About The Mansion
This is a 17-room Italianate Victorian Mansion. Ezra was 60 years old and the house was build for he and his wife. Ezra Meeker took his wife, Eliza Jane, along on a hop selling trip to England. She was presented to Queen Victoria and became smitten with some of the finer things in life. Ezra was quite contented with his log-cabin life, but agreed that his wife could have such a house if she wanted--and could pay for--it. This is the house that Eliza Jane Meeker built and retained title to. The house was designed by Farrell and Darmer, Architects, of Tacoma. It took three years to build and was finished by 1890. The Meekers lived here about 20 years, until Mrs. Meeker died in 1909. After Mrs. Meeker died Mr. Meeker left the house.
The remarkable owner was a pioneer and leading citizen of Puyallup; first mayor, one-time Hop King, author...Ezra Meeker became the self-appointed champion of the Oregon Trail in 1906, when at the age of 76, accompanied by two oxen, a wagon, a driver and a dog, he made his way from his front yard to Washington D.C., by way of New York City. His purpose was to preserve and re-mark the Oregon Trail, which was being obliterated by civilization. He thought he could make his tripe once before he died, but this remarkable man lived to 98 and made this journey by ox team once more, then by automobile in 1915, and by airplane in 1924. The fact that you can see actual traces of the Oregon Trail is due almost entirely to Ezra Meeker.
The Meeker Mansion is listed as a site on the National Register of Historic Sites. The objective of the Historical Society is to return the home to the condition it was in 1891-the year after it was finished. This is complicated by the fact that there are no known records of the house aside from three letters Mr. Meeker wrote describing it.
President's Message
On June 28, 1892, at the height of hop growing in the valley, the Board of Trade was established in Puyallup, with L.W. Hill as President, George Spurr as Vice President, H.H. Blackburn as Treasurer and Wm M. Siemen as Secretary. By August 5th the following committees were established: Entertainment, City Interests, State/National Legislation, Commerce and Manufacturing, Insurance and Taxation, Transportation, Public Policy and Hotel Visitation. We know this because the minutes of the organization were kept in meticulous penmanship in a leather-covered logbook, 12 by 18 inches and three inches thick.
At the time, Puyallup was one of the wealthiest towns in the state and the center of hop commerce. On January 20, 1893, a committee was appointed to "...draft a bill to be submitted to the legislature, looking to the removal of the State Capital to this city." By February 10th this charter was enlarged to "...prepare a letter to be sent to senators and representatives, setting forth the advantages of Puyallup, as a State Capital and further guaranteeing temporary quarters for State Officers."
So did the letter get sent? However tantalizing the prospect, we learn nothing more from the minutes. We do learn that the meeting of the Board of Trade on October 13th was adjourned with election of officers proposed for the next meeting, scheduled for October 20th. However, the next record of such a meeting is February 11, 1901!
