Helen Sommers: An Oral History

pg. 56 Third year of tie; and the Nisqually Earthquake!
life. So many of us were please to know that the
75-year-old building would receive the needed restoration,
but it seemed a little sad to imagine that
we wouldn’t be able to conduct sessions under the
Capitol Dome for two years!
Two large modular buildings were brought in
and set up in one of the parking lots. It took up a
lot of parking space, but, it was the only option we
had, so we had to adjust to it.
Two Modular Buildings being erected south
of the Legislative Building – 2003
The modular buildings provided adequate space
for the House Chamber, the caucus offices, and
also legislative and administrative offices. The
best part was it certainly gave us more space than
when we had in Hearing Room-A. But they were
‘big boxes’ that weren’t very attractive, and I recall
many homeowners in the area, who loved being in
the neighborhood of the Capital Campus, were very
displeased, and eager to get the ‘modulars’ out of
the neighborhood when the job was done.
All other offices in the Legislative Building had
to move, too. Both Gov. Gary Locke’s and Lt. Gov.
Brad Owen’s offices, as I recall, were moved across
the street to the Insurance Building, and other state
elected officials were moved off campus. We served
two sessions in the ‘modulars’ (2003 and 2004 sessions).
The Senate chamber and offices moved into
the Pritchard Building.
And, I certainly remember when the 2005 session
opened and we were finally able to return to
the Legislative Building! It had been closed for 30
months, but the improvements certainly added to
the longevity of the Legislative Building. It was
wonderful to be back, and to this day, the Legisla-
tive Building looks more beautiful than ever!
After the 2001 session of the Legislature, Helen
wrote this in her annual newsletter to her 36 th District
constituents:
Report to the 36 th District
Helen Sommers 2001 Newsletter
Summer 2001
NISqUALLY EARTHqUAKE
The epicenter of the February 28 earthquake is just
11 miles from the Capital. Those famous sandstone
buildings shook mightily, but survived remarkable
well. Much attention and concern was focused on
the Legislative Building and it’s giant dome.
One of the dome’s supports was already affected
by the 1949 and the 1965 quakes, and the building
was seismatically upgraded after 1965. The engineer
who supervised the structural reinforcing came
out of retirement to inspect his earlier work – a job
credited with saving the building from extensive
damage in the 6.8 magnitude quake this year.
For days we watched industrial climbers rappelling
up and down, inspecting every section of the
dome. One set of stone block supports was knocked
out of alignment and will have to be replaced.
I attended a briefing by a seismic engineer who
advised us the Legislative Building is one of the safest
to be in an earthquake – and the rotunda, under
the structural circle of the dome is the safest of all!
May is moving month for the Legislative
Building occupants
(from “In the House” newsletter – April 2002 – by
Dan Monahan)
The move is on as contractors prepare to vacate
the Legislative Building this month for about twoand-a-half
years for a major reconstruction of the
magnificent 74-year old domed structure, one of
America’s grandest state capitols.
Fourth-floor members and staff of the Legisla