West Hylebos Wetlands

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West

Hylebos

Wetlands

A Pleasant Gem in Federal Way, WA

Paul Richardson


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West Hylebos Wetlands is a 120 acre enclave that preserves wetland

as you would expect from the name but also very old trees; big leaf

maple, red cedar, Douglas fir, western hemlock, and ancient Sitka

Spruce growing since the time of the Mayflower landing. There aremany varieties of flora and fauna. I saw a large owl up in a tree on

a recent visit. Appeared to be about the size of a Great Horned but

wasnt, could have been a grey I suppose but seemed a little on the

small side for that. Also saw lots of fish rising in the lake.

Stimulated the fisherman in me. More than 100 species of birds live

in the wetland and they list a huge variety of smaller vegetation

types.

The park is in an urban area but once you walk away from the

street to the interior and especially the boardwalk through the

wetland you feel as if you are in a totally secluded wilderness

wonderful. It is a great place for reflection and contemplation as the

thick foliage protects from outside sounds intruding. It is

interesting to me that on multiple visits I never heard loud talking

by anyone there. The ambience promotes a kind of naturalreverence for the setting.

There are two log cabins nearest the street. One is the oldest

building in Federal Way, the Barker cabin. The other was a real

estate office of a fellow named Denny, hence the Denny cabin. You

will note the distinctive angled treatment of the first floor of the

Denny cabin in the pictures. If you get the chance to visit this park

it is important that you do so. It is very unique in my experienceand I think it will appeal to anyone who loves nature.

I want to make a brief mention of the history of the Hylebos name.

It was the name of a famous and well-loved priest from Belgium

who came to the Washington Territory after ordination and


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remained. I have appended more detail at the end of this taken

from the King County website.


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Barker Cabin


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Licorice ferns

Salmonberry


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Big Leaf Maple


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Lake


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From the King County, WA website

Father Peter Hylebos honored by naming of seventh floor in KingCountys Chinook Building

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer announced thatthe seventh floor of King Countys Chinook Building would be named

in honor of Father Peter Hylebos.

The history and accomplishments of Father

Peter Hylebos are intimately connected with

the Puget Sound region, said King County

Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. His

enthusiasm, inspiration and drive to make a

better community for those around him

made him one of the most popular men of

his time, and one of our region's most

significant figures.

Each King County councilmember selected a

name for the building floor number that

corresponded to their respective council

district number, allowing for the naming of

floors one through nine. The County

Executive selected the names for theremaining four floors of the building. A

plaque will be placed within the Chinook Building to memorialize those

individuals selected for each floor. The building and floors were dedicated on

Friday, January 25. The Chinook Building is located at 401 5th Avenue in

downtown Seattle and houses many of the countys administrative services.

Most citizens of the South Sound region have heard of West Hylebos State

Park [former name for the wetlands park] and Hylebos Creek. In Tacoma,

there is the Hylebos Waterway and the Hylebos Bridge going across it.Several other lesser-known places, such as Hylebos Hill, as well as a few

businesses also bear this name.

The name Hylebos is familiar to all who live in the Federal Way area, said

von Reichbauer. With the naming of the Chinook Buildings seventh floor,

the name Hylebos will now become familiar to all who live in King County.

Father Peter Francis Hylebos


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This dedication will ensure the legacy of peace and service left by Father

Hylebos lives on.

Peter Francis Hylebos was born in Graumont, Belgium on December 27,

1848, the son of a mercantile merchant, James Hylebos and Dorothy StuartHylebos. He was one of twelve children. Hylebos graduated from the

University of Louvain in 1870 and was ordained a Catholic priest on June 12,

1870 before leaving for North America in September of that year.

Father Hylebos showed interest in all areas and in all people of the

northwest.

During the 1880s, many cities in the northwest experienced violence when

an attempt was made to expel the Chinese by force. Father Hylebos played a

critical role in trying to prevent the expulsion of the Chinese from Tacoma in

1885.

Native Americans played a major role in the life of Father Hylebos and he

took a great interest in their welfare. In 1888 Father Hylebos purchased a

140-acre tract of land in what is now Federal Way for a school. This became

St. Georges Industrial School for Indians. The school officially opened on

October 26, 1888.

In 1890 Hylebos opened a home for orphans and young women in Seattle.

He established a hospital and several schools as well as a residence for

women in Bellingham. He also helped establish a hospital in Aberdeen and a

school in Pomeroy. Two schools were established in Tacoma, the Aquinas

Academy and the Visitation Academy.

In addition to his work on behalf of the underprivileged and his duties as

pastor of St. Leos, Father Hylebos held the office of Vicar General of the

Diocese of Seattle for 25 years. He went to Rome in 1910 and was accorded

a personal interview with the Pope.

It was the unique record of Father Hylebos never to have been pastor of a

church he did not build, and never to have left a church or school he built in

debt. His friends could be numbered by the thousands, many of whom were

on the most intimate terms with him and constant visitors to his Parochial


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home. Father Peter Hylebos died of influenza on Thanksgiving Day,

November 28, 1918 at age 69.

[If you are interested in history you might want to explore the 1918

flu pandemic that killed huge numbers of people across the world.]

West Hylebos Wetlands

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