In a news release this week, the Lewis County Dignity Guild announced it has leased the “Judge Seymour White House" in Chehalis as a base of operations for their continued community building.
A historical building across Northwest Pacific Avenue from the Lewis County Courthouse and Lewis County Public Health & Social Services, the location is a three-story Victorian home first built in 1904.
The Dignity Guild, founded in 2022, is a 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit with the goal of “building placemaking efforts and effecting community narrative change by providing a sense of dignity, justice and belonging to marginalized communities and their allies in Lewis County,” the release stated.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to utilize such a historic location to provide us a seat at the table in the heart of our community as we continue our work making space for LGBTQ+, BIPOC and other underrepresented people throughout Lewis County to know that they belong here,” the Dignity Guild board wrote in a statement. “We look forward to completing some accessibility considerations to make this space open to all and can't wait to invite the community out for an official open house and celebration as soon as those modifications are complete!"
The Victorian home was first built in 1904 for Judge Seymour White. Ela Simmons later purchased the home and operated it as a brothel until as late as the early 1970s.
The property is often referred to locally as the Ella Simmons House or the "House of IIl Repute,” the release stated. After being left vacant for years, the house was declared a public nuisance and city officials reluctantly authorized its demolition in 1986.
About the time crews had removed the attic and roof, a local contractor, Frank Mason, stepped in to save the historic home and restore it to its original grandeur.
Since then, it has held various local groups and businesses. Most recently, it was the Dandelion Creative Space, which held various art classes.
The Dignity Guild previously met over Zoom and in various local businesses. Board Secretary Justine Pense said it will be nice to “have a home base.” The nonprofit intends to hold classes and workshops in its new location and serve as a host for various local groups and events.
Learn more about the nonprofit and its board at DignityGuild.com.
