The Colonial House

This two-story Classic revival style house was designed by Joseph Wohleb and built in 1920 as a residence for Mark E. and Irene Simpson Reed and sons Sol, Frank, and William. It was designed to be a residence as well as a place for Mr. and Mrs. Reed to conduct business. The Reed family had a strong influence on Shelton, Mason County, and Washington State. Mr. Reed was the President of Simpson Logging Company, which included logging, mills, railroads, and Lumberman’s Mercantile Company. He was the Shelton Mayor and served several terms in the Washington State House of Representatives. Mrs. Reed was the daughter of Sol G. Simpson, the Founder of Simpson Logging Company. She served as the Director of the Shelton School Board and had numerous philanthropic endeavors. The house is owned by Green Diamond company, the forest resources division that was previously known as Simpson Timber, and it can be observed from the sidewalk. 

Joseph Wohleb designed the home for the Reeds. Mr. Wohleb left his mark in Shelton as the architect of the Sol Reed house, Mason County Title building, Shelton Junior High School, Mason County Courthouse, and older portions of Shelton Fire Station. The cost to build the 6,000 square foot Colonial House in 1920 is estimated at about $40,000.

The original Reed home site consisted of 10 to 12 acres, much of which was used for kitchen gardening. A stream channeled through the backyard before emptying into the Oakland Bay of Puget Sound. The Reed family had been living on the same property in an older home so before construction could begin, it was split in half and moved. Half of the house was moved across the street to 403 North Third where Irene’s mother, Mrs. Sol Simpson, lived. The other half was moved to 302 West Alder and at one point housed the Christian Science Reading Room.

During the 10 years that the Reed family lived in the home, it was decorated with plump, over-stuffed sofas that encircled the marble faced fireplace, flanked on either side by leaded glass display cases. Turkish area rugs covered the wood floor, with 2 large Italian vases at the entry hall. Music could be heard from the grand piano and Mrs. Reed’s grandmother’s foot-pedaled organ. A stately staircase connected the living room to a second floor for the boy’s bedrooms and a billiard room decorated with Native Indian and Eskimo baskets, with Eskimo spears hanging on the walls. The massive cherry bar with a mirrored back was purchased from a Tacoma bar as it had been a victim of prohibition. There were eight bedrooms and six bathrooms. One bathroom boasted a seven-headed shower which was all the rage in the 1920’s, as it was said to massage one’s innards. Mr. and Mrs. Reed each had an office on the first floor. Mr. Reed kept daily office hours where he held meetings to discuss politics, marital advice, personal loans, and business deals. Mrs. Reed also received guests regularly in her office.

The Reed family moved to Seattle in 1930 after their eldest son, Sol, was shot and killed by an embittered Simpson employee. For the next 10 years, the Reed home was kept open by housekeepers Bill and Annie Anderson. The Reed home became known as the Colonial House in 1941 when it was leased to Ken Frank who turned it into a boarding house, with schoolteachers and Rayonier executives as principal tenants. Mr. Frank also utilized the Colonial House for catering services and wedding receptions. In 1966 William Reed sold the Colonial House to the Simpson Timber Company and the Colonial House became the headquarters for Simpson’s Better Methods program, later known as Operations Improvement Division, until 1980.

http://www.masoncountyhistoricalsociety.org/.