Every town has a history. Discover ours. • February 2018

The Redmond RecoRdeR

REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTERFEBRUARY 2018 • VOL. 20 • NO. 2

Every town has a history. Discover ours.

SaTuRday SpeakeR SeRieSRedmond paRkS and RecReaTion: The eaRly yeaRS

Saturday, February 10, 201810:30am – noon (Doors open 10:00am)Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center 16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA 98052$5 suggested donation for non-membersSpeakers subject to change.For details: www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org

Ask locals what they treasure about Redmond, and you’re likely to hear parks and trails. But those recreational spaces didn’t just happen. Fifty years of planning have gone into them―starting on January 1, 1968, when the city created a Parks and Recreation Department. Once the department got organized, new parks and programs soon followed. Farrel-McWhirter, Grass Lawn, and Hartman were among the first parks. Early rec programs included women’s softball, girl’s tumbling, men’s basketball, tennis, and summer playgrounds at the schools. Within a decade, 16 parks and more than 200 acres had been acquired for public benefit. By the year 2000, Redmond had 34 city parks and 25 miles of trail. John Couch, Redmond’s first and longest-serving parks director (1968-2000), will look back on the department’s first decade.

John Couch

Redmond rec director meets with sponsors.Photo: Sammamish Valley News, Jan. 31, 1968

The Saturday Speaker Series resumes this month.

February 2018 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERSJoe Townsend • PresidentMary I. Hanson • Senior Vice PresidentJohn Oftebro • Vice President FinanceHalee Turner • Vice President CollectionsVacant • Secretary

DIRECTORS AT LARGEJudith SimpsonSharon BrockerIndira KrishnaswamiDebra PelletierBrian Burck

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR • Krishna Nandanoor

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER • Tasia Williams

ATTORNEY • Charles DiesenOur finances are public record and may be viewed at the office.

FREE NEWSLETTERIf you don’t subscribe, please sign up.Call the office at 425.885.2919 or email info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org. State your preference of email or U.S. Mail.The historical society prefers email as it’s inexpensive and photos are enhanced online.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK:facebook.com/Redmond.Historical.Society

THE REDMOND RECORDERis published nine times annually.

NEWSLETTER EDITORLaura Lee Bennett

GRAPHIC DESIGNERTeresa Potter - Urban Dakota Creative

redmondhistoricalsociety.org

SocieTy newS

PHONE 425.885.2919WEBSITE redmondhistoricalsociety.orgEMAIL info@redmondhistoricalsociety.orgHOURS Monday, Tuesday, and Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2018

Coldwell Banker Bain real estate broker Bliss Ong has formed a unique partnership with the Redmond Historical Society in an effort to help raise money for the Society. Coldwell Banker Bain will give 10% back to support the Redmond Historical Society when you or someone you refer is looking to buy or sell property. Coldwell Banker Bain established its Community Partnership program as a way for the company and its brokers to give back to the organizations that are committed to the welfare of our communities, For more information, contact Bliss Ong at 425.445.8006, or call the Society Office at 425.885.2919.

Welcome Brian Burck, who joined the Board of Directors in January as a Director At Large. A resident of the GrassLawn Park area, Brian is the business development manager for Inabia Solutionsand Consulting, an IT development companyin Redmond. He is also a business coach, helping others to develop projects that impact their communities through Landmark Education. See his full bio on the Society website.

Thank you Suzanne Hall and Louise Barnesfor becoming Lifetime Members of the Society. Location Change for April 14Saturday Speaker SeriesFor the upcoming April 14 program, “Waterway: The Story of Seattle’s Locks and Ship Canal,” our location will be Emerald Heights. Parking is not available at Emerald Heights. Please park at Redmond High School and ride the shuttle to Emerald Heights. Plan to come early for the shuttle. Watch for more information.Welcome new business member, FTI Group,a family-owned business specializing in high-security checks and documents.

Every town has a history. Discover ours. • February 2018

pReSidenT’S noTebook

Redmond hiSToRical SocieTy accompliShmenTS in 2017By Joe Townsend

Redmond Historical Society completed an active and successful year. Thank you to our staff, Board, and volunteers. Notably:• Provided public access to the Society’s 2017

Public Programs, including Saturday Speaker Series heritage programs. We enjoyed a total attendance of 734 people. The highlight of our programs was “History of Redmond’s Urban Development” in April, with speaker Rob Odle and featuring a panel of past

planning directors: Ron McConnell, Kay Shoudy, and Roberta Lewandowski.

• Conducted four historical Walking Tours in Old Town Redmond. • Briefly:

• The Philanthropy Committee developed and launched our “Steps in Time” walking tour mobile app. This occasion featured multiple events for the community, at the library and in Redmond Old town. Attendance 150.

• The Collections Committee completed another project to digitize, and post to the Internet, a third batch of the Sammamish Valley News newspaper. Funded by a 4Culture grant.

• The Finance and Philanthropy Committees planned and carried out our successful fundraising dinner and auction last month. Thank you Paige Norman, John Oftebro, Debra Pelletier, and many other volunteers.

• Participated in the Redmond Library’s 75th birthday and the Nokomis Club 90-year anniversary celebration, with a booth and volunteer speakers. September 2017. Attendance est. 550.

• Met with the Parks and Recreation Department and Lake Washington School District on the future of the Old Redmond Schoolhouse/Community Center and the Society’s space in the building. As a part of this effort, set up a Facilities Task Force to help ensure we have a home in the future. Our lease will terminate at the end of March 2018.

• We will be signing a lease for space in the Vision 5 Building in Redmond and we will be moving to that facility in March. Thank you, Natural & Built Environments, Inc.

February 2018 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.

SocieTy newS

The First Annual Redmond Historical Society Dinner & Auction Fundraiser is now history.

Over 100 members and friends enjoyeda festive evening on January 13 at theRedmond Senior Center. The first annualSociety dinner and auction fundraiser kicked off with a local trivia contest and costume contest that brought “get-ups” from past generations, from the 1890s to the present.

Silent auction items included several historical paintings, including Theno’s Dairy, the T & D Feed Store, and plenty of themed baskets and service items. Emcee John Oftebro, VP Director of Finance, aka an early Norwegian Redmond logger, introduced specialguests former mayors Christine Himesand Rosemarie Ives, and former Redmond Councilman John Stilin, and recently elected Councilman Steve Fields. Also introduced was Diana Gardner Morelli, great granddaughter of Kate and Luke McRedmond, the town’s namesake founder. Diana’smother, Martha, was raised in theJustice White House, one of Redmond’smost treasured historical buildings.

Society president Joe Townsend, aka Adile (Adi) Lampaert, an early 1900s rancher whose property spread from Redmond Way to what is now City Hall, related his own story. He then introduced our newest Lifetime Member, Suzanne Hall. Later in the evening Louise Barnes also joined that esteemed group of Society supporters.

Next up was a visit by John Couch, Redmond’s first Parks Director, aka

SocieTy FundRaiSeR a GReaT SucceSSBy John Oftebro; photos by Patsy Rosenbach

John Way, MD, who told wonderful stories about his medical practice beginning in Redmond in 1946, where he delivered over 1,000 babies over his 56 years of practice. His fees were often bartered for chickens and other farm products. Dr. Way implored the guests to help preserve Redmond’s rich history by continuing to share family stories, which the Society has been capturing over the years. “Dr. Way” then introduced the real Dr. Way’s son, Bill Way, and spouse, Nancy Way, author of Our Town Redmond. He gave the guests a “shot in the arm” speech to stimulate the live auction bidding.

Auctioneer Troy McVicker led the audience through a number of wonderful live auction items, and a successful “Paddle Raise to Fund a Need for the Society.” The big surprise came next when Sherry Stilin asked to speak, and read an incredible story of the first generation of Morelli brothers and their tunneling work in Montana before settling in Redmond to begin one of the largest of 100 poultry farms in the immediate Redmond area. The second generation of Morelli brothers, Dante, Robert, Panfilo, and his wife Diana, then took the stage and received a standing ovation to Diana’s emotional historical speech and their gift of a five-year sustaining donation totaling $25,000. When the live auction was completed, the trivia and costume winners were announced, and the evening concluded. Two other highlights were the delicious food catered by Off the Vine Catering, and the many reunions of long-time Redmond residents who had not seen each other in years.

Every town has a history. Discover ours. • February 2018

SocieTy newS

Many Society members and friends attended the fundraiser in costume.

Emcee John Oftebro, Sherry Stilin, Diana Morelli, Panfilo Morelli, Robert Morelli, Dante Morelli, and Society President Joe Townsend.

Bidding at the live auction(Debra Pelletier in white).

AcknowledgementsClaire Bruining & Chelsea Wrightof Getting Eventive, cashiering

Troy McVicker & Scott Branston of EventSourceNW

Redmond Senior CenterThe City of Redmond, Washington

Palmer’s EastC2Educate Redmond

Urban Dakota CreativePatsy Rosenbach, photographerLaura Lee Bennett, copy editor

Off the Vine Catering

Table SponsorsFred HerzbergChris HimesJudy Lang

Russ & Paige NormanJohn & Deborah OftebroJoe & Doris Townsend

Sally Eberhardt

SponsorshipGold Sponsor ($2,500)

Chris Himes

Silver Sponsor ($1,000)Dale & Jo Ann Potter - Fred Herzberg & Jeanne Large

Roger Trepanier - Joe & Doris Townsend

Bronze Sponsor ($500)Don & Mary Fowler

February 2018 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.

local hiSToRy

new View oF The Redmond RailRoad depoT By Tom Hitzroth

I spent a lot of time this past yearworking extensively with earlyRedmond photographs, enlargingand studying them to better understandhow Redmond developed. Recently,I conducted an in-depth analysis of a photograph, ca. 1895, of the Redmond Railroad Depot, constructed by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad (SLS&E) in 1887-1888. When I completed my analysis, I got a surprise.

Many are familiar with the photographsthat show a single track on either side of the depot. This particular photograph showed a double track on the south side. For many years it was thought the track shown in another ca. 1895 photograph of the depot and Emma McRedmond’s ca. 1895 post office were the same track. It is now apparent that the tracks in those two photographs are two separate tracks. So what happened?

In 1906, the Northern Pacific Railroad (NPRR) authorized the rearrangement of the depot

and siding at Redmond. The rearrangement would require lifting the depot, removing the platform, dropping it flush with the ground, and moving the siding to the north side of the depot. This would also involve moving the depot to the location we see in current photographs.

I visited the Issaquah and Snoqualmie depots as both were constructed by the SLS&E (both feature a double track configuration) to measure the spacing of the tracks, depot, and platform. The Issaquah configuration is closest to Redmond. By using those measurements as approximations and supplementing my calculations with additional information and photographs, I was able to determine that in 1906, the depot was moved south approximately 15 feet.

It is discoveries like these that make investigating early Redmond so intriguing and rewarding.

Redmond Depot (aerial view), 1950. Courtesy Tom Hitzroth private collection

Redmond Railroad Depot, 1938.Courtesy Puget Sound

Regional Archives

Every town has a history. Discover ours. • February 2018

SocieTy newS

In 2002, local historian Tom Hitzroth and Society co-founder Naomi Hardy developed a walking tour and since 2003, Tom has led walking tours of Redmond’s historic district. Over the years, the tour has evolved from one hour to two, with the script changing as new information is discovered. “I’m looking for the question I can’t answer, which means I need to look further into a particular area.”

A lifelong Eastside resident and chair of the City of Redmond Landmark Commission, Hitzroth continues to work at identifying details of Redmond development from its earliest times to 1930. He is currently researching the historic site of the settlement of Melrose that preceded Redmond.

2018 Walking Tour ScheduleSaturday April 7, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday April 22, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Saturday May 6, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday May 20, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday June 10, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday June 24, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday August 12, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday September 9,1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

There is a suggested donation of $10 for each person with a limit of 10 people per group. You can pre-register for the event by calling our office at 425.885.2919. You can also drop by our office, or mail in a check to 16600 NE 80th St. Room 106, Redmond, WA, 98052. You can also pre-register on our website: www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/. Registrations must be received by the Friday before the tour.

Tours include a significant amount of walking and standing, with limited opportunity for resting. We recommend comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. If you have any further questions about our tours, please call our office. Tour begins across the street from the Hotel Redmond (Jensen/Fey Architects) at 7730 NE 76th St.

SocieTy celebRaTeS 15 yeaRS

oF walkinG TouRS By Laura Lee Bennett

Justice White House/Hotel Redmond

February 2018 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.

SocieTy newS

From the 10,000-year-old archae-ological site between Bear Creek and Redmond Town Center, from the site where Dudley Carter worked and lived, to the seat of tech companies like Microsoft and SpaceX, Redmond is, and will be a pioneer of Arts, Culture, and STEM.

Redmond Historical Society is a non-profit organization committed to preserving, promoting, and cele-brating Redmond's history, legacy, and evolution. We are a com-munity of like-minded volunteers who love to discuss, preserve, and celebrate Redmond. We have many dedicated teams working toward this vision. Our Collections Committee protects, preserves, and exhibits artifacts that show-case the history of Redmond. Our Speaker Committee produces the signature Saturday Speaker Series on the second Saturday of every month six times a year.

loVe hiSToRy? VolunTeeR wiTh The SocieTy By Krisha NaNdaNoor

New this year is the formation of our Fundraising Committee, which planned and produced the Society's first annual fundraising gala―a great success in bring-ing our community together. The more we know about Redmond, the more we work on our vision, and the more we extend our com-munity—our family. As volunteer coordinator, I have seen the pas-sion of our community in these efforts. We welcome everyone who is interested in contributing to our vision.

Currently, we seek volunteers for the following key positions. For more information, email volunteercoordinator@redmondhistoricalsociety.org, or go to redmondhistoricalsociety.org. Whether you can volunteer for 1 hour or 10 hours, we welcome your time and talent. Please join us!

Board Positions• Corporate Secretary (Officer)• Facilities Oversight Leader• Information Technology Leader

Committee Chair Positions• Saturday Speakers Series

Program Chair• Membership Chair• Facilities Maintenance &

Operations Chair

Every town has a history. Discover ours. • February 2018

SHIPPING & HANDLING: Please add $10.00 shipping & handling surcharge

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 Redmond Historical Society OFFICE at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. (Hours of operation on page 2.)

Redmond ReFlecTionS book $15 (INCLUDES TAX)*

BOOKS

GReaT GiFT ideaS FoR hiSToRy loVeRS

oRdeR now

Need something special for someone who appreciates our history?These are available at our Society office:

This painting of Marymoor Park, Flying Kites at the Clise Mansion, is the work of fine artist Patti Simpson Ward.

Visit her website to see more images of Eastside settings— pattisimpsonward.com.

POSTCARDSof historical photos

MAGNETS featuring artworkby Patti Simpson Ward

OUR TOWN, REDMONDHistory of Redmond by Nancy Way.$12 (includes tax)

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN REDMOND WALKING GUIDEThe Redmond Historical Society’s updated Historic Downtown Walking Guide. Suggested donation is $8.

February 2018 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.

ouR SocieTy liFeTime membeRS

SocieTy newS

Sharon Freeman, BallistyLouise BarnesMarjorie CostelloJohn CouchCory de JongBetty L. EmmanuelTony EmmanuelFrank GarbarinoMadeleine Roberts HagenSuzanne HallWayne HansenMary HansonJerry HardyChris HimesRosemarie IvesPatricia Weiss JovagBarbara Weiss Joyce

Allen LangJudy Aries LangMiguel Angel LlanosJon M. MagnussenDorothy MatsuiAllison Reed MorrisEdward O’BrienJohn OftebroDale PotterJo Ann PotterBobbie Graep RettigVivian RobinsonLaurie M. RockenbeckMargy U. RockenbeckWilliam RockenbeckDoris Bauer SchaibleDick Shinstrom

Frederick SpringsteelBeryl StandleyJohn C. StilinSherry B. StilinFred StrayLarry O. SundholmSubhadra TerhanianDoris TownsendJoe TownsendRoger TrepanierArlyn Bjerke VallenePatti Simpson WardDonald Glennister WattsJoanne WestlundJames Windle

A full listing of lifetime members, both current and in memoriam, is available at redmondhistoricalsociety.org

in memoRiam:dR. lewiS d. Fink

1915–2017Lifetime Society member Dr. Lewis Darwin Fink was born on his parent’s farm in Hitchcock, South Dakota on February 11, 1915, and died in Redmond, Washington on November 11, 2017 aged 102. In a letter to his sons, he wrote, “I believe the most important part of my life was my education and how it led to my occupation later in life as a physician in general practice.” In 1950 he began teaching Pharmacology at theUniversity of Washington medical school. After serving in the Navy from 1953-1955, he chose to practice medicine in Redmond, a town of 900. At that time there was only one Eastside hospital, in, Kirkland, with 25 beds. He worked with the founding doctors of Overlake to decide what care was needed. Lew became the attending doctor during Redmond High School football games and wrestling matches, and designed a safety system still in use today. When his wife Cay was diagnosed with an eye condition, blephrospasm, Lew retired so he could spend more time with her. They had 20 years in their Airstream trailer, camping and fishing.

Every town has a history. Discover ours. • February 2018

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Every town has a history. Discover ours.

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Redmond Historical SocietyAttn: Membership

ORSCC, Room 10616600 NE 80th StreetRedmond, WA 98052

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February 2018 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.

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