The old Borst Blockade stands at the south end of Borst Park in Centralia, moved from its original spot after flooding of the confluence of the Skookumchuck and Chehalis River where it once stood. You'll see it on your left as you enter the park.

Built ten feet high to support the overhang on the upper story, you may still see the holes there used for firing down on attackers. It's built of hewn and dovetailed fir logs, with floors and doors of cedar puncheons and loopholes for rifles around the sides.

Once built for deflecting arrows and musket balls, it still stands as a tribute to the Indian Wars fought in our state, though not at this particular point. The military used the site as a stopping point between Fort Vancouver and Fort Steilacoom, but battles were never fought here.

The fort was a grain storage spot for the military and home to the Borst family while their home was being built on what today is the park grounds. The Borst House, pictured, also in the park, was considered the finest house between the Forts at the time it was built in the early 1860's.

Quite a house it is. Joseph Borst even dipped each board in white lead as the house was constructed to make it waterproof. So the house is well-preserved today, with mostly original furnishings.

The grounds are well maintained and gorgeous.  The only disturbing area is 5 grave markers belonging to the Borst children who died in infancy.  The remains have been long removed, but the original crosses still stand with thier names and year of birth/death.  It has been impossible to obtain any medical history or explanation of these deaths.  All that can be said is that this was a time when no physician lived nearby, medical treatment was archaic and no cemeteries had been established yet.

The EVP below was taken from outside the Borst Home and sounds to be from a child.  What is being said is not clear, but we believe the last sentence is "but I don't want to be".  This is the only EVP we were able to obtain and pictures proved to be beautiful, but nothing parnormal was noted.  Because we did get an EVP, we feel this place warrants another try and have planned to investigate at some point in the near future. Keep watching our web site for updates.