Ground was broken on July 1, 1922 for a modern $200,000 Catholic boys school by the Dominican Sisters on the grounds of the 97 acre country estate of the late J. Shields, "Shangarry." The completed school, Marymount Military Academy (photographed here in 1937), was located in what is now Spanaway. It was a spacious two story structure of five buildings in the Lombardine Mission style. The school housed a modern gym, pool and infirmary as well as surrounding playing fields, stables, tennis courts and shooting ranges. It was the only military school in the state of Washington. In 1974, the school dropped its military appellation and became a boarding school for wealthy families. It closed in 1976. The property was purchased in the 1980's by Harold LeMay, who used much of it to house his antique car collection.

Marymount Military Academy, Spanaway, Washington in January of 1937. Built by the Dominican Sisters, Marymount was the only military school in the state of Washington. It existed for 54 years, originally as a military academy for boys ages 6-16 and later as a boarding school catering to the wealthy. The school closed in 1976. The buildings then housed the mother house for the sisters and a retirement location for them as well. The school was later sold to Harold LeMay, the owner of a Pierce County trash and recycling business and an avid collector of antique motor vehicles.