HomeMy WebLinkAbout1880s - Nelsen Farms and Mansionwww.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » DECEMBER 2015 y 5
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From farms to furlongs at historic Nelsen mansion
BY LOUISE JONES-BROWN
TUKWILA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
James Nelsen, with brothers Herman and Fred, immigrated to the
Duwamish River valley from Denmark in the 1880s. The farms they
established stretched from Renton Junction (in the area of Interurban
Avenue and Grady Way) to the area known as Orillia as well as Westfield
Southcenter. A family home was built in 1905 and the structure is now
known as the Nelsen Family residence. Helen, the youngest daughter of
James Nelsen, was born in the home in 1906. She was a local business-
woman, former Tukwila City Council member and founding officer of
the Tukwila Historical Society
A 1909 ban on gambling closed the racetrack known as "the Mead-
ows" located on the south end of present day Boeing Field. The ban was
lifted after a bill became law on March 20, 1933. Then on June 20th,
1933, Vinson "Joe" Gottstein founded the Washington Jockey Club.
Some of the dairy land originally owned by James Nelsen was purchased
by Gottstein and others to operate a one -mile track which became Lon-
gacres Racetrack in August 1933. A permit was obtained and the Lon-
gacres Racetrack was created in only 30 days.
The Longacres Racetrack was in operation from Aug. 3, 1933 until
Sept. 21, 1992. At the time of the sale to the Boeing Co., the track was
owned and operated by members of the Alhadeff family, who were re-
lated to the Gottstein family. This facility hosted an exhibition by Triple
Crown winner, Seattle Slew, and saw the famous jockey, Gary Stevens,
on several mounts at the track. A former paddock barn (featured in the
photo by Richard McLeland-Wieser) which was originally located at
Longacres can still be seen next to the Nelsen House.
Our annual December Holiday "Open House," which is hosted by the
Tukwila Historical Society and the Nelsen Family Residence Trust, will
be held on Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tours of the home
and refreshments will be provided. Please join us to celebrate the Sea-
son.
Louise Jones -Brown is president of the Tukwila Historical Society. The
society operates the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center, 14475 59th
Ave. S., Tukwila. The center can be reached by phone at 206-244-HIST or
via email at tukwilaheritagectr@tukwilahistory.org.
ABOVE is how the paddocks barns appeared at Longacres Racetrack in an historical photo. BELOW
is a photo by Richard McLeland-Wieser that shows one of the barns that was moved to the Nelsen
property.