Highlights
Throughout its history, the Aberdeen Armory Building has been a source of civic pride and activity. Indeed, the Armory was hailed as a truly imposing structure at its construction. An Aberdeen Daily World article of the period stated: "The Armory in its completed state will appeal to the pride of every resident of Aberdeen."
The Armory has been a sound and stylish shelter for community affairs for the last 84 years. In its new role as the Aberdeen Museum of History, the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, the Aberdeen Senior Community Center, and the Grays Harbor Community Action Program, it will have many years of valuable public service in the future.
The Aberdeen Armory Building currently houses the Aberdeen Museum of History, the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, the Aberdeen Senior Community Center, and the Grays Harbor Community Action Project. But it wasn't always so! Let's go back and take a look at how this building was born, and it's life up to now:
The Aberdeen Armory was a project five years in the making. The original 1917 State Legislative appropriation of $75,000.00 lapsed with the entrance of the United States into World War I. In 1919, the State Legislature again passed a bill appropriating $100,000.00 for the project and creating a three-member commission to choose a site. Initially, thirty sites were submitted for consideration; these were narrowed to six—before the final selection of the site at Thirs and "I" Streets.
The Armory's architects were Lewis Svarz of Seattle, WA, and C.A. Haynes of Aberdeen, WA. The final design was completed on July 15th, 1921.
The builder of the Armory was L.P. Cysewski of Aberdeen, WA. The Armory's official project completion date was September 12th, 1922. Beginning with its formal dedication on July 4th, 1922, and the initial occupation by the 489th Company Coast Artillery Corps on September 22nd, 1922, the Armory was occupied by twelve different National Guard companies and battalions until final vacation by the guard in December of 1978
Because of the Armory's large main floor, the building was offered as a mixed-use facility during this period. It hosted numerous non-military affairs such as basketball games, car shows, dances, auctions, and other public gatherings.
On March 18th, 1976, the Armory was purchased from the State by the Swanson Brothers, Carl, and Charles, a well-known local family who introduced the " supermarket " concept to Grays Harbor. Their ownership tenure was characterized by general disuse of the building after the last National Guard battalion left in 1978.
On March 2nd, 1981, the Swanson Brothers donated the Armory to the City of Aberdeen, WA, with the condition that the building be used for public purposes only. Since that time, the City has actively pursued occupancy and rehabilitation of the building. The major tenants are:
- The Aberdeen Museum
- The Grays Harbor Genealogical Society
- The Aberdeen Senior Community Center
- Grays Harbor Community Action Program
Since 1981, the City, the Aberdeen Museum of History, and the Community Action Council have infused nearly $250,000.00 into the structural rehabilitation of the building, including fixing the roof, new electrical and communication services, a heating system upgrade, and amenities such as a new paint job and window panes.
The beautifully restored building represents twenty-three years of private donations and volunteer labor. Each exhibit is a window into some part of Aberdeen's past. Throughout are rich signs of community pride in Grays Harbor.
Affidavit PDF Forms
Affidavit Forms are written statements made under oath or affirmation used to verify the veracity of facts for legal purposes. They are signed in the presence of a notary public or another official authorized to administer oaths. Affidavits are commonly used in court cases, other legal proceedings, and various administrative processes. The following are the most widely used affidavit forms.
An Affidavit of Residency legally asserts that an individual resides at a specific address. It is often required for school registrations or government services.
An Affidavit of Identity is a sworn statement used to verify a person's identity. It is typically required when legal identification is necessary but not present.
A Gift Affidavit declares that a gift is given without expecting repayment. This form is commonly used to transfer vehicle ownership as a gift to avoid sales tax implications.
If you need to confirm the delivery of legal documents to a party involved in a legal process, detailing when, how, and to whom the documents were delivered, you can use the Affidavit of Service Form.
An Affidavit of Death is used to confirm the death of an individual and is often required by financial institutions and other entities to release funds or transfer ownership following the death.
An Affidavit of Domicile certifies the principal place of residence of a deceased individual, usually required by the executor of an estate for transferring securities and other asset management tasks.
An Affidavit of Affixture is a legal statement declaring that a mobile or manufactured home has been permanently affixed to real property, thus converting it to real estate in the eyes of the law.
Affidavit Letter of Support for I-751 Form is used in immigration cases to provide additional evidence to support a conditional resident's request to remove conditions on their residency. The affidavit typically comes from friends or family attesting to the authenticity of the marital relationship.
A Birth Affidavit is a document used to verify the facts of a person's birth in cases where the original birth certificate is unavailable or insufficient. This affidavit is often used for passport applications or immigration processes.
A Single-Status Affidavit declares that a person is legally single and free to marry. This affidavit is often required in foreign countries when a citizen or resident plans to marry abroad.
An Identity Theft Affidavit Form is used to report identity theft to creditors and credit bureaus. It helps victims of identity theft declare fraudulent debt and incorrect information on their credit reports.
Use a Financial Affidavit to detail your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. This affidavit is commonly used in divorce proceedings, loan applications, and any legal situation requiring full disclosure of financial status.
If you need to correct errors in official documents such as titles, deeds, and records, you will need the Affidavit of Correction. This document specifies the incorrect information and the truthful, corrected data.
California Affidavit of Non-Use REG 5090 Form is used in California to declare that a vehicle has not been and will not be driven, parked, or stored on public roads during a specified period, thereby allowing for registration suspension.
Florida Financial Affidavit Short 12.902(b) Form is a simplified financial statement used in Florida family law cases where individuals disclose their financial status in divorce, child support, or other family law issues. This "short form" is typically used when annual gross incomes are under a certain threshold.
Staff
Our warm and friendly staff is always ready to greet you with a welcome smile!
Fun Field Trips
Hundreds of students come to the Aberdeen Museum each year. Children are not charged to tour the Museum, although we ask groups to consider making an appropriate donation to support the Museum's educational efforts.
We invite you and your group for a fantastic, fun-filled field trip to the Aberdeen Museum.
We welcome:
- Church Groups
- Scout Troops
- Adult Groups or Clubs - Kiwanis, Lions, etc.
- Senior Groups
- Cultural Groups
A Walking Tour of KURT COBAIN's Aberdeen
Born to Donald and Wendy Cobain on February 20th, 1967, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Kurt Donald Cobain's first home was at 2830-1/2 Aberdeen Avenue in Hoquiam. Cobain's father worked at Derrell Thompson's Chevron Station at 726 Simpson Avenue in Hoquiam while his mother stayed home with the newborn.
1210 East First Street
The following year, the family moved to 1210 E. First Street in Aberdeen, where Cobain would spend his early childhood, and enrolled at nearby Robert Gray Elementary School in 1972. When his parents divorced in 1976, Cobain moved with his father to nearby Montesano, where the boy attended Beacon Elementary School. In 1981, for his fourteenth birthday, Cobain's uncle bought him a cheap electric guitar from Rosevear's Music Center at 211 E. Wishkah Street in Aberdeen.
Dale Crover's House - 609 West Second StreetCobain met Buzz Osborne of the Melvins in the summer of 1983 and could often be found at practice sessions at drummer Dale Crover's house at 609 W. Second Street in Aberdeen.
During his sophomore year, Cobain returned to Aberdeen and enrolled at Weatherwax High School. He lived with his mother in the old family house, two blocks from the legendary Young Street Bridge rising above the muddy banks of the Wishkah River. Whether Cobain ever slept under this bridge, as he claimed, is still being determined. However, he spent time beneath the south approach, as did many neighborhood kids. His schooling in Aberdeen continued in a series of fits and starts before he dropped out permanently. In the spring of 1984, Cobain also moved out of his mother's house. First Apartment - 404 North Michigan Street He found himself homeless and sometimes slept in a cardboard box on Crover's porch in Aberdeen or the Grays Harbor Community Hospital waiting room. Cobain worked at the Lamplighter Restaurant in Grayland, on the south beach of the ocean, for a time and later as a janitor at Weatherwax High School - earning enough to rent an apartment in June 1985 at 404 N. Michigan Street in Aberdeen.
Shillinger House - 408 West First StreetShortly after that, on July 23rd, 1985, Cobain was arrested for vandalism when he was caught writing on an alley wall of the Seafirst Bank Building at Market and Broadway. That fall, homeless again, Cobain moved into the Lamont Shillinger residence at 408 W. First Street in Aberdeen. On May 18th, 1986, intoxicated, Cobain was arrested for trespassing after he wandered onto the roof of an abandoned building at 618 W. Market Street.
Christ Novoselic's House - 1120 Fairfield StreetIn the mid-eighties, Cobain met a lanky guitarist named Krist Novoselic, who lived across the Young Street Bridge on top of Think-Of-Me Hill at 1120 Fairfield Street. Novoselic's mother operated a hair salon - Maria's Hair Design - at 107 S. "M" Street, where they would sometimes practice.
First House Cobain Rented Alone - 1000 1/2 East Second StreetOn September 1st, 1986, Cobain moved into the "first house" he rented alone - more a ramshackle hovel - at 1000-1/2 E. Second Street and worked part-time as a maintenance man at the Polynesian Inn Resort at Ocean Shores to pay the rent. By the spring of 1987, Cobain, Novoselic, and drummer Aaron Burckhard formed the Sellouts, performing Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes at local bars. Cobain took the final steps out of Aberdeen, and in May, Cobain and Novoselic moved to Olympia. They dubbed the band Nirvana and, with David Grohl as drummer, introduced "grunge" to the world.
In the years since Kurt lived in Aberdeen, some of these sites have been moved or demolished:
A new Robert Gray Elementary School opened in 2002, and some of Kurt's school was demolished.
Rosevear's Music Center moved across the street and down the block in 1996.
The old Weatherwax High School building burned in an arson fire on January 5th, 2002.
The Seafirst Bank Building is now Bank of America.
Sign Up
THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP ARE:
- Free Admission to the Museum.
- 10% Discount on Museum - Store purchases.
- Quarterly Newsletter - Aberdeen Museum News.
- Advance notice and special invitation to programs, events, and exhibits.
- A stake in ensuring the future preservation and presentation of Grays Harbor history.
Please click the appropriate choice below to e-mail us, indicating your chosen level of annual support to The Aberdeen Museum.
Events
Are You Planning a Party, Celebration, Dance, or Other Event?
You can rent the Aberdeen Museum for a fun-filled and exciting evening!
Our extensive interior is ideal for dances and live or DJ music.
We have the perfect location for a wedding reception, class reunion, or costume party.
Dinners, whether catered, pot-luck, or whatever you decide, are more pleasing with our unique atmosphere.
Community
Our success is a result of the support and contributions of our community. It truly takes a community to make the Aberdeen Museum the thriving institution it is.
The Aberdeen Museum derives its annual funds from a variety of sources:
Admission donations
Membership Dues
Museum Store Sales
Individual and Corporate Donations
Various Services — from Photographic Reproduction to Facility Rentals
YOU Make A Difference!
Since 1981, donations from private individuals, groups, students, and seniors have helped us keep the doors open and make this a wonderful museum. Thank you to those who have contributed! And for those who haven't, we welcome any help you can give.
Research
All visitors have a chance to do research at The Aberdeen Museum. While seeing through the harvest of history, enjoy the ambiance of our research facility. A comfortable chair and desk always await you.
The Aberdeen Museum offers rich, extensive collections.
Grays Harbor History
Washington State History
Native Cultures and Artifacts
Pacific Northwest Maritime Documents
Northwest Logging and Lumbering
Collective Biographies
Old Grays Harbor County Directories
Local High School and College Yearbooks
The Aberdeen Museum also holds other collections that are available by appointment.
Selected Stock
Gifts, Games, & Stuff
Beautiful Segmented Wood Bowls Handcrafted by Dave Vogeler
Bookends & Pen Sets from Finch Building Marble
Famous Washington Lighthouse (cardboard) Kits
Polished Rocks from the Pacific Northwest
Sail Boat Mobile Kits
Dinosaur Models
Puzzles
Handpainted Commemorative Aberdeen Ornaments
Local History by Local Authors
Serv-Us Stations - A Pictorial History by William D. Jones
Education of a Bear Hunter by Ralph Flowers
Bears and Flowers by Ralph Flowers
Stuff I Remember by Ralph Flowers
Grays Harbor History
Lady on the Beach by Nora Berg
Love and Death, The Murder of Kurt Cobian by Max Wallace and Ian Halperin
Shipbuilders, Sea Captains and Fishermen by Joe Follansbee
Reach for the Sky by Margaret Elley Felt
Washington State History
Washington's Historical Courthouses, A Pictorial History by Ray Graves
The Great Forks Fire by Mavis Amundson
Bearkiller by Warner M. Karshner
Local Authors - Fiction
Book of Wisdom by The Students of Aberdeen High School
Celestial Dancer by Anthony Shafer
Black River Pirates by Don Clark
Logging
From Boats to Boardfeet: Story of the Wilson Lumber Family by Emily M. Wilson
Rare & Out-of-Print Books
A Little Book of Verse by Jean Brodie Stewart
Reflections by Emily Malinowski Moe
Images by Emily Malinowski Moe
Women in History
Summertime in Georgetown - A collection of Short Stories by women & girls of the Shoalwater Tribal Community
Extraordinary Women of the American West by Judy Alter
Julia's Story: From Squatter Child to Cinderella by Julia Loomis Farrow
Craft Books
Beginner's Guide to Calligraphy by Janey Mehigan & Mary Noble
Quilt Style by Lucy A Fazely
A Perfect Union of Patchwork & Applique by Darlene C. Christopherson
The Best Christmas Crafts Ever! by Kathy Ross
Oral Histories
Bill Jones - Third Generation Professional Photographer - Local Historian
Bronco Tesia - Second Generation Liberty Tavern Owner - Local Historian
John Bebich - Aberdeen Fireman, Policeman & Grays Harbor Coroner
Hans Bielski - Fern Hill Cemetery Proprietor, G.H. Port Commissioner
Dwight Caron - Grays Harbor & Thurston County Deputy Sheriff