In the long history of our country there have been cities, towns, hamlets spring up and prosper, and then due to reasons only history can tell why, these communities declined and faded away in time. Claquato Washington was one of those communities. In a span of 50 years, from 1852 to 1902, Claquato went from one of the largest villages in the area to a ghost town.
Founded by an Oregon Trail pioneer, John B. Davis and family established Claquato. He and his family were very industrious. They built a saw and grist mill, built roads leading to their community, which one is still used today, known as the Military Road. A church was built and was also used as the Claquato Academy (school) for local children.
The Davis family and residents built a hamlet that became the area’s hub for commerce, with all roads leading to their village. Claquato grew and flourished, but like communities in the 1960’s and 70’s that were bypassed by the Interstate Highway System and lost their “route” to carry on their livelihood, when the railroad was built in the 1870s through the area, it bypassed Claquato and the village lost it’s “route” to carry on thier livelihood.
This is a wonderful area to explore. The Church that the Davis family built still stands today. The historical Claquato Cemetery, not only is the resting place for the Davis family, but for many other pioneer families from the area.
Claquato was a stop over for the stageline from Longview to Olympia that ran for a decade and a half from 1861. Passengers bought goods and services in the village along with resting and sheltering under the “The Pioneer Fir Tree”
Claquato is about 3 miles west of Chehalis WA (I-5) off the Ocean Beach Highway – WA Hwy 6 . If you’re a history buff the Lewis County Historical Museum in Chehalis WA can give you a wealth of information about Claquato and area. But, no matter what, you’ll relish this area on the hill overlooking the Chehalis River Valley known as Claquato Washington. Enjoy the Journey.
Road Trip Journal 