Near Chehalis in Lewis County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Claquato

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2015

1. Claquato Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This pioneer town founded in 1853 on the donation claim of Louis H. Davis, once was the county seat and an important stop-off for travelers between the Columbia River and Puget Sound. The sturdy little church, built in 1858 with hand-forged nails and lumber sawed in a water-powered mill, doubled as a school – Claquato Academy. The bronze bell in the belfry came around Cape Horn from Boston in 1857. In the 1870s, when the railroad by-passed Claquato, most of the town moved 3 miles east to Chehalis.

Erected by Washington State Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 10.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 46° 38.717′ N, 123° 1.088′ W. Marker is near Chehalis, Washington, in Lewis County. Marker is at the intersection of Stearns Road and Claquato Drive, on the left when traveling south on Stearns Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chehalis WA 98532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. Claquato Church (approx. ¼ mile away); The Old Oregon Trail (approx. ¼ mile away).

More about this marker. This is a tall wooden "billboard-style" marker, constructed of painted wooden slats and mounted in a heavy-duty iron pipe frame.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Pioneer Town of Claquato, Washington

Also see . . . History of Claquato Cemetery. The Claquato Cemetery exists today as the most vital legacy of the Davis family, who came west in 1851 and established the village of Claquato (“high prairie” in the Chehalis Indian language). Lewis Hawkins Davis originally donated a small parcel of land to be used as a final resting place for those loved ones who have passed on from this life. The first burial was young Mary Spinning in 1856. Other pioneer burials followed. In 1893, the International Order of Odd Fellows platted a five-acre cemetery tract near the Davis parcel, for the use of their members. By 1920, the Claquato Cemetery Association was formed and purchased a 20-acre portion of the Davis estate. (Submitted on January 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Claquato Marker (<i>wide view; Stearns Road behind marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2015

2. Claquato Marker (wide view; Stearns Road behind marker)

Claquato Cemetery (<i>1/10 mile west of marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2015

3. Claquato Cemetery (1/10 mile west of marker)

Claquato Church (<i>1/4 mile southwest of marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2015

4. Claquato Church (1/4 mile southwest of marker)

Village of Claquato Map detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2015

5. Village of Claquato Map detail

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.