Fourth annual Parkersville Day to celebrate local history

Susan Tripp is one of east Clark County’s premier historians, but even she is constantly learning things about the history of the area that she didn’t know before.

For instance, in the past year she discovered that Washougal is the home to four historical “firsts” in Washington:

• David C. Parker was the first permanent non-Indigenous settler north of the Columbia River, building his family cabin in what is now Washougal in 1844.
• Parker was the first person in Clark County to file for a donation land claim, marking the area’s early settlement and land development.
• Washougal Country was the home to the first organized school district in what would later become Washington state in 1852.
• Col. Michael Troutman Simmons, who traveled the Oregon Trail with Parker, paused his journey in today’s Washougal for the birth of his son, Christopher Columbus Simmons, believed to be the first white child born in the future state of Washington.

“I think one of the biggest reveals was that David C. Parker was on the same wagon train as Michael Simmons and George Washington Bush, and we didn’t really know that before,” Tripp said. “It’s just been really fun to learn more about that particular wagon train, which has a lot of tie-ins to some of the milestones that we celebrate.”

The fourth annual Parkersville Day event, celebrating the founding and history of Parkersville, the first American settlement in Washington, will be held at the park from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Parker’s Landing Historic Park in Washougal, will spotlight Parker, Bush, Simmons and other local historical figures that helped bring the township of Parkersville to life.

“We can connect people to the local history,” Tripp said. “And what’s wonderful about our local history is it’s really easy to grasp; it’s not that long ago that it started. It has fascinating stories and fascinating people.”

The event will debut several new activities, such as gold panning lessons from the Vancouver-based NorthWest Mineral Prospectors Club, face painting, and rock painting. Also new this year is a “passport” which attendees can use to qualify for raffle prizes by visiting each booth and activity to find answers to questions about the Oregon Trail; and another raffle for a Pendleton Woolen Mill picnic set, valued at more than $350.

“And we’ve encouraged people to bring a picnic,” Tripp said. “Marina Park, attached to Parker’s Landing Historical Park, is right on the river, which is a perfect place to put out a blanket and have a picnic, so we’re excited to see if people do that.”

The event will also bring back a variety of returning activities, such as a Chinook blessing, songs, historical storytelling, 1800s-themed games, a student art contest, museum exhibits, interactive booths, ice cream, and a performance of “Parkersville Day,” an original song penned by Washougal resident David Parker, by the Washougal High School band.

“There are great stories, and there are great local characters, and I think that when you learn (those things) and you live in the Washougal-Camas area, it gives you just a better sense of roots and pride, and that’s just very elemental with the way we’re made,” Tripp said. “We like to have family roots. We like to know our town history, something we can grasp.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/ParkersLandingHistoricalPark.