Seminary Hill is a large urban natural area occupying hilltop
property overlooking Centralia, Chehalis, and the Skookumchuck
river valley. The area is called Seminary Hill because in 1884, the
Northwest Convention of Missionary Baptists established a seminary
here on the hill on land donated from a homestead.
When I am spending time in Chehalis visiting the grandkids I
come here to walk, I am a walker. On one of my walks I notice
plaques showing the trails names and occasionally, other
information. One in particular caught my eye, the plaque dedicated
to Rufus Kiser.
Rufus Kiser was an outdoor man, a champion for Seminary Hill.
Kiser taught botany, biology, forestry and zoology at Centralia
College for 42 years. He started researching the plant species on
Seminary hill in the mid-1930s and continued until his death in
1995. One amazing thing that Kiser discovered during this research
is that 80 percent of plant species native to Washington State live
on the hill. This discovery led to the hill becoming a protected
natural area.
Rufus Kiser was first introduced to the outdoors at the age of
10 when he joined the Lone Scouts of America. The scouting
organization must have made a great impression on him as he served
in and for the Boy Scouts of America for 75 years. In addition to
scouting, Kiser volunteered countless hours with the Keep
Washington Green contest each year, visiting schools and talking to
children about the dangers of fire.
Rufus Kiser walked the trails of Seminary Hill until his death
in 1995 at age 88. Kiser was a walker. I like walkers.
.
Disclaimer:
My caches are within 20 feet of the trail (usually much less) and
are in the obvious spot. No destruction of the environment is
needed nor will be tolerated.Cachers need to be aware of their
physical abilities and should plan accordingly. If you are going
out into nature, take the essentials! I want to get you out there
so I am happy to help if you can’t find a cache. Go have fun!