Be Key to the Community's Future |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/old-houses-matter-vader-woman-thinks-the-towns-past-could-be-key-to-the-communitys,259829 |access-date=9 July 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=February 3, 2021}} During its peak between 1890 and 1920, Vader hosted over 40 businesses, contained two churches, and had a hospital. Businesses included a bowling alley, an opera house, several saloons, and the Vader Moving Picture Theater.

File:Stillwater Lumber and Shingle Mill, Vader, Washington 01.jpg

The seven Olson brothers,{{efn|The last name is often, if not overwhelmingly so, spelled as Olson, however some accounts use the name written as Olsen. See sources throughout the section for the discrepancy.}} notably Ben Olsen of the Ben Olsen House, began the Stillwater Logging and Lumber Company; the company operated a sawmill in Vader beginning in late December 1907, at its peak employing as many as 180 men.{{cite news |title=Grandson of Colorful Northwest Pioneer Quietly Observes 78th Birthday at Vader |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1955/07-09/page-1 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=July 9, 1955 |page=1}}{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Pat |title=Historic home, church part of 'An Old Fashioned Christmas" |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2002/12-06/page-3 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=February 6, 2002 |page=A3}}{{cite news |title=Little Falls |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-news-examiner/1907/12-27/page-2 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Centralia News-Examiner |date=December 27, 1907 |page=2}} Olsen also formed a partnership, the Little Falls Water Company, to supply water to the Little Falls community in the early 1910s.{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=76001897}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ben Olsen House |publisher=National Park Service|author= |date= |accessdate=January 24, 2025}} With {{NRHP url|id=76001897|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}

The Stillwater lumber mill was purchased by Weyerhaeuser in 1914.{{cite book |last1=Hardina |first1=Nicole |title=Little Washington - A Nostalgic Look at the Evergreen State's Smallest Towns |date=2020 |publisher=Adventure Publications |isbn=9781591938460 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cMHgDwAAQBAJ |access-date=January 27, 2025 |chapter=Vader}} Despite the facility having a fire suppression system in place by 1915,{{cite news |title=Vader Street Improvement - Better Fire Protection |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle-examiner/1915/09-04/page-1 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Daily Chronicle-Examiner |date=September 4, 1915 |page=1}} the mill burned down on the evening of January 11, 1916; damages were estimated between $30,000 and $100,000.{{cite news |title=Fire Destroys Vader Mill |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1916/01-14/page-1 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=January 14, 1916 |page=1}}{{cite news |title=Untitled - 4th column |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093220/1916-01-14/ed-1/seq-1 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=Aberdeen Herald |date=January 14, 1916 |page=1}} The mill was rebuilt but burned down again on the night of September 1, 1918. The fire began from an explosion in the boiler room when new equipment was being installed. Though the plane mill and dry kiln areas survived, the loss of timber and a rail engine were substantial. Damages were estimated at $125,000; the mill had only $35,000 in insurance coverage.{{cite news |title=$125,000 Fire Loss At Vader |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1918/09-02/page-1 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=September 2, 1918 |page=1}} A formal announcement was made the following month that the mill would not be rebuilt. The Stillwater timber holdings were sold to the Winlock Lumber Company,{{cite news |title=Mill Won't Rebuild |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1918/10-10/page-8 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=October 10, 1918 |page=8}} however, Stillwater's logging operations were briefly resumed in March 1919.{{cite news |title=Business Locals - 3rd column |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1919/03-07/page-6 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 7, 1919 |page=6}} One attempt to rebuild the mill was announced in December 1919. The effort did not materialize.{{cite news |title=Vader Sawmill To Be Rebuilt |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1919/12-26/page-2 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 26, 1919 |page=1}}

The population may have reached as high as 5,000 residents during its peak. Various disasters and loss of employment led to a decline to the town. In 1914, a clay company burned down. A new, but smaller clay production plant began in 1920 but another fire decimated the facility in 1925.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.93|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{US Census population

|1910= 631

|1920= 500

|1930= 465

|1940= 479

|1950= 426

|1960= 380

|1970= 387

|1980= 406

|1990= 414

|2000= 590

|2010= 621

|2020= 629

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 7, 2013}}
2020 Census

}}

As of the 2010 census,{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 19, 2012}} there were 621 people, 228 households, and 157 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|667.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 258 housing units at an average density of {{convert|277.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.9% White, 2.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 7.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.5% of the population.

There were 228 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.

The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.8% male and 47.2% female.

As of the 2000 census, there were 590 people, 208 households, and 151 families living in the city. The population density was 654.4 people per square mile (253.1/km²). There were 230 housing units at an average density of 255.1 per square mile (98.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.56% White, 0.34% Native American, 1.86% from other races, and 4.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.61% of the population. 16.2% were of German, 12.5% American, 10.7% Irish, 9.5% English and 5.3% Swedish ancestry.

There were 208 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 32.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,750, and the median income for a family was $32,188. Males had a median income of $35,139 versus $16,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,481. About 21.9% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

File:Ben Olsen House 76001897 NRHP Lewis County, WA.jpg

Vader has hosted an annual event known as the May Day Festival since 1952 which is held on the first Saturday of May.{{cite news |last1=Spurr |first1=Kyle |title=Vader Cruises into Spring With May Day Festival |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-cruises-into-spring-with-may-day-festival,100369? |access-date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 5, 2013}} The celebration includes a maypole dance and a parade. It began through the actions of Lena DeAger, a leader of a local Girl Scout troop, and the first years included scouts parading on decorated bicycles and wagons. Over the years, the festival has incorporated car shows, a cake walk, and the coronation of a May Day Queen, who used to be elected based on the most amount of money collected through donation jars.{{cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Brian |title=Maintaining a Vader Tradition Through Changing Times |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/maintaining-a-vader-tradition-through-changing-times,100588? |access-date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 2, 2013}}

The city is home to the Gothic-style Grace Evangelical Church of Vader, a National Register of Historic Places recognized building that is in current use under the United Methodist Church.{{cite news |last1=Kunkler |first1=Aaron |title=Vader Church Celebrating 125 Years of Faith |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-church-celebrating-125-years-of-faith,43239 |access-date=9 July 2021 |work=The Chronicle |issue=September 22, 2016}}

A second building within Vader is also listed with the NRHP, the Ben Olsen House.{{cite web |title=NRHP - Ben Olsen House |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/76001897 |website=npgallery.nps.gov |publisher=National Park Service}} The mansion was built in 1903 to serve the Olsen family who owned the Stillwater Lumber Co. and Mill; it was the first home in the community to have electricity.

File:Vader, Washington 01.jpg

Vader is home to McMurphy Park, a {{convert|13|acre|ha|adj=mid}} parcel donated by a former resident in 2001. Located north of the main hub of the town, it is bordered by Olequa Creek and the Little Falls of Vader, and a portion of the park is outside the city limits. The grounds were built up to be a park by community efforts, finishing most of the early efforts in 2007. Plans for the site include an amphitheater, ball fields, playgrounds, and camping and picnic amenities. As part of the donation, a large black walnut tree was to be left standing.{{cite news |last1=Drucker |first1=Sheryl |title=Vader Community Creating Park, Many Work Together to Open Up McMurphy Park |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-community-creating-parkmany-work-together-to-open-up-mcmurphy-park,209369? |access-date=April 17, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 31, 2007}}

J.K. Werden Memorial Park became an official park in Vader in 2005 and is situated near the downtown core.{{cite news |last1=Rosane |first1=Eric |title=Parks in Vader, Napavine to Receive a Combined $542K in State Funding |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/parks-in-vader-napavine-to-receive-a-combined-542k-in-state-funding,268541? |access-date=April 17, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 2, 2021}} Originally {{convert|175|x|120|ft|abbr=on}} in size, a land purchase approved in late 2015, and paid for by a $10,000 grant, doubled the park area.{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Vader Council OKs Soil Testing, Purchase of Property to Double Size of Werden Park |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-council-oks-soil-testing-purchase-of-property-to-double-size-of-werden-park,67345? |access-date=April 17, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 13, 2015}} The parcel received upgrades in 2009 for bathroom and kitchen facilities, a basketball court was built in 2015, and new playground equipment in 2021, similar to Penny Playground in Chehalis. The park is also home to Vader's Old City Jail.{{cite web |title=Parks and Facilities |url=https://www.vaderwa.org/parks-and-facilities |publisher=City of Vader |access-date=April 17, 2024}}

The 2020 election included 8 votes for candidates of the Libertarian Party.

The city council for Vader is composed of five at-large, non-partisan members who, along with the mayor, are elected to serve four-year terms.{{cite web |title=Vader City Council |url=https://www.vaderwa.org/city-council |website=City of Vader |access-date=August 16, 2023}}

The first school in Little Falls-Vader was a schoolhouse constructed near the falls. The one-room school building existed before the build of a second school in 1892. A two-story schoolhouse, for up to eighth grade, was built in 1930.

The grade school in Vader, built in the 1950s, closed in 2007 after a local levy and bond measure failed. The measures were meant to fund maintenance and operations at the school and improve the safety of the campus. Students were transported to a temporary school in Toledo.{{cite news |last1=Wagar |first1=Michael |title=Vader Celebrates May Day |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-celebrates-may-day,211750? |access-date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 7, 2007}} The Vader school district was absorbed under the oversight of the Castle Rock district but students are allowed to choose to attend schools in more nearby locations.{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title=Vision for Vader: Citizens Group Hopes to Bring More Life to Little Falls |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vision-for-vader-citizens-group-hopes-to-bring-more-life-to-little-falls,26428? |access-date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 30, 2017}}

• Robert Cantwell, novelist and critic
• Herbert Heyes, silent film actor

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{{Lewis County, Washington}}

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Category:Cities in Washington (state)

Category:Cities in Lewis County, Washington