Organizaf iosi of f he Olympia Oyster Growers 

 Association 



BANG WENT THE GAVEL! WHERE? — IN A SMALL, 

 room on an upper floor of that historic old hotel located 

 on the Southwest corner of the streets now named Capi- 

 tal Way and Fourth Avenue, in Olympia, Washington, the 

 Kneeland Hotel. The room was the private office of W. H. 

 Kneeland, owner of the hotel, and one of the very early 

 pioneers of the native oyster business. 



When? — fifty years ago. A half century has passed 

 since that meeting. 



Occasion? — the formation of a group of men who had 

 become interested in the native oyster, who had filed on 

 and purchased oyster land, and were engaged in its de- 

 velopment. Little did they realize that a meeting was 

 being called which would organize this group of young 



(4) 



