REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER VOL. 13 NO. 7

OUR PURPOSE: to DiScover, recover, preServe, Share anD celebrate reDmonDS hiStory

ealizing

reDmonD

Plan for Old Town Court

A young nonprofit group, Realize Redmond, has some impressive plans

to raise private funds for public projects, especially the proposed downtown park. Whats more, both it, and the city, have taken Redmonds heritage to heart. (The citys park designs, for example, include an Old Town Court, illustrated at right in above image.) As for Realize Redmond, hows this for a bold statement: Founded in honor of Redmonds upcoming centennial in 2012, we partner with residents, city government and businesses to develop a shared vision for our future that will become our legacy for the next century. Please join us on Saturday, September 10 at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center when Jenni Craswell, Realize Redmonds plans for the future. History is Happening in redmond September 2011

September general meeting:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 10:30 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON Old Redmond Schoolhouse 16600 NE 80th Street

executive director, will explain the groups history and

2011
executive boarD boarD of DirectorS
Nao Hardy Rosemarie Ives Judy Aries Lang Jon Magnussen Doris Schaible Beryl Standley Patti Simpson Ward Margaret Evers Wiese

Chris Himes President Miguel Llanos Senior Vice-President Joe Townsend Vice-President Finance John Phillips Vice-President Collections Mary Hanson Secretary

W
T

hatS new online?

office manager Monica Park attorney Charles Diesen

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

he 2011 Derby Days is history, but it has been recorded for future generations like those before it. Our website homepage has a neat list of Derby articles, including the 1939 East Side Journal report describing the first Derby Days. The big event on August 24, 1939, was the 26-mile race around Lake Sammamish. Even with those old bikes of past, the winner in each category did it in under two hours. Mens winner Joe Richardson posted the fastest time of all: 1 hour, 30 minutes, 5 seconds!

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table of contentS
PAGE

COVER FEATURE & WHATS NEW

1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Realizing Redmond 2011 RHS Officers & Board Whats New Online Whats New Our Collection Thank Yous, RSM & Walking Tour Centennial Quilt Centennial Images or Poetry? Rails Become Part of History In Memoriam & Redmond-iscing Order Now: Redmond Reflections, plus Books, Cards & Gift Ideas from RHS MEMBERSHIP & CONTACT INFO 10 11 12 2011 Picnic & Lifetime Members Membership Form Address & RHS Contact Info

the reDmonD recorDer

is published nine times annually. Miguel Llanos Editor Patti Simpson Ward Art Director pattisimpsonward.com

RHS NEWS

MAJOR SPONSORS

September 2011 History is Happening in redmond

hatS new in collection?

our

NEW

WHATS

Hundreds of rail spikes and several Railroad Crossing signs were

among the items set aside in the downtown rail-to-park project. The Society hopes to inherit a few of the more historic items. See Page 7 for more on Redmonds rail heritage.

Photos courtesy of Dale Potter

History is Happening in redmond September 2011

THANK YOU TO:

PATTI SIMPSON WARD for donating about a dozen historic photo reproductions and wood presentation easels to be used in future displays. New volunteers EMILY MOORE, a soon-to-be senior at Lakeside High, and THOMAS PARKER, a University of Washington student. DALE POTTER for photographing the dismantling of the Redmond rail corridor. See page 3 and 7 for photos.

Society booth at the SaturDay market The 2011 Redmond Saturday Market ends in late October and well
be staffing a booth on October 1st to wrap up our season as well. Its always funand a chance to run into friends you havent seen in a while! To sign up or for more information, contact Judy Lang at lang.judy@comcast.net or call the office at 425.885.2919.

laSt 2011 walking tour Tour guide extraordinaire Tom Hitzroth will lead the last 2011 walk
through the historic downtown area on Sunday, September 11. Our Centennial is just around the corner in 2012, so are you ready to answeror askRedmond trivia questions? Taking our guided walking tour is guaranteed to provide lots of facts, figures and especially fun. Tom is the man with the stories, gossip, and names. For example, do you know in whose building an alleged bordello operated? Heres a hint: He would later become Redmonds longest serving mayor! The tour runs from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., and walkers meet on the front steps of the Justice White House, 7730 Leary Way. The tour will not be held if it rains. Pre-registration is required and a fee of $8 per person will help fund Society research. To register, phone the Redmond Historical Society at 425.885.2919 or email the office or info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org.

September 2011 History is Happening in redmond

rap yourSelf in reDmonDS hiStory!

NEWS

RHS

Heres a chance to own a piece of Redmonds history while supporting

the Societys research and programs. Were raffling off this quilt with historic scenes and tickets ($2.00 each) can be bought at our general meetings and our office. Call 425.885.2919 for more information.

2012 Redmond Centennial Quilt

History is Happening in redmond September 2011

NEWS

RHS

ot iconic imageS or poetry for the centennial?

With Redmonds Centennial around the corner in 2012, well be calling

out for help from long-timers over the next few months. One of our first projects, in conjunction with the City Arts Commission and Poet Laureate Rebecca Meredith, is to reflect Redmonds heritage in poetry. Were looking for three things: 1. REDMOND PHOTOS that strongly convey themes that will be used to inspire poetry and discussion. Those themes are:
Settlers Transportation Civic Engagement Tradition Families Technology Government Development Making a Living Nature Culture Recreation & Entertainment

2. 3.

PAST POETRY about Redmond. Dust off those old school files! FOLKS SIGNING UP for poetry-writing workshops. Stay tuned for dates and places!

If you can help with the first two, please contact our office at 425.885.2919 or info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org.

cemetery plotS For Cemetery Plots for Sale Sale The Society is selling two side-by-side plots in Redmonds
Cedar Lawns Memorial Park. Donated by the Reed family, they include endowment care and are in the Garden of Christus section (225: 3 & 4). The price is $3,499 for one or $6,699 for both with the current value at $5,495 each. Cedar Lawns will handle all the necessary paperwork. If you are interested, contact us at 425.885.2919 for info.

September 2011 History is Happening in redmond

ailS

become part of hiStory NEWS

RHS

The City of Redmond pulled up a mile of track through downtown this summer, part of the plan for a pedestrian and bike corridor. Some of the rail material will be turned into art for the corridor and the Society plans a heritage kiosk there as well. We also hope to add some of the older material (see page 3) to our collection. Below is part of a brief account of Redmonds rail history written in 2003 by Kay Shoudy. Search our website for railroad to read even more.

The Redmond station opened in 1889 on Leary Way next to the Hotel
Redmond in the heart of the village. James Hoffner was the first station operator and Ernest Adams, the first supervisor for the Northern Pacific Railroad. For the next century, the railroad continued to operate, serving cattlemen, truck farmers, and such businesses as T&D Feeds in Redmond and Darigolds subsidized butter manufacturing plant in Issaquah. In the 1980s, the old trestle across the Sammamish River north of Redmond Way suffered a bad fire. The fire department was able to save the trestle and it continued in operation until the railroad was discontinued. The fate of the railroad was a concern for local citizens and a major point of controversy in planning what became Redmond Town Center on the Redmond Golf Links course. In recent decades, the right-of-way has often been proposed as an extension of the Burke-Gilman Trail, named for those two enterprising gentlemen who first brought the railroad to Redmond.
A giant magnet is used to pick up spikes and other loose rail metals. (Photo courtesy of Dale Potter.)

History is Happening in redmond September 2011

n memoriam: DonalD a. mccoSkrie (february 18, 1915 to June 23, 2011)

One of our long-time members, Eileen McCoskrie, lost her husband this summer. Below is the tribute written by the family for Don.

on grew up on a hill overlooking Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier, which influenced his whole life. He and his brother Burns and their friends sailed on Lake Washington, out through the Locks, and all over Puget Sound. They skied on Mt. Rainier before there were any ski lifts in the state. He racedand finishedthe first Silver Skis Race from Camp Muir to Edith Creek Basin in 1934. He also graduated from Franklin High, attended the University of Washington (Architecture), joined the Navy, worked for the post office at Terminal Annex Seattle, married Eileen Henry (September 7, 1941), built a house on the east side of Lake Sammamish, and had two daughters (Mary Lou and Ruth Ann). After they retired in 1972, he and Eileen sailed in Europe for 27 summers, inspiring people everywhere they went to live their dreams. Don loved to say that he had been retired longer than he worked, and that he had left no stone unturned. Donations in his memory can be made to the Redmond Aide Car Fund 8450 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.

reDmonD-iScing
From Tony Emmanuel, to commemorate our 2011 picnic:

Before leaving the house this morning, Betty commented: Remember when youd go into town to the Bicycle Derby or something like this Redmond Historical Society picnic? Youd see people like John and Patty Lawson, John and Alice Way, Wayne and Flo Thompsonjust to name a few. This page could be filled with names like these. So, enjoy your friends today, June 11, 2011, at the picnic. Everyone is special. Here today and gone tomorrow. Lets hope tomorrow is a long way off.
From Bernadine Bruneau at a previous general meeting:

Judy Langs story was most interesting since much of it was so familiar to me. My children were born in the old Kirkland Hospital. We dancedour most favorite dance was the Schottische, to Les LaBrie. I moved to Redmond in 1942, so many changes over the years.

September 2011 History is Happening in redmond

NOW
Redmond Reflections

ORDER

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(INCLUDES TAX)*

SHIPPING & HANDLING: ORDERING INFO*:

Please add $5.00 shipping & handling surchage for

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NAME ______________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER______________________ # OF BOOKS ORDERED_______ AMOUNT ENCLOSED (CHECK PLEASE) _$_________________________________

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NOTE:

Redmond Reflections is also available at:

THE SOCIETY OFFICE at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. (Hours of operation on page 12)

PATTI SIMPSON WARDS BOOTH at the Redmond Saturday Market throughout the summer. (Dates on her web site: pattisimpsonward.com)

great gift iDeaS

for hiStory loverS
Need something special for someone who appreciates our history? These items are available at our Society office: GREETING CARDS, MAGNETS & NOTE CARDS featuring artwork by local artists:
Artwork of the historic Adair House in Anderson Park, Redmonds oldest park. Antics at Anderson Park is the work of fine artist Patti Simpson Ward. See more images of Eastside settings on pattisimpsonward.com).

PATTI SIMPSON WARD DORISJEAN COLVIN PAT DUGAN

OUR TOWN A history of Redmond, by Nancy Way Our VIEW OF HISTORY DVD

History is Happening in redmond September 2011

MEMBERSHIP

une 11th rhS annual picnic

We didnt get a list

of those who attended our annual picnic at Anderson Park, but the nice weather and great music provided by the Old Time Fiddlers made for a strong turnout. The photo here shows John Couch receiving the 2011 History Hero award from Society President Chris Himes.
Photo courtesy of Brian Ranck (HeadspinnerPhotography.com)

our lifetime memberS

Eric Anderson John Anderson Barbara Neal Beeson Brad Best Marjorie Stensland Costello John Couch Liz Carlson Coward Frank Garbarino Edward L. Hagen Lucille B. Hansen-Bellings Wayne Hansen Naomi Hardy Patricia Weiss Jovag Barbara Weiss Joyce Glenn Lampaert Roy Lampaert Judy Aries Lang Miguel Llanos Jon Magnussen Charles Reed Clare Amo Marr Daryl Martin Allison Reed Morris Frances Spray Reed Vivian Robinson Laurie Rockenbeck Margy Rockenbeck William Rockenbeck Fred Stray Doris Bauer Schaible Arlyn Vallene Don Watts Rose Weiss Joanne Westlund Margaret Evers Wiese James Windle

10

September 2011 History is Happening in redmond

J
$5.00 $20.00 $35.00 $200.00 $250.00 $1,000.00

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oin the

reDmonD hiStorical Society

To Discover, Recover, Preserve, Share and Celebrate Redmonds History

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History is Happening in redmond September 2011

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reDmonD hiStorical Society

16600 NE 80th Street, Room 106 Redmond, WA 98052

PHONE WEB SITE EMAIL HOURS

425.885.2919 redmondhistoricalsociety.org info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment

September 2011 History is Happening in redmond