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OCTOBER 2006 NEWSLETTER REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 8 16600 NE 80th Street, Room 106
Redmond, WA 98052 ~ Tel 425.885.2919
Our Mission:
To Discover, Recover, Share and Celebrate website ~ www.redmondhistory.org
Redmond’s History e-mail ~ redmondhistory@hotmail.com

HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND! HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 12-4 p.m., or by Appointment

P resident’s Corner
(Guest column by former Mayor
Christine Himes)
R edmond Reflections
Hits the Presses
Back in 1975 many things were
happening in Redmond. It was growing
from a small town, with one traffic light, to
a much larger city with development going
on everywhere. That was when Paul and
Barbara Beeson moved into Redmond. They
bought and restored the old farmhouse and
barn of one of the original family of settlers,
the Perrigos. Today that beautiful spot is
now home to the Eagle Rim apartment
community and that farmhouse is the center
and hub for Eagle Rim.
The Beesons also became involved in the Redmond Historical Society's new Redmond Reflections ~ available now!
Redmond community through environmental
issues, going to Redmond City Council It’s true! After four years in the making, Redmond
meetings and numerous other County and Reflections, the Society’s 800-plus photo essay of Redmond,
State meetings that affected Redmond. will be available for purchase in October ~ just in time for holiday
This is where I met Paul and Barbara. gift shopping!
We were immediately attracted to the same Local author and historian Nancy
issues and concerns and this is also where Way calls it “rich with
Paul and Barbara decided I should run detailed stories and wonderful
NEXT
for the City Council. There were so many
MEETING
photos.” Senior City Planner
Sat., Oct. 14 at 9:30 a.m.
large issues facing the City, including the Dianna Broadie appreciates Old Redmond Schoolhouse
development of the old Redmond Golf Links, Community Center
the “many photos that will
the loss of other valuable open spaces, lend new insight into the life TopicS:
MAKING OF REDMOND
apartments converting to condomiums and and culture of the REFLECTIONS and
annexations happening all over. john couch's
Redmond area.” city slide show
(Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 2)

The Redmond Recorder ~ OCTOBER 2006 1 History is Happening in Redmond!

 GENERAL
MEETINGS
2nd Saturday of the Month
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
R edmond Reflections
Available for Purchase!
Old Redmond
Schoolhouse If you’re a Redmond long-timer, there’s a great chance you’ll find
Community Center yourself, loved ones and/or friends mentioned and shown among the
16600 NE 80th St chapters that range from the area’s Native Peoples to our high tech
economy.
For more recent Redmondites, the book has answers to questions like:
2006
OCTOBER 14 • What natural forces created our beautiful setting?
November 11 • Why did people come to our village of Salmonberg?
................................................... • How were they received by Native People?
• What industry created our first business boom and why did it
2006 Executive Board disappear?
Judy Lang President
Naomi Hardy Vice-President • Which of our mayors was responsible for the wagon wheel hub
Miguel Llanos Vice-President system of roads that grieves drivers in congestion today?
Teresa Becker Treasurer • Is Sammamish a river or a slough?
Margaret Wiese Corresponding
• Where were nuclear warheads located off Avondale?
Secretary
Beryl Standley • Where is the sunken forest that’s been underwater for 1,000 years?
Recording Secretary
We hope to have copies of the book for sale at our next general
Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, October 14. After that, they can be purchased at our
Terry Gordon office in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse during office hours or by mailing
Tom Hitzroth a check or money order using the form below.
Jon Magnussen
Shipping is complimentary within the U.S. for current members,
Amo Marr
Daryl Martin so if you haven’t joined or renewed, there’s a form on the back that you
Doris Schaible can send in with the book order form below!
Patti Simpson Ward (See page 5 for a look at a few of the 100 pages.)
...................................................
✂
FREE Newsletter redmond reflections order form
If you don't already subscribe,
please sign up. Call the office at Price per book: $21.76 ($20.00 + $1.76 Washington Sales Tax)
425.885.2919 or e-mail (Non-Members, please add postage: $3 for one book, $5 for two and $8 for three or more)
mew@nwlink.com. Just state
your preference of e-mail or Your Mailing
Name:__________________________ Name:___________________________
U.S. Mail (e-mail is cheaper for
the city and the photos look
better, too!) Telephone: ______________________ Address: _________________________

................................................... No. of Books Ordered: ____________ City/St./Zip: ______________________

The Redmond Reporter Amount Enclosed: ________________ _________________________________

Published nine times annually
Miguel Llanos Editor Redmond Historical Society
Patti Simpson Ward 16600 NE 80th, Room 106
Newsletter Graphic Designer
Redmond, WA 98052
©2006 Redmond Historical Society

The Redmond Recorder ~ OCTOBER 2006

2 History is Happening in Redmond!
The President’s Corner
(Continued from page 1)

Paul and Barbara applied the same WHITE HOUSE

passion they had for their medical HONOR
professions to shaping and helping resolve
some of Redmond’s growth issues and Redmond was among the
environmental problems. I always thought cities recently designated a
that they truly made people “start to think” “Preserve America Community” by
about where the City of Redmond was first lady Laura Bush. The White House
headed. initiative showcases community efforts
to preserve cultural and
After being on the City Council
natural heritage.
and running for Mayor in 1979 (term of
office was 1980-84) it was then that the
“I commend Redmond and its
die was cast for me. I was fortunate to
leaders,” Mrs. Bush stated, “for their
have an excellent city staff and we went
commitment to preserve an
about setting goals and policies for important part of our nation’s
park acquisitions and trail rights. In the historic past for visitors,
meantime, I was handling the myriad of neighbors, and most
other challenges that go with running a importantly,
city. For that experience, I will always be for children.”
grateful. Much of the thanks goes to the
Beesons.
You know it has been said people

P
come into your life for a reason. Paul and
Barbara surely came into mine and how
precious that relationship has been for me
aul Beeson’s Obituary
(Excerpt from Paul Beeson’s obituary in the King County
and my entire family, plus the huge benefit Journal: October 18, 1908 to August 14, 2006)
it had for the City of Redmond. It is hard to
put it all into words. “Paul Bruce Beeson,
Paul passed away this past August a distinguished physician,
14th at the age of 97. I am going to attend researcher and teacher
his memorial service at Yale University this whose compassionate
November. I’ll be happy to report on that in dedication to patient care
a later edition of “The Redmond Recorder.” inspired generations of
In closing, I’m reminded of a quote from medical students, died
Dr. William C. Menninger, founder of the August 14 in Exeter, New
Menninger Clinic and Foundation: “Find a Hampshire. Dr. Beeson and
mission in life and take it seriously.” We can his wife, Barbara, lived in
certainly say that this exemplifies the life Redmond for more than 25
of Paul and Barbara with their generous years before moving to New
contributions to the welfare of the City of Hampshire in 2002.”
Redmond and its citizens. Dr. Beeson will Contributions in Paul’s memory can be made to Washington
be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers Physicians for Social Responsibility, 4554 12th Avenue NE,
go to the Beeson family. l Seattle, WA, 98105. l
~ Christine Himes

The Redmond Recorder ~ OCTOBER 2006 3 History is Happening in Redmond!

W
Adams, Ray
ere You at Our September Meeting?
First time attendees are noted in BOLD TYPE and a

Hardy, Naomi
★!
Neal, Marion
No New Structures
at Anderson Park
Redmond’s historic first
park won’t see large
Anderson, Betty Himes, Chris Olson, LeRoy structures built there after
Bartley, Dave ★ Hudson, Carolyn Rockenbeck, Dave
the City Council purchased
Bartley, Elsie ★ Ingersoll, Jo Ann Rockenbeck, Margy
property a block away to
Bay, Joanne Keeley, Elaine Rosenbach, Patsy
use for improved water
Becker, Teresa Kuhl, Betty Rosenbach, Ruth Ann
Blair, Dusty Watts wells. Thank you Parks
Kuhl, Howard Schaible, Doris
Blair, Wayne Llanos, Miguel Smirnov, Sergey Commission, mayor and
Campbell, Sally Magnuson, Cheryl Solomon, Brad council members for
Cisneros, Nancy Magnuson, Gene Stray, Fran keeping Anderson just the
Chinn, Yvonne ★ Magruder, Joan Stray, Fred way it is! l
Cleveland, Bonnie ★ Marr, Amo Swanson, Kris
Coward, Liz Marrs, Carl Thomases, Robert ★ View Some Natural
Diesen, Chuck Marrs, Pat Tollfeldt, Anne History: Salmon
Emmanuel, Tony Martin, Bob Tollfeldt, Harvey
It’s spawning season so
Fowler, Joyce Martin, Daryl Warner, Bill ★
Gilbert, Evelyn Martin, Ward Warner, Norma you’ll find salmon on the
Goetschius, Millie McCormick, Elma Watkins, JoAnn Sammamish River and
Goetschius, Russ McCoskrie, Don Watts, Don Bear Creek. The City is
Gordon, Terri McCoskrie, Eileen Weiss, Rose sponsoring naturalists at
Hall, Tom Miller, Larry White, Bob the 90th Street Bridge
Hammersberg, Clara Montgomery, Mary Wiese, Margaret on the river on Oct. 28,
Hammersberg, Jerry Muñoz, Alexa 1-3 p.m., to explain the

H
salmon cycle. Bear Creek

appy Valley Bridge Replacement events are offered by the

nonprofits Water Tenders
(Tony Emmanuel alerted us to the fact that the Happy Valley bridge (www.watertenders.
just east of the Old Brick Road and connecting to Highway 202 is being
org) and Redmond
replaced. He also shared these memories.)
Organization for a
I called it the “Happy Valley Narrows.” This was a dangerous, deadly bridge. Shared Environment
Allowing a 55 mile an hour speed through a bridge this narrow was asking for trouble. (425.882.1846 or
Rob Klamser, who I believe was a City of Redmond engineer, was driving home Redmond.rose@verizon.
net), which offers short
from Ames Lake about 1970. He failed to make it through the narrow bridge and was
killed. A few years later, another person rolled over while trying to squeeze through
nature hikes. l
the narrow passage, and ended up
in the mud at the swampy roadside.
Residents Online
After rolling several times, and Education Hill resident
Bob Yoder has started
destroying his sports car, he
online postings about
crawled through the weeds with
change within Redmond’s
just scrapes and bruises.
neighborhoods and city
Numerous other scrapes and
government. It’s free and
scratches occurred that went
folks can post responses.
unreported. How many, we might Check it out at
never know. l blog.360.yahoo.com/
~ Tony Emmanuel lacrosse12dog. l

The Redmond Recorder ~ OCTOBER 2006

4 History is Happening in Redmond!
A Heap of
Historical
Thanks
I nside Redmond Reflections
Redmond Historical Society's new Redmond Reflections ~ available now!

To these geat people for

donating treasures, expertise,
time and envergy!

Don Watts, Daryl Martin, PAGE 39

Dee Saunders, Joyce Armed Services
Fowler, Beryl Standley,
Tom Hall for booth sitting at the
Redmond Saturday Market.

Roxy and John Phillips for

undertaking an inventory of our
artifact holdings.

Sigrid Horning for assisting

with the school display in the
hallway case.

Eastside Heritage Center

for loaning us photos of Redmond
High School graduating classes
for display at the Old Redmond
Schoolhouse Community Center.
PAGE 58
Dale Potter for help hanging A Sweet Icon
display pictures.

Joanne Bay for photos of Pete’s

Place on Lake Sammamish, barber
Ole Stakke at work, the Hideaway
Tavern, Derby Days of long ago,
Orchard Park and more.

Cheryl Magnuson for playing

recording secretary at our last
PAGE 70
Business
general meeting.

John Couch for making a 90- Once again, we hope

minute photography presentation to have copies of the
on behalf of the Society to City book for sale at our
employees. next general meeting on

Velda Kent Florer for the Saturday, October 14.

framed aerial of the SE corner of After that, they can be
116th and Avondale area, including purchased at our office
the mobile home park built by her in the Old Redmond
father, Leo Kent. And thanks to Schoolhouse during
Jerry Hammersberg for delivering office hours or by
and hanging it. U.S. Mail.

The Redmond Recorder ~ OCTOBER 2006 5 History is Happening in Redmond!


SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: A Realtor Rooted in Redmond
Welcome Erin Gordon McGowan, Board member Terri
Gordon’s daughter and a Redmond realtor who’s just joined
the Society at the Entrepreneur level! Here’s Erin about
herself:
Conrad Olsen's logging crew "I grew up in a family of real estate folks: mom, grandad,
near Avondale. uncles. And I was born and raised on the Redmond
homestead of my great-great-grandfather, Conrad Olsen,
whose barn and farmhouse still stand on Conrad Olsen
Road (NE 95th Street). I was the fifth generation that lived on
Erin Gordon McGowan
the farm and it’s now a City park.
425.641.9300
"Redmond’s history has always been part of our family
egordon@johnlscott.com history. In fact, my husband and I now live in the downtown
home my great-grandfather Don Adler built in the 1940s.
"I’m eager to use my love and knowledge of the
Eastside to help folks buy and sell property. Please
remember me when you think of local real estate, and give
me a call."
Erin Gordon McGowan

J oin the Redmond Historical Society

AND HELP DISCOVER, RECOVER, PRESERVE AND
SHARE REDMOND’S HISTORY!

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REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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