REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

JUNE 2011 • NEWSLETTER • VOL. 13 • NO. 6

OUR PURPOSE:
To Discover, Recover, Preserve, Share and Celebrate
Redmond’s History

P icnic at Redmond’s First Park

Newly restored
Anderson Park
picnic shelter

Please join us on June 11th for our annual get-together at Anderson

Park. The setting will even have a new “old” look after the city and Redmond
Rotary funded the restoration of the 1930s picnic shelter where we meet!
The socializing gets started at 11:00 a.m and we’ll have a barbecue, so feel
free to bring items to grill or a potluck dish. We’ll provide the ice cream
and the Old Time Fiddlers, led by Society members
Elsie and Dave Bartley, will provide the
RHS
entertainment.
Annual Picnic
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
The fun runs to 2:00 p.m. and we’ll even
11:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M.
be honoring our 2011 History Hero (see Page 7
for news about who it is). ANDERSON PARK
PICNIC SHELTER
As for the restored picnic shelter, the Redmond
Reporter had an article recently about the work. Check it out at:
pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/red/community/117194528.html.
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History is happening in Redmond • June 2011
2011
Executive Board
Chris Himes • President
Miguel Llanos • Senior Vice-President
W hat’s New
Online?
Our lifetime members are
major financial supporters and we
Joe Townsend • Vice-President Finance
John Phillips • Vice-President Collections list them in each issue as thanks.
Mary Hanson • Secretary We’ve also got major institutional
supporters and just created a
Board of Directors
Nao Hardy showcase page on our website to
Rosemarie Ives thank them.
Judy Aries Lang The City of Redmond and
Jon Magnussen
4Culture are the most significant
Doris Schaible
Beryl Standley backers, but we hope to add
Patti Simpson Ward a healthy list of corporate
Margaret Evers Wiese
sponsors. Our first for 2011 is
Office Manager • Monica Park Photo Restoration and Retouch, a
Attorney • Charles Diesen business run by Society Finance
Vice President Joe Townsend.
Our finances are public record and may From our web site’s “Table of
be viewed at the office. Contents,” choose “Sponsors” to
learn more.
FREE Newsletter
If you don't subscribe, please sign up.
Call the office at 425.885.2919 or email Table of Contents
info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org. PAGE

State your preference of email or U.S. COVER FEATURE • WHAT’S NEW

Mail. (We prefer email as it's inexpensive 1 Annual June 2011 RHS Picnic
and photos show up better online.) 2 2011 RHS Officers & Board
2 What’s New Online
The Redmond Recorder 3 What’s New in Our Collection
is published nine times annually. RHS NEWS
Miguel Llanos • Editor 4 Thank You’s
Patti Simpson Ward • Art Director 5 Centennial Quilt
pattisimpsonward.com 6 Upcoming Local Events
7 History Hero: John Couch
MAJOR 8 Feature: “When Bears Roamed
Bear Creek”
SPONSORS 9 Order Now: “Redmond
Reflections,” plus Books, Cards
& Gift Ideas from RHS
MEMBERSHIP • CONTACT INFO
10 Membership & Attendees
11 Membership Form
12 Address & RHS Contact Info

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June 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
W
WHAT’S
hat’s New in Our NEW
Collection?

Donated map of Redmond and the Eastside

A large, mounted Kroll map of Redmond and other Eastside areas was
donated to us by our sister group in Issaquah. It’s not clear what period it
covers, but we’re figuring the 1950s. Next time you’re near our office, feel
free to swing by to see how names and places have or haven’t changed over
the years! And thanks to Issaquah History Museums for thinking of us.

History Transcribed
Over the years, several dozen oral histories as well as pre-digital
documents (many from city, fire department and schools) have been
transcribed for us, usually by Doris Schaible and with funding support from
4Culture.
We’ve now got a master list of these, all of which are available in
digital format via our office. So if you’re wondering if someone you
know has had their oral history recorded, feel free to contact us at info@
redmondhistoricalsociety.org or 425.885.2919.

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History is happening in Redmond • June 2011
THANK
YOU TO:
• FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH in
Redmond for
allowing us to
display our
Centennial quilt and
sell raffle tickets.

• PATTI SIMPSON
WARD for donating
Patti Simpson Ward’s “Spring at the Old Redmond School”
a framed print of
one of her latest paintings: “Spring at the Old Redmond School”
(Redmond Community Center and home of the Society)—it even has
Society members and the meeting sign in the foreground!

• JUDY LANG, JOE TOWNSEND, MARGE HANSON, LINDA JATON AND

JULIANNE ROSSITER for volunteering at our Saturday Market booth.

Society Booth at the Saturday Market

The 2011 Redmond Saturday Market season started on May 7 and we’ll
be staffing a booth on the first Saturday of each month through October. It’s
always fun—and a chance to run into friends you haven’t 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.

Join Us for the Derby Parade

Mark Saturday, July 9th for the annual Derby Days Parade and feel free
to ride along in the Society’s “fleet”—Harold “Butch” Kent’s 1947 Ford fire
truck and 1940 Ford school bus. Butch and his fire truck have been in the
parade over two decades! (Though it missed last year when his baby broke
down as he was fueling up for the parade.)
We’re also looking for folks to carry our banner and walk alongside the
vehicles. We’ll gather around 9:00 a.m. at the staging grounds for the 10:00
a.m. start. For details, contact Judy Lang at lang.judy@comcast.net or call
the office at 425.885.2919.

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June 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
W
RHS
rap Yourself in NEWS
Redmond’s History!
Here’s a chance to own a piece of Redmond’s history while supporting
the Society’s research and programs. We’re 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

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History is happening in Redmond • June 2011
 U
RHS
NEWS pcoming Local Events

Here’s a look at what’s happening at our neighbor historical societies.

All events are free unless otherwise noted:

l The Smithsonian’s Journey Stories

WHEN: Through July 10—with “Journey Tunes” music on July 30, 5:00 p.m.

This national exhibit shows how transportation shaped our nation and
millions of individuals – from the hopes of fresh starts, to the realities of
forced migrations. Images, audio and artifacts tell individual stories that
illustrate the critical roles travel and movement have played in building our
diverse culture. Presented by the Eastside Heritage Center with support
from Humanities Washington, 4Culture and the Smithsonian Institution.

WHERE: Crossroads Mall in Bellevue.

l Fraser Cabin Heritage Program • Kelsey Creek

Farm Park
Saturday, June 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Just over a centry ago, living was itself a chore. You can see for yourself
at this hands-on look at what it was like to be a settler in the 1880s.
All activities are located at the 1888 Fraser Cabin. Presented by the
Eastside Heritage Center, in partnership with Bellevue Parks. For more
information call 425.450.1049 or visit eastsideheritagecenter.org.

WHERE: Kelsey Creek Farm Park, Bellevue (410 130th Place SE).

l Eastside Heritage Center’s Strawberry Festival

Saturday, June 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This annual festival celebrates Bellevue’s heritage (yup, it includes

strawberry farms!) Besides lots of music and food, this year’s activities
include a haiku contest (topic: strawberries) for elementary school
students. For more information visit BellevueStrawberryFestival.org.

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June 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
 RHS
2010 HJ istory
ohn Couch
Hero Award: NEWS

During 30 years as Redmond’s director of parks and recreation, John

Couch built a network of open spaces that makes our town the green gem
that it is.
That alone made John a great candidate for our annual “History Hero”
award, but it was his amazing ability to corral volunteers for our Sammamish
Valley News scanning project that made him our unanimous choice for this
year’s award.
John brings incredible energy to our passion for preserving and sharing
our heritage. You can usually see him in action at the Derby parade, where
in the past he’s ridden his vintage 10-speed bike or, as seen below, shoveled
horse manure with our Nao Hardy!

Past History Hero Winners:

• 2010: BRAD BEST
• 2009: RANDY & STEPHANIE REEVES and PAUL & PATTY GORDON
• 2008: DIANNA BROADIE
• 2007: CHARLES PAYTON
• 2006: ROSEMARIE IVES

Nao Hardy and John Couch at the Derby Parade

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History is happening in Redmond • June 2011
W hen Bears Roamed Bear Creek
The late Frank Mann left an
amazing autobiography about
growing up along Bear Creek from
1918-1929. “Our home consisted
of an old deserted logging camp
and 140 acres of brush,” he wrote.
“There was an old orchard, plenty
of garden space, and an old barn.
We rented this for $5 a month.
Many things happened in the next
nine years while we lived there.”
Below’s a section on bears. For his
full recollection search our website
for “Frank Mann.”

“T rapping bear is a science trigger. We had to use “C” clamps to

and a dangerous project. The meat
of the bear, if butchered right, is
delicious. That is, if he has been
living on fruit and berries. The oil on
his fur is similar to gall. If any of it
gets on the meat, it cannot be eaten.
“The bear is as close to human
as any animal. When hung up and
skinned out, he appears to be a
human with a long nose. He is left-
handed—always. It never fails. When
we wanted to trap a bear, we made
a V-shaped pen with poles. Then
we placed the bait in the narrow
part of the “V.” The trap had jaws
about 12 inches long and six inches
high. When the jaws were open,
we placed sharp sticks around the
trigger. Then we placed moss on the
trigger, making it the highest point
in the pen. Without fail, the bear
reached out with his left paw (never
with the right) and placed it on the
set the trap and they had to be left in
reach of the trap so a man could
get out.
“The bear is not really a big
animal, but he is extremely powerful
and very hard to kill. His heart is up
high between his shoulders, so the
shoulders protect him from a bullet.
His forehead has a thick skull and a
bullet will bounce off. He is just plain
tough! We caught a medium-sized
bear in a trap which was located in a
grove of small alder trees. He chewed
a circle of about 20 feet across,
completely clearing it of eight or ten
small trees. He even chewed some of
them into little pieces.
“The fat from the bear is very
unusual. It liquifies at about 80
degrees. It is fine oil. If you want to
keep meat at room temperature,
put it under bear grease and it will
never spoil.”

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June 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
 ORDER
NOW
“Redmond Reflections”
$15 (INCLUDES TAX)*

SHIPPING & HANDLING: Please add $5.00 shipping & handling surchage for
any order that you would like mailed.

ORDERING INFO*:
NAME ______________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER______________________

# OF BOOKS ORDERED_______ AMOUNT ENCLOSED (CHECK PLEASE) _$_________________________________

SHIPPING INFO:
NAME ___________________________________________________________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________________

CITY • STATE • ZIP _________________________________________________________________________________

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 WARD’S BOOTH at the Redmond Saturday Market throughout the
summer. (Dates on her web site: pattisimpsonward.com)

✂
Great Gift Ideas
for 2011
Need something special for someone
who loves our history? These items are
available at our Society office:

GREETING CARDS, MAGNETS &

NOTE CARDS
featuring artwork by local artists:
• PATTI SIMPSON WARD
• DORISJEAN COLVIN
• PAT DUGAN
Artwork of the historic Adair House in Anderson
Park, Redmond’s oldest park. “Antics at Anderson “OUR TOWN”
Park” is the work of fine artist Patti Simpson A history of Redmond, by Nancy Way
Ward. See more images of Eastside settings on
pattisimpsonward.com). Our “VIEW OF HISTORY” DVD

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History is happening in Redmond • June 2011
MEMBERSHIP
M ay General
Meeting Attendees
Were you at our April meeting? These folks were! First time attendees
are noted in BOLD CAPS.

Ray Adams Bob Martin

Eric Anderson Larry E Miller Our Lifetime
Charles Baillargeon Mary Montgomery Members
Eric Anderson
Sharon Free Ballisty Richard Morris
John Anderson
Elsie Bartley Alexa Munoz Barbara Neal Beeson
Brad Best
David Bartley Robert Nelson Marjorie Stensland Costello
MEGAN CARLISLE John Phillips John Couch
Liz Carlson Coward
WILLIAM COFFIN Roxana Phillips Frank Garbarino
Edward L. Hagen
Betty Emmanual Virginia Porte Pickett
Lucille B. Hansen-Bellings
Evelyn King Gilbert Brian Ranck Wayne Hansen
Naomi Hardy
Jean Etta Goshorn Julianne Rossiter Patricia Weiss Jovag
Charlotte Hahnlen David Rossiter Barbara Weiss Joyce
Glenn Lampaert
Thomas E. Hansen Anne Salmi Roy Lampaert
Judy Aries Lang
Marge Hanson Doris Schaible
Miguel Llanos
Roy Hanson Judith Simpson Jon Magnussen
Charles Reed
Chris Himes Beryl Standley Clare “Amo” Marr
Daryl Martin
Carol Hudson Fred Stray
Allison Reed Morris
Elaine Keeley Fran Stray Frances Spray Reed
Vivian Robinson
Angela Lang Jerry Torell Laurie Rockenbeck
Judy Aries Lang Joe Townsend Margy Rockenbeck
William Rockenbeck
Janice LeVeck Arlyn Bjerke Vallene Fred Stray
Doris Bauer Schaible
Miguel Llanos Joanne Westlund
Arlyn Vallene
Gene Magnuson Margaret Evers Wiese Don Watts
Rose Weiss
Cheryl Magnussen Don Watts Joanne Westlund
Margaret Evers Wiese
MARJORIE MAHRO Peggy Williams
James Windle
Jon Magnussen

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June 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
 J oin the
MEMBERSHIP

Redmond Historical Society

To Discover, Recover, Preserve, Share and
Celebrate Redmond’s History

RENEWING MEMBERS, PLEASE SEND IN YOUR 2011 DUES!

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP (✓ Check one only.)

$5.00
❍ TRAILBLAZER (Student)
$20.00
❍ PIONEER (Individual)
$35.00
❍ HOMESTEADER (Family)
$200.00
❍ ENTREPRENEUR (Supporter)
$250.00
❍ CORPORATE (Business)
$1,000.00
❍ HISTORY MAKER (Lifetime)
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

✉ Fill out the form below, cut if out and mail it with your check to:
Redmond Historical Society
Attn: Membership
ORSCC, Room 106
16600 NE 80th Street
Redmond, WA 98052

NAME

If FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, other names to be included

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL ADDRESS

STREET ADDRESS

CITY • STATE • ZIP

BIRTHDAY(S)

NEWSLETTER DELIVERY: ❍ EMAIL ❍ U.S. MAIL

✂ 11
History is happening in Redmond • June 2011
 June 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
Redmond Historical Society
16600 NE 80th Street, Room 106
Redmond, WA 98052
PHONE 425.885.2919
WEB SITE redmondhistoricalsociety.org
EMAIL info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org
HOURS Monday, Wednesday and Thursday:
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment