Rhs Newsletter 03 2007

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MARCH 2007 NEWSLETTER

Red

THE

REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3

16600 NE 80th Street, Room 106 Redmond, WA 98052 ~ Tel 425.885.2919

Our Mission: To Discover, Recover, Preserve, Share and Celebrate Redmond’s History

website ~ www.redmondhistory.org e-mail ~ [email protected] HOURS: Tuesday through Thursday 1-4 p.m., Friday, 4-6 p.m. and by appointment

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

P

resident’s Corner

G

I just imagine a half dozen or so ladies

rowing Up on Poverty Heights

gathering to read books and the next thing you know they decide to start a library. Well,

If you think Redmond has changed

that’s what happened here in Redmond 88

in the last decade or two, join us

years ago, 1909. They called themselves the

on March 10th for stories from the

Nokomis Club, a name they got from reading

Depression and later years when

Longfellow’s “Hiawatha” poem.

Education Hill was known as Poverty Heights! Yvonne Johnson Conway,

They dedicated themselves to do some “Red

daughter of Tac and Perky Johnson

Cross” work in 1917, donated $15 for books to

and granddaughter of Mabel Perrigo

Redmond High School in 1913, raised money

and Mark Johnson, will be our

for a water fountain for the school (then located in Town Park, now Anderson Park), made Christmas boxes for an orphanage in Des Moines, and raised money for the school gymnasium and other civic projects. These gals met the last Friday of the month for lunch, reading and discussing books and articles and planning fundraising. Money was needed to make these dreams come true so they held dances, card parties and cooked dinners for the Consolidated Grange Fair.

guest speaker. “The Depression was rough,” she says, “but canning everything from the garden, raising beef and hogs, and deer hunting, we never went hungry.” In a biography shared with the Society, Yvonne writes: “I was born in 1932 and raised in the house at the end of the road on the Old Redmond Hill, also known as Poverty Heights, Starvation Heights, Howling Acres and today, 166th.

By 1927 they had accumulated enough

Who would have ever dreamed

money to rent a small building on Leary Way

of a huge shopping mall at the

between the Redmond Trading Post (now

bottom of our hill?”

Half Price Books) and the E.O. Lentz store from Herman Reed for $10 a month and open Redmond’s first library with 800 books. (Continued on page 2)

The Redmond Recorder ~ March 2007

Derby Queen Yvonne Johnson Conway

The library wasn’t their first gift to our city.

NEW LOCATION AND TIME!!! NEXT

MEETING

Saturday, March 10 ~10:30 a.m. at the REDMOND LIBRARY 15990 NE 85th Street in Redmond

Topic: Growing Up in Old Redmond SPEAKER: excerpts about her parents two Yvonne Johnson Conway, plus years ago, and here’s one about DVD clips with Brad Solomon (Continued on page 2)

We published biography

1

History is Happening in Redmond!

GENERAL MEETINGS 2nd Saturday of the Month 10 a.m. unless otherwise stated Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center

16600 NE 80th St

President’s Corner (Continued from page 1)

By 1933 they had enough money to build a library on a lot donated by the Brown family. The building still stands

2007 april 14 ~ Biographer Lyn Lambert on the late local sculptor Dudley Carter. may 12 ~ Shirley Haines on the Lake Washington shipyards. june 9 ~ RHS holds its annual picnic at Anderson Park at noon. september 8 October 13 November 9 ...................................................

2007 Executive Board

Judy Lang President Vice-President Naomi Hardy Vice-President Miguel Llanos Joanne Westlund Treasurer Margaret Wiese Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley Recording Secretary

and today is the home of the Redmond Chamber of Commerce. Well, they’ve come a long way and are not winding down. All of the original members have passed on, but there are currently about 50 members who still meet for lunch the last Friday of each month. Due to the generosity of Audrey Gorlick’s grandnephew the club has enough money to continue their tradition of awarding a $1,000 scholarship each year to a Redmond High School graduate. Next on their agenda is a lasting remembrance (to be decided) of their organization that will be dedicated on their 100th anniversary in 2009. The women who have been part of this organization are very proud of all the accomplishments and gifts to our community, and rightfully so. They just might be the longest operating women’s service club in the state. On Saturday, Yvonne Johnson Conway will speak about living the pioneer life in Redmond and her mother Perky (Perrigo) Johnson, who was active in the Nokomis Club. l ~ Judy Aries Lang, RHS President

Board of Directors

Terri Gordon Tom Hitzroth Jon Magnussen Amo Marr Doris Schaible Patti Simpson Ward

Executive Director

Beryl Standley

Attorney

Charles Diesen

...................................................

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The Redmond Recorder Published nine times annually Editor Miguel Llanos Patti Simpson Ward Newsletter Graphic Designer

The Redmond Recorder ~ March 2007

Redmond's first librarians, 1928

Meeting Topic: Growing up in Poverty Heights (Continued from page 1)

Yvonne’s contribution to Derby Day history. “When I was 17, I was chosen to be a candidate to run for Derby Queen. The Queen candidates traveled to other town celebrations and sold tickets for the Derby raffle (a new car). The Derby Committee ask me to drive that new car and the other candidates to these functions! I was first stunned, then honored and just a little nervous. “All the candidates entered the parade in our ‘Queen Gowns’. Then I changed into my shorts to enter the 25 mile (bike) race, which takes about two hours. Then it’s back into the Queen Gown for the race presentations and the crowning of the Queen (It’s me!). “Now it is late afternoon and we go home for our annual potluck with friends, relatives and neighbors to eat, relax and wait for the dance to start at the IOOF Hall (and Les LaBrie),” she writes, referring to the building that is today’s Edwardian Antiques on Leary Way. “It was a thrill to win the race and an unbelievable honor to be the Derby Queen. What a day!” l

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Civil War Vets

D o you know of any Redmond pioneers who

fought in the Civil War and are buried here? If so,

T

Chandler and Ruthanne Haight, members of Sons

he Truth Behind the Paddle(s)

of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, would love to hear from you via 425.861.1898 or Scotanglocelt@

Redmond Junior High alum Bill Kruller e-mailed us this colorful correction:

Juno.com. l

2007 Walking Tours

Congratulations to the

RHS board member Tom Hitzroth has lined up a

new round of walking tours through old Redmond ~

editor of “Redmond

and even added a new building to the short route as

Reflections,” Naomi Hardy,

the result of new research.

and her helpers. It is

Space is limited, and to sign up either email Tom

obviously written with

(Above) Russell Kellogg, c. 1944

at [email protected] or call the office at

touches of love, respect,

425.885.2919. The tour dates are:

and nostalgia. However, there is one sentence that people



•

April 2nd

should know needs correcting to be accurate in the



•

May 20th

same spirit of love, respect, and nostalgia. On page 46



•

June 17th

it states: “Every student in Russell Kellogg’s shop class



•

September 16th

at Redmond Junior High was familiar with the wooden

The walks run from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and start

paddle on his desk, although the teacher never used it.”

at the Justice White House across from Half-Price

There are many of us who can testify that there

Books. They will not be held in case of rain. A $6.00

were two or three paddles and they were used very

per person contribution is requested which goes

effectively when students were provocative enough to

toward buying a bench for the walking route. l

Buy at Staples? Help RHS

If you shop at Staples, you can help the Society

by telling the cashier that you’d like the purchase amount to go to the Redmond Historical Society awards account. As that account grows, the Society gets coupons for equipment and supplies for the office.

l

earn their attention. One had no holes in it. A second, if I remember correctly, had a few holes. The third had several holes. Before bending over to receive the service, the student had an opportunity to choose the instrument of instruction. Choose the plain board for three swats, the one with a few holes for two swats, or the one with many holes for only one swat. Mr. Kellogg had powerful forearms covered with much dark hair. Whichever choice was made, the earned punishment hurt! However, the

Burial Plots for Sale

lessons were well learned!

even more awkward to write about it. But the fact

and came back to find most us in the midst of an eraser

is most families will have to deal with cemetery

or spitball or some other flying object fight. We all lined

plots, and often it’s when they least want to deal

up, the pleading innocents and the sorrowful guilty to

with it. So why not plan ahead AND save money by

take our equal measure.

It’s not something we like to talk about. It’s

I recall when he left the shop for 15 minutes one day

Today the use of a paddle in classes is a “no-no”, but

acquiring two Cedar Lawns plots donated to the Society by the family of the late Woody Reed? If bought at Cedar Lawns, the plots would sell

that was not the case in the 1940s and he was a very fair and effective user of that teaching tool. He got

for around $4,000 each. We’re trying to set a price

our attention and there are many of us who use shop

but plan to sell them for much less. If interested,

tools today who are grateful to Mr. Kellogg for all of his

please contact Beryl Standley at 425.885.2919. l

teaching lessons. l

The Redmond Recorder ~ March 2007

3

History is Happening in Redmond!

W

ere You at Our February Meeting?

81 attended! First time attendees are noted in BOLD TYPE and a

Adams, Ray Anderson, Betty Ballisty, Sharon Brulé, Kay Campbell, Sally Chinn, Yvonne Davies, John Dudley, Irene Emmanuel, Tony Ford, Diana Frey, Stan Garland, Lillian Gilbert, Evelyn Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russ Gorlick, Audrey Goshorn, Jean Etta Grindeland, Sherry Hahnlen, Charlotte Hall, Suzanne Hall, Tom Hammersberg, Clara Hammersberg, Jerry Hanscom, Martha Hardy, Jerry Hardy, Naomi Hawkinson, Dale Hawkinson, Loita

★

Himes, Chris Hitzroth, Tom Hussey, Linda Ingersoll, Jo Ann Isackson, Diana Isackson, Duane Isackson, Joanne Isackson, Lloyd Keeley, Elaine Kenyon, Bruce Lang, Judy Llanos, Miguel Magnuson, Cheryl Magruder, Joan Martin, Daryl McClung, Andy McCormick, Elma McCoskrie, Eileen McCoskrie, RuthAnn Miller, Larry Montgomery, Mary Muñoz, Alexa Neal, Marion Newhard, Vic Northern, Renee Peterson, Ron Pickett, Virginia Plackett, Holly

RHS

Major Benefactors We thank these

lifetime benefactors, folks recognized for either a significant financial contribution or their long-term dedication to the Society.

Please see the

membership form on Page 6 for information on how to join this worthy group with a tax-deductible donation of $1,000 or more. l

The Redmond Recorder ~ March 2007

★

★

★!

Porter, Donna Porter, Fred Radtke, Bev Radtke, Dick Rogers, Russ Rosenbach, Patsy Schaible, Doris Scott, Claudia Solomon, Brad Standley, Beryl Stoneback, Phyllis Stray, Fran Stray, Fred Townsend, Joe Trapp, Carol Trescases, Heather Turner, Judy Vallene, Arlyn Watkins, JoAnn Weiss, Rose Westlund, Joanne Wiese, Margaret Wilhoit, James Wilson, Dana Yoder, Bob Zeigler, Lillian

★

★

★

★

MAJOR BENEFACTORS John Anderson Barbara Neal Beeson Brad Best Naomi Hardy Patricia Weiss Jovag Barbara Weiss Joyce Glenn Lampaert (deceased) Roy Lampaert Miguel Llanos Jon Magnussen Daryl Martin Allison Reed Morris Charles Reed Frances Reed Vivian Robinson Laurie Rockenbeck Margy Rockenbeck William Rockenbeck Don Watts Margaret Evers Wiese

4

A

Heap of Historical Thanks

Joanne Westlund for her financial expertise and many volunteer hours as our new treasurer Carol Trapp for helping collect dues and book sale money at the February meeting Tony Emmanuel for photos and original stories Patsy Rosenbach for a photo of a pennyfarthing bicycle Rose Weiss for a corn husker and last edition of the King County Journal Joyce Fowler, who donated a 1949 Bike Derby souvenir magazine Loita and Dale Hawkinson for digital copies of four local newspapers held by the Kirkland Heritage Society Doris Hebner McFarland for writing a history of Redmond’s 4-H Club Artist Dorisjean Colvin for two new pastel pieces for our collection of her work John Davies for filming our meeting speakers Arlyn Vallene for a Prince Albert tobacco tin from her Bjerke family Linda Hussey for the Redmond Junior High School Warriors’ baseball cap Evelyn King Gilbert for biographical information and memories of her sister Mildred “Mickey” Pickering; and for King and Gilbert family photographs; and for Evelyn’s own personal memoir chockfull of names, dates and places

History is Happening in Redmond!

I

nside Redmond Reflections

Haven’t checked out our new book yet? There’s a good chance that you, your family and/or friends are mentioned or shown among the 108 pages. In fact, an index of names makes it easy to find out who’s where! The pictorial essay of our heritage also answers questions like:

•

Why did people come to our



village of Salmonberg?



How were they received by Native

•



People?



What industry created our first

•



business boom and why did it



disappear?



•

Is Sammamish a river or a slough?



•

Where were nuclear warheads located off Avondale?



•

Where is the sunken forest that’s been underwater for 1,000 years?



As for our cover image, that’s Bear Creek. To the left is where Safeway and Bear Creek Village stores sit today.

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✂ Redmond Reflections Order Form We ship free for current members, so if you haven't joined or renewed, there's a form on the last page of this newsletter that you can send in with the book order form below. Price per book: $21.76 ($20.00 + $1.76 Washington Sales Tax) (Non-Members, please add postage: $3 for one book, $5 for two and $8 for three or more) ADDRESS TO MAIL BOOK(S) TO:

Name:______________________________________

Name:____________________________________

Telephone: __________________________________

Address: __________________________________

No. of Books Ordered: ________________________

City/St./Zip: _______________________________

Amount Enclosed: ____________________________

__________________________________________

Mail completed form (please print clearly) and check or money order to:

Redmond Historical Society 16600 NE 80th, Room 106 Redmond, WA 98052

The Redmond Recorder ~ March 2007

5

History is Happening in Redmond!

WANTED!!! BUSINESS PARTNERS!

IS YOUR BUSINESS ROOTED IN REDMOND? if so, Redmond Historical Society is looking for partners who, in exchange for a tax deductable financial donation, would be allowed to reach our 1,200 readers via this space and on our website at: www.redmondhistory.org Contact Miguel Llanos at [email protected] or by phone at 425.869.9806.

J

oin the Redmond Historical Society AND HELP DISCOVER, RECOVER, PRESERVE AND SHARE REDMOND’S HISTORY!

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP (✓ Check one only.) $5.00 $20.00 $35.00 $200.00 $250.00 $1,000.00

❍ TRAILBLAZER (Student) ❍ PIONEER (Individual) ❍ HOMESTEADER (Family) ❍ ENTREPRENEUR (Supporter) ❍ CORPORATE (Business) ❍ HISTORY MAKER (Lifetime) All Contributions are tax deductable.

✂

Please make checks payable to: REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

✉ Fill out the form below and mail it with your check to:

Redmond Historical Society Attn: Membership ORSCC, Room 106 16600 NE 80th Street Redmond, WA 98052

(PLEASE CLIP AND MAIL THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR CHECK.)

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