Rhs Newsletter Jan 2008

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JANUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER

Red

THE

REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1

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]

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

P

resident’s Corner

It is with great pleasure I pass the gavel

R

HOURS: Tuesday through Thursday 1-6 p.m., Friday, 4-6 p.m. and by appointment

emembering Larry

to our new president, Tom Hitzroth. Tom is not a newcomer to the Redmond Historical Society or the preservation of history. He has served on our board since 2002, and leads walking tours through old downtown. Tom is currently serving on the City of Redmond Landmarks and Heritage Commission, and the Kirkland Heritage Society. He is also researching the murder of James Colman in 1890. Tom’s involvement in Eastside history began in 1992 as president of Marymoor Museum. Later he served on the board at Issaquah Historical Society. Some of his past historical research includes the Tosh

Photo courtesy of Fisher Radio

“Seattle radio legend” is how Larry Nelson was remembered,

homestead, Redmond Meat Market, and the

and rightly so, when local news media on November 29

murder of Letitia Whitehall.

reported he had lost a battle to lung cancer. But Larry was also

We are fortunate for all the folks like Tom who are interested and willing to spend their time keeping our history alive. Thank

a hometown kid, and even parlayed his Redmond roots into his radio shows. Join us on January 12th as we

NEXT RHS MEETING:

celebrate his contributions with

you Tom! I would like to say that I’m taking a seat in

stories about his antics. Larry

the audience, but that’s not the case. I plan

also narrated Redmond

to continue to help out with the meetings

heritage videos produced

when needed and still make that somewhat

by Brad Solomon for the

tasty coffee, unless someone else wants to.

Society, and we’ll view a few

Any takers?

of those as well.

It has been four years of fun and special

Larry was a guest speaker

(Continued on page 2)

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008

SAT., JANUARY 12 ~ 10:30 TO NOON at the Redmond Public Library 15990 NE 85th, Redmond Special Guest: Incoming MAYOR John Marchione

(Continued on page 3)

1

History is Happening in Redmond!

President’s Corner NEXT 2008 RHS GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH 10:30 to Noon at the REDMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY

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

2008 Executive Board

Tom Hitzroth President Chris Himes Vice-President Miguel Llanos Vice-President Joanne Westlund Treasurer Margaret Wiese Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley Recording Secretary

(Continued from page 1)

thanks to the board members and all the other volunteers, including our speakers, who helped make it fun, and to all of you for your support, stories, ideas and great attendance at our meetings. WOW! I have made some wonderful new acquaintances, too. It has been GREAT! Join me Saturday, January 12th at 10:30 a.m. at the Redmond Library for our first meeting of 2008 and make sure you welcome Tom as well as our new vice-president, former Mayor Chris Himes. l



~ RHS President, Judy Aries Lang

T

hose Fabulous (Male) Fillies

Board of Directors

Terri Gordon Nao Hardy Judy Lang Jon Magnusson Amo Marr Doris Schaible Patti Simpson Ward

Office Manager

Beryl Standley

Attorney

Charles Diesen

................................................... Our finances are public record and may be viewed at the office. ...................................................

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

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Fabulous Fillies



Tom Hansen has this to add about the Fabulous Fillies dancers cited

in the last newsletter: “The kiss mentioned came from my dad, Wayne Hansen, who was 6’5”. Dressed as a dancing girl, he went over and sat on his father’s lap and kissed him out of affection to the embarrassment of Grampa and Gramma, who came from Seattle to see the circus and their son perform. The kiss was not planned and poor Robert Hansen got attention he never expected. He was conservative but just went along with it realizing it was all in fun. My Mother, Lucille Hansen, made dad’s dress and did sewing for other circus acts over the years.” Tom also donated photos of the dancers, including this one. We have some names, but not all. Left to right: perhaps Dick Patterson, unidentified, unidentified, perhaps Charles Hamby, unidentified, Wayne Thompson, unidentified, Wayne Hansen, unidentified, Theo Caldwell, unidentified. If you can identify anyone, please call Tom at 206.632.2731 or e-mail us at [email protected].

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008

2

History is Happening in Redmond!

Remembering Larry (Continued from page 1)

During his Society presentation in 2004, Larry Nelson, right, placed the blame for his youthful antics on childhood friend Fred Porter, left. Fred also passed away in 2007.

Door Prizes Russ Goetschius will kick off our door prize experiment on Jan 12th by giving away a salmon-shaped plate he made. Have you got something to donate as a door prize? If

in November 2004. For that presentation, he gave us this biography, written in a

so, contact Russ during the

combination first person and third person, which reflects his humor and experience:

meeting. l

“Larry Nelson was born in Redmond, Washington, on Oct. 16, 1937 . . . that was back when Baskin and Robbins only had one flavor. “Attended Redmond Elementary and Lake Washington High School, graduating

Headlines Online Beth Rau saw last issue’s

in 1955. Then attended the University of Everett for three years. While never

“mystery” photo of Mike’s

achieving a degree, he founded the great popular singing group the “Shades” and

Kitchen being demolished and

went on to record for Aladdin Records in Hollywood, California.

reminded us that the King

“Probably the most memorable achievement the Shades accomplished was

County Library System has

having KRKO in 1960 proclaim their recording ‘One Touch in Heaven’ as the

a great searchable database

absolute worst record of the year.

of Sammamish Valley News

“However all is not lost as Nelson at the time was working for the King County

headlines and subject

Sheriff’s Department, where he met Ron Holden, who was singing with a band

keywords for all front page

called the “Playboys.” While Nelson was fingerprinting him, he asked Holden, ‘Do

stories from 1963-94. Beth

you have any original material?’ Holden said yes. So, upon Holden’s graduation

found out that Mike’s Kitchen

from jail seven months later, Nelson formed the Night Owl records label.

came down in May 1978. Check

“For a grand investment of $240 the single ‘Love You So’ by the ‘Thunderbirds’ was released . . . Long story short: by June 1960 ‘Love You So’ was the #1 record in

it out at www.kcls.org/forms/ samnews. l

America. Six months later #1 in Europe. In total, 1,427,000 copies sold. Paid cash for my first house . . . my pop thought I stole the money! “Nelson began his broadcasting career in 1964 at KFKF in Bellevue. Worked for Kemper Freeman, Jr., for two years and went to KOMO in 1966 until 1998. Some of the highlights of my 32 years at KOMO:

•

“Receiving the Edward R. Murrow reward for my one week coverage of



the Geneva Peace talks with Gorbachev and Reagan;



“Broadcasting live from Germany as we chipped away at the Berlin Wall

•



during Christmas 1989;



“A year later we broadcast from Moscow as the Soviet Union was no more

•



and we were able to see why.

“I had the privilege of taking the KOMO Good Morning show all over the globe: America’s Cup in Australia; Live from the Eiffel tower in Paris; Summer Olympics in South Korea; Winter Olympics in Calvary . . . last but not least the Redmond Bicycle Derby. “The award I’m most proud of is my coveted ‘Crystal Soundie Award’ in 1996 for ‘Lifetime Achievement in Radio.’ Crystal Soundie is radio’s Academy Awards.” l

C. Barker Donations The Society thanks Patsy Rosenbach as well as Arlyn and Len Vallene for the donations made in memory of Clarence Barker. Arlyn included this note: “Clarence drove my school bus and every day he would say ‘goodbye sweetie’ or some sweet name.” l

Hip State History The Washington State History Museum’s web site WashingtonHistoryOnline.org was built for teaching, but is

Got stories and/or photos of Larry and his Redmond roots? If so, bring them

open to all and has plenty of

January 12 or let us know by phoning 425.885.2919 or redmondhistory@

rich history via archives, text

hotmail.com. And check out this online tribute: www.larrybnelson.com.

and even games! l

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008

3

History is Happening in Redmond!

T

he Kangaroo Konundrum

When Bill Kruller got to wondering how in heck Lake Washington adopted



kangaroos as a mascot, a trail of e-mail began that led to two variations of a “Kirkland Kangaroo” heritage. In one variation, Dale Potter contacted Jock

A Heap of Historical Thanks for These Donations

McLauglin, who taught at LWHS for many years and whose father was Bill

Patti Simpson Ward for

McLaughlin, the famed football coach of years past. According to Jock:

donating a copy of the book

“In 1935, a cheerleader named Ronny Clemens developed a cheer for the then Kirkland High School Hornets that the administration considered a bit lewd. Something about a stinger and how it was applied … Unable to suppress the “lewd” cheer, the administration told the school they needed to choose a new mascot and left it up to the student body to choose the mascot. “Ronny decided that if they chose a ridiculous enough mascot, the administration would have to relent and let them keep the Hornet and

“Legend of Eddie Bauer.” Sylvia Murillo for donating a 1985 Sammamish Valley News; a 1977 Journal American article about Ralph Dodd; and a 1957 Redmond Jr. High yearbook.

consequently his pet cheer and its accompanying gyrations. So during an assembly when suggestions were solicited some idiot (rumor has it it was some bozo from the notoriously stupid Gatter clan) in the back row shouted ‘Kangaroos, Kirkland Kangaroos!’ Ronny decided that was perfect; the administration would have to reject it. The student body was in agreement and the Kangaroo was submitted to the administration.

Karen Ball for donating family mementos: 194751 Lake Washington High yearbooks and graduation invitation; 1944 Washington Mutual savings book.

“The administration said, ‘Fine, if that’s what you want, that’s what you get.’ “So, in 1949, when Kirkland High School and Redmond High School became

Joyce Fowler for

Lake Washington High School they became the Kangaroos. Ronny’s dead, but his

donating the book

legacy lives on ~ dubiously.”

“Willowmoor.”



G

In the second variation, Vern McCorkle says his late cousin Jane Kidder, who

was the home economics teacher after Kirkland High became LWHS, told him this: “It was called Lake Washington because the Redmond parents weren't too keen on their kids going to a "Kirkland" school. Jane told me that she remembers that there was a meeting (she thought it might have been a pep rally) to select a mascot for the football and track teams, and that at a meeting of students and teachers, a girl carried a stuffed animal,

Arlyn Vallene for donating two children’s books that belonged to her brother Gordon Bjerke.

Got Donations?

as girls often did in those times, and

Our Society office needs:

the yell king snatched up the stuffed toy

•

Newer digital camera

(a kangaroo wearing a purple and white

•

Digital audio recorder

cape) and held it over his head and

•

Transcriber for digital

yelled “The Kirkland Kangaroos!" l



recorder

•

Flat screen TV

Can you add to this kangaroo trail?

If you can donate an item (or

And how did other local mascots get

finance its purchase), please

their names? We’d love to know, so

contact Miguel Llanos at

please e-mail us at

[email protected] or

[email protected].

425.802.3806. Donations are tax-deductible.

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008

4

History is Happening in Redmond!

W

ere You at Our November 10, 2007 Meeting?

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

Adams, Ray Adams, Ruth Adsit, Bettie Bruneau, Bernie Bruneau, Pierre Campbell, Sally Davies, John Emmanuel, Tony Erickson, Bill Erickson, Sharon Garland, Lillian Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russ Hall, Suzanne Hall, Tom Hammersberg, Clara Hammersberg, Jerry Hansen, Tom

O

Hanson, Marge Hanson, Roy Hardy, Jerry Hardy, Naomi Himes, Chris Holte, Peter Ingersoll, Jo Ann Ingersoll, Tracy Jaton, Wayne Kuhl, Betty Kuhl, Howard Lang, Judy Llanos, Miguel Lyons, George Lyons, Jackie Magnuson, Cheryl Magnuson, Gene Magruder, Joan

Martin, Bob Martin, Daryl Miller, Larry Montgomery, Mary Muñoz, Alexa Neal, Marion Olson, LeRoy Radtke, Bev Radtke, Dick Rhinehart, Jutta Rosenbach, Patsy Saunders, Dee Schaible, Doris Standley, Beryl Stensland, Don Stone, Clarence

Stray, Arne Stray, Sunday Swisher, Kristine Swisher, Mary Swisher, Sarah Tollfeldt, Anne Tollfeldt, Harvey Torell, Jerry Vallene, Arlyn Weiss, Rose Westlund, Joanne Wiese, Margaret Williams, Audrey Williams, Larry Williams, Lois Yoder, Bob

RedmondReflections rder

Also available at the Redmond Library

✂ 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: $21.78 ($20.00 + $1.78 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:

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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 ~ January 2008

5

History is Happening in Redmond!

F

rom Derby Days to the Mayor’s Office Can you spot John Marchione, our incoming



mayor?

The photo was taken at Derby Days in 1984 in front

of Anderson Park. John’s front and nearly center, and his future wife, Debbie Griffin, is at left. Brother David is behind him. In back, left to right are: Michael Marchione, Kerry



McKorkle (Rose Hill resident), Paul Marchione and Jim Drinkwine (Avondale resident).

John will join us on January 12th to kick around ideas

to rejuvenate Derby Days and to celebrate Redmond's 100th birthday in 2012. l

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 deductible.

✂

Please make checks payable to: REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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

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