Rhs Newsletter 03 2004

History is Happening in Redmond!

The Redmond Recorder March 2004 Vol. 6, No. 3 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

President’s Corner

Perrigo’s Plat:

March 13th Meeting

Don’t miss the display case in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center to see the Tom Hitzroth wonderful work of Rose Weiss, will delve into Pat Weiss Jovag, Barbara the mystery of Weiss Joyce and Amo Marr. who killed This sure brings back some fond Leticia old memories of Girl Scouting in Whitehall. Join Redmond. The uniforms belong to us, 10:30-noon. the Marr family. The photos belong to Pat and Barbara. The doll was made by Willa Stopera Faye and given to Rose Weiss.

Will its future retain some of its past?

You might wonder what it has to do with the school. Well, it all began with Dorothy Green approaching Frances Willis, a teacher there. The first troop was formed with Frances as the scout leader. Some of the first Girl Scouts were Betty Buckley Anderson, JoAnn Pope Watkins, Lorna “Barney” Johnson Reilly, Virginia Ottini, and Carol Wycoff. This took place in 1933 when these girls were in the 5th or 6th grades.

One of the well-kept bungalows on 165th.

Photo by Miguel Llanos

The troop sharpened their camping skills at Frank and Margaret Buckley's cabin on Camano Island. Frances also took some girls to San Francisco’s World’s Fair and some continued on for a month of camping. Later, many town folk helped with work parties at Camp Robbinswold. Dorothy Green, wife of Lewis Green, was the camp director. When it came time for camping, the school activity bus would stop at the capitol in Olympia and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Clare Chapin, the school cook, came along to treat the campers with her delicious meals. Initiation might be something like sand crabs in your sleeping bag, but this was all in fun. Other activities included camp fires with songs, s’mores or banana boats and -- for the gourmet camper -- roasted oysters. Added info and any corrections to these memories are welcome. Just give us a call, write or send 
 an e-mail.   

The Redmond Recorder



The City has begun taking a look at Perrigo’s Plat, a neighborhood that still looks much like it did in the 1920s and ‘30s. Liz Coward and Naomi Hardy recently surveyed 165th between 83rd and 85th streets, the plat’s core, and came up with these familiar names of past residents: Rex & Frances Swan, Mayor Harley & Blanche Shelton, Florence & Loren Hansen, the Pastor Clarence & Thenora Aumiller, Judd & Mamie Orr, Zora Butorac, Frank & Margaret Buckley, and George & Florence Julian. Last month, City officials, local property owners, residents and others (Society members among them) met to exchange views on what kind of development should be allowed there. Property owners wanted more flexibility, while the Society lobbied for preserving the quaint character. The question became:

Can we have it both ways? That’s the challenge now, and the public input process has just begun. Please stay tuned and let Judy, Miguel or Naomi know if you want to get involved. And let City officials know how you feel!

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History is Happening in Redmond!

2004 Meetings

Thanks to our Newest Lifetime Member

All @ 10:30 am Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center 16600 NE 80th St. Second Saturday of the month March 13 June 12 April 10 Sept. 11 May 8 Oct. 9 Nov. 13 _________________________

2004 Executive Board Judy Lang, President Naomi Hardy, VP Miguel Llanos, VP Teresa Becker, Treasurer Margaret Wiese, Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley, Recording Secretary Board of Directors Roy Buckley Terri Gordon Tom Hitzroth Larry Hoger Amo Marr Doris Schaible Veronica Smirnov

Volunteers Needed Videos, oral histories Transfer videotapes to CDs; taping oral interviews. Call Judy Lang at 425-823-3551.

Office staff Greet visitors, help with small tasks as regular or substitute. Call Judy Lang at 425-8233551.

Memberships If you haven’t joined or renewed yet, please use the form on the last page to do so. Memberships and donations are tax deductible!!

The Redmond Recorder

Photo by Naomi Hardy

Barbara Beeson volunteered at the Society office before she and her husband moved back East.

Former Redmond resident, horsewoman, planning commissioner and environmental activist Barbara Beeson joined our lifetime member club with a $1,000 donation. She and her husband, famed researcher Dr. Paul Beeson, moved to Exeter, N.H., a few years ago to be closer to their children.

Redmondiscing… Excerpts of e-mail from Gaye M. Crosby Smith, now of Colorado Springs, to Society board member Terri Gordon about her childhood and the now demolished Beba/Crosby barn on 116th.: “I received the package with 5 (!) precious calendars in it today. … Looking at these photos of the barns felt a bit like going home. I never really lived in Redmond, but am a ‘native’ and Redmond was the only home I knew when we'd come back to the States to visit. So many of these barns look familiar! This makes me want to come back for a visit, and find the barns -could it be I'm homesick? I eagerly await your next project!” “My grandparents' farm was the only home I knew in the States -- we moved to Germany when I was 5 years old, but every other summer we would come back to see our family and would stay on the farm in Redmond. My aunt, Vivian Crosby Robinson, still lives across the street -- she's the one who sent me the article about the barn being torn down. That was a bit upsetting to me; time moves on I know, but that was sad to hear.” E-mail from Elinor Cerqui Loftin: “Hello Redmond Historians, What a fine website and newsletter you have. I grew up with Judy and Angela Aries, as my grandpa and then dad were partners with the Aries. Judy is still youthful and sparkling according to the newsletter picture.”

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History is Happening in Redmond!

History Mystery Photo

Courtesy of Cory de Jong

Members of the Silhouette Dance Club, circa 1968. Cory de Jong identified his parents, Ruby and Cory, as the woman in the striped top and the man to the right. He also identified the Sorweides as the couple at left, he’s in a suit and she’s in plaid. If you can identify others, and/or know where this was taken, please contact Naomi Hardy at [email protected] or 425-8833866. Below is a fitting tribute to the friendships made in the dance club.

Corker Excerpted from a letter by Tony Emmanuel 1/18/04

The 1950s, 60s and 70s were years of the Silhouette Dance Club of Redmond. Anyone who was anyone in our little town of 1,450 people in 1960 was in our dance club. The mayor, city attorney, police chief, fire marshal, teachers, doctors, lawyers, business owners, builders and, of course, several of the eventual Boeing engineers and machinists, and local farmers, who were the mainstay of the area in “the old days.” On one of our Saturday night dances, a group of us were standing in a circle talking. I don’t remember the subject, but I said something and Charlotte Bailie hauled off and corked me one on the arm. I saw it coming and flexed my arm, so it didn’t hurt. I said “Is that as hard as you can punch?” She corked me again and I wasn’t ready – ouch! From that day on, when Charlotte could sneak one in, she’d cork me on the arm with the terrific punch she had. If she caught me by surprise, I’d have a sore arm the next day. We went to Charlotte’s memorial last Sunday to celebrate dear Charlotte’s life. She passed away suddenly – stunning us all with shock. I wish she was here right now sneaking upon me with a big corker on the arm. I would love to have that sore arm tomorrow.

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! Jean Rice of Redmond Parks for the Perrigo Park groundbreaking photos. Tracy, Tony and Diane Emmanuel for the dramatic photos of the barn collapsing on the Red Brick Road, Weber’s Mill, the 1992 train wreck on Willows Road, and a brief biography of Everet L. Stevens, who recently passed away at 104. Bill Bennett for five great photos of Syse’s service station and buildings on the triangle between Avondale Road and Avondale Way. Tom Hitzroth for helping us care for our map collection. Betty Buckley Anderson for the photo of the first Girl Scout troop in Redmond. Duane Isackson for the square nails from his still existing Happy Valley cabin, built in 1887. Roy Buckley for the musical program, c.1932, Robert Cotterill conducting. Vern McCorkle for the six grade school photographs 1940-1945. Ed Wiess for his panoramic views of local landscapes from our past. Whoever donated the two folders of old Nokomis Club notes. Please let Naomi know who you are!





 
 

Ilya and Veronica Smirnov: Moved here with their two children in 1999 from Sarov, Russia, a city with 400 years of history! Activities: Ilya, a Microsoft software engineer, built and maintains the Society’s Web site. Veronica, who works at the Redmond Library, has been on the Society’s board since 2001 and updates the content on the Web site. Without this dynamic duo we would not be able to show off our heritage online, in pictures and text! Family ties: Their daughter, Anna, and son, Sergey, have been active in Redmond, volunteering at youth groups and joining our Society at events like Derby Days and the Old Redmond Kiosk dedication.

Were You at our Feb. 14 Meeting? These folks were: Anderson, Betty Buckley Ballisty, Sharon Becker, Teresa Bennett, Bill* Bennett, Jeff* Brulé, Kay Nichols Elduen, Violet Cook Freeman, Suzi Frey, Stan Garland, Lillian Gilbert, Evelyn King Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russell Gorlick, Audrey Hahnlen, Charlotte Everson Hardy, Naomi Himes, Chris Isackson, Duane Ingersoll, Jo Ann Johnston, Amanda Justice, Barbara* Kindrick, Adi* Lang, Judy Aries Leicester, Norma Llanos, Miguel Magnuson, Cheryl Mann, Marge Marrs, Carl Marrs, Pat Martin, Daryl Mayer, Jan Armstrong McCormick, Elma McCoskrie, Don McCoskrie, Eileen Mercer, Betty* Morris, Allison Reed Munoz, Alexa Murphy, Ed Plackett, Holly Resha, John* Rosenbach, Patsy Cook Rosenbach, Ruth Ann Sorweide, Roland Standley, Beryl Thorpe, J. Craig* Torell, Jerry Turner, Judy Gilbert Underhill, Kris Watkins, JoAnn Weil-Piechenick, Shlomit Weiss, Ed Weiss, Rose Wiese, Margaret Evers *First-time visitor

The Redmond Recorder

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Guess the Artist?

“My Friend the Indian Princess” by Barney Reilly

New in our collection is this 1961 abstract painting titled “Nordquist Feed Mill.” Some folks immediately recognize this Redmond icon, aka T&D Feeds, some don’t. Can you guess the artist? The answer is on Page 6.

Rhodes Info? Anyone with information about Maud and/or Gertrude Rhodes or their relatives? If so, Sharon Almas would like to hear about it. She writes that their father, her greatgrandfather, was Richard Allan Rhodes, who died in 1926 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. At the time of his death, Maud and Gertrude were living in Redmond. Their mother was Bertha Stares of St. John’s. Sharon can be contacted at:

Mal Reilly, husband of the late Barney Reilly, sent us the stories she wrote from a child’s view to go with the watercolor pictures she painted and copies of which now hang in the Old Schoolhouse Community Center. Below is the scene and story of her friendship with Edweena Forgue, a Snoqualmie Tribe member who lived across from the community church. Thank you Mal for sharing these with us. All the stories will be available in our office for reading. Tucked away in the woods very near to where I lived was a tiny house of only two rooms. It was the home of an old Indian woman I visited. When no one was looking I would sneak canned goods from our basement shelves and carry them in the skirt of my dress until I reached my friend’s house. In return she would walk with me through her small yard pointing out her special wild flowers. She said that when a flower or tree was to be transplanted it must be re-planted in exactly the same direction as it had originally grown. N. E. S. or West. These directions must always be the same. The first time I heard the wind chimes, the sound was coming from the woods at her house. The tinkling glass chimes were so restful to the ear. When I hear them, I think of my friend Edweena Forgue, the Indian princess.

Mad Cow Loose in Schoolhouse!

11 Springside Drive Hamilton, Ontario L9B1M5 Canada

We’ve heard long ago stories from our members of how a group of prankster boys once led a cow upstairs in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse, in order to confound the teaching staff. We’ve also heard that you can lead a cow upstairs, but that it won’t go down.

[email protected]

So, how did those (unnamed) fellows get the cow down the schoolhouse stairs? If you know, please share it with Naomi Hardy, [email protected] or 425-883-3866.

Or contact Margaret Wiese at 425-746-0472. The Redmond Recorder

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Newsletters via E-mail and off our Web Site

New on our Web Site Finding related stories and photos on our Web site is now easier thanks to Webmaster Ilya Smirnov. Here’s an example of the new feature: 1) Go to www.redmondhistory.org. 2) Under "Latest photos" at top left click on "Lt. Jim Taylor". 3) A new screen will appear in the right pane, scroll to the bottom for links to articles and photos that contain some of the same keywords in the information on Lt. Taylor. 4) You can then click on any link to navigate to that related information.

Who’s the Artist? (Asked on Page 5)

Nearly 700 people receive our free monthly newsletter, but success has its price: It’s 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 If you try it and it doesn’t work on your end, you can always go back to U.S. Mail. If you have Internet access, please send us an e-mail message at [email protected] stating that you’ll try out the new system. 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. 4) You can easily forward a copy along to a friend or relative.

Betty J. Mercer

Join the Redmond Historical Society Please pay 2004 dues ASAP!! 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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