Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Guide to the Wiestling Family Papers
1906-1976
Cage 878
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
- Title
- Wiestling Family Papers
- ID
- Cage 878
- Date [inclusive]
- 1906-1976
- Extent
- .5 linear feet of shelf space, 1 box
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Abstract
- Correspondence, leasing records, and irrigation information regarding the Wiestling family property in the Horse Heaven Hills of Benton County, Washington.
Preferred Citation
[Item Description] Wiestling Family Papers, 1906-1976
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
In 1906, Annie Edmunds Wiestling of Seattle, WA acquired the East half of Section 26, Township 6 North, Range 28 East, in the Horse Heaven Hills of Benton County, Washington. With her husband, Frank Wiestling, she managed the land from their home in Seattle. The majority of the time, their half section was leased to the Coffin Sheep Company, which owned all of the surrounding land.
Following their deaths, the land passed to their children, Annette Wiestling Platt, Francesca Wiestling Anderson, and Dorothy Wiestling Wattleworth. By 1951, only Annette Platt maintained interest in keeping the land, and subsequently bought her sisters' shares of the property. She continued a close relationship with the Stanley H. Coffin, both business and personal, throughout his life, and continued the relationship with his son, Stanley H. Coffin II, while managing the land from her homes in Seattle and, later, Portland.
The correspondence in the collection shows that Annette Platt was always considering selling the land, looking for prospective buyers and keeping up to date on the plans to irrigate the Horse Heaven Hills, which would drastically increase the land's value. Eventually she found a buyer through the help of Stanley Coffin II, and sold the land in 1976.
Scope and Content
This collection contains items pertaining to a 320-acre parcel of land in the Horse Heaven Hills region of Benton County, WA. From 1906 to 1975, the property was owned by members of the Wiestling family: Annie Edmunds Wiestling, Annette Wiestling Platt, Francesca Wiestling Anderson, and Dorothy Wiestling Wattleworth. It contains land deeds, grazing leases, maps, and correspondence between family members and other parties regarding the sale of the property.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in a single series.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2017
http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open and available for research use.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Acquisition Information
Elaine Johnson, great granddaughter of Annie Edmunds Wiestling, and granddaughter of Annette Wiestling Platt, donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 2017 (MS.2017.17).
Processing Information
James Feller processed this collection in 2017.
Names and Subjects
Family Name(s)
- Wiestling family -- Records and correspondence
Geographic Name(s)
- Benton County (Wash.) -- History -- Sources
- Horse Heaven Hills (Wash.) -- History -- Sources
Subject(s)
- Irrigation -- Horse Heaven Hills (Wash.)
- Washington (State)
Detailed Description of Collection
| box | folder | |||
|
Correspondence, grazing leases, promissory notes, maps, promotional materials from the Commercial Orchard Land Company for the "Colbia" development, and Horse Heaven Hills Irrigation Project newsletters. 1906-1976 |
1 | 1-2 | ||
|
Land deeds. 1906-1951 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Lower Horse Heaven Project Report. 1970 |
1 | 4 | ||