Centralia Downtown Association & Timberland Regional Library Joint Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2025
Centralia, WA- In celebration of Centralia's 150th anniversary this year, Timberland Regional Library (TRL) has partnered with the Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) to offer a Centralia exclusive library card featuring the city's founder, George Washington. The
limited edition card will only be available at the Centralia branch, launching on June 10th alongside the Summer Library Program with only 1000 cards available.
“I am thrilled that TRL and the CDA are working together to celebrate Centralia's founding with this limited-edition library card,” said Muriel Wheatley, Regional Manager for the North Lewis County area, which includes the Centralia and Chehalis branches. “The Centralia library and the CDA have built a strong collaborative relationship over the last eight years, united by our shared focus in supporting community and increasing awareness of our town's unique history. The library card project perfectly aligns with these aims, and is a great example of why community partnerships are so valuable.”
This collaboration honors Centralia's storied past while celebrating everything Centralia has become in its 150 year journey, with the spirit of community embedded at the heart of it all. The Centralia Library, a historic Carnegie funded building, was first opened in 1913 and is still owned by the City of Centralia today, and is a key landmark on the Centralia Downtown Association’s historic walking tour. When Timberland Regional Library took over management in 1968, services expanded to include access to a larger collection of books and resources, growing into the vital hub of community, business and family resources it is today.
“We're elated to be partnering with TRL on this awesome project to honor Centralia's rich history,” said MacKenzie McGee, CDA Executive Director. “The library holds a very special place in the heart of the Hub City community, and has done so for much
of Centralia's 150 years, so this was a really exciting way to honor the deep roots it has in Centralia that continue to thrive today.”
The limited edition cards are, as with all library cards, free to residents via a simple application process. They can be obtained in person at the Centralia Timberland Library at 110 S Silver Street in Centralia during normal business hours.
Matthew Anthony of Untamed Method consulting firm, who contracts with the CDA, put together the design for the library card, which features Centralia's founder, George Washington, with his dog Rockwood. The design matches the 150 limited edition postcards the CDA has available for purchase, as well as a new set of banners to be hung throughout downtown in the coming weeks to celebrate
Centralia's 150th birthday.
“In designing the 150th celebration piece for Centralia, I sought to honor George’s legacy with the dignity and reverence of a national monument. Inspired by the spirit of perseverance and vision that built this community, the design reflects both historical weight and enduring pride,” said Anthony. “By evoking the visual language one would see in a national museum, I aimed to elevate his contributions—giving him the recognition and status he deserves as the cornerstone of Centralia’s identity. This piece is a tribute not only to the past, but to the shared heritage and future of this remarkable town.”
About Timberland Regional Library
Timberland Regional Library provides for the entertainment, information, and lifelong learning needs of Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston County residents at 29 community public libraries. The library system is funded mainly by local property taxes, timber tax, fundraising efforts of TRL Friends of the Library, and generous donations by individual supporters.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Anna Lisa Rasmussen
arasmussen@trl.org
360-789-0424
About the Centralia Downtown Association
The Centralia Downtown Association is a nonprofit with a mission to create a vibrant
downtown experience for locals and visitors alike by promoting historic preservation,
economic growth and creative place making in the heart of the Hub City. For more
information on the CDA or to find out how you can get involved, visit
downtowncentralia.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.