302 Bryden Ave., Centralia, Washington. County/parish: Lewis.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places December 27, 1977. NRIS 77001345.
1 contributing building.
The Joseph Borst House is an historic residence located in Centralia, Washington at the confluence of the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1977.
The 2+1⁄2-story, Greek Revival home was constructed beginning in 1856 for Joseph Borst and family, early pioneers in the Chehalis Valley and present-day Centralia. The Borst's built up their homestead to include a blockhouse, ferry, hotel, store, and an early school. A barn, noted for its size, was built in 1861 and remained operational until it was demolished in 1969 due to weather damage.
The family lived on the grounds into the early 1900s. The home and surrounding land was purchased by the city in two separate transactions in the 1920s and 1950s. Further acreage was given to Centralia for use as a park, donated by Borst descendants. The city attempted to sell the home in 1955 but due to community protest, the building was saved and became part of the Fort Borst Park complex, remaining under Centralia ownership. Outside of the Borst House, no original outbuildings remain on the grounds.
The Borst residence is mostly unaltered and noted for architectural features such as a large front porch and balcony, original clapboard siding, and Gothic Revival window casements. A kitchen addition matches the main structure. The interior layout is simple, containing a steep staircase with noticeable wear and tear after decades of use. Notable details include a large soapstone fireplace, opulent marble baseboards in the parlor, and original woodwork. The home has been a public historic site and museum since the late-1980s, overseen by volunteer efforts. Several personal items from the Borst family are displayed in the house.
The grounds contain an arboretum, remnants of a children's graveyard, and several monuments and plaques. A pioneer replica village, containing a church, one-room schoolhouse, and an interactive museum, was begun in the 1990s and expanded in the early 21st century.
(read more...)National Park Service documentation: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75612800