Peste family sign unveiled at Port of Shelton

Sharon Johnston remembers playing in the field at her grandparents' Peste Farm in Shelton before the U.S. government in 1941 exercised eminent domain and acquired the property for use by the U.S. Navy, which planned to build a Naval Air Station on the property and adjoining land.

Now 86, Johnston on Aug. 19 stood on the property for the dedication of a plaque and two benches that celebrates it as the former site of the G. Peste Farm, established in 1909. In February 2023, the Port of Shelton Commission recognized the family's history on the site and designated it Peste Business Park.

"We were here and loved the land, and we're still here loving the land," she told the audience at the dedication ceremony attended by family members, local officials and Port of Shelton staff.

The plaque was designed and fully fabricated by Cooper Studios in downtown Shelton. Forrest Cooper studied the history of the property and the family. He told the audience he wanted to design the sign to be low maintenance and last a long time.

The Peste family homesteaded and farmed the property from 1909 to 1941, when the government bought the land for use by the Navy. The family stayed in the area, making their mark in Christmas tree production and employment, education, healthcare, the arts and community service.

Gottfried John Peste was born in the German state of Prussia and emigrated to the United States in 1888. He moved to Mason County in 1902 and married German immigrant Sophia Tatsal three years later. Daughter Dorothy was born in 1907, son Fred in 1909.

On their prairie land west of Shelton, the family grew rye and sold meat. According to the family, Gottfried purchased the first Fordson tractor and thrasher in the county in 1921. They also say Sophia Peste was the first patient at Mason County Hospital in 1930.

The Port of Shelton was established in 1948. In 1957, the port was deeded more than 1,000 acres. The site was named Sanderson Field in 1966.

At the ceremony, Port of Shelton Commissioner Dick Taylor told the audience the port considered renaming a street at the industrial park for the Peste family, but that would have required changes of address. The port also considered naming one of its buildings after the family, Taylor said. The final decision was "let's name the whole industrial district after them," he said.