EFI History
New Approach to an Age Old Problem
01/01/1954
“Before the birth of Exceptional Foresters in 1957, Mason County residents with mentally retarded children were presented with two stark and depressing choices: they could place their children in a state institution or continue to provide care at home. Both options had major deficiencies and posed an intolerable dilemma for…
Read moreExceptional Foresters Incorporated
12/23/1957
“The corporation shall be non-profit and non-stock with membership open to all persons who desire to assist mentally and physically handicapped persons to have greater economic opportunities than they now enjoy, who subscribe to the belief that such persons are potentially productive and employable persons, who pay such dues and…
Read moreSanderson Field
04/01/1958
“Warren Richards began the task of reconstructing the two barracks which had been leased from the Shelton Port Commission. One of these structures was slated for use as an administrative center and the other as a live-in unit. Together, they were to serve as the heart of an organization dedicated…
Read moreOriginal Foresters
07/01/1963
“The period of time between 1958-1963 was marked by slow but steady efforts to build the financial base of Exceptional Foresters. The difficulties encountered and the slow pace of progress of those years stemmed from a desire to build the organization without the aid of government funding. To bring the…
Read moreFour new men added to crew.
07/07/1966
Foresters crew was increased to nine and with nine trainees from Morningside they cleared over 70 acres and started two new tree farms.
Read moreSchreiber Hall
03/19/1970
In 1969 Exceptional Foresters received an opportunity to lease the old State Patrol Academy. A Public Assistance representative had approached Schreiber with a proposal to fund any people the Foresters took in from the larger institutions. At this time, the movement to shift people from the overcrowded larger institutions into…
Read moreExceptional Manor
05/01/1972
In the early 70’s, the State was attempting to reorganize the various health care facilities, establishing new guidelines and requirements. Betty and Lester Krueger had been operating the Shelton Manor Nursing Home for the Elderly, five miles south of Shelton on Highway 101. When the nursing home was reclassified as…
Read moreExceptional Manor
06/01/1972
“The first busload of ladies arrived from Rainier School on June 1, and for the next few days, Exceptional Manor was in a state of absolute bedlam. The move from Rainier School to Shelton was an unprecedented disruption in the lives of a majority of the women. Most had spent…
Read moreCraft Store
07/01/1975
“Eight or nine of the ladies met each morning at the old Rogers School building to cooperate in the construction of quilts. Under the guidance of a teacher, the women carried out all phases of their project. The remainder of the women worked in a separate outbuilding at the Manor…
Read moreCollier Building
07/14/1977
“Dr. Boyd Collier, an old family friend of Bob and Louise Kimbel and a long-time supporter of Exceptional Foresters, made an extremely generous offer to the Board, he would sell his large brick medical building to the Foresters for $57,000. It was a give-away. On July 14, 1975, the Board…
Read moreKimbel Training Center
09/01/1982
“Vocational changes began with the completion in September 1982, of the Kimbel Training Center, an 11,000 square foot facility, located at Sanderson Field. This facility, along with the Recycling Center, has become the hub of the Foresters work operations. In January, 1984 managerial and budgetary decentrali-zation began to produce results…
Read moreShelton Valley Group Homes
06/01/1985
“There were major changes in the residential program also, beginning with the construction of 3 ten-bed group homes in Shelton Valley. These homes emphasize the development of daily living and social skills in an integrated atmosphere of personal rights and responsibilities. It has been an effective formula and client growth…
Read moreMaterial Recovery Facility
07/07/1998
MRF Sold
Read moreKimbel Building
03/20/2005
Construction begins.
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Shelton Valley Group Homes
08/07/2007
Shelton Valley Group Homes Closed 2007
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