Rhs Newsletter 01 2004

History is Happening in Redmond!

The Redmond Recorder January 2004 Vol. 6, No. 1 Redmond Historical Society

Our mission: To discover, recover, preserve, share and celebrate Redmond’s history 16600 NE 80th St, Room 106, Redmond, WA, 98052 425-885-2919 www.redmondhistory.org [email protected] Office hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 1-4pm

New meeting time! Jan. 10 @ 10:30am Due to member requests, we’re going back to general meetings in the morning. We’ll be in a smaller room, 103, but meeting in the a.m. will free folks for the rest of the day.

Jan. 10 speaker:

Police Lt. Jim Taylor

Retiring Jan. 14, Jim is the longest serving police officer in Redmond’s history: 33 years! He’ll reflect on interesting cases and humorous events over his career. He’s worked a record 33 straight Derby Days, even cutting short a vacation in Washington, D.C., to make it one year. Jan. 10 meeting 10:30am-12 noon Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center Room 103

The Redmond Recorder

A few words from our new President I may have a Woodinville address, but this is where my heart beats, Redmond. After my birth in the old Kirkland hospital, which is now a wine shop, my parents, Harry and Louise Aries, brought me home to the farm in the Sammamish Valley. My sister Angela Aries Lang and I grew up surrounded by Italian families who were partners of the Aries Gardens truck farm, which is now the Willows Run Golf course. My grandparents Albert and Carolina Aries settled in the valley in the early 1920s. I attended grade school at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse. How fitting that our historical office was my first grade classroom. I never moved far and after my marriage to Mel Lang and one year living in Kirkland I returned to Redmond and raised my children, Teresa Becker, the society’s treasurer, Mike Lang and Carolyn Banning. Counting my grandsons, four generations of my family attended Redmond schools. In repeated calls, my school friend Dusty Watts Blair said, “Judy, you need to attend this new group. It is so much fun and you will love seeing and reminiscing with the old-timers of Redmond.” Well, after attending one meeting, I was hooked. Who were these people that started this group? Some weren’t even born here and why were they interested in hearing our stories? I cherish the thought that I belong to a group of very interesting Redmondites who want to preserve the memories and facts of our town. The society is a valuable source of information for our community, schoolchildren, visitors and those of us who want to know a little more than memory allows. We have been collecting oral histories, making videos, producing a walking brochure and calendar of historic barns, scanning old photos and collecting memorabilia. We are supported by membership dues, generous donations and a volunteer staff. I urge all of you to invite a friend, old or new, to attend one of our meetings. After all, if it weren’t for Dusty, I might not have joined in the fun. And thank you to my new friends who brought this society together.

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History is Happening in Redmond!

2004 meetings All @ 10:30 am

Second Saturday of the month Jan. 10 June 12 Feb. 14 Sept. 11 March 13 Oct. 9 April 10 Nov. 13 May 8

2004 Board Judy Lang, President Naomi Hardy, VP Miguel Llanos, VP Teresa Becker, Treasurer Margaret Weise, Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley, Recording Secretary

Directors

Roy Buckley Terri Gordon Tom Hitzroth Larry Hoger Doris Schaible Veronica Smirnov

Volunteers needed

Videos, oral histories

Transfer videotapes to CDs; taping oral interviews. Call Judy Lang at 425-823-3551.

A Quarter Mile of History in the 1940s

By Bill Kruller

I have been receiving The Redmond Recorder for the past few issues. I think this is because Clara Hammersberg put my name on your list. She and I are active on the LWHS alumni committee for the class of 1952. So I give in! I am sending membership money. I do not know what you consider history or whether what I can contribute is of interest, but here is something: During 1945-1952, when my ages were 11 through 18, I lived on 148th between King's Grasslawn Ranch (now Grasslawn Park) and Morelli's chicken and egg ranch (now part of the Microsoft campus). The road was dilapidated asphalt and extended only to where Sears is today. One of my pastimes was to see how far I could ride my bike without touching a patched pothole. The neighbors had two geese that would wander onto the road and hiss cars to a stop should the cars think they had the right-of-way. King' s Grasslawn Ranch was owned and operated by Mr. King, who had a happy, out-going personality similar to that of Santa Claus. Of course he had no beard, and also was minus a few fingers in the hand that he waved as he drove by on his Ford wheel tractor with a trailer full of farm implements. His occupation was to till the soil for acreages within a large region. Kitty-corner from Grasslawn Ranch lived Gus Steen, whom I think we can consider as somewhat a hermit. He rode a one-speed bicycle as transportation (few adults rode bicycles at that time) and played the violin. He would visit us at times and fiddle up a storm with my uncle who could also fiddle up a very fast tune.

Lawyer

Very occasional review of documents/contracts. Call Miguel at 425 869-9806.

Office staff

Greet visitors, help with small tasks as regular or substitute. Call Judy Lang at 425 823-3551.

Member renewals

We’d like folks to renew in January, so please use form on back page to do so.

The Redmond Recorder

Beba Family Album courtesy Bill Kruller

Bill Kruller and his aunt Claribel Beba in 1946, sitting on the lumber that was to become the Beba’s home on 148th Ave NE. The end of World War II meant the Bebas could finally get lumber – and move out of the garage they’d been living in!

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History is Happening in Redmond! Continued from page 2

Quarter Mile of History My uncle (in-law) was Julian Beba. His wife, Claribel, was my mother' s sister. They accepted me as a foster kid for my teen years. Julian was of a pioneer family, growing up in Avondale prior to WWI and served in France as a soldier taking care of the horses. His career was that of a milk delivery man, starting with horse drawn wagons for Darigold, then driving for Marymoor Farms during WWII, later retiring from driving for Happy Valley Farms. Claribel was a housewife until she reached the age of 60. She had many domestic hobbies, such as making and selling jewelry made of shells. At 60 or so, she acquired a driver’s license, learned how to take and develop photos, and became a freelance reporter for the Sammamish Valley News. In 1941 the Bebas built a two-car garage on 24 acres they owned on 148th. They sold their house in West Seattle and moved into the garage ready to build a house. Pearl Harbor happened and froze access to all building supplies. They lived in the garage until 1947. When I arrived, my bedroom was a dirt floor shed that I shared with, but walled off from, the well room, the chickens, a couple of pigs, and a Hereford calf. I was very happy. The garage still stands. The house that was built in the post-war years was modified a couple of years ago.

Beba Family Album courtesy Bill Kruller Bill Kruller lived in the building at left, the Bebas in the garage at right

Miguel Llanos The garage still stands attached to the home the Bebas built in 1946 and recently remodeled with a second story

The only other home between Grasslawn Ranch and Morelli' s was across the street from us. The Cooper family rented there. They were very happy people from Montana, but living conditions were primitive. Their utilities consisted of a hand pump for water at the kitchen sink and an outhouse down the hill. Morellis and a slice of Italy And there was the Morelli ranch, where I spent most of my free time between the ages of 11 and 14. Three brothers who immigrated from Italy, and later found wives in Italy to bring here, created and operated the ranch. Each raised wonderful children. Eggs brought them income on a farm of thousands of chickens. In the spring I was allowed to be part of the team to inoculate hundreds of new chicks, later put them out to range freely all summer in 40 acres of open space, and then in the autumn collect them into laying dormitories where they roamed freely inside the walls. The ranch was ideal Americana, feeding the families from homegrown sources. A huge vegetable garden plowed by a draft horse, fruit trees, sheep, milk cows, and hogs. They preserved food as home canned fruit and vegetables, sausage, and salted meat stored in basement storage lockers. They built a cantina, brought grapes by the truckload from California, and produced marvelous wine. A fourth brother was an executive with a Seattle firm that collected garbage. Each fall Morellis had a huge picnic in the field where the young chickens ranged. All of the drivers from the garbage firm came and feasted on pit-roasted lamb, drank the wine, and played the Italian bowling game of bocce. Neighbors were not invited, but I was considered extended family, so attended, bringing home samples to the Bebas. If you drive that quarter mile today, it is difficult to imagine the scene of which I write. The Redmond Recorder

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Thank yous!

A heap of historical thanks to these great people for donating treasures, expertise, time and energy to support our mission!

Frances Meitzer for donation of paperwork from Fred' s work with CARE. Redmond Lions Club for donating their archive of newsletters, plaques, photographs, and Dr. John Way’s papers. Jeffrey Andrews, editor of the Redmond Reporter, for highlighting the poorly maintained Redmond cemetery. Sarah Koenig, reporter for the Redmond Reporter, for her continuing coverage of the people and issues that form the fabric of Redmond’s history. Doris Schaible, Angela Aries Lang, Shlomit Weil-Piechenick, Russ and Millie Goetschius, and Naomi Hardy for staffing our table at the Overlake Church bazaar. Glenn and Norma Lampaert for their financial contribution in memory of Grace Lampaert, Roy Lampaert’s late wife. All the volunteers who worked hard and gave their time to make the Redmond Historical Society a success in 2003.

Happy Birthday Audrey!

Audrey and her great-grandson rode a fire truck in the 2001 Derby Days parade

Our member with the most life experience, Audrey Gorlick, turns 99 on Jan. 27 so let’s all wish her well! She always shows spunk and enthusiasm, whether it’s at our meetings or at the Nokomis Club – and that’s an inspiration! The Redmond Recorder

Vaughan family info? Virginia Frisone asks that anyone with information on the Frank Vaughan family contact her. Frank, who is buried at Redmond City Cemetery, died in 1943 and Elizabeth in 1950. Virginia can be contacted at: [email protected] 552 Rothrock Rd. Akron, Oh 44321-1341 Fax: 330 666 5293

Beba/Crosby barn info? Though the Beba/Crosby barn on 116th was destroyed to make way for new homes, the silo that was attached to it was salvaged by Jeff and JoAnn Parrish, who are erecting it next to a new barn in the Snoqualmie Valley. They’re looking for information and photos of the barn/silo and can be contacted at [email protected]

Were you at our Nov. 8 meeting? These folks were: Adams, Ray Alexander, Margo Marr Becker, Teresa Lang Buckley, Roy Elduen, Violet Cook Emmanuel, Tony Frey, Stan Gilbert, Evelyn King Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russell Gorlick, Audrey R. Hitzroth, Tom Ingersoll, Jo Ann Lang, Angela Aries Lang, Judy Aries Leicester, Norma Llanos, Miguel Malowney, Georgeann Marr, Clare (Amo) Marrs, Carl L. Marrs, Pat McCormick, Elma McCoskrie, Ruth Ann Morris, Allison Reed Munoz, Alexa Weil-Piechenick, Shlomit Potter, Jo Ann Reed, Woody Roe, Julie Roe, Phil Rosenbach, Patsy Schaible, Doris Smirnov, Ilya Smirnov, Veronica Stoneback, Phyllis Standley, Beryl Torell, Jerry Traeger, Tom Traeger, Bobbie Turner, Judy Gilbert Weiss, Rose Wiese, Margaret Evers 4

History is Happening in Redmond!

History Mystery Photo

Glenn Lampaert is the boy sitting on the left, but who’s his friend? And who’s the driver, as well as woman sitting in the back? Photo is circa 1930. Send your thoughts to Naomi at [email protected] or 425-883-3866.

Can you guess the building?

Logging matinee shows Eric Erickson is back with his movie, slide and oral history series! Issaquah Railroad Depot 50 Rainier Blvd N 11 am to 12:30 pm Feb. 21: Big Trees Feb. 28: Felling, bucking March 6: Skidding, yarding March 13: Hauling March 20: Sawmills Free for Issaquah Historical Society Members

Tom Hitzroth, at left, and Naomi Hardy challenge you to figure out which downtown building has this painted over brick chimney. The answer will be in the February newsletter!

The Redmond Recorder

Others: $7 per show; $35 for series, includes membership and a copy of Eric’s Lumber Business and Mills, King County

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Stories, photos to share?

Newsletters via e-mail and off our Web site

Or a Redmond history mystery that needs to be solved? You can: Send items to our office via US mail , E-mail [email protected] Call Miguel at 425 869-9806 ---------------------------------------

More than 600 people receive our free monhly newsletter, but success has its price: It’s getting very expensive for the City, which mails out hardcopies in exchange for society research time. As a result, we’re asking everyone with Internet access to receive it either via e-mail or our Web site at www.redmondhistory.org

Violet Elduen corrected our caption on the funeral procession photo in November’s issue. It’s Eva Bastian, not Eve, and she was Frank McKay’s daughter. Minnie Batley McKay was his wife. --------------------------------------90th anniversary comes to an end City staff have done a great job celebrating our 90th year as a city, but as of Dec. 31, 2003, we’re 91. 100 here we come!

If you have Internet access and haven’t been called by our staff it’s because we don’t know you have e-mail. In this case, please send us an e-mail message at [email protected] stating that you’ll try out the new system.

Correction:

Our staff have called folks who don’t receive it electronically and for whom we have e-mail information. If you received a call but didn’t want to switch, please reconsider. If you try it and it doesn’t work on your end, you can always go back to US Mail.

By the way, our electronic newsletter has some clear advantages: 1) The photos are much sharper, and newer ones are in color. 2) You can save the digital version on your computer. 3) Digital versions can easily be searched by keyword.

Join the Redmond Historical Society Please pay 2004 dues in January!!

And help discover, recover, preserve, share and celebrate Redmond’s history! Levels of Membership (Check 1 only)

Trailblazer (Student) ............... $ 5.00 Pioneer (Individual) ............. $ 20.00 Homesteader (Family) ......... $ 35.00 Entrepreneur (Supporter) ... $ 200.00 Corporate (Business).......... $ 250.00 History Maker (Lifetime) $ 1,000.00

All Contributions are Tax Deductible

Please make checks payable to: Redmond Historical Society Mail To: Redmond Historical Society Attn: Membership ORSCC, Room 106 16600 NE 80th Street Redmond, WA 98052

Name__________________________________________________ Phone ______________________ (Please print your name exactly as you would like it to appear on your name tag for general meetings.)

Address _____________________________________________ City _______________________ St ________ Zip _________________ E-Mail Address ________________________________________ Birth Date (MM/DD/YYYY) __________________________________ If Family Membership, other names to be included: _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like a short, one-liner on your name tag (e.g. Charter Member, or Pioneers Since 1903), enter it below:

The Redmond Recorder

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