Skip to main content

Kitchen Dick Road

By

Between Sequim and Port Angeles US Route 101 intersects one of the most strangely named roads in the country; Kitchen Dick Road.

The origins of the "Kitchen Dick" part of Kitchen Dick Road are unknown.  However, give that Kitchen Dick Road happens to intersect Woodcock Road north of US 101 it would seem likely the naming is intentional.  Kitchen Dick Road is a north/south road approximately 3 miles in length which ends at the Dungeness County Park.  A Google Street View image of Kitchen Dick Road and Woodcock Road can be found here:

Kitchen Dick and Woodcock

I first spotted Kitchen Dick Road while visiting Olympic National Park in 2015.  I vaguely recalled it being present in 2018 when I noticed it on my GPS.  Apparently the junction of Kitchen Dick Road and Woodcock Road is popular not only for photos but for theft as well.  A Kitchen Dick Road sign appeared on eBay earlier this year but had a high sale price nearing $200 dollars.

Update 5/27/18:  I was provided some links to the Sequim area from; 1940, 1970 and 1995 by NE2 of AAroads which provide insight about where naming of Kitchen Dick Road likely came from.

On this 1940 map there is a plot of land owned by a "W. Dick" on what is now Kitchen Dick Road.  Incidentally there is also a land owner by the name of "Sam Woodcock" along what is now Woodcock Road.

1940 Sequim Historical Map

In 1970 Kitchen Dick Road is shown as "Dick Lane."  There is also a small plot of land at Dick Lane and US 101 owned by "D.B. Kitchen."

1970 Sequim Historical Map

In 1995 Kitchen Dick road was known as "Bill Dick Road."

1995 Sequim Historical Map
Labels:

Comments

Unknown said…
Hi! The road was actually named for the two families that lived on opposite ends of the road. Hello from the dick half of the name :)
6:33 PM
AHURA-MAZDA said…
That fits with what I heard from the Kitchen family. When I was in FFA I use to buy my Steers from them. Though she did say it was originally Kitchen but to honor both families Dick was added.
5:26 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2018 Mojave Road Trip Part 2; The deadly desert highway (California State Route 127 and Nevada State Route 373)

By
After leaving Barstow via Old Highway 58 my next destination was in Death Valley.  To access Death Valley from rural San Bernardino County required a trek on north on Interstate 15 to California State Route 127 which becomes Nevada State Route 373 at the state line. Along I-15 I encountered the road sign oddity that is Zzyzx Road about eight miles south of Baker.   Zzyzx Road is a four mile road that used to go to the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa.   The spa was founded in the 1940s and the owner made up the name "Zzyzx" to claim it was the last word in the English Language.  The spa has been shut down since the 1970s and is now part of a Desert Studies Center for California State University. The southern terminus of CA 127 in Baker is located at I-15 exit 246.  CA 127 is a 91 mile north/south highway which runs to the Nevada State Line in Inyo County.  CA 127 is called Death Valley Road from I-15 northward.  South of CA 127 ...
4 comments
Read more

Finding the Pre-Emption Road of New York State

By
  The Pre-Emption Road (or rather a series of roads named Pre-Emption Road) follows a survey line called the Pre-Emption Line, drawn in the early days of the United States. The story begins with Massachusetts and New York having competing land claims to modern day Western New York State that have their roots in colonial charters granted by the British. After the Revolutionary War ended, this land became the frontier of the nation and its settlement became a priority for the new American government. During this era, there were a lot of competing land claims that needed to be settled. It was no different with the land claims between New York State and Massachusetts. On November 30, 1786, Massachusetts and New York sent representatives to Hartford, Connecticut to resolve their competing land claims. In less than three weeks, the representatives had reached a compromise. Massachusetts would receive pre-emption rights, meaning the right to sell the land after the Indian title ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What's In a Name?: When the Roads Really Do Tell a Story

By
  Our tagline on the Gribblenation blog is "because every road tells a story". Some roads tell different stories than others. Along our travels, we may see historic markers that tell us a little story about the roads we travel or the places we pass by. Some historic markers are more general, as to telling us who lived where or what old trail traversed between two towns. During my travels across New York State and other states or provinces, I pass by many historic markers, some with interesting or amusing references to roads. I wanted to highlight a few of the markers I've seen along my travels around the Empire State and help tell their stories. Those stories may be as specific as explaining the tales of a tree that was used to help measure a distance of eight miles from Bath to Avoca in Steuben County, as referenced on the Eight Mile Tree historical marker above. They may also help point the way along historical roads first used centuries ago, or may help tell a local l...
Post a Comment
Read more