The town of Rochester, on the Upper Chehalis River, is said to have gotten its name in 1890 by a pioneer woman named Gaily Fleming, originally from Rochester, Indiana. Spotty accounts also have the town called Moscow, the name being the result of a Russian immigrant who settled there.
The community of Rochester celebrates the heritage of many of its residents each summer with Swede Day Midsommer Festival. The event includes a parade and many family-friendly activities. Photo by The Chronicle.
At one point in the mid-1920s, the area was known for its strawberries and the local athletes were called “the berry pickers.” An estimated 3,000 acres of strawberries were under cultivation in the area until the industry slowly wilted at the beginning of World War II.
Rochester's annual Swede Day brings the vikings out of the woodwork on Saturday, June 20, 2009. Photos by Jesse Smith, slideshow by Dan Schreiber
Grand Mound, the neighboring burg, gets its name from one prominet hill and the observation of pioneers who were curious about the Mima Mounds they discovered upon arrival in the area. Also known as Hogwallows, the heaps of soil are found intermittently throughout the world, although their origin remains unknown. Some have theorized that they are Indian burial mounds, the result of glacial activity, the product of earthquake vibrations or even the actions of giant gophers.
Both Rochester and Grand Mound are unincorporated areas that share the annual Swede Day Midsommar Festival in June, a tribute to the heritage of many who still live in the area.
The event draws more than a thousand people each year and includes a parade, rides, arts and other fanfare.