Redmond Historical Society

MARCH 2010 • NEWSLETTER • Vol. 12 • NO. 3

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

C oast Salish Roots in Redmond

Although Che oke ten (Paul Wagner)

has lived in Redmond most of his life, he is
perhaps better known outside of town for
his sharing of songs and stories of the Coast
Salish peoples. Please join us on March 13,
when Che oke ten will talk of both cultures
~ witnessing so many changes in what was
once a very rural Redmond, and sharing the
warmth, humor and wisdom of Coast Salish
stories (or “teachings,” in the tradition of this
land). He’ll be interweaving his Spirit-gifted
Che oke ten, Paul Wagner
songs on Native American flute along with
traditional tribal drum songs.
A member of the Vancouver Island March
Saanich Tribe, Che oke ten often visits General Meeting:
relatives in his tribal homeland and has made Saturday, MARCH 13
it his mission to keep the traditional teachings 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 nooN

alive in the hearts of people of today’s world Old Redmond Schoolhouse

16600 NE 80th Street
and to honor the original ancestors of the
places in which we live.
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History is happening in Redmond • March 2010
2010
Executive Board
Chris Himes • President
Judy Lang • Vice-President
W hat’s New
Online?
Devin Wulff, undoubtedly
Miguel Llanos • Vice-President Redmond’s youngest history
Joanne Westlund • Treasurer
researcher, has donated a copy of
Mary Hanson • Corresponding
Secretary his paper on our town and we’ve
Beryl Standley • Recording Secretary placed it online for all to read.
Board of Directors Type Wulff in the search window
Nao Hardy at redmondhistoricalsociety.org to
Jon Magnussen
John Phillips pull up the document.
Doris Schaible A 9th grader from Redmond
Patti Simpson Ward
Joe Townsend
Junior High, Devin last year
Margaret Evers Wiese attended one of our general
meetings and told us of his
Office Manager • Monica Park
research for a school project.
Attorney • Charles Diesen
Library Liaison • Andy McClung
Our finances are public record and may
be viewed at the office. Table of Contents
PAGE

FREE Newsletter 1 Cover article: Coast Salish

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The Redmond Recorder
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Miguel Llanos • Editor
Patti Simpson Ward • Society &
Newsletter Graphic Designer
MAJOR
SPONSORS
Roots in Redmond
2 What’s New • Online
3 What’s New • Our Collection
4 Thank You’s
4 Eastside Events
5-7 RHS News: Walking Tours,
Stitch Yourself in Time • In
Memoriam
8 Order Now • Books, Cards
& Gift Ideas from RHS
9 “My Bke” by Bob Martin
10 Membership • Attendees
11 Membership • Form
12 Address & RHS Contact Info

2
March 2010 • History is happening in Redmond
 WHAT’S

W hat’s New in
Collection?
Our
NEW

The passing of Amo Marr (more information on page 6) reminded us

of her earlier donations of family items to the Society, a few of which are
shown here: a washboard for cleaning clothes, a model train set and a paper
doll cutout.
Vintage washboard Her act was an example that
we hope others will follow
so that our collection can
expand to reflect even more
of Redmond’s heritage.
We can’t accept every
donation as some items
might duplicate what we
have or not fit our needs, ~
or simply our limited space,
but please don’t hesitate to
contact us if you think you
have something worth
preserving!

H-O Model Train Set Paper doll cutouts

3
History is happening in Redmond • March 2010
 THANK
YOU
TO . . .
Brett Barker for restoring the antique display case
now in the hallway outside our office. The repairs include
replacing thin glass with safety glass.

Estelle Butler for the quilting squares for the library display.

JeanEtta Goshorn for the cookies for the February meeting.

Lynn Green Starmans for the photos from her family of the Girl Scouts.

Seattle’s Pioneer Women: MAR.

EASTSIDE More Than Pretty Petticoats 20
EVENTS Location: First Baptist Church of Kent
ADDRESS: 11420 SE 248th Street
Date/Time: Saturday, March 20 from 9:00 a.m. to noon
COST: General admission $20 • students $10

South King County Genealogical Society offers programs on Louisa Boren Denny,
dubbed “Seattle’s First Bride,” and the “Mercer Girls,” the 11 ladies from New England
who answered Asa Mercer’s call for more women in Seattle. Visit www.rootsweb.
ancestry.com/~waskcgs/ for details.

Grand Ridge Mine Hike MAR.

Location: Starts at the Issaquah Depot
ADDRESS: 50 Rainier Boulevard North 20
Date/Time: Saturday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m.
COST: FREE!

The slide presentation is followed by 2- to 4-mile hike over easy to moderate

terrain. Hike takes place rain or shine. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
Sponsored by Issaquah History Museums. Visit www.issaquahhistory.org to register.

AKCHO MAR.
Location: Kirkland Heritage Hall
ADDRESS: 203 Market Street 30
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 30 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
COST: FREE!

The Kirkland Heritage Society hosts the Association of King County Historical
Organizations meeting. The program will feature the preservation efforts that saved
Heritage Hall.

4
March 2010 • History is happening in Redmond
R
edmond Walking Tours, 2010
When you drive or
walk along Leary Way you’re
passing through the heart of
Redmond’s history. Many of
those buildings are among our
oldest, but do you know the
stories they tell? Like, which
one was both an undertaker’s
premises and a bordello?
Tom Hitzroth will
educate and entertain
folks with another round of
walking tours that explore
those histories.
This year’s dates are (tours
are not held if it rains):
• April 18
• May 16
• June 20
• September 19
Tours run from 1:00 to 2:30
p.m. and walkers meet on the
front steps of the Justice White
House at 7730 Leary Way.
An $8 fee helps fund
Society research. Pre-
registration is required.
To register, phone the
Redmond Historical Society
office at 425.885.2919
or email them at info@
redmondhistoricalsociety.org.
History is happening in Redmond • March 2010
RHS
NEWS
This building, seen in a tax record photo from the 1930s,
is part of the walking tour along Leary Way. Can you
tell which it is? Here’s a hint: It has something to do with
Odd Fellows.
Stitch Yourself Into
Redmond History
We’re looking for 100 designs
of Redmond’s heritage to turn into
100 quilt squares ~ and then into a
giant quilt that we can raffle off as
a fundraiser in 2012 when Redmond
turns 100!
The names of all those
whose designs are used will
be incorporated into the quilt’s
border so now’s your chance to be
stitched into history! If you’d like to
participate, please contact Joanne
Westlund at jmwestlund@verizon.
net or call 425.898.0399.
If you are willing to help with
the actual quilting, we would love
to hear from you as well! Squares
must be delivered by September.
5
 RHS
NEWS
I nMemoriam:
Amo Marr
One of the Redmond Historical Society’s earliest supporters, Clare
“Amo” Marie Chapin Marr passed away on February 22, 2010.
In 1927, when Clare was just three, her family arrived in Redmond from
Libby, Montana, and lived on the Red Brick Road. Amo graduated from
Redmond High in 1943, and then worked at Lakeside Drugs.
Amo had been on the Society board for several years, and was most
recently in charge of sending birthday cards to members 90 or better! She
was also a long-time member of the Nokomis Club, serving for a time as
president of the state’s oldest service organization.
Proud of her many years in Redmond, Amo was a regular of the
“Old Redmond” lunch bunch that meets weekly at the Village Cafe. Those
longtimers, as well as others who knew Amo, will miss ~ but certainly won’t
forget ~ her larger-than-life presence.

The Nokomis women’s service club was a favorite of Amo’s and she often rode in its entry in the
Derby Days parade. Here she’s seen second from left along with Rose Weiss, far left, driver Diantha
Janus and Jennie Bryden, Amo’s half sister. (Photo by Miguel Llanos.)

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March 2010 • History is happening in Redmond
 RHS

I n Memoriam: Opie Hartman

and David Harder

NEWS

Opie Hartman
A Derby Days legend for
organizing the bike races over 25
years, Opie Hartman passed away
on December 3, 2009 at the age
of 91.
His wife, Cleo, had passed
away in 2007 after 70 years
together. Opie worked at the
Kirkland shipyard during World
War II, then opened a septic tank
business and later Redmond’s first
coin-operated Laundromat. At
Derby Days, he and Cleo would
Opie Hartman gets a double dose of kisses
parade in their bike built for two, from the 1958 Derby Queens.

which Opie again rode in during

the 2005 parade.

Dave Harder
A Duvall native who not
only owned the town’s hardware
store for more than 30 years,
Dave Harder also was the county
district fire chief for 34 years,
most of them as a volunteer.
Dave passed away on
February 9, 2010, and in Redmond
Dave Harder at the reins during the 2007 Derby
will be remembered fondly for Days Parade

the times he joined the Society’s

Derby Days Parade entry with his
wagon and ponies.

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History is happening in Redmond • March 2010
 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 2010
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
Portrait of the historic Clise Mansion in Redmond’s
Marymoor Park.
Title: “Flying Kites at the Clise Mansion”
“Our Town”
by fine artist Patti Simpson Ward A history of Redmond, by Nancy Way

Our “View of History” DVD

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March 2010 • History is happening in Redmond
M y Bike
From time to time, we run excerpts from Society member Bob
MEMBERSHIP

Martin’s book, “The Way I Remember It.” “Most of the names I’ve used
are fictional,” he says, “but all the events happened as described with
just a pinch of embellishment.” Here’s an excerpt about childhood,
World War II and the late Boyd Kinney.

My bike was one of my days, Rollie and I would pack a

proudest possessions. It was a gift
for my ninth birthday in 1945. World
War II was about to finally come to
an end, and bicycles, that had been
nearly impossible to get during the
past few years, were now slowly
becoming available once again . . .
It was a deep wine-red color
with gold and white trim. I’m not
sure which bicycle company built it,
but it had a flashy metal nameplate
that said “Thunderbird.”
My buddies and I used to ride
our bikes all over town and even out
in the countryside, but most of time
we rode around the school grounds.
My pal Rollie and I would put
playing cards in our spokes, and
putt around the neighborhood. I’m
sure the neighbors got very tired of
the noise, but no one complained,
at least to us anyway. Inside their
homes, they were most likely all
saying, “Don’t those damn kids have
anything better to do than ride up
and down our street making that
god-awful racket?”
It was a carefree life. Some
lunch and tie our fishing poles to the
fenders of our bikes and ride over to
Bear Creek, where we’d spend the
day trying to catch the little rainbow
and cutthroat trout from its brush-
choked pools . . .
Near the end of the war, Boyd
Kinney, a close family friend, came
home on leave from the Navy after
the battle for Okinawa ended. He
paid us a visit, and while he was at
our house, I showed him my new
bike.
He took it out for a spin on the
school grounds and a few minutes
later he came walking back to the
house carrying a piece of my bike in
each hand.
His shirt was torn and his arm
was all scuffed up and bleeding.
“Darn goose neck broke,” he said, “I
darn near broke my neck, too.”
I envisioned the headlines in the
morning newspaper: “SAILOR WHO
SURVIVED OKINAWA BREAKS
NECK RIDING BICYCLE”
Both Boyd and the bike were
eventually repaired.

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History is happening in Redmond • March 2010
MEMBERSHIP
F ebruary 13th
Meeting Attendees
Were you at ourJanuary meeting? These folks were! First time attendees
are noted in BOLD CAPS:

Margo Alexander Anne Salmi

VICKI BECKER KATE SORENSEN
Cory De Jong KERIN SORENSEN
Tony Emmanuel Beryl Standley
LORRAINE FERGUSON Don Stenstrom
Joyce Fowler JOANN TANGEN
Stanley Frey Anne M. Tollfeldt
Evelyn Gilbert Harvey Tollfeldt
Russell Goetschius BETTY THOMPSON
Jean Etta Goshorn Judy Turner
Charlotte Hahnlen Arlyn Vallene
Jerry Hammersberg Rose Weiss
Tom Hansen ARLEEN WOODSIDE
Marge Hanson
Mary Hanson
Roy Hanson
Naomi Hardy Our Lifetime Members
Chris Himes Eric Anderson
Joanne Isackson John Anderson
Pat Jovag Barbara Neal Beeson
Barbara Weiss Joyce Brad Best
Elaine Keeley Marjorie Stensland Costello
Bruce Kenyon Liz Carlson Coward
Cheryl Kenyon Frank Garbarino
Edwawrd L. Hagen
Carol Kubby Lucille B. Hansen-Bellings
Norma Leicester Naomi Hardy
George Lyons Patricia Weiss Jovag
Jackie Lyons Barbara Weiss Joyce
HELEN MACUMBER Glenn Lampaert
Jon Magnussen Roy Lampaert
Amo Marr Judy Aries Lang
Pat Marrs Miguel Llanos
Bob Martin Jon Magnussen
Daryl Martin Charles Reed
Elma McCormick Clare ‘Amo’ Marr
Daryl Martin
Eileen McCoskrie Allison Reed Morris
Gerry Radtke Mellquest Frances Spray Reed
Larry Miller Vivian Robinson
Mary Montgomery Laurie Rockenbeck
Allison Morris Margy Rockenbeck
Richard Morris William Rockenbeck
Alexa Munoz Doris Bauer Schaible
Monica Park Fred Stray
Virginia Pickett Arlyn Vallene
Beth Rau Don Watts
Rose Weiss
Bobbie Graep Rettig
Margaret Evers Wiese
Patsy Rosenbach James Windle

10
March 2010 • 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 2010 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 • March 2010
 March 2010 • 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