Richland in Benton County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
F.A. Friermood House
(c1912)
Photographed by Clayton Pickett, April 15, 2026
1. F.A. Friermood House Marker
Inscription.
F.A. Friermood House. (c1912). The rich history of this home begins with Edith Nelson, a nurse who cared for a wealthy infirmed gentleman in Chicago. Out of generosity, in 1910, he bought a 40-acre tract of land along the Columbia River for her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Nelson. The house was built in 1912 with the best materials, much of it shipped from the East., Edith moved into the house, and they started boarding teachers here. One of the teachers was Frank Friermood, who she married, on Christmas of 1912. Their farm had award winning crops, from apples to peas to asparagus., In 1927, Frank died, and the farm was sold to the Nelson and then the George families. In 1943, the Georges along with all other families in the area, were forced to sell their land to the U.S. government for the development of the top-secret Hanford Site. Because it was the nicest house in Richland, it became the residence of Colonel Franklin Matthias (19431945), who supervised the building of Richland and the Hanford Works., Later, this was the home of W.E. Johnson, manager of General Electric, who operated the Hanford plant. The home was then owned by Herbert Parker, a giant in radiation safety and a medical physics, who became the manager of the Hanford Laboratories. Many of the trees and famous iris bed were planted by Mr. and Mrs. Parker during the 40 years of their ownership.
The rich history of this home begins with Edith Nelson, a nurse who cared for a wealthy infirmed gentleman in Chicago. Out of generosity, in 1910, he bought a 40-acre tract of land along the Columbia River for her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Nelson. The house was built in 1912 with the best materials, much of it shipped from the East.
Edith moved into the house, and they started boarding teachers here. One of the teachers was Frank Friermood, who she married, on Christmas of 1912. Their farm had award winning crops, from apples to peas to asparagus.
In 1927, Frank died, and the farm was sold to the Nelson and then the George families. In 1943, the Georges along with all other families in the area, were forced to sell their land to the U.S. government for the development of the top-secret Hanford Site. Because it was the nicest house in Richland, it became the residence of Colonel Franklin Matthias (19431945), who supervised the building of Richland and the Hanford Works.
Later, this was the home of W.E. Johnson, manager of General Electric, who operated the Hanford plant. The home was then owned by Herbert Parker, a giant
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in radiation safety and a medical physics, who became the manager of the Hanford Laboratories. Many of the trees and famous iris bed were planted by Mr. and Mrs. Parker during the 40 years of their ownership.
Location. 46° 18.361′ N, 119° 15.982′ W. Marker is in Richland, Washington, in Benton County. It is on Harris Avenue 0.2 miles Newcomer Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2030 Harris Ave, Richland WA 99354, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Columbia Basin and in Yakima Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Col. Thomas William Symons (approx. 1.4 miles
Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2026, by Clayton Pickett of Richland, Washington. This page has been viewed 30 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 17, 2026, by Clayton Pickett of Richland, Washington. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
