Recently my staff and I were paid a visit by a wonderful man by the name of Lewis Crecelius. Lewis lived in the Jeffs Home in Auburn in the early to mid-1930’s. The Jeffs Home was an orphanage operated by Children’s Home Society of Washington (CHSW). After his mother had passed away, he went to live with his grandmother and aunt in Portland, but when it became too difficult to care for a young boy, Lewis was went to live in the boys’ home, also operated by CHSW, in Seattle (now the administrative offices). After a few months, he returned to the Jeffs Home.
Lewis lived with 30 boys in the house. A family consisting of a father, mother and their daughter supervised the children. Lewis remembers a piano in the corner that the daughter would play often, giving recitals for her parents and the young boys. A large dining room was located on the south end of the house where the childcare room is now. The family and the boys ate together every night.
The boys lived upstairs in dormitory-type rooms at the north and south ends of the building. Lewis shared a separate bedroom with two other boys in what is now the northeast office facing the back of the building. He was quite proud to show us where his bed was located - next to the window that provide lots of light and fresh air. He was quite proud to show us where his bed was located — next to the window that provided lots of light and fresh air.
On the grounds of the boys’ home, each child had a garden plot they tended to raise food for the children. He remembers how fun it was playing on the five acres.
Lewis remembered that, at the time, the valley was all farmland operated by Japanese families. Across the street from the home was a fruit and vegetable stand, and where the Café Pacific is currently, lived a family who had 5-6 large green houses. Lewis worked here from time to time.
Lewis went to school in a one-room school “little red brick school house” located near what is now 277th Street. He remembers walking to school every day. At that time, Auburn Way was only a two-lane road. The yard went out much farther than it does now, and included a hedge and a sidewalk. Lewis and his friends would use the sidewalk to take walks in the valley.
Lewis remained at the home for 8-10 years, and eventually moved out when he was in his late teens. He then went to work at a mink and chinchilla farm on the west hill of the valley. The farm was owned by the actress Helen Hayes. I asked if he ever met her; he said no, but “they sure kept flying those minks and chinchillas in to stock the farm.”
Lewis now lives in his home in Renton with his caretaker. He will soon be ninety years old, but you would never know it. He is very spry and a wonderful conversationalist. Lewis has fond memories of his time with Children’s Home Society of Washington, and as a thank you to the organization, he has willed his home in Renton to the Society.
All of us who were privileged to meet Lewis will treasure our time with him. Through his story, we all were witnesses to a part of Children’s Home Society of Washington’s cherished history of serving and protecting children. Lewis, with tears in his eyes, wished us all a Merry Christmas as he left us.
Thank you, Lewis, for your gift, and the honor of sharing a part of your life with us.
By John Naegele, King County Director of Head Start