ea fa 7“! The Redmond Historical Society ——— Founded 1999 Our mission is to discover, recover, preserve, share and celebrate Redmond’s history. P.O. Box 464, Redmond, WA 98073 April 10, 2000 Dear Folks, John Couch really knows how to throw a party! The Old Schoolhouse was dedicated in grand style on the evening of March 31s, and is now our Community Center—once again. Tom Trueblood estimates 1400 people visited the Schoolhouse during the 4-day celebration, 600 of them attending Friday’s Grand Opening events. John’s living portrayal of Bill Brown was so convincing that, for a moment, a non- resident honestly believed he was hearing the reminiscences of our city’s second mayor. Golden Ahimni Charlie Lentz and Francis McEvers lent credibility to the charade, and for a few delicious moments we were all transported back to simpler times when the old brick building was the heart of our friendly little town. Future generations will be genuinely grateful to have this beautiful old schoolhouse. We are leaving them photographs and written memories and memorabilia of the thousands of lives that intersected within its walls, but by preserving the structure itself, we bequeath them the experience of place. It is one thing to read about a place, it is another to experience it. In fifty years, children will be able to enter this old landmark where, for perhaps the first time, they will hear the screech of chalk on a chalkboard, run their hands over a free-standing radiator, and try to imagine a time when indoor drinking fountains were @ marvel. Our town Redmond is’experiencing an era of unprecedented population growth and rapid land development. With the constant buzz of building and bulldozing, and with no preservation policies, few historically significant structures remain today. In 1997 a Citizens Advisory Council was formed to make a list of Redmond sites that might possibly have some historical importance, and I was privileged to be a member of that group with people like Bob Anderson and John Preibe who own buildings that are undeniably landmarks of our heritage. We brainstormed to create a windshield Study List, off the top of our heads, of all the places we personally thought might be historic. To this list of 28 sites was added a County list of structures built before 1958, and another 32 sites inventoried by a WSU historian for Redmond’s Planning Department, bringing the total to nearly 90 sites. Of these 90, a few like the Justice White House and the Methodist Church are unquestionably worth consideration, but some are now moot cases like the Old Schoolhouse and Carolyn Miglino’s Woodside House. Some are already City Parks, some don’t exist any longer and can only be commemorated with plaques, and many have been extensively remodeled or poorly maintained. The majority of candidates are private homes listed merely because of their age and have no historical importance.4 History is Happening in Redmond \ We'll be extremely fortunate if 40 sites remain on the list after it’s been researched. That is, if the City Council doesn’t trash the list first. Because of current misinformation concerning the Study List, it is important to understand that this list is not an official document of any kind. The sites listed are only proposed as potential candidates for evaluation. No building in Redmond has been designated historic because there have never been any City regulations for doing so. The City is now considering a proposal to adopt preservation policies, and some Council members don’t believe historic preservation is important to the people of Redmond. Indeed, at the last Council meeting, it was even suggested that the Study List be thrown out. Well folks, if they throw this Study List out, we have nothing. If they throw this list out, they are saying they care nothing about Redmond’s past and intend to preserve nothing for its future. Such a statement made by a city our size with its enviable resources is not only irresponsible, it is reprehensible. And here’s where we are now: The Council is holding a Public Hearing on Tuesday May 2"4 at 7:30pm to receive our input. If you believe Redmond should recognize its historic sites and encourage preservation, this is the time to speak up. Call and write the City before the hearing. They do listen to us. The Old Schoolhouse was saved and renovated because of public opinion. If they don’t hear from us, our elected officials will continue to believe we don’t care about anything but new strip malls. (Mail: Mayor Ives & City Council, PO Box 97010, Redmond 98073-9710. E- mail the Mayor and Council all at once: mayorcouncil@ci.redmond.wa.us.) We'll have copies of this Study List available at our next Society, meeting April 15th, Look over the list and share what you know about the sites on it. We are partners with the City of Redmond, and our research is valuable. Just think: The City first became aware that the Perrigo farmhouse on Avondale existed when they read about it in our newsletter! The Perrigos’ first home in Redmond was a log cabin that burned down which brings to mind how frequently we read of fires in our early history--the first schools, barns, homes, hotels. From the oral history of Roy & Glenn Lampaert recently recorded by KUOW reporter Cathy DuCaamp, we have their recollections of forest fires on the edges of town. Glenn recounts that “it seemed like every Fall the fires would be centered in the Novelty Hill area...and the skies would turn absolutely black for days at a time...everyone that I can remember would gather up hose, gunny sacks, water buckets...and they would all get to the fire any way they could and literally beat the fire to death with the wet gunny sacks.” In the early days when a fire started, it was seldom fought successfully, until the first volunteer fire fighters organized in 1932. Boyd & Irene Kinney are serving as our repository for the history of Redmond’s fire fighters. Boyd was a volunteer fireman for 27 years. He and Irene each have two sons who were also volunteer firemen. To contribute “stuff” or memories to this collective history, call the Kinneys at 425-222-3677. , Naome qa