Buildings & Sites
Trails House/Reconstructed Sylvester House
August 2000 photo by David Bangs
Issaquah Trails Center: 110 SE Bush St. See
Map
The "Trails House" is owned by the City of Issaquah and used
primarily as a meeting place and headquarters for the Issaquah Alps Trails
Club. The single cozy meeting room is used for committee and board
meetings for various organizations and the City. The lean-to section in the back
contains public restrooms (now closed to the public due to vandalism).
The Issaquah Alps Trails Club was founded in 1970 by Harvey Manning to
preserve open space on Cougar, Squak, Tiger, Taylor, and Rattlesnake Mountains,
and Grand Ridge. This organization has been extremely effective, and is
primarily responsible for the creation of a trail network and preservation of
large wooded areas in the hills surrounding Issaquah. Members of the Trails Club
initiated the Mountains to Sound Greenway movement in 1980.
History
This home was once the property of prominent early citizen Wilbur W.
Sylvester. He was the third station agent at the Gilman (later Issaquah) Train
Depot from 1895 to 1899. When he resigned as agent to found the Issaquah State
Bank, Sylvester stated, "I am going to try and increase the business by
building up the town." In 1912 he ran for Representative of the 41st
District, pointing out to voters that he was the only candidate who lived
outside of Seattle and was uniquely qualified to represent interests of the
County.
When the city decided restore this home to be used for civic purposes, the
building's condition was so deteriorated that the best option was to totally
rebuild it from scratch.
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