Thursday, September 21, 2006
Sad news about an pioneer
This week's paper brought very sad news about a pioneer of local history. The only guy I know of who conducted professional archaeological excavations in Lakewood, Pierce College Professor Michael Avey, died on Sept. 16. Mike's work is very important to anyone who wants to understand Native American and pioneer history in Lakewood, as well as the early history of Western State Hospital. My deepest sympathies to his family and close friends.
In one of his reports of excavations on the grounds of Western State, he wrote:
"For my part, I should know better than to work 14 hour days for little or no pay, but I'm insane, so I have an excuse. However, we did it, and we're proud of it."
Any of us who volunteer or who work on the grounds of WSH will get the joke. And anyone who wants desperately to share our heritage with the young people of today - and the young people yet to be born - knows his passion. Lakewood is so much richer for having known Mike Avey. How incredbly cruel to lose him just a few weeks before the Lakewood museum opens.
You can read more about the rest of Mike Avey here (and with all due respect to the other folks listed in that link)
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In one of his reports of excavations on the grounds of Western State, he wrote:
"For my part, I should know better than to work 14 hour days for little or no pay, but I'm insane, so I have an excuse. However, we did it, and we're proud of it."
Any of us who volunteer or who work on the grounds of WSH will get the joke. And anyone who wants desperately to share our heritage with the young people of today - and the young people yet to be born - knows his passion. Lakewood is so much richer for having known Mike Avey. How incredbly cruel to lose him just a few weeks before the Lakewood museum opens.
You can read more about the rest of Mike Avey here (and with all due respect to the other folks listed in that link)
