Stadium High School Bowl Engineer

L. A. Nicholson

Grandchildren of L. A. Nicholson gathered Saturday morning, September 16, 2006, during the Stadium High School 100th weekend to view and celebrate the return of the "Tacoma School Stadium" Plaque. Their grandfather was the Engineer for the Stadium and is named on the plaque. Pictured from the left were: Natalie Nicholson Nelson, John Nicholson, Virginia Nicholson Wood, Janice Nicholson Stattin, and Margaret Nicholson Watts. Granddaughter Nancy Nicholson Records was traveling out of state and could not attend. Proud Stadium High graduates Natalie, Virginia, Janice and Margaret especially enjoyed the school renovation and tour, meeting many friends of past years.

Herbert Hunt’s "History of Tacoma" describes Lawson Nicholson as "quiet and unassuming in his life, yet a prominent figure in civic affairs with many sincere friends." The book continues in saying that he was connected with many of Tacoma’s most important engineering projects, has developed high professional skill through comprehensive study and broad experience and the value of his service has been demonstrated in the execution of many municipal projects in other cities of the northwest as well as in Tacoma. His birth occurred in Stockton, California, March 3, 1866, and he traces his ancestry back to one of the early New England Families. He became a resident of Tacoma in September 1886, arriving when a young man of twenty years. His father, Albert Scott Nicholson, was born in Pennsylvania, traveled west to California, Vancouver and Tacoma. Prominent in church affairs he built the first house of worship in Vancouver and then served as rector for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Old Town Tacoma. He also acted as superintendent for Tacoma General Hospital until retirement in 1888. During December of 1892 Lawson married Elizabeth Souder James, a daughter of a prominent real estate developer in Philadelphia.

Lawson pursued his education in private schools and under private tutors in Vancouver, Washington, until 1882, when he made his initial step in the business world by becoming an apprentice in a sash and door factory, in which he spent a year. In 1883 he embarked in the building material business and was active in that until 1886. In Tacoma in attended Washington College and at the same time taught school for a year. He afterward gave his attention to the improvement of the homestead his father had previously taken up at Cosgrove, Washington. After a year he returned to Tacoma and began his profession as a civil engineer. He remained continuously in Tacoma with the exception of two years spent in Everett as city engineer. He became a partner of A. H. Lindley under the firm name of Lindley & Nicholson. In 1895, after Lindley moved to the east coast, he continued his business alone and gave special attention to land surveys and litigation, land description, municipal work, water front, and water way engineering. He was often called upon as an expert in court proceedings.

A contemporary biographer has said: "During that time much important work has passed through his office. Most of the business blocks and public buildings in Tacoma have been located by him. Municipal work at Steilacoom, Ruston and Everett has received his attention. He provided engineering for the Tacoma Railway and Power Company doing much preliminary work for railroad and power projects. His most important work is the Stadium Bowl. The form and disposition of the entrance and the retaining walls being original with him. Another important project was the opening of the water front road through the property of the Tacoma Smelting Company by a concrete lined tunnel leading to Ruston and Northwest Tacoma and Point Defiance Park. Mr. Nicholson was also engaged in another important water front improvement, the opening of the Hylebos commercial waterway. With these and other public matters he has taken the greatest interest in and given much time and effort toward promoting Tacoma’s welfare and advancement."

Hunt’s book continues with additional: His development of the design of the impressive Tacoma Stadium would of itself be sufficient to carry down his name to future generations, but his activities have covered many and various lines. He gave much of his time for years toward bringing the undeveloped parts of Tacoma’s water front into use. He designed the Tacoma Automobile Speedway, and his idea of slope graduated into steepness to the varying speeds is similar to the practice since adopted in eastern speedways. He was City Engineer of Everett in 1893, City Engineer of Tacoma in 1904, of Steilacoom from 1906 to 1913, and of Ruston from 1905 until 1915. On May 3, 1916 Lawson received the appointment of City Engineer of Tacoma for a second time. He was also engineer for the state harbor line commission and surveyed the harbors of Snohomish, Sidney and Marysville. For a time he specialized in street railroad construction.

Later in his career he formed L. A. Nicholson and Sons. Children Harold and Charles joined with him in continuing to provide essential engineering services for Tacoma. Daughter Dorothy also worked with the firm from time to time. He belonged to many organizations and served in leadership positions.

Lawson Ambrose Nicholson passed away at his Tacoma home March 1, 1947. It was written that his connection with Tacoma stretched out more than six decades. He was widely known as the civil engineer who changed the face of nature to fit the needs of growing, expanding communities. He was deeply interested in northwest history and possessed a broad knowledge of it. "Personally Mr. Nicholson was a warm-hearted, genial and helpful man with many friends."

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