Rhs Newsletter Jun 2008

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JUNE 2008 NEWSLETTER

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THE

REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 6

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] NEW HOURS: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ~ and by appointment

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND!

P

otluck Picnic: June 14th

We don’t have a general meeting

D

erby Days are Here Again!

in June. Instead it’s a potluck picnic at Anderson Park, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with entertainment by the Oldtime Fiddlers! Even if you don’t cook, we’ll have plenty of hot dogs, punch and handmade ice cream to go around!

O

l

ur History is Hip!

Check out the May/June issue

of the glossy magazine “425” for a long article on what makes Redmond

The caption on this Seattle P.I. photo taken by Clarence J. Rote stated: “The 1947 Redmond Bicycle Derby began with a parade of children in costume and the crowning of the derby's queen. The bicycle race, run under the rules of the National Amateur Racing Authority, began in the early afternoon, with classes for men and junior and senior boys and girls. Junior riders raced from Issaquah to Redmond and senior riders raced a 25 mile route around Lake Sammamish.” (Photo courtesy of Seattle P.I. via the Museum of History and Industry.)

unique! Redmond-raised reporter Georgie Nickell notes that “one of Redmond’s newest trends is celebrating its past.” She then quotes Society historian Nao Hardy: “We have monthly speakers, videos and discussions that draw overflowing crowds . . . all about Redmond’s rich history. In the summer we offer a



Times have changed but not our tradition of bike races, parades

and a town party! This year it’s on July 12, and all are welcome to join the Redmond Historical Society in its parade entries: walking even sponsoring the history theme in the kids parade) or riding in a retired schoolbus or fire engine. Contact the office if you’d like details of where to meet by phoning us at 425.885.2919 or redmondhistory@ hotmail.com.

By the way, do you know the

guided walking tour of the historic

street corner where the photo above

downtown area . . . and we recently

was taken? The buildings are still there,

published ‘Redmond Reflections:

and one offers clues as to location. See

From Settlers to Software.’” l

page 5 for the answer! l

The Redmond Recorder ~ June 2008

with us (we’re

1

RHS SUMMER POTLUCK PICNIC SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH 11:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. at

ANDERSON PARK in Downtown Redmond

History is Happening in Redmond!

NEXT 2008 RHS GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY, SEPT. 13TH 10:30 to Noon AT THE

REDMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY Picnic replaces June Meeting! See page 1!

2008 Executive Board

Judy Lang President pro tem Chris Himes Vice-President Miguel Llanos Vice-President Joanne Westlund Treasurer Margaret Wiese Corresponding Secretary Beryl Standley Recording Secretary

Board of Directors Mary Hanson Nao Hardy Jon Magnussen Doris Schaible Joe Townsend Patti Simpson Ward

Office Manager Monica Park

Attorney

Charles Diesen

Birthday Card Coordinator Amo Marr

Library Liasion Andy McClung

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

FREE Newsletter

If you don't already subscribe, please sign up. Call the office at 425.885.2919 or e-mail [email protected]. State your preference of e-mail or U.S. Mail (e-mail is cheaper for the city and the photos look better on-line).

R

edmond Klondike Connection



Our Klondike Gold Rush presentation in April included some

quick research that found just one person from Redmond in the rolls of thousands who traveled north. That person was W.P. Wilson. Society historian Nao Hardy has added him to her “Who’s Who in Redmond” database, which has some 14,000 names! “W.P. Wilson is the only Redmond resident documented as travelling to the Klondike during the Gold Rush,” Nao says, noting that he is buried at the Old Redmond Cemetery with a headstone that reads only, “My Brother,” a sign that his sister, Sallie Hutcheson, was his closest surviving relative. Turns out William P. Wilson was a granduncle of Society member Frances McEvers. Society Corresponding Secretary Margaret Wiese, a genealogy guru, has been helping Frances with some of her family history, and found out that Wilson was indeed a miner in Alaska from before 1900 to at least 1910, according to the Censuses, having arrived in 1897 from Piedmont, Wash., a town on the Olympic Peninsula’s Lake Crescent where he had been a logger. “William's sister Sallie was Frances' grandmother,” Margaret adds. The 1920 Census had William, who was born in Tennessee, listed as a farmer in Boisfort, a town in Lewis County, Washington, and living with his widowed sister Sallie, his nephew Charles Hutcheson and niece Margarie Hutcheson. Ten years later, the 1930 Census had William working as a farmer in Hollywood, Washington, aged 70, and listed him as having married at 28 but then becoming a widower. l

B

elieve It or Not!

The Redmond Recorder

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

Major Sponsors

How to protect a river bank from erosion? This 1955 photo shows an attempt by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to shore up the Sammamish. (Photo courtesy of Eastside Heritage Center.)

The Redmond Recorder ~ June 2008

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History is Happening in Redmond!

J

oel Coval, one of the partners in the upscale hamburger restaurant about to open inside Odd Fellows Hall, shared with us some of the bottles found around and under what was once Redmond’s first dance hall and cinema ~ as well as a place to swig some hooch! If anyone has first-hand experience with these bottles and Odd Fellows, please contact us at [email protected] or 425.885.2919 to share some of that history!

The Redmond Recorder ~ June 2008

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History is Happening in Redmond!

W

A

ere You at Our May 10th, 2008 Meeting?



We counted 85 attendees ~ several of them newbies.

Loita and Dale Hawkinson of the Kirkland

First time attendees are noted in BOLD TYPE! Adams, Ray

Llanos, Miguel

Anspach, Ray

Lutz, Brian

Aries, Annette

Lyons, George

Aries, Jim

Lyons, Jackie

Bartley, David

Magnuson, Cheryl

Bartley, Elsie

Magruder, Joan

Bernauer, Sylvia

Martin, Bob

Broadie, Douglas

Martin, Daryl

Campbell, Sally

Martin, Ward

Carlson, Jack

McClung, Andy

Comer, Gordy

McCormick, Elma

Davies, John

McCoskrie, Eileen

Dudley, Gordon Dudley, Irene Emmanuel, Tony Garbarino, Frank Garbarino, Peggy Gilbert, Evelyn Goetschius, Millie Goetschius, Russell Goshorn, Herbert Goshorn, Jean Etta Greaves, Steve Hammersberg, Clara Hammersberg, Jerry

Heap of Historical Thanks to:

Heritage Society for 1955 photos from the Sammamish Slough Race that we used at last month’s meeting. Kris Swanson for home video of the water ski races that were also held on the river. Jerry Torell for newspaper clippings of the raft race, the third water tradition on the Sammamish. Carol Trapp for donating a Redmond Octoberfest mug from 1978.

McKelheer, Mike

Sally Campbell, Amo Marr, Richard

Miller, Larry

Morris, and Roxie and John Phillips for

Montgomery, Mary

booth sitting at the Saturday Market.

Muñoz, Alexa Nelson, Robert

Roxie and John Phillips and Monica

Newhard, Vic Norvold, Jan

Park for attending a 4Culture "collections

Phillips, John

preservation" workshop.

Phillips, Roxana Rosenbach, Patsy

Clara and Jerry Hammersberg for

Rossiter, David

joining several board members on a committee

Salmi, Anne

to plan the Society’s long-term goals.

Hansen, Tom

Schaible, Doris

Hanson, Marge

Smith, Elsie

Hanson, Roy

Standley, Beryl

Hawkinson, Dale

Stensland, Don

Hawkinson, Loita

Stray, Fran

Himes, Christine

Stray, Fred

Hudson, Carolyn

Swanson, Kris

Ingersoll, Jo Ann

Tollfeldt, Anne

Isackson, Diana

Tollfeldt, Harvey

Isackson, Lloyd

Townsend, Joe

Saturday Market. If you can donate two hours

Johnson, Mary Ann

Trapp, Carol

for a shift (9:00 to 11:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 1:00

Johnson, Roger

Turner, Judy

p.m., or 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.) please let us know

Keeley, Elaine

Vallene, Arlyn

Kenyon, Bruce

by e-mailing [email protected] or

Weiss, Rose

Kenyon, Cheryl

Wiese, Margaret

Kuhl, Betty

Williams, Audrey

Kuhl, Howard

Williams, Larry

it’s also a great place to run into friends and

Lang, Judy Aries

Williams, Lois

neighbors strolling by!

The Redmond Recorder ~ June 2008

S

aturday Market Help?

The Society is hosting a booth the first

Saturday of each month at The Redmond

calling the office at 425.885.2919. The Market’s not only a great place to share our history,

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History is Happening in Redmond!

History Hero Correction and Congratulations

Walking Tours Are Back

In our last newsletter, our 2008 History Hero, Dianna Broadie, cited

There’s still time to sign up for

preservation of the Stone House as a satisfying moment. Stone House



co-owner Randy Reeves wrote us after we mixed up his wife’s name!

the last walking tours of the season

“Please note that I own the Stone House with my wife Stephanie Reeves

along Leary Way. Guide Tom

and with Paul and Patty Gordon,” he said. “Dianna is a wonderful woman

Hitzroth has lined up two Sundays

and a passionate advocate for history and the preservation of what is left

•

June 22

of our heritage. She will be missed!” l

•

September 21

as long as it doesn’t rain!

Derby Photo

Reserve your spot via

The photo on Page 1 shows the 1947 Derby in the heart of Redmond:

the girls are riding along Leary Way, just having crossed Redmond Way. How do we know that’s the spot? While the General Electric Store doesn’t jump out as a distinctive property, the dormer windows of the building behind it are unique to the Odd Fellows Hall on Leary Way. An even closer look reveals the circular Independent Order of Odd Fellows logo hanging from the building. Long-timers will have also identified the far left corner of the photo,

425.885.2919 or redmondhistory@ hotmail.com.

The cost is $6 per person and

proceeds will go to purchase a bench for the walking route. The 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. tour starts at the Justice White House across from Half-Price Books.

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where a “rn” from a sign is visible. That would have been the Corner Tavern, now O’Leary Park. Notice any signs from World War II, which had ended just two years earlier? Hanging next to the American flag are two others: seems like one is a flag of mourning and the other possibly the flag of France. If you’ve got information to fill in that bit of history, please contact us at [email protected] or 425.885.2919. l

✂ Redmond Reflections Order Form Also available at the Redmond Library!

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:

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 ~ June 2008

5

History is Happening in Redmond!

M

ystery Tool Feedback

We received three possibilities for the tool at



right, which Amo Marr donated. Someone thought it was from a military jet and used to crack open the cockpit in an emergency. Vic Newhard of the Kirkland Heritage Society thinks it “could be a farriers tool used to clean hooves and nail on new shoes.” Brian Goetschius is sure it’s a slater’s hammer for “punching holes in slates” and that the sheer side was to “knock chips off the edge of slates.” This editor has to go with Brian, since a second donated tool was identified as being a roofing hammer and the Marrs had lived across the street from a shingle mill. 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

✉ 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.)

Name:______________________________________________________ Telephone: ____________________________________ (PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME EXACTY AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR ON YOUR NAME TAG FOR GENERAL MEETINGS.)

Address: __________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: ______ Zip: _____________ E-Mail Address: ______________________________________________ Birth Date (Month/Day/Year): _____________________ If Family Membership, other names to be included: ________________________________________________________________ How would you like our complimentary newsletter delivered to you: E-Mail: _________________ U.S. Mail: __________________