Our Society is comprised of members from Deer Park, Loon Lake and Clayton and the surrounding area. We are a well rounded group from all walks of life, but with one goal in mind. Each of us is dedicated to preserving and recording the wealth of rich history for these communities. Our President, Bill Sebright, our Web Master, Marie Morrill and our other Executive board members, Mark Wagner, Pete Coffin, and Wally Parker, are instrumental in spearheading this goal. Having formed the group just a few years ago, a great deal has been accomplished. The Clayton School has been placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Society publishes a newsletter called the Mortarboard. It is free handout with shorter historical event articles. Four "Reports to the Society" are in print. Bill Sebright saw the need for a Website in keeping with the times. Bob Clouse started this site, and in a little over a year this site has developed into a reference point, not only for the benefit of the average individual but news publications and organizations throughout the USA and beyond. Our team pursued in cooperation with various other historical societies the life of our own distinguished native Artist, Leno Prestini. Exhibitions were held in August of 2010. Anyone with information on Mr. Prestini is asked to contact us. Another story in the works is of the Arcadia Orchards which is massive, and the list goes on. Another far reaching goal is establishing a museum. We have a wealth of memorabilia collected and donated by people willing to share these priceless artifacts and we as a group are equally anxious to share them with you. In 2010 we were able to bring the terra cotta Eagle, produced in 1922, back to Clayton. Find the story under “An Eagle has landed” and other pages. The Eagle was refurbished in the summer of 2015.
Here is a typical group of some of the members and with an honored guest as well, Mr. Eddie Olson front and center. There are normally at least a dozen attending each meeting.
One of Clayton's claims to fame, the most famous of all, is our incomparable artist, Mr. Leno Prestini. Another individual of possibly equal influence from an entirely different aspect was Silvio Costa. The two were the very closest of companions. Leno was always thankful to the Costa family for the unending love and attention they bestowed on his recently widowed Mother. Leno did this painting for Silvio. Silvio willed it to his younger Brother Duane and Duane gave it to his Cousin Bruno. Duane and Bruno presented this priceless heirloom to our Society.
We are rather proud of our entergetic group. In our midst is Mr. Mark Wagner. Executive at E.W.U. and our Treasurer. Taffy and Randy Long are the proprietors of the famous Clayton Burger Drive in. Our Society would possibly not exist were it not for the generosity of these two Clayton/Deer Park natives.
A very familar adage is, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." It is difficult to imagine a restaurant more sanitary than the Clayton Drive In. And we as a group feel honored to hold our meetings in this supreme atmosphere.
In a very secluded valley sits this picuresque barn owned by Randy and Taffy Long. It was built by a Scandinavian homesteader in the 1890s. In the early 1930s the Baker family could make out the signature of this Scandinavian written on the inside of one of the doors. It is alleged that not one spike was used in its construction.
Another donated momento on a much smaller scale. Some items, though very personal and in some manner a bit precious serves no earthly good, tucked away in an old jewlery box or ribbons in an old 1946 Deer Park Stag annual. I am positive more people got to see these items the day they were presented to the CDPHS than had seen them in the last 60 years. It is far more rewarding to give than receive.
Leno gave this painting to Father Joseph Da Lio in 1961. It hung in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Clayton, WA, until it was closed. The painting has since been in the possession of the Deer Park Catholic church. The water and the boat in the painting, according to Arnold Leliefeld (long time Clayton Post Master) is because Leno listened to “Stranger on the Shore” by Acker Bilk many times during that period.
Grace (Karus) Hubal, former Society Secretary, her youth and enthusiasm will lead her to new heights. The Genealogy of this young lady is impressive. It goes back to Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry as well as William Wallace & the Royalty Strattons.
Mr. Paul Erickson, born and raised in Deer Park with the knowledge and expertice to be a Genealogist of family as well as the roots of Deer Park itself. 
Mr. Kenneth Westby, the son of a dedicated recorder of pioneer history, Harald Westby. Ken gives us an insight into the earliest arrival of Norwegian immigrants in an incomparable view of our ancestors.
Our January 10, 2009, CDPHS meeting was a real barn burner considering it was held during a record breaking winter. A number of guests attended such as Lyle Holcomb, Betty Burdette and also Peter Coffin (far right standing) attended his second meeting. His articulate mannerisms were immediately recognized and he agreed to come on board and help on our Website.
Rob Higgins, our former Vice President. Being in the prime of life with way more on his plate then he can handle he turned his responsibilities as VP over to Peter Coffin. Rob is one of the charter members of the Clayton Historical Society. He has been with us from the very beginning. Thank you Rob and the best of luck
This is Mr. Jeff Lilly, Pro Photographer, Author/Writer, Fits in like a glove.
OUR WEBSITE COMMITTEE. BILL SEBRIGHT, as President rides herd on all functions of CDPHS. The Website consumes much of his time. After one of our monthly meeting, Lorraine Ball said it all, "If it weren't for Bill Sebright we wouldn't be here."
Sharon Clark, CDPHS Historian and our highly gifted former Editor of Print Publications. |
This is a photo of a rather uncommon Saturday morning meeting. We were joined by Bob and Susan Wind Simpson from Castle Rock, Colorado. Susan is a descendant of the Wind/Cowans, late 1800's Clayton pioneer family. Mae Huffman Fishbach, Class of 1932, Clayton High School and Vera Wind Spaulding were also in attendance.
Prestini's Untitled-'52. Leno was very complex. Many have attempted to analyze him and his artistry. He is still a mystery!
Mr. Randy Long, long on generosity and short on talk. He seems to be the only male on the work force, so his duties are many, but handle them he does.
Florene Moore presented a check for $683.21 from Friends of The Deer Park Library Book Sale to our Society Treasurer Mark Wagner. They ask that the money go to the placement and restoration of the terra cotta Eagle. The CDPHS got 75% of the profits from the last Friends of the DP Library book sale. CDPHS members helped set up for the book sale and worked at the sale. Ann Stelting, Art Stelting, Grace Hubal, Florene Moore, Kay Parkin, Faye Reilly, Marilyn Reilly, Betty Burdette, Anni Sebright, and Bill Sebright were CDPHS members who worked on the sale.
This is Leno Prestini's studio. Architecturally designed, constructed and decorated from concept to completion by Leno. One possibility would entail our museum structure following his architecture, being identical with two exceptions, larger in size and with tempered glass patio fixed (non opening) doors to enable visitors to see our collection of artifacts, open or not.
As of May 10th 2008, this is for the most part our team plus a few very influential guests, Paul Erickson front row, left, and Arlene and Aaron Olson, front row, right. Also Bob Lemley, center, is a missileer and was a great help on Wally's "Standing Watch," CDPHS's second "Reports." In addition this group has the backing and cooperation of the community at large. No pie in the sky dreams, just down to earth reality.
Good fortune befell the CDPHS in December of 2009 when the Washington State National Guard bequeathed their Eagle to our Society. This Bald Eagle was manufactured at the WB&L Terra Cotta plant in Clayton circa 1920. Now we brought it home. Here it sits in all its splendor. A perfect woork of ART. Please see AN EAGLE HAS LANDED & AN EAGLE 2 ETC. for 'The Rest of the Story.'
Bill Sebright accepts the Dedication Plaque from Mr. Art Ohler at our CDPHS meeting in Jan. 2010.
The Zion Cemetery has only one Satre buried there. But she did more than her share for the community. She gave us the Stelting family and Clark Satre among many others. Clark and Debbie as pictured above have deep roots from Clayton to Trysil, Norway. They returned from a gala Trysil gathering in 2009 and met with their many relations that remain. Clark has been huge in helping with the Satre family history.
Peter Coffin singlehandedly revived the History of Big Foot Valley. Thanks to his intense interest we have a very diverse set of photos depicting this segment of our heritage.
Our Club house, Otherwise known as the Clayton Drive In on an early morning Clayton Day. A free Breakfast on the House with proceeds from Contributions for worthwhile Community Organizations. This year being the Clayton Community Fair.
On January, 16, 2010, a small group of our Society met at Bennedito's Pizza Parlor in South Spokane. Joining us was our very Honored Guest, Jason Hubal, Son of our Secretary, Grace Hubal. How sweet it was! Those pictured are, Nurse Kim, Mary Clouse with her husband Bob and the one and only JASON HUBAL, Our Friend. Not pictured but attending our little party were Grace Hubal, Duane Costa, and Bill Sebright. Duane delivered a nice check to go into the “Eagle Fund.”
This muscular gentleman is Mark Wagner, CDPHS Treasurer. He is a charter member and has been Treasurer since the very beginning. 
PETE COFFIN, on the right, was elected as Vice President on 10-10-10. He is a historian, genealogist, editor of the website, and photographer with a knack for spectacular photos. Pete has all the qualifications of Vice President and is a huge benefit our Society.
A picture taken by Penny Hutten of our Old Settlers CDPHS booth. To say we were swamped is an understatement.
ROBERT A. CLOUSE former Webmaster. Bob started our Website from scratch. You can see the hours and hours he has spent working on this project.
Winterfest 2012, Marilyn Reilly, Sharon Clark, and Betty Burdette working in the booth. |