Work fortifies historic house

By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published December 25, 2007

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TUMWATER – Film star and singing legend Bing Crosby never slept in his family's namesake Crosby House.

For safety's sake, that probably is a good thing.

The landmark historic home, one of the oldest in Washington, has sustained extensive structural damage from having Interstate 5 as a next-door neighbor.

Built about 1860, the home has been increasingly sagging since I-5 was built in 1958. Since Oct. 15, a crew from Olympia-based Berschauer Phillips Construction Co. has been working on a $192,000 project to stabilize the Crosby House.

"We're putting a real foundation underneath this structure," said Mike Matlock, Tumwater planning and facilities manager. "It's never had a concrete foundation, and it's been settling over time."

The project will be done by early next year.

"It's part of the Tumwater heritage — one of the first homes constructed in Tumwater," said Jeff Vrabel, facilities manager for the city.

The work at Crosby House coincides with two major historic events planned for next year in South Sound: Tumwater will observe a 30-year anniversary of its national historic district designation, and the state will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of I-5.

"There's a lot going on," said Carla Wulfsberg, coordinator at Tumwater's Heritage House Museum.

Susan Goff, president of Olympia Chapter No. 4 of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, said Crosby House will observe its 150th birthday in 2010. Her group operates Crosby House as a museum, offering tours starting in the spring.

"It's still standing in its original location, even with the freeway going in, with Deschutes Parkway going in and earthquakes," she said. "That's a pretty good thing for a 150-year-old."

Crosby House was built by Bing Crosby's grandfather, Nathaniel Crosby III, who lived there until 1872. After that, it went through a series of owners until 1947, when Crosby family descendants and the Schmidt family, of Olympia Brewing Co. fame, purchased it and donated it to the local chapter of the Daughters of the Pioneers.