On May 4th, 2024 Carolyn Womack Rinta of Yacolt stopped by the museum hoping to find answers regarding an old property out on Lockwood Creek Road.  As a child back in the 1930’s, Carolyn was raised in a Weyerhaeuser camp out of Castle Rock, and frequently made the trip to Yacolt.   At that time, the trip entailed going through La Center and View and as a child she always noticed the 3-story home near what must have been a prune farm at one time.  There were still a few prune trees on the large hill and a big prune drier barn.  Carolyn did not know the address but stated that it was a few miles out of town.
 
She said ”Now, you probably wonder why I am still interested in that place? My aunt who had become an antique dealer in the Everett area was visiting 30 or 40 years ago and, on a whim, she stopped at that house and asked if they had anything for sale.  She bought several things, including a 15″ school clock which she gave to me.  Now, I’m downsizing, and it occurred to me that if some of the same family was in that house, would they like it back?”
 
Carolyn’s inquiry was passed on to the museum’s VP Ed Brannfors, who has lived in that area and knows it well. Ed in turn passed on the question to the current owners/caretakers of the house – Melissa Rodewald, while also reminding her of a story he told her years ago –
 
I knew Ray Lawton since my father was friends with him and the larger Lawton family. When I was 8 to 10 years old in the late 1940’s, I remember visiting Ray’s “exercise or workout room”.  During the later 1940’s and early 1950’s my father used to pick up a 10 gallon can or two of milk from Ray’s dad, George, and deliver the milk to the old Darigold cheese factory in Battle Ground.  The last time I remember visiting Ray, now the longtime owner of his parents’ home (George and Elsie Lawton) was with my dad in the 1970’s. Ray was a World War II vet and a machinist who worked for the Shurman Machine in Woodland and later for Columbia Machine in Vancouver.  I came close to buying the 65-acre property in the 1980’s.  Raymond G. Lawton died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999. He was 94. 

So Ed asked “Perhaps you would like to respond to Carolyn Rinta’s inquiry” – which Melissa did.
 
Melissa not only contacted Carolyn, but also sent her photos of the Columbian article that was done many years ago saying “I hope you can read it, as it gives some good background on the farm and the Lawton family.  Over time, I’ve pieced together quite a bit of information on the farm … such as some of the lumber came up the Lewis River by steamboat (I’ve always thought it was specifically the trim, as it needed special routering that wouldn’t have been available on site.  Many of our trim boards have G. Lawton written on the back) and some was milled on site at the bottom of our property, and we did place it on the Clark County historic register to ensure it would be protected for the future.  (Little did we know at the time how growth in north County would begin to impact us all — I’m so glad we were farsighted enough to put it on the register, saving it from being bulldozed as we’ve seen happen to so many of the old homesteads out here. Indeed, before our purchase of the home, I encountered a man looking at it who would’ve done just that to the Lawton house!)
 
Melissa also told her “We have old photos of the prune dryer, the surrounding countryside and the Lawton family that are proudly displayed in our home, as are the artifacts that we’ve uncovered over the years.  Nothing earth shattering, but all remnants of the former occupants and as such, precious to us. We have Millie Lawton’s diary, some beautiful needlework, and a scant collection of old bottles.  Unfortunately, the original front door was stolen in the years the house sat vacant; we’ve always hoped someone would “come clean” and return it. 🙂 We did receive the original deed for the property left on our front porch one year, an amazing kindness. I have also amassed quite a bit of history on the Lawton family themselves.  As far as I know, we are the sole caretakers of any such information on this valuable piece of county history, and any insight or items would be gratefully received.
 
It has shaped our lives to restore our home and raise our two children (now ages 31 and 27) here. The fields (now simply hay fields and home to a couple spoiled horses), the wildlife (the nesting owls in our 80-year-old barn and soaring hawks overhead), and the warmth of all the friends and family who have crossed our threshold and shared laughter and tears with us are irreplaceable.  It has taken a lot out of us to keep the old girl from falling down around our ears, but I don’t think our family would have it any other way.”