Redmond Historical Society

JANUARY 2011 • NEWSLETTER • Vol. 13 • NO. 1

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

S lavery, Civil War & the Northwest

The year is 1860.

Teenage slave Charles
Mitchell (depicted here)
is approached on the
streets of Olympia
by free blacks from
Victoria, then a British
Crown Colony, and
encouraged to escape
Image used with permission of Julie Notarianni and the Museum of
History & Industry. ©2010.
from his master and
stow away on the international mail steamer. As soon as his foot touched
the dock in Victoria, Charles Mitchell became free.
Charles’ story, and how Civil War issues played
out in the Northwest, is the focus of our
January presentation by Lorraine McConaghy, January
chief historian at the Museum of History General Meeting
& Industry.
Saturday, JANUARY 8
Please join us on Saturday, January 8, 10:30 a.m. to NOON
from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, for this
OLD REDMOND SCHOOLHOUSE
look back at a little known aspect of COMMUNITY CENTER
our history.

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History is happening in Redmond • January 2011
2011
Executive Board
Chris Himes • President
Miguel Llanos • Senior Vice-President
W hat’s New
Joe Townsend • Vice-President Finance
John Phillips • Vice-President Collections
Beryl Standley • Secretary
Board of Directors
Mary Hanson
Nao Hardy
Judy Aries Lang
Jon Magnussen
Doris Schaible
Joe Townsend
Patti Simpson Ward
Margaret Evers Wiese
Office Manager • Monica Park
Attorney • Charles Diesen
Our finances are public record and may
be viewed at the office.
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The Redmond Recorder
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Miguel Llanos • Editor
Patti Simpson Ward • Society &
Newsletter Graphic Designer
MAJOR
SPONSORS
2
January 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
Online?
“There is one document
that has been downloaded 45
times! Way more than most at
20 times,” says website manager
Richard Morris. And it’s a mystery
as to why, since it’s not featured
prominently anywhere.
It’s the transcript of an interview
with Lorraine Young, wife of
1970s Mayor Bud Young, in 2000.
(FYI, Margaret Doman and Doris
Schaible recorded and transcribed
the interview.)
Perhaps Young family members
are working on their history? In
any case, great to see the website
(redmondhistoricalsociety.org)
being used for this!
Table of Contents
PAGE
1 Cover article: Slavery, Civil
War & the Northwest
2 What’s New • Online
3 Walking Tour Mobile Guide
4 Quiting Squares Needed
5 Thank You’s & More
6 Order Now • Books, Cards
& Gift Ideas from RHS
7-9 RHS News • Article: Patrol
Boys & Playland,
In Memoriam & Tribute to
Rose Weiss
10 Membership • Attendees
11 Membership • Form
12 Address & RHS Contact Info
W
WHAT’S
alking Tour Guide NEW
Grows & Goes Mobile
Talk about
progress on two fronts!
The “then” photos from
the Redmond Walking
Tour Guide have been
posted on our website
for some time, and
thanks to volunteers
Brian Ranck and Janice
LeVeck, we now have
“now” photos as well.
The Odd Fellows
Hall, for example, is
pictured here both in
the 1930s and today.
The images and
information from the
tour are also presented
“Then” and “now” photos of the historic Odd Fellows building.

in a slideshow format. Head to our website

(redmondhistoricalsociety.org) homepage for
a link to the new and improved tour!
A second front is our first cell phone
app through which one can walk the tour.
It’s available ($2.99) for Microsoft Windows
7 phones and iPhones and soon-to-be for
Android phones
Thanks to Glen Barnes of MyTours,
a New Zealand company that contacted us
us and offered to help us set the tour up
for free as a way to promote the new
Microsoft phones!

3
History is happening in Redmond • January 2011
 Q uilt Squares
Centennial
Needed for 2012

H ere’s your chance to be quilted into history! We still need quilt

squares showing some aspect of Redmond’s heritage. Society outgoing
Treasurer Joanne Westlund will turn those into a huge quilt to raffle or
auction off during 2012 Redmond’s Centennial. The names of all those whose
designs are used will be incorporated into the quilt’s border. For more info,
contact Joanne at jmwestlund@frontier.com or at 425.898.0399. The
deadline to turn them in is January 2011.

Instructions:
• Design quilt 8 inches square.
• Add an additional 1/4-inch seam allowance to all sides of the quilt piece.
• The actual overall size will then be 8-1/2 inches.
• Use 100% quilting cotton fabric with a thread count of 68x68 threads
per square inch. Pre-wash the quilting materials, using cold water.

When designing your quilt square, you can use appliqué technique, hand or
machine piecing, or a combination:

Hand-stitching:
Weight: Use 50-weight, 100% cotton or cotton/polyester
Needle: Thin needles such as “sharps” or “betweens” are best
Stitch Length: About 1/8 inch of 8 stitches per inch

Machine stitching:
Weight: Use top quality 50-weight, 100% cotton or cotton/polyester
Seams: Use exactly 1/4-inch seams
Needle: 75/11 or 80/12
Stitch Length: 10 to 12 stitches per inch
Tension: Balanced

Appliqué:
Make templates the exact size of the finished pieces. The 1/4-inch seam
allowances are added when you cut the appliqué pieces. Appliqué pieces
can be hand stitched or machine stitched.

NOTE: Do not add batting to your quilt square. This will be done when we
have assembled the quilt pieces together.

4
January 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
Cheryl and Gene Magnuson, for putting together THANK
a historical holiday display at the Redmond Library. “If
you get a chance to look at it,” says Cheryl, “I am the little
YOU
TO . . .
cowgirl. The girl in the very very old Santa’s lap is my sister.”

H elp Save
Sammamish Valley News Images
We need volunteers to help scan negatives. No experience is needed,
as we’ll provide the training! We have the entire collection of Sammamish
Valley News photo negatives and need to start digitizing them so as to share
them with artists and others looking for visual ideas to celebrate Redmond’s
Centennial in 2012.
Contact Office Manager Monica Park at 425.885.2919 or info@
redmondhistoricalsociety.org to volunteer or for more information.

C emetery Plots for Sale

The Society is
selling two side-by-side
plots in Redmond’s
Cedar Lawns
Memorial Park.
Donated by the
Reed family, they
include endowment care and are located in the Garden of Christus section
(225, 3&4).
Cost is $3,499 for one or $6,699 for both. The current value is $5,495
each. Cedar Lawns handles all the necessary paperwork.
Contact the Society at 425.885.2919 for more information.

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History is happening in Redmond • January 2011
 ORDER
NOW
“Redmond Reflections”
$22 (INCLUDES TAX)*

FREE SHIPPING for RHS members, so if you haven’t joined or renewed,

there’s a form on page 11 to send in with this book order form.
Non-members, please add postage:
$3 for 1 book, $5 for 2 books, $8 for 3 or more books

ORDERING INFO:

NAME PHONE NUMBER

# OF BOOKS ORDERED AMOUNT ENCLOSED (CHECK PLEASE)

SHIPPING INFO:

name

street addRESS

city • state • zip

✂
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 100-year-old Happy Valley
Grange entitled: “Gathering at the Grange” by fine “Our Town”
artist Patti Simpson Ward. A history of Redmond, by Nancy Way

Our “View of History” DVD

6
January 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
 P
atrol Boys
Playland
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bob Martin recently penned some words about his
Patrol days. Excerpts are below but the full article is on our website,
just search for Safety Patrol. Playland, by the way, was Seattle’s original
amusement park, open from 1930-61.
During the late 1940s I was a
member, a lieutenant in fact, in the
Safety Patrol at Redmond Elementary
School. We referred to ourselves as
“Patrol Boys” because at the time girls
were not included. ...
Our uniform, it would be a stretch
to call it that, consisted of a white web
shoulder belt that ran diagonally across
our chest “Sam Browne” style. Most of
us wore silver Patrol Boy badges. ...
The older boys heading for their
noon-time cigarette break at the
smokers’ hangout under the gnarled
fir tree across the street from the
school always J-walked and completely
disregarded our crossing flags.
Once one of the braver Patrol
Boys tried to reason with a couple of
smokers and convince them that it
would be far safer to use the crosswalk.
That advice was met with some
overly blunt comments about what
we could do with the handles of our
stop flags. Then they followed up with
a middle finger salute. So we learned
to let the smokers do as they pleased
since we couldn’t do anything about
it anyway.
Twice during the school year
Officer Ketchum (what a fitting name
for a law man) of the Washington State
Patrol came to our school to see how
History is happening in Redmond • January 2011
RHS
& NEWS
“his boys” in the Safety Patrol were
getting along. We held a quick
inspection in the gymnasium.
He stood before us, an awe
inspiring mountain of a man in
his pale blue, sharply creased
uniform. His gold-colored braid
and silver lieutenant’s bars glittered
in the shafts of spring sunlight
that filtered in through the gym’s
screened windows.
“You guys are doing a mighty
good job,” said the lieutenant in
his deep, commanding voice. We
all grinned, puffed out our chests
and stood a little straighter. ...
Then Officer Ketchum got to the
part of his pep talk that we all
were eagerly waiting to hear.
“As a reward for your excellent
work throughout the school year,”
he said with a big smile, “the
Safety Patrol Boys get to go
to Playland.”
7
 I
RHS
NEWS nMemoriam:
Rose Weiss, Willow
Guptill & Beth Tait
Rose Weiss
Rose Weiss, whose strong support for the Society included buying
lifetime memberships for herself and her daughters Barbara Joyce and Pat
Jovag, passed away on November 3 at age 92. “Redmond Historical was
so fortunate to have her as one of our benefactors,” says Society President
Chris Himes. “Peace to her memory and love and abundant blessings to her
family.”
NOTE: See the next page for a tribute written by Gerry Mellquest.

Willow Guptill
Willow Guptill, the granddaughter of William and Matilda Perrigo,
passed away on November 15. Born in 1922 in Carnation, Willow had
attended our meetings and was a regular at Perrigo reunions. She lived in the
house where she was born, a property homesteaded by Willow’s paternal
grandparents, Vilinda and Shamgar Morris. “Willow enjoyed gathering with
family and friends, and two weeks prior to her illness they celebrated the
house’s 100th birthday,” her obituary reads.
Her published life story is available via the Tolt Historical Society
($30, 425.333.4436), which also has an audio excerpt of Willow online
at tolt-carnationhistoricalsociety.org/WillowGuptill.html

Beth Tait
Beth Tait, at 92 the oldest vendor at the Redmond Saturday Market and
one of its founding members 35 years ago, passed away last October, Market
Manager Martha Tyler informed us.
Selling handcrafted items and plants, Beth was a fixture at the market.
Outgoing Society Treasurer Joanne Westlund knew Beth well as she
previously was the market manager. “I am so sorry to here about Beth’s
passing,” she says. “She will be missed by all.”

8
January 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
 F
RHS
arewell, NEWS
Our Dear Scout Leader

EDITOR’S NOTE:
A 1950 photo of
Rose and her troop
is on our website.
Search for Rose and
Scout.

Rose Weiss, sitting in center, is feted for her 90th birthday by friends and
family at Bobbie Rettig’s home in August 2008.

In November, we lost a dear friend of our Redmond Historical Society

community. I was asked to write a few words about Rose Irene George
Weiss. She was known by many for her friendships, fun and dedication to
many organizations over the years.
In 1950, energetic and fun-loving Rose chose to lead 25 Redmond
Elementary second graders through 10 years of Brownies and Girl Scouts.
We all have special memories of cook-outs and camping in Rose and Bill’s
back yard, hiking, selling Girl Scout cookies, building and making a Nativity
scene for the Town Square and singing crazy Scout songs around the
campfire, all this time earning our badges. She taught us to love, share and
grow through positive experiences that influenced each of our lives. We
loved living together for a week every year at Camp Robinswold on
Hood Canal.
We formed lifelong friendships during those years with Rose and
we continue to have great times with lots of laughter. We will miss having
her near.
While giving thanks and praise to Rose, we also send our thanks to Pat
Jovag and Barbara Joyce for sharing their dear mother with us all.

Loving memories from an old Scout,

~ Gerry Radtke Mellquest

9
History is happening in Redmond • January 2011
MEMBERSHIP
N ovember 13th
Meeting Attendees
Were you at our November meeting? These folks were! First time
attendees are noted in BOLD CAPS:

Ray Adams Eric Taylor

Tony Emmanuel Jerry Torell
Jean Etta Dudley Joe Townsend
Goshorn Andy Weiss
Frank Gwerder Joanne Westlund
Tom Hall Shelley Wong
Tom Hansen
Mary Hanson
Roy Hanson
Our Lifetime Members
Eric Anderson
Chris Himes John Anderson
Jo Ann Ingersoll Barbara Neal Beeson
Janice LeVeck Brad Best
Marjorie Stensland Costello
Miguel Llanos Liz Carlson Coward
George Lyons Frank Garbarino
Jackie Lyons Edward L. Hagen
Lucille B. Hansen-Bellings
Jon Magnussen
Naomi Hardy
Helen McMahon Patricia Weiss Jovag
Larry Miller Barbara Weiss Joyce
Glenn Lampaert
Richard Morris
Roy Lampaert
Alexa Munoz Judy Aries Lang
Monica Park Miguel Llanos
John Phillips Jon Magnussen
Charles Reed
Roxie Phillips Clare “Amo” Marr
Brian Ranck Daryl Martin
Beth Rau Allison Reed Morris
Frances Spray Reed
Bobbie Graep Rettig Vivian Robinson
Vivian Robinson Laurie Rockenbeck
Patsy Cook Rosenbach Margy Rockenbeck
William Rockenbeck
Ruth Ann Rosenbach Fred Stray
David Rossiter Doris Bauer Schaible
Dee Saunders Arlyn Vallene
Don Watts
Doris Schaible Rose Weiss
Beryl Standley Joanne Westlund
Fred Stray Margaret Evers Wiese
James Windle
Shieko Takahashi

10
January 2011 • History is happening in Redmond
 J oin the
Redmond Historical Society
MEMBERSHIP

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 • January 2011
 January 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