Centralia is going through many changes right now. We are not experiencing a reinvention process but rather a rebuilding process reminiscent of the rebuliding processes surrounding the turn of the 19th to 20th century. The “Boomtown” effect is once again returning us to the status of the “Hub City”.

Centralia was founded by a business and civic minded man who worked hard to make this town a fast growing city. Founder George Washington used much of his personal resources and good will to achieve this goal. Centralia did grow quickly inspite of the obstacles presented by the depressions of 1893 and 1929, prohibition and the labor disputes of the early 20th centrury. Washington’s vision was taken to a new level seven years after his death by the establishment of a railroad station near the area of the orginal city plat. This established Centralia has a major stopping point on the Western Washington leg of the Great Northern Railway. The rise of the logging industry and the inclusion of our town into the railway systems created an atmosphere whereby Centralia became a “Hub” of activities for the area south of Puget Sound. Later in the 1940’s city leaders capitalized on the concept that Centralia was a center for commerce and entertainment and dubbed us the “Hub City”.

For me the tag “Hub City” captures the the atmosphere of Centralia during the bulding and rebulding times surrounding the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. A place people wanted to move too, visit and do business in because it was a “Boomtown” during a time when other towns will still struggling to stay afloat.

As we move into another era which will surely prove to have a “Boomtown” effect for Centralia, we should be looking to create an atmosphere that depicts a growing, bustling hub of commerce and entertainment.

Thanks for checking in on our blog! We hope that boccata business is booming!