Chamber Dedicates Commercial Historic District Project to John Stuehmeier at Ribbon Cutting, Gives First Walking Tour of District

The Centralia Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Centralia, celebrated the Centralia Commercial Historic District project Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting, while dedicating the project to the late John Stuehmeier and providing the first walking tour of the district.

The project includes 58 structures in Centralia’s downtown built between 1953 to 1958.

The ceremony was opened by Matt Packman, Membership Director of the Chamber, who spoke on Stuehmeier’s lifelong love and dedication to Centralia, as well as his contributions to the project, for which he served as an historic advisor.

“John lived and breathed Centralia, and he served this community in a myriad of ways,” said Packman. “Whether you knew him as a former mayor, city councilman, co-owner of the Shopper’s Weekly newspaper, a member of countless boards and commissions, an animal activist, a theater performer, a balloon enthusiast, or the town historian - John Stuehmeier was all of those things and so much more.”

“The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce would like to thank John for his commitment to Centralia, his commitment to progress, and doing the right thing for the right reasons,” Packman continued. “We dedicate this project to his memory.”

Packman’s words were followed by Stuehmeier’s wife, Cathy Steuhmeier, who said her husband would have been very happy with the completion of the project, the implementation of the plaques, and the dedication in his honor.

“Centralia was blessed to have him, and he was blessed to have Centralia,” said Cathy. “John would be very touched today.”

City Manager Galen Mahle, who previously served on the Centralia Historic Preservation Commission under Stuehmeier’s leadership, wished to thank everyone that made the project possible.

“There are so many people that have played a part in not only in the plaques and the walking tour but the designation of the downtown as a historic downtown district. On behalf of the City of Centralia, I want to thank everyone that has been a part of these processes,” said Mahle. ”It takes the efforts of many to make lasting change, and we have seen that time and time again in Centralia,” Mahle said in closing. “As long as we have good people doing good things, then good things happen. That is what we are celebrating today.”

Marcus Holland, Executive Director of the Chamber, would also speak before the ceremony, detailing the timeline of the project’s creation, as well as the years of collaboration between Stuehmeier, the Chamber, and the City.

“When I started at the Chamber in 2017, I started working with the City as the Image Committee, and we recognized that this was something that had been done before in 2012, but there was nothing to grab ahold of and market. So, we worked with John and got down to how do we recognize these buildings,” Holland recalled. “The idea of the plaques was something that we worked out in a group with John Stuehmeier, along with the City of Centralia and the Chamber.”

Holland thanked John and Cathy Steuhmeier, Centralia Historic Preservation Commission, Centralia Area Historic Museum, Centralia Image Committee, Centralia Tourism Commission, and past and current city administration.

“We are offically part of the National Registry of Historic places,” Holland advised. “This is not something every town has.”

Rob Jackson, Economic Director for the City of Centralia, spoke on behalf of the City’s Tourism Commission, discussing the new historic walking tour that will accompany the plaques, and the opportunity - both historic and economic - that brings to downtown Centralia.

“A key part of our downtown revitalization is our new historic walking tour. This isn’t just a stroll down memory lane—it’s a proven economic engine. By drawing visitors into the heart of our city, we increase foot traffic for our boutiques, diners, and service providers. Studies show that heritage tourism keeps dollars in the community longer; when people stop to learn about our landmarks, they stay to grab a bite to eat, browse a shop, and support your livelihoods.”

Following the ribbon cutting, Jamie Allen, Marketing Coordinator at the Chamber, led the first walking tour of the Centralia Commercial Historic District.