Jackson Family/Goose Pond History

Jackson Family/Goose Pond History. . , Jackson Family History , Nathaniel, “Nat” Jackson and Thelma. Harrison both grew up in the Jim-Crow-segregated, South. Nat was born in Lilly, Louisiana in 1943 and Thelma in Pritchard, Alabama, in 1946, the two met in the fall of 1963 while attending Southern University in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Nat and Thelma credited the historically Black university for fostering their identities and preparing them for their future careers. It affirmed their pride in being Black., The Road to Washington , Thelma earned her degree in biochemistry, and in 1968, Battelle Northwest, located in Richland of Washington, recruited her as an inhalation toxicologist, an opportunity, the Jacksons credited to Affirmative Action. The Jacksons loaded their belongings and daughter Debrena into their 1967 Chevy Camaro and headed to Washington. , After a brief stay in Richland, the Jacksons moved to Pasco to work with Black youth and got involved in local government education, criminal justice and other civic activities. In 1970, they relocated to Lacey and led the effort that established the New Life Baptist Church in 1975. , , Nathaniel "Nat Jackson , In 1970, Nat was employed as an Economic Development Specialist for the Washington State Office of Economic Opportunity. In 1973, Washington State Governor Daniel J. Evans appointed him as Senior Staff Assistant. Nat's cabinet assignments included the Department of Social and Health Services, which included prisons, healthcare, and veteran affairs, the Department of Labor and Industries, and several other agencies. He also led the effort to establish the Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise. , , Nat made an impact in the community as well. In 1993, he became the first Black president of the Olympia Rotary Club. In 2002, he started the Nat Jackson Charity Golf Tournament, initially supporting the Byrd Foundation for Racial Healing, and later added local rotary clubs. In 2017, Nat became the Jump Rope King, the US fastest 70-plus jump-roper, after an appearance on Steve Harvey's Little Big Shots: Forever, Young. , , Thelma Harrison Jackson , Throughout her life, Velma worked relentlessly to improve educational opportunities for students and families. She coordinated the Work Options for Women program at the Olympia YWCA; was a delegate to the National Women's Conference in 1977; served 20 years on the North Thurston School Board of Directors, served on the Evergreen State College Board of Trustees and as President of the Washington State School Directors Association. Thelma also established a consulting firm that focused on educational and systemic change , , In 2002, Dr. Thelma Jackson received her doctoral degree in Education, Leadership, and Change. In 2022, she published Blacks in Thurston County, Washington, 1950-1975: A Community Album with editor Edward Eschtle. , , [Captions:] , The Jacksons got married in 1966., The Jacksons celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 9, 2016., Nat believes his “Jump Rope King” designation is more than just a title. It's about being in the best condition you can be. It's about sustaining your health and passion for your family and sustaining life. , , Nat pictured with Governor Daniel J. Evans, c. 1973. , , Thelma and her daughters at Lydia Hawk Elementary School in 1979., Thelma’s legacy is to transform anywhere into “the best place for all people, including Black folk, and other marginalized people, to open up access and opportunity of every aspect of life. , , Goose Pond Property , The Fleetwood family purchased several parcels from the Heimis family and created the Fleetwood Acres: subdivision in 1923. , , In 1991. The Jacksons purchased the 7.5 acre property from the Holmes family. They lived and raised their family in this home. , , In 1930, Frank Trubshaw, a longtime tenant, purchased the Goose Pound property. His family lived there until 1979. When they sold it to Roger and Marilyn Holmes. (Photo courtesy of the Thurston County Assessor) , , In 2013, the City of Lacey installed a groundwater recharge well to improve water quality, flow, and reservoir collection at Woodland Creek. This led to unexpected consequences for Goose Pond, including the introduction of duckweed and changes to its nutrient levels. , , After trying to mitigate the problem for years, in 2019, the Jacksons sold the portion of the property that includes Goose Pond to the City of Lacey to continued ecological restoration efforts.