KGMI News
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A historical group that maintains the Pickett House in Bellingham was not happy about the mayor’s decision to remove signs directing people to the museum.
The Pickett House is the oldest wooden structure on its own foundation in the state, and has been maintained by the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington for 81 years, Daughters of the Pioneers Vice President Edradine Hovde said.
U.S. Army officer George Pickett lived in the house for three years, Hovde said. Pickett later fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
On Friday, the city removed the museum’s signs and signs identifying Pickett Bridge near city hall in response to violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“We’re a museum. We’re on the national register of historic places. We should have a sign,” Hovde said. “The city should be proud enough to have signs showing where part of their history is.”
Hovde said her organization was not contacted before the city took action.
“If they would come to the Pickett House, learn about it, they would see it is part of Bellingham’s history. It’s not that we’re glorifying some general in a war,” Hovde said.