Rhs Newsletter 10 2005

History is Happening in Redmond!

The Redmond Recorder October 2005 Vol. 7, No. 8 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-Thursday, 1-4pm, or by appointment

President’s Corner Has this been the year for re-connecting or does it just feel that way to me? In the past two weeks (keep in mind I am writing this column in September), I’ve taken calls from people looking for friends or relatives from Lake Washington High School. This isn’t any special year for my graduating class and we didn’t have any reunion, but that didn’t stop me from attending one. And that special one just happened to be the Redmond High School Golden Annual Reunion here in the Cotterill Auditorium at the Old Redmond School House Community Center. This is a gathering of original Redmond High School classmates. Nancy Lee Chong, Betty Anderson, Charlie Lentz and other volunteers keep this event happening. It just so happens that many of these Redmond alumni are members of our historical society. Amo Marr was busy at the sign-in table. I had a chance to visit with Roy, Glenn and Norma Lampaert who have moved to Sedro-Woolley and say hello to Betty Anderson, Ward and Daryl Martin, Elma McCormick, Faye Sween, Claudia Scott, Judy Turner and Evelyn Gilbert, just to name a few. Lake Washington High School had their “Golden Grads” reunion for all the grads of 50 years or more. Jerry and Clara Hammersberg skipped out of our meeting early, as they were part of organizing the Continued on Page 2

The Redmond Recorder 10/05

Get Ready, Set for Slideshow

John Couch is seen here surrounded by thousands of slides at the Parks and Recreation Department.

It’s the mother lode of City Next meeting: images, and John Couch, a founding member of the Society, Oct. 8, 10.30 a.m.has found it: thousands of slides noon Speaker: and photos taken by the Parks and Recreation Department over John Couch Where: several decades! Old Redmond “My estimate of 5,000 slides Schoolhouse is on the short end,” John says. Community Center, “After the slides, I will try to 16600 NE 80th St. start the process of looking into the boxes and boxes of old photographs, but that comes later.” John, who was the City’s first parks director and Continued on Page 2

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History is Happening in Redmond!

2005 Meetings All at 10:30 a.m. Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center 16600 NE 80th St. Second Saturday of the month: Oct. 8, Nov. 12 _________________________

Slideshow of City Images Continued from Page 1

headed the department from 1968 to 2000, will share about 200 slides at our next general meeting, grouping them under the broad topic: “Redmond: people, places, and things.” He’ll also be debuting our first use of the City’s new audiovisual presentation system, so it should be quite the show. Phyllis Blower, supervisor of the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center where we meet, is even training John on how to use the system.

2005 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 Terri Gordon Tom Hitzroth Jon Magnussen Amo Marr Daryl Martin Doris Schaible Patti Simpson Ward

City of Redmond Parks and Recreation

This photo of the Redmond rail depot is among those that John Couch will be sharing. The depot used to sit between the Justice White House and the Bill Brown Building, where Big Time Restaurant is today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

President’s Corner Continued from Page 1

event and had to get things rolling. Clara mentioned to me that a lot of our members were part of that group too. In keeping with the reunion theme, our general meetings seem like reunions as well. Lots of time friends returning to Redmond for special events attend our meeting and sure enough they end up seeing Redmond folks they remember from the past. We were delighted to have Barbara Armstrong Johnson and Keith Rudd attend our September meeting before they too had to rush to attend their reunion. We want to thank Barbara for the pictures and news clipping that she donated. We now have a picture of Arne Stray’s truck and the Redmond Gas Station that was here in town. Old friends and even relatives have been reunited at our meetings. Join us and share your stories of the past and hear what is new in Redmond at our next meeting, on Oct. 8th . Judy Lang, president The Redmond Recorder 10/05

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Mailbox

Help Solve a History Mystery

Norma Jean Perrigo Tosh Schmidt: We were over for the Perrigo Picnic the last weekend of July and were surprised at the lack of parking space. Perrigo Park is a very popular place. We are so grateful for Redmond to have a park recognizing Perrigo’s place in Redmond’s history. Do you suppose something could be done to recognize the Tosh’s place in Redmond history? They were important to the people of Redmond in that time frame. While we were in Redmond for the Perrigo get-together, we went to the old Redmond Pioneer Cemetery. We recently buried our son there. They required the type of headstone we bought. We were surprised that the grass was allowed to grow to the point of covering up what was on the headstone. That in itself presents a good argument for leaving raised headstones.

Barbara Brachtl on Tom Hitzroth’s walking tours: We really enjoyed the tour -- and you did an excellent job of making Redmond's history interesting. I was especially pleased because I know that everything you told us was as accurate as history can be. Some of Seattle's so-called historical tours are admittedly designed as entertainment; the tour guides never let historical accuracy or uncertainty stand in the way of sensationalism or a good joke. Which is such a pity. Seems like how people used to live ought to be interesting enough. After we left you we had lunch at Sassy's, in the old Stone House, which was delightful. It might make a good starting place for tours if you ever decide to do that. I really admire your enthusiasm as well as how much you know and your willingness to share it.

The Redmond Recorder 10/05

Henry Johnson with an unidentified gentleman in a suit. This photo is from Society member Bob Martin, who is the grandson of early-day logger Henry Martin. “No. 618” is hand-printed beneath the springboard in the picture, indicating an early professional photographer. Anyone with further information on this photo, please contact Nao Hardy at 425-883-3866 or [email protected].

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Another Tribute to Our Heritage We commend QFC for illustrating some of our heritage inside their new market at Redmond Ridge. Working with the Society, QFC has placed a dozen photos in the pharmacy area (seen here), as well as by a fireplace, the shopping carts and the restroom.

Were you at our Sept. 10 meeting? These folks were: Ballisty, Sharon Blair, Dusty Watts Brulé, Kay Nichols Bruneau, Bernie Campbell, Sally Cisneros, Nancy Conceicao, Luciana* Coward, Liz Carlson DeBlauw, Karen Elduen, Violet Cook Emmanuel, Tony Frey, Marilyn Frey, Stan Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russ Hahnlen, Charlotte Hall, Tom Hammersberg, Clara Hammersberg, Jerry The Redmond Recorder 10/05

Hardy, Naomi Himes, Chris Johnson, Barbara Armstrong* Koenig, Sarah Lang, Judy Aries Llanos, Miguel Magnuson, Cheryl Marr, Clare (Amo) Marrs, Carl Marrs, Pat Martin, Bob Maxwell, Anita* McCormick, Elma McCoskrie, Eileen McCrae, Elia* McCrae, Robert* Mercer, Betty Miller, Larry E. Montgomery, Mary

Muñoz, Alexa Olson, Bob Olson, Richard Pickett, Virginia Porter Potter, Dale Potter, Jo Ann Rice, Pauline Olson Rockenbeck, Margy Rosenbach, Patsy J. Rudd, Keith* Solomon, Brad Tollfeldt, Anne Tollfeldt, Harvey Vallene, Arlyn Warner, Norma Watkins, JoAnn Wiese, Margaret Evers Williams, Peggy *First-time attendees

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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! Duane Isackson for a 1912 family photo at Spring Hill Farm, a photo in 1947, and a 1930 photo of his father, Henry Isackson, hauling logs to Woodinville in 1941. And for identifying photos of S&S auto freight trucks in our archive. Duane gets a shining gold historical star for identifying names in all his photos and dating them. Barbara Armstrong Johnson for photos of school classes, the Sammamish Valley long ago and the gas station and repair shop her husband Gene Johnson owned in downtown Redmond for many years. We award a gold history star to Barbara for her detailed information on all of these photographs. Patsy Rosenbach for the collection of photographs documenting the Society's first annual summer potluck at Anderson Park, June 2005. And a gold star also goes to Patsy for identifying individuals in all her pictures. Jutta Rhinehart for obtaining biographical information about Rudi and Eleanor Frei. Bob and Elia McRae for loaning us photos of the Mond Theater for scanning. They're the only pictures we have of the old movie house on Redmond Way. Bob Martin for photos of an early Derby parade and his grandfather Henry Johnson logging and on his running board. Joanne Cheever for donating items that belonged to her aunt Rubie Johnson, who taught school in our area in the 1920s. Anita Maxwell for old newspaper clippings. Tom Hitzroth for conducting another enlightening and entertaining season of historic downtown Redmond walking tours. And a special thanks to Tom for sharing Redmond’s early history at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Seattle. Betty Gaudy for obituaries and memorabilia from the Eastside Mattress Company on Leary Way. Mathew Fisher for his display of Redmond history featuring his great-grandfather, John Cerqui. Patti Simpson Ward for donating a framed print of her Bill Brown Building painting. Those who donated money in memory of Elaine McMillan Watts. Dianna Broadie for historical papers and newspapers culled as surplus from the City's Planning Department. Phil Dougherty for a copy of his writings on the City of Sammamish, 1955. Walter and Cathy Wittel for a donation that was matched by Walter’s employer, Microsoft. The Redmond Recorder 10/05

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Flashback! Union Hill History? An e-mail inquiry got us to thinking about how Union Hill earned its name. Nao Hardy, our chief historian, surmises it might have had to do with the Civil War. If you can shed light on this please contact her at 425-883-3866 or [email protected].

Join the Redmond Historical Society Please pay 2005 dues ASAP!! And help discover, recover, preserve, share and celebrate Redmond’s history! Levels of Membership (Check 1 only)

‫ٱ‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ٱ‬

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 PARTNERS WANTED Is your business rooted in Redmond? If so, Redmond Historical Society is looking for partners 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 10/05

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