Rhs Newsletter 05 2006

THE

MAY 2006 NEWSLETTER

REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME 8, NUMBER 5

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

OUR MISSION: To Discover, Recover, Share and Celebrate Redmond’s History

website ~www.redmondhistory.org e-mail ~ [email protected]

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

HOURS: Tues.-Thurs., 1-4 p.m., or by Appointment

P

resident’s Corner It’s party time!

Robert Cotterill fixes a clock at the Redmond School in this sketch by Barney Johnson Reilly titled “School Clock.” She also wrote this caption: “One of the many chores for custodian Robert Cotterill was to maintain and wind all of the school clocks.”

We are seven years old and will be celebrating this Saturday, May 13th. On top of that, Russ Goetschius has recruited several other retired junior high teachers to take us down memory lane with school stories. One memory I have is not of a teacher, but of the custodian, Robert Cotterill. As a kid I never gave much thought about this man, and now I’m learning there is a whole lot more. I see that the auditorium is dedicated to him and Barney Johnson Reilly painted him as part of a collection titled “Childhood Memories,” which hangs outside our office. Turns out Robert was around Redmond for quite awhile and three of his grandchildren ~ Carol Radtke Semandiris and her brother Dick Radtke and sister Gerry Mellquest ~ went to school with me. Another of his grandchildren, our board member Margaret Evers Wiese, can fill us in with more stories so I’m turning this space over for now. .......................................................... Margaret Evers Wiese shares: Thanks, Judy. My grandfather (aka Grandad) was indeed “around (Continued on page 3.)

M

ay Speakers • Teachers Tell All

Russ Goetschius and crew ~ Paul Bark, Byron Richards, George Ice,

Don Arvison, Harvey Tollfeldt and Bob Martin ~ turned down Jerry Springer, but they’ve promised to tell us stories about their years teaching at Redmond Junior High. Russ, Paul and Byron taught at the junior high when it was at today’s Old Schoolhouse, and all seven taught at the later school site on Education Hill. Long-time principal Vernon Leatha will certainly be mentioned during what Russ is calling “The Faculty Room Revisited.” ●

THE REDMOND RECORDER ~ MAY 2006

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R.H.S. MAY MEETING TIME! Saturday, May 13th 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. OLD REDMOND SCHOOLHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER 16600 NE 80th St

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

NEW SATURDAY MEETING TIME!

1:00 to 2:30 p.m. 2nd Saturday of the Month OLD REDMOND SCHOOLHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER 16600 NE 80th St

2006 MAY 13 JUNE 10 SEPTEMBER 9 OCTOBER 14 NOVEMBER 11 ...................................................

D

erby Days History Mystery

These two old school bicycles belong to the City and have been a regular feature of the annual Derby Days parade for some time. But what’s been lost to time is how the City acquired them. If you know, please share it with our chief historian Nao Hardy, [email protected] or 4 2 5 . 8 8 3 . 3 8 6 6, so we can pass that along to the City. “It would be wonderful to have a history” of the bikes, says Derby Days organizer Sharon Rockwood, adding that “we are planning to have them on display at Derby Days this year, Saturday, July 8, at City Hall. Folks might like to know they can see them then.” To fully appreciate what Derby Days has meant to Redmond, listen to Joe Perrigo. “Most of the year there was very little excitement. Except for V-J Day, seldom were the streets filled with the town folks,” he says. “A bus ride to Kirkland to see a matinee was about the highlight of the month. That is until Derby Days. For me, Derby Days was filled with parades, live bands, colorful banners and crowds filling the sidewalk, spilling out into the roadway. Booths set up on the corners offered various games. For a youngster living in Redmond this was a time of unbelievable excitement.” ●

2006 EXECUTIVE BOARD Judy Lang President Naomi Hardy Vice-President Miguel Llanos Vice-President Teresa Becker Treasurer Margaret Wiese Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley Recording Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terri Gordon Tom Hitzroth Jon Magnussen Amo Marr Daryl Martin Doris Schaible Patti Simpson Ward ...................................................

THE REDMOND REPORTER Published nine times annually Miguel Llanos Editor Patti Simpson Ward Newsletter Graphic Designer ©2006 Redmond Historical Society

THE REDMOND RECORDER ~ MAY 2006

Photos by Creative Indulgence, 2005

WALKING TOURS

Are Just Around the Corner! Tom Hitzroth is back for encore presentations on the histories of landmark buildings along Leary Way. The threeblock walks will start at 1 p.m. and end around 2.30 p.m. on: MAY 21 • JUNE 18 • SEPT. 17 Sign up by emailing Tom at [email protected] or by leaving a message at the R.H.S. office, 425.885.2919. A $6 per person fee, payable at the tour, goes towards purchasing a bench or two along the route. (Tours will be canceled in the event of rain.)

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HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

anybody could sing if they’d just open their mouths and let it out. Daryl played musical instruments, but he couldn’t sing at all, and Grandad just couldn’t understand it. Helen Usibelli said that when she was teaching during the 1950s, she invited Grandad to come and speak to her class about his trip to Mexico. He told great stories and held the class in “the palm of his hand” the entire time. Larry Nelson mentioned Grandad during his presentation at an RHS meeting. He said Mr. Cotterill told the kids to keep the floors clean and to stay off the grass outside. Larry said the kids obeyed out of respect for him. The Cotterill family was very proud when the Cotterill Auditorium was dedicated in 2000. The honor was a fitting tribute to a special man. My Cotterill cousin Bob Spaulding told me the following “Grandad story.” (Maybe some of you remember this event). Grandad was going to conduct a musical program in the school auditorium. The audience was seated, the lights went down, an introduction was made and Grandad strode out onto the stage to much applause. (I’ll bet he was wearing his tweed suit!) He had his music in one hand and his baton in the other. The audience grew silent with anticipation as he put the music on the podium and raised the baton. There was a long pause. Finally he said, “Darn! I forgot my glasses.” He made his way off the stage and was gone a minute or two, then came back out with his glasses and the show went on! By the way, I didn’t inherit one bit of his musical talent, but I did inherit his corny sense of humor! ............................................ So come join us for birthday cake, school memories and thanks to the special people who work at making this a successful historical society. ~ Judy Aries Lang, President (And, by the way, I didn’t have to look at my lunch pail to spell “Aries”!)

Robert Cotterrill ~ wearing granddaughter Margaret Wiese’s cap from her graduation exercises at the University of Washington in 1964!

Redmond for quite awhile.” He arrived from England in 1915 and lived in Redmond until his death in 1964. He started out here as a farmer, but it was an unsuitable job for him. He’d been a city boy in England. He became the custodian at the school when it opened and retired in the mid-1950s. It was hard work, but he enjoyed the teachers, students, and the busy community. Those who remember him know that he was much more than a school custodian. He had a wonderful baritone voice, and he loved group singing. For years, he produced and “starred” in many productions in the community and at the school including operettas, Christmas programs, and special occasion events. He directed church choirs. His Cotterill Quartet took part in a dozen or more local productions, and appeared on radio stations KJR and KOMO during the 1930s. He was well-known in musical circles all over the Eastside. He also loved children. He and his wife Esther had five children and ten grandchildren. He was a kind man, and a good listener. To many of the school children, he was an unofficial counselor. He was someone they could talk to. It seems that everyone in the Society recalls him with fondness. Mal Reilly said his late wife Barney shared her problems with Grandad and he listened with sympathy. He was very kind to her. Daryl Martin used to sneak down to the boiler room to have chats with him. He told Daryl that THE REDMOND RECORDER ~ MAY 2006

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

MAY R.H.S. MEETING! Saturday, May 13th 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

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HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

W

ere you at our April 8 meeting?

These folks were! First time attendees are noted in BOLD TYPE and a ★!

Adams, Ray Adams, Ruth Sires Anderson, Betty Bellings, Lucille BURDICK, BARBARA ★ Cisneros, Nancy DAVIES, JOHN ★ Emmanuel, Tony Garland, Lillian Garrity, Yvonne Gilbert, Evelyn Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russell Gordon, Terri Hahnlen, Charlotte Hall, Suzanne Hall, Tom Hammersberg, Clara Hammersberg, Jerry Hansen, Tom Hanson, Marge Hanson, Roy

R.H.S. Mailbox ~ “My name is Dee Dustin and I came across your website by accident, but couldn’t help look through everything and remember a lot. Simon and Marie Syse were my grandparents and owned “Bear Creek Service Station” from (approx) the 1920s1960. It was located on Avondale Road and across the street where the bridge went over Bear Creek on the way to the cemeteries. “They lived in a house behind the station until my Grandpa Simon and his brother, Sivert, built a house just across the street, in 1932. Last time I was there, the house still stood and was sided with cedar-looking shakes and a cyclone fence was along the front yard, by the road. “The pictures on your website of the old Faith Lutheran Church in the park

THE REDMOND RECORDER ~ MAY 2006

Hardy, Naomi HARTIG, MARILYN ★ HEAD, EDIE ★ HEAD, GORDON ★ Himes, Chris Ingersoll, Jo Ann KEELEY, ELAINE ★ Kenyon, Cheryl KUHL, BETTY ★ KUHL, HOWARD ★ Lampaert, Roy Lang, Judy Leicester, Norma Llanos, Miguel Magnussen, Jon Magruder, Joan Marrs, Carl Marrs, Pat Martin, Bob McCoskrie, Eileen Miller, Larry Montgomery, Mary

brought back lots of memories for me. My sister and I were baptized there and went to Bible School from 1st-6th grades there along with the Landvatter kids.” Contact Dee at [email protected] or 445 S. 8th, Pocatello, ID 83201 Ivan Rusich wrote: “I was sent the last copy of Redmond Reporter. My niece Stephanie Dropping still lives there and expressed the desire that I contact you. My folks, Steve and Neva Rusich, arrived in Redmond in 1939 and built a well known mink ranch on Union Hill. There’s a school house there now where I built a home for my family in the 60s. Noted with interest that the Morelli Bros. were at a meeting. Gabe was in my class at Redmond from the 5th grade on. … In the late 30s and

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Neal, Marion Olson, LeRoy ORMBERG, THURSA ★ Pickett, Virginia RIKE, BARB ★ Rosenbach, Patsy SALMI, BERT ★ Standley, Beryl Stoneback, Phyllis Stray, Fran Stray, Fred Tollfeldt, Anne Tollfeldt, Harvey Turner, Judy Usibelli, Helen Vallene, Arlyn WALLACE, SCOTT ★ Watkins, JoAnn Weiss, Ed Weiss, Rose Wiese, Margaret

up until about 1944 the city limits, on the east side of town, were about 170th Ave NE and Redmond Way and the sign said “POP 213.” “Sometimes, when we had a basketball game at what you are now calling the Old Redmond Schoolhouse, the town more than doubled in population because businesses closed much earlier then than now. Did Gabe tell you he was student body president? Or because there were only 14 or 16 senior class persons in 1944, and only two of them were boys, we consolidated with Kirkland High School and became Lake Washington? “Sincerely Ivan Rusich, Class of ‘47.” Contact Ivan at [email protected] or 40 E. Lookout Ct., Grapeview, WA 98546.

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

of Historical A Heap Thanks . . .

Funding

TO THESE GREAT PEOPLE FOR DONATING TREASURES, EXPERTISE, TIME AND ENERGY!

Our thanks to 4 C u l t u r e,the King County agency for heritage and cultural resources, for awarding Redmond Historical Society $1,000 this year to help us operate! The “sustained support” grant follows an earlier one as well as a separate grant to help us publish the upcoming “Redmond Reflections” book. 4Culture has also profiled Redmond’s preservation efforts on its Web site at: 4culture.org/preservation/projects/Redmond . ●

LIL GARLAND for her research, which added property information for Redmond historic structures on the City’s Inventory Master List. Redmond artist GORDON HEAD for staffing our office ~ and sketching while he’s there. CARRIE SCHWITTERS for a collection including old class photos and a notebook of Marymoor archeology digs ~ this last with the caveat that some of the material has been proven to be inaccurate. ARLYN VALLENE for a selection of family news clippings. BARBARA ARMSTRONG JOHNSON for her remarkable patience with our slow scanning of her photos. SCOTT WALLACE for the map of Marymoor.

ART AWARD The City Arts Commission awarded the Society a 2006 City of Redmond Volunteer Arts Award, citing our successful heritage art contest last year. For more about the City’s commitment to art, see: The City Arts Commission awarded the Society a 2006 City of Redmond Volunteer Arts Award, citing our successful heritage art contest last year. For more about the City’s commitment to art: www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/boards/arts.asp

NANCY CISNEROS for creating an input form for our donations. JUDY TURNER and GERRY MELLQUEST for volunteering to create hallway displays at the Old Schoolhouse.

New City Council Member We’ve been remiss in welcoming Kimberly Allen, who was elected to the City Council last November after serving nearly three years on the Planning Commission. Like other council members and Mayor Rosemarie Ives, Kim is receiving our newsletter. A former assistant attorney general for Arizona, she tells us heritage is part of her portfolio. “ have quite a history on the Planning Commission of speaking out for preservation,”Kim says. ●

TONY EMMANUEL for his conscientious collection of all things Redmond. (If only we could clone him.) JOHN DAVIES, recently wed to our own Judy Lang, for helping set up at the last meeting and manning our video camera. Librarian KAREN DEBLAUW for back issues of the 1990s Sammamish Valley News.

THE REDMOND RECORDER ~ MAY 2006

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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!

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