Selleck, Washington
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Selleck Historic District
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Selleck, Washington
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| Nearest city | Selleck, Washington Selleck, Washington |
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| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman |
| NRHP Reference # | 89000214 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1989 |
Selleck is a former company town in Washington, located at 47°22′33″N 121°52′0″W / 47.37583°N 121.86667°W. As the sole surviving company mill town in King County, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a King County landmark.
Founded in 1908 and located in southeast King County, the town of Selleck was the company town of Pacific States Lumber, under the direction of lumberman Frank Selleck. By the time it was completed in 1916, it was reached by the world's highest railway trestle, 204 feet above the Cedar River. The mill played a significant role in the rebuilding of Tokyo after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. At that time many Japanese workers and their families came to Selleck. This was not the first time Japanese workmen were brought to the mill.
The Japanese area outside the main town was officially known as Lavender Town (after the owner of a local saloon and general store), but was better known as Jap Town. Children of the Japanese workers attended the Selleck School, and also attended a Japanese-language school on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. However, few traces remain of Lavender Town today, not even grave markers (which are believed to have been made of wood). The only visible indication of the former Japanese presence is a pond landscaped with bamboo. Hence, Selleck's landmark designations do not include the former Lavender Town, because so few traces remain. It is possible that future archaeological excavations might yield evidence that would lead to such a designation.
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