Rhs Newsletter 05 2005

History is Happening in Redmond!

The Redmond Recorder May 2005 Vol. 7, No. 5 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: Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday, 1-4pm, or by appointment

President’s Corner Mother’s Day is this month and I was asking my friend Coeta Hartman Chambers if she remembered if her family ever celebrated this special day. Her reply was “mother’s in the kitchen cooking her brains out.” Well one mother, referred to as “nana” by granddaughter Margo Alexander, is Clare Chapin, who cooked with a passion. This lady was “interested in everything in Redmond and just loved it,” her daughter Amo (Clare) Marr, one of our beloved board members, told me. One day a young boy saw Mrs. Chapin sorting beans and he was overheard saying: “Mrs. Chapin is really a good cook. She even counts the beans.” Amo doesn’t recall the boy’s name. My memory of Mrs. Chapin is her wonderful turkey dinners she prepared for special occasions for us at the Redmond School, where she was head cook for many years. I don’t know how many, but I remember her from the late 1940s and 50s. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and Jell-O were some of her family’s favorite dishes. If that isn’t a “fifties” menu, I don’t know what is. When school was out for the summer, Mrs. Chapin would join us at Camp Robbinswold to cook for 125 Redmond Girl Scouts and leaders. Rose Weiss, Eileen McCoskrie, and Amo, just to mention a few Redmond Historical Society members, also went to camp and gave a hand with the Redmond Girl Scouts. Eileen especially remembers the delicious lemon pies Mrs. C. baked for us. So if you didn’t buy school lunch or attend Girl Scout Camp you missed out on a special treat and wonderful memories. The Redmond Recorder 5/05

May 14: Mystery Photos

Join us May 14th as we use our collective knowledge to identify people, places and circumstances in mystery photos like the one above. It’s from the Perrigo family collection and all we know is that these young ladies were the kitchen crew at the Redmond School House, c.1929. We’ll have dozens of mystery photos and the ID process makes for lots of laughs when folks blurt out an answer only to be second-guessed by someone else. The meeting runs from 10:30 a.m.-noon and it’s at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. Mrs. Chapin was also a nurse and helped bring Dwight and Duane Isackson into this world. She was a member of the Happy Valley Grange and a Rebeccah’s member. By the way, I didn’t cook on Mother’s Day. We went golfing instead. I hope my cooking is better than my golf game. Judy Aries Lang

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History is Happening in Redmond!

June Meeting’s a Picnic! That’s right, we’re literally having a picnic in June instead of a general membership meeting. When: Noon-2pm, Saturday June 11 Where: Anderson Park in downtown Redmond Why: More time to chat amongst ourselves! Entertainment: Dave and Elsie Bartley and the Old Time Fiddlers The food: Bring a dish of your favorite picnic food to share _________________________

2005 Executive Board Judy Lang, President Naomi Hardy, VP Miguel Llanos, VP Teresa Becker, Treasurer Margaret Wiese, Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley, Recording Secretary

Old Redmond Walking Tours Return If you live in Redmond, you probably drive along Leary Way daily. But do you know the histories of our oldest buildings? Like which one was both an undertaker’s premises and a bordello? Society board member Tom Hitzroth will educate and entertain folks with walking tours that explore those histories. This year’s dates are: May 15, June 19 and Sept. 18. Tours run from 1-2:30 p.m. and walkers meet on the front steps of the Justice White House. Walks won’t be held in the rain! A $6 fee helps fund Society research and pre-registration is required. To do so, e-mail Tom at [email protected] or phone our office at (425) 885-2919. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kirkland Ferry Follow-up Several readers pointed out that the Kirkland-Seattle ferry didn’t stop running in 1940 as we stated in our last issue: Tom Thomas recalls diving for nickels and dimes thrown by ferry passengers in 1946 near the Kirkland dock, where he also fished for carp and suckers -- fish he sold to folks from Leschi at 50 cents each. Ferry service on Lake Washington ended in 1949 when tolls were removed from the first Lake Washington Floating Bridge, he notes. Joe Perrigo: “The ferry continued to run up until the toll was removed from the original floating bridge, which would be some time late 1940s. … This brought an end to my limited ‘sea going voyages’. Riding the ferry was an adventure; being able to order food and beverage on board was also quite a novel experience for a youngster from Redmond.” Vivian Robinson recalls taking her son on the ferry, knowing it was about to shut down and wanting to give him that experience. It was around 1948, she says, and he had a doctor’s appointment in Seattle.

Board of Directors Terri Gordon Tom Hitzroth Jon Magnussen Amo Marr Daryl Martin Doris Schaible

Help Redmondisce We’re always looking for anecdotes and stories of Redmond to share in the newsletter. Send them to [email protected] or via US Mail to the office,

care of Miguel Llanos. The Redmond Recorder 5/05

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York Farm and James Family Follow-up Our March mystery photo -- five men with Sammamish Valley News editor Bob Bailie at York Farm -- was solved by one of the five gentlemen pictured. Ray “Rex” Nelson wrote to say that besides him and Bob, the others in the photo are Ed Super (a Holstein field representative), Archie Nelson, Ralph James and Jim Johnston (a King County agriculture official). Ray believes the occasion was a conservation award and says he was partners with Ralph, milking several hundred cows at York Farm as well as raising peas and potatoes, which were sold to Art’s Food Stores in Juanita, Mercer Island and Seattle. Ray later moved his cows to Monroe and now lives in Vancouver, Wash. He also has this to add about the James family: Ralph and Dee passed away. Daughters Linda Kipp lives in Redmond, Patty and Marilyn in Bellevue, Barbra in San Francisco, and Marcia in Wisconsin.

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Were You at our April 9th Meeting? These Folks Were: Alexander, Margo Marr Anderson, Betty Buckley Ballisty, Sharon Bay, Joanne* Blair, Dusty Watts Blye, Esther* Blye, Norm* Bruneau, Bernie Bruneau, Pierre Cisneros, Nancy DeBlauw, Karen Duffus, Natalie* Elduen, Violet Cook Fisher, Benjamin Fisher, Natalie Garland, Lillian Garrity, Yvonne Lampaert Gilbert, Evelyn King Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russ Guptill, Willow Perrigo Hahnlen, Charlotte Everson Haines, Steve Hardy, Jerry Hardy, Naomi Horiuchi, Bernadette* Horiuchi, Paul* Ingersoll, Jo Ann

Isackson, Duane Isackson, Joanne Kindrick, Addie Knick, Phyllis* Kraft, Gloria Kraft, Jim Lampaert, Roy Lang, Angela Aries Lang, Judy Aries Magnuson, Cheryl Marrs, Carl Marrs, Pat Martin, Bob Martin, Daryl Martin, Ward Mayer, Jan McClure, Jan* McCormick, Elma McCroskie, Don McCroskie, Eileen McKibben, Ernest* Mercer, Betty Merrill, Les* Miller, Larry Munoz, Alexa Murphy, Ed Nelson, Robert* Niemi, Otti*

Norris, Jackie Norton, Robin Perrigo Olson, Katie * Pickett, Virginia Porter Roe, Julie Roe, Phil Rosenbach, Patsy Cook Saunders, Dee Stone, Clarence Standley, Beryl Stensland, Don Strange, Makela Sugden, Charlene Johnston Thomas, Kay Tofferi, Martha Tollfeldt, Anne Tollfeldt, Harvey Trapp, Carol Underhill, Kris Warner, Norma Watkins, JoAnn Weed, Lois* Weiss, Rose Westlund, Joanne Wiese, Margaret Evers Wilson, Steven* *First-time visitor

We believe these clippings refer to the Old Redmond Cemetery [across from today's Cedar Lawns] as many folks still feel the pioneer burial site is within the bounds of Happy Valley. If anyone knows of another Happy Valley cemetery to which this might refer, or more about the SGC Club, please contact Nao Hardy, 425-883-3866 or [email protected].

The Redmond Recorder 5/05

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Family Photos Show Overlake Terrace residents are displaying dozens of their family photos, some from the Civil War, through May 8. All are invited to view them during daytime hours. The retirement home is at 2956 152nd Ave, next to Group Health.

Thank Yous! A heap of historical thanks to these great people for donating treasures, expertise, time and energy! Evelyn Gilbert for donating class a 1935 play program, script and newspaper reviews; photos and article on the town of Novelty; 1933 photographs of the Redmond High School girls basketball team; photograph of Esther and Margaret LaMontagne; funeral service program for Dr. George A. Davis. Jim Slusser for a photograph of USO officers. Arlyn Vallene for soliciting historical photos from her friend, Sharon Shadle, and to Sharon for donating 1920s-1930s Redmond photographs of Rose Mae Jones’ family. Marta Hurwitz for donating much appreciated historic tidbits. Jo Ann Ingersoll for help with place names on East Lake Sammamish. Brad Solomon for preparing a public service television ad that will be appearing regularly on the City of Redmond’s Channel 21.

Frances McEvers recalls riding in an airplane out of Redmond with Roy Lampaert and it might have been at this event, reported in the May 29, 1929, East Side Journal.

Larry Miller, Angie Lang, Phil and Julie Roe for helping to set up and clean up at the general meetings. Rose Weiss and Eileen McCoskrie for subbing in the office. Lillian Garland for helping with the archival notebooks.

90 or Better? Are you at least 90 years young? Or do you know someone with links to Redmond who is? If so, the Society would like to send birthday cards to these special people. Please phone Amo Marr at (425) 868-4094 to get added to the list.

Can You Help? We need to transfer old 8mm film to DVDs and audio cassettes to CDs. If you can help, please contact Judy Lang at (425) 823-3551 or [email protected]

The Redmond Recorder 5/05

Tom Hitzroth for judging the Washington State History Day contest finals and giving Redmond Historical Society as his affiliation. He’s been judging state finals since the mid 1990s but it’s the first time under the Society banner. Some 100 displays by students in grades 712 will be judged, and the best goes to the national finals in Maryland. Doris Schaible for her outstanding effort in promoting our general membership meetings to the local and regional news media. Chris McKelheer for the rare photos of Campbell's Mill and downtown Redmond. Clara Hammersberg for the photograph of music teacher Inez Schofield.

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Helen Turcotte Remembered In our last issue we asked for information about Helen Turcotte, who took care of foster children at her farm on Union Hill -- among them a child, now grown up, who asked via Craig Grund whether newsletter readers could add to her history. That grown-up child is Marjorie “Margie” Wallace, Grund says, and she remembers being the youngest of 12 children on Helen’s farm, having arrived at the age of two and staying a couple of years, and that they took drives in a wood-paneled station wagon. Here are some reader responses: Jeanette Baxtrum of Bothell recounts that her husband Alan, deceased, was an Indian artifacts dealer who bought a few items from Helen in 1973 when she was living on 79th Street. Jeanette and Alan knew Helen less than a year, but during that time Alan visited her numerous times and enjoyed Helen’s stories about her life experiences. In World War I, she was an ambulance driver. Jeanette fondly described Helen as a “crusty lady” who answered the door with a cigarette hanging from her mouth. Helen owned numerous rental houses in Redmond. Alan bought an Indian Concho belt from Helen and she told him she’d bought it right off the Indian wearing it. At the same time he bought an Indian horse blanket heavily decorated with beading and a saddle, and Helen said she bought them right out from under the same Indian on a horse. When Helen died, her sister sold items to Alan from Helen’s estate. Then the sister died and the sister’s daughter, Helen’s niece, continued transactions with him. The niece’s name was Joan Waite. It appeared that Helen had been a woman of some financial means as, in addition to real estate, she owned objects of art such as an original Remington bronze. Margaret Evers Wiese, the Society’s genealogy expert, found U.S. Census records that show a Helen Turcotte living in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1920 and then having moved to Snohomish County by 1930. The 1920 Census for Los Angeles County records states: “Turcotte, Helen, Governess, 25, Single, b. Minnesota, parents both FrenchCanadian, Tutor for a private family.” The 1930 census for Snohomish County, Fernwood Precinct, shows Helen as: “Head of household and Housekeeper, renting, 31 years of age, Single, b. Minnesota; parents both FrenchCanadian.” The same census also notes Mae Turcotte, Helen’s sister, “24 years of age, Single, b. Minnesota, parents both French-Canadian, Farm Servant.” Roy Lampaert: “I remember Helen Turcotte as the very pleasant lady I processed an occasional beef animal for, about 1945 to 1955. She produced these animals for locker meat on her acreage in Avondale. I remember her as a mature lady approximately 60 years old. I retain the impression that she boarded and cared for kids at her place.” Betty Buckley Anderson remembers seeing Helen driving around town with her station wagon filled with foster children. Jerry Hammersberg delivered the mail to Helen’s 79th Street home, which she bought after selling her Union Hill farm to Dr. Max Nichols. Tom Thomas recalls taking the bus to the Old Redmond Schoolhouse from his Union Hill home, c.1948. The bus picked up children from Helen Turcotte’s house on 116th Street after Tom was already on board. Helen had a contract to provide foster care for children who were wards of the state. Nao Hardy, the Society’s chief historian, notes: “No one knows anything about Helen having ever been married or having any children of her own. We still don’t know how she happened to buy 40 acres directly north of today’s Farrel-McWhirter Park.”

The Redmond Recorder 5/05

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Heritage Art Contest Help Cut Newsletter Costs If you receive the newsletter via US Mail and have access to email we ask that you please try subscribing via e-mail instead. Not only will you help reduce costs, but the photo quality is much better in e-mail! To sign up, e-mail [email protected]. If it doesn’t work out you can always go back to US Mail.

We’re proud to sponsor, along with the Redmond Arts Commission and the Eastside Association of Fine Arts, the first ever (as far as we know!) Redmond Heritage Art Contest. Whether you’re new to the art world or established, we encourage you to enter ($8 fee for up to 10 pieces). First ($300), second ($200) and third ($100) place prizes will be awarded and selected entries will be displayed in the Old Schoolhouse lobby from June to July as part of Derby Days. The Society hopes to acquire one or more pieces and its aim for the event is to promote our mission – in this case via artwork! E-mail [email protected] or phone Miguel Llanos at (425) 869-9806 for an entry form. Deadline to enter is May 23.

Join the Redmond Historical Society 2005 dues 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:

Business partner wanted Is your business rooted in Redmond? If so, Redmond Historical Society is looking for a partner who, in exchange for a tax-deductible financial donation, would be allowed to reach our 1,200 readers via this space and on our Web site at www.redmondhistory.org. Contact Miguel Llanos at [email protected] or (425) 869-9806. The Redmond Recorder 5/05

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