Mary E. Theler Community Center & Wetlands

A Community Treasure. Mary E. Theler Community Center was a gift to the children and people of North Mason by long-time resident and real estate developer Sam Theler in honor of his wife Mary Theler.

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The Community Center provides a focal point for the community. Events for youth and seniors, weddings and other community activites are hosted at the Center. Thanks to the generous gift of Sam Theler, the people of North Mason have come to think of Theler as large part of the "sense of place" that defines North Mason.

Sam Theler intended the wetlands area to be ball fields for the children of North Mason, but environmental concerns precluded that wish. Instead the area has been crafted into a world-class wetlands preserve, which provides recreation and an outdoor wildlife classroom for all ages.

Both the Community Center and the adjoining Wetlands are owned by the school district. Theler Center is the home for the Theler Wetlands Education Center, which provides unique environmental educational opportunities for the students of North Mason.

The Center is managed by a Board of Directors under the aegis of the North Mason School Board. The Board, staff and community volunteers are committed to making the Mary E. Theler Community Center & Wetlands a premiere community asset.

"Sam and Mary Theler made their first home in Seattle, where Sam was employed. They returned to Belfair in 1926, when they took over management of the Murray store....

Mary Theler

In June 1935, Theler purchased 500 acres of land between Belfair and Allyn from Puget Mill Company on contract, for $4,500.00. He acquired title in 1936 and had it platted into lots. The lots varied from two and one-half acres to 20 acres, mostly about seven acres. Called the Sam Theler Home and Garden Tracts, it was the closest thing to a town plat that Belfair ever had.

Theler gave one tract to the Masonic Lodge, one to the Belfair Full Gospel Church (now a Chinese Restaurant), and a large tract to the Belfair Community Baptist Church. He also gave the land that is the site of the Belfair Elementary School. Much later, he gave five acres across the highway from the school, to be used for a school playground. This is where the Mary E. Theler Community Center building is located. Theler knew it was good business sense to provide amenities in the community to attract home buyers to his development.

Sam Theler died August 24,1968. In his will, the community was named the beneficiary of his estate in a perpetual trust. He also willed 70 acres to the North Mason School District. This has been developed as the Theler Wetlands. It is used for educational, recreational and tourism needs, and is an important Belfair asset."

The History of Belfair and the Tahuya Peninsula 1880-1940 by Irene B. Davis (Shelton WA: Mason County Historical Society, 2001)