The second Saturday of each month, 9:00 AM at the Clayton Burger Drive Inn, members and guests join together for an informal business meeting of the CDPHS.

HOMEPAGE THE CLAYTON and DEER PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY About The Society EMAIL LINKS INTERNET LINKS NEWSLETTERS ISSUE # 1 ISSUE # 2 ISSUE # 3 ISSUE # 4 ISSUE # 5 ISSUE # 6 The Society's Copyright Policy Historical Society Publications The Old Clayton School DPHS Boxing 1945 - 1949 DPHS Boxing Pictures Homesteading At Clayton Washington Stepping To The Side: A Dynamite Primer Deer Parks Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Atlas Missile Album Atlas Missile Schematics CDPHS HAPPENINGS CLAYTON  1 CLAYTON  2 CLAYTON  3 CLAYTON  4 CLAYTON  5 CLAYTON  6 CLAYTON  7 CLAYTON  8 CLAYTON 9 CLAYTON'S  WB&L CLAYTON 10 Big-Foot TERRA COTTA STEVENS COUNTY CLAYTON B.S. A STAR IS BORN CLAYTON DAY CLAYTON FAIR CLAYTON FAIR 2 NORD #1 NORD # 2 RAINY NORD OLD CLAYTON GRANGE SWEET VIOLET ROSIE ETC LENO PRESTINI 1 LENO 2 LENO 3 THE WIND COWANS WIND COWAN OLDS THE SANTA ANNA WINDS FRED WIND BASEBALL WIND A BREEZE SUZZALLO LIB. Uof W CREATING THE SUZZALLO STATUES   TRYSIL ZION 1 TRYSIL ZION 2 TRYSIL ZION. 3. TRYSIL ZION 4 TRYSIL ZION 5 TRYSIL ZION OLSON'S TRYSIL EXPO 2008 # 1 TRYSIL EXPO 2008 # 2 DEER PARK #1 DP. OLSEN # 3 DP# 4 SHAY LOCOMOTIVE DEER PARK # 5 DEER PARK # 6 DEER PARK # 7 D.P. 2008 STATE CHAMPS  THEN & NOW A PEEK AT THE PAST LAWRENCE ZIMMERER LZ 1 LZ 2 LZ 3 LZ 4 LZ 5  SETTLERS & FAIR OLD LOON LAKE LOON LAKE TODAY ETTA MAY BENNET 1 ETTA MAY 2 ETTA MAY 3 ETTA MAY 4 FAMILY PICS SCHOOLS CHURCHS HISTORIC BUILDINGS PERSONALITIES BARNS ETC. RESTORATION CLASS PICS CLAYTON 1 CLASS PICS CLAYTON 2 CLASS PICS CLAYTON 3 CLASS PICS D.P. 1 CLASS PICS D.P. 2 CDPHS ANTIQUE ROADSHOW CONTACT WEBMASTER

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, Bob Clouse and our Editor, Wally Lee Parker are instrumental in spearheading past, present and beyond. 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.  Editor Wally Parker publishes a booklet called Reports to the Clayton Deer Park Historical Scociety. He is in the process of publishing the 5th addition. Plus a new addition of the Mortarboard. A free handout with shorter historical event articles. Every article in each edition is researched, edited and written by Wally himself.

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. Wally, Bob and Bill are persuing in cooperation with various other historical societies the life of our own distinguished native Artist, Leno Prestini. Exhibitions are planned 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 memorabelia collected and donated by people willing to share these priceless artifacts and we as a group are equally anxious to share them with you. 

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.

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.

One of Clayton's claim 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 itto his Cousin Bruno. Duane and Bruno presented this pricelss heirloom to our Society.

Prestini's Untitled-'52. Leno was very complex. Many have attempted to analyze him and his artistry. He is still a mystery!

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.

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.

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.

Thus lays the foundation of our organization. Many guests come and go, adding another aspect to our goals. Our goals and challanges are many. We take every one in stride.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mrs. Susan Wind Simpson. Susan, Tulla, Paul and Ken are Honorary Associate Members of our Clayton/Deer Park Historical Society. Each are family Genealogists. Each have shared their knowledge of our community from afar. Susan tells the story of the "Wind Cowan Olds" pioneers. 3 albums of dedication to getting it right.

Speaking of REALITY. As in all walks of life, success of a team relates to leadership. So please concentrate on these two gentlemen for a moment. This photo was taken by Mr. Paul Erickson showing Mr. Wallace Lee Parker on the left and Mr. William James Sebright. Wallace ( Wally) is our Editor and Chief, a hugely accomplished writer. He is accurate and versitile to a fault. William (Bill) is President, our leader and unsung Hero.

Mrs.Tulla Froyen. Tulla is the tie that binds our Trysil Norway roots and the early settlers from there to here. She is responsIble for bringing Paul and Ken on board.

The writing talents of Wally Parker has been proven beyond doubt, The lady shown with the gleam in her eye is his wife Patricia. Is she responsible for bringing his talents to light?

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.

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 and Debby Satre among many others. Clark and Debbie as pictured above have deep roots from Clayton to Trysill Norway. They recently returned from a Gale Trysil gathering and meeting with their many relations that remain. Clark has been huge in helping with the Satre family History,

Mr. Kenneth Westby, the son of a dedicated recorder of pioneer history, Harald Westby. Ken gives us an insight into the the earliest arrival of Norwegian immigrants in an incomprable view of our ancestors.

Peter Coffin singlehandedly revived the History of Big Foot Valley. The Valley still bares the name but thanks to his intense interest we have a very diverse set of photos depicting this segment of our heritage.