Lake Barcroft History Book

On February 23, 1954, the residents of Lake Barcroft
approved the bylaws of their homeowners association,
officially launching the Lake Barcroft Community
Association (LABARCA). Over the preceding eighteen
months, the settlers had come together informally to build a
new life in a new community and, most importantly, to save
the lake. Like most Washingtonians, they came from other
places, which created a common bond and a reliance on one
another. Their varied backgrounds and individual talents
resolved numerous problems—from water sedimentation to
litigation. Much was accomplished by the few people who first
formed the community association.
LABARCA
In the summer of 1952, almost two years after development
began, fifteen families had completed building their new
homes in Lake Barcroft. Ellen Oshins, a politically savvy
Californian, suggested that the residents get together and form
a homeowners association. The first meeting took place on July
1, 1952, at the home of Bob and Ellen Oshins on Stanford
Circle. Ellen’s father had patented the bobby pin so their
home, the first completed, was beautifully furnished and was
landscaped by a nationally known professional. During the
next fifteen years, the Oshins were very active not only in the
community but also on the local and national scene. Ellen
Oshins was the first elected president of LABARCA, a member
of the Democratic National Committee and a district delegate
to Richmond. For his part, Bob Oshins is best remembered for
composing “songs and poems at the drop of a hat,” especially a
witty ode satirizing internal strife within Lake Barcroft.
The eleven families present at the first meeting formed an
Executive Committee consisting of Ellen Oshins, Dana
Messer, General Robinson Duff, Ernest Rauth and Colonel
Carl Lindstrand. They would serve until the group decided
whether or not to write bylaws and organize formally. From
the outset, the organization was known as the Lake Barcroft
Community Association, the name that would survive until
1992. Colonel Barger was present at a second association
meeting on July 15, 1952, where he discussed short- and longrange
plans for Lake Barcroft, the role of the Architectural
Review Committee and the status of Barcroft Beach, Inc.
Thereafter, the colonel avoided association meetings.
Over that next year and a half, residents convened monthly
meetings to address the issues at hand. The Executive
CHAPTER THREE
A Community Is Born
11
Committee appointed several committees—Health and
Sanitation (Dr. Chris Murphy), Engineering (Ernest
Weschenfelder) and Landscaping (Al Barrett). Alberta
Colclaser was appointed parliamentarian. A Nominating
Committee headed by Lee Rice drew up a slate of candidates,
resulting in the election of officers on October 7, 1953. G.
Edward Hacking, aided by Ken Hoyt, set about preparing the
association’s bylaws. During this period the association
achieved several successes—some minor, others substantial.
Dr. Chris Murphy