The Redmond Recorder

REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

February 2016 VOL. 18 NO. 2

Every town has a history. Discover ours.

UpcomingSaturday Speakers Series

Saturday, Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center
16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA

Jumping Off the Page: the History

of the Sammamish Valley News

Bob Bailey, the founder

of the Sammamish
Valley News, was often
referred to as Mr.
Redmond.

Though at times mistakenly relegated to fish wrap, discover

how a communitys newspaper remains a living part of the historical
record of our city, providing context and voices where other historical
documentation cannot. Hear the story of Redmonds longstanding
newspaper, the Sammamish Valley News, from local journalist Jeanne
Gustafson, through photos, stories and anecdotes from its pages. Learn
more about Redmonds history through the lens of this longstanding
local medias coverage, and how you can continue to use it for research.
Relax over a cup of coffee at the Redmond Historical Society
Saturday Speaker Series, a monthly program from September to May
that features eight speakers addressing topics of local, state and Pacific
Northwest historical interest (No program in December). Also inside, learn
about the first Redmond Post Office (p. 6).
Every town has a history. Discover ours. February 2016

2016
EXECUTIVE BOARD

Joe Townsend President

Mary I. Hanson Senior Vice President
Ed Dint OBrien Vice President Finance
Crystal Rojas Mora Vice President
Collections
TBA Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Judith Simpson
Steve Johnson
Sharon Brocker

COLLECTIONS MANAGER Jlean

McDonald

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

Laura Lee Bennett

ATTORNEY Charles Diesen
Our finances are public record and may
be viewed at the office.

Save the Date:

Annual Society
PicnicNew Venue!
Get ready now for the
annual Redmond Historical
Society Picnic!
The annual Potluck Picnic
date has been reserved, so
please mark your calendar
now!
June 11, 2016
Perrigo Community Park,
9011 196th Ave NE,
Redmond, WA 98053.

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Call the office at 425.885.2919 or email
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THE REDMOND RECORDER

is published nine times annually.
Jeanne Gustafson Editor
Janice LeVeck Webmaster
redmondhistoricalsociety.org

This is a significant
revision to a long-standing
tradition of the picnic being at
Anderson park.
The new facility with allow
us access to water, power and
a larger space for all the fun!

Major Sponsors

Happy Valley
Grange #322

February 2016 Every town has a history. Discover ours.

Notes on Stewardship

Presidents
Notebook

I have quoted the Mission Statement of the

Redmond Historical Society in a number of these
columns. This month, I want to talk specifically
about a word in the Mission Statement:
stewardship.
 edmond Historical Society serves the
R
community through stewardship: collecting,
preserving and sharing Redmonds unique
heritage.

Joe Townsend

The American Association of State and Local

History publishes the Standards and Excellence Program for History
Organizations (StEPs). On stewardship of collections, StEPs emphasizes
the importance of public trust, accountability, diversity, ethics, technology,
and resource conservation. These fit nicely into dictionary definitions of
stewardshipthe careful and responsible management of something
entrusted to ones care.
In the broad sense, we are entrusted with caring for the communitys
origins, the initial building blocks of our unique sense of how Redmond
came to be, our heritage. We share this responsibility with the Citys
Historic Preservation Office. Specifically, we care for artifacts, archives,
photographs, stories and memories captured in oral histories, and
genealogical information. We devote considerable staff time and
hundreds of volunteer hours to this responsibility. That work continues.
Stewardship is often illustrated by three elements: treasure, time,
and talent. Certainly, caring for the communitys origins in the public
trust requires all three. Our staff and volunteers provide time and talent.
Donors provide treasure. As Society members and newsletter readers,
you have an opportunity to support our stewardship Mission. Give us your
treasure, time, and talent. We need all three, time and talent no less than
treasure. We have rewarding volunteer and leadership positions available.
Call me.
At the Redmond Historical Society we understand public trust and
accountability, and the vital role we fulfill with the all of the elements of our
Mission. The bottom line is protecting, to the extent feasible, Redmonds
unique heritage through effective stewardship.

~Joe Townsend
Redmond Historical Society President

Every town has a history. Discover ours. February 2016

Saturday
Speaker
Series

History of the
Sammamish Valley News

Despite having been stored in a morgue, past

issues of Redmonds hometown newspaper, the
Sammamish Valley News, serve as a living history of
the city.
Founded in 1946 by Bob Bailie, the Sammamish
Valley News was Redmonds community newspaper
until 1997. Held within its pages are unique insights into
the citys politics and people, from weekly social pages Jeanne
to thousands of photos of residents in their daily lives.
Gustafson
Sometimes humorous, sometimes critically important,
the information found in the SVN expands our understanding of the city.
Even advertisements within its pages let us peer into the businesses,
products, and events that shaped and reflect the citys development.
You learn so much about what was important to a community, and
how its growth was shaped, through the lens of reporters who lived,
worked, and participated in the events as they happened, says Jeanne
Gustafson, a long-time journalist and Society volunteer who will share
examples that will detail the importance of the paper as historical record.
The Sammamish Valley News also served as a launch pad for jour
nalists now on the national stage, and with Pulitzer Prizes under their belts.
On Saturday, Feb. 13, take a trip back through the pages of the citys
30-year newspaper, exploring what the paper can continue to illuminate
through images and stories of Redmond and the people who recorded it.
We hope this presentation will inspire you to celebrate with us the
ongoing Redmond Historical Society project to digitize this amazing
resource. We also will show our guests how to use it for their own
research and enjoyment, from the comfort of home.
The Saturday Speaker Series is a monthly program presented
by the Redmond Historical Society on every second Saturday from
September through May (no program in December) at the Old Redmond
Schoolhouse Community Center, located at 16600 NE 80th Street.
Topics are of local, state and Pacific Northwest historical interest. There
is a suggested $5 donation for non-members.
The Redmond Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization that receives support from the City of Redmond, 4 Culture,
Nintendo, the Bellevue Collection, and Happy Valley Grange as well as
from other donors and members.

February 2016 Every town has a history. Discover ours.

Society Seeks
Program Chair

Society
News

Can you hear it? Opportunity knocking?

Redmond Historical Society is recruiting for a volunteer to chair the
Saturday Speaker Series Program Committee.
The Saturday Speaker Series is the crown jewel of the Societys
service to the community. The role of Program Committee Chair is an
exceptional volunteer opportunity for someone who loves history, enjoys
working with effective people, and finds satisfaction in good planning
and organization. The chair will assume responsibility for a program that
is already highly developed but also has opportunities for growth and
enhancement. Attendance at the programs has averaged 136 people.
The May 2015 Redmond Recorder newsletter carried an informative
article, titled How the Saturday Speakers Series is Created. Read about
the fun and rewards of this exciting position. This is a great opportunity to
give back to the community, using your skills developed over a career
perhaps in marketing or event planning. Since the May 2015 article, the
Society has added to staff with an Administrative Manager specifically
assigned as staff liaison to the Saturday Speaker Series Program
Committee. Staff assists in committee work, as well as event production.
As noted in the article, ideas come from many places including
members, the statewide historical community, newspapers, the Society
archive of past programs, and word of mouth. The Humanities
Washington Speakers Bureau has also been an excellent resource.
The committee has kept busy. In the past nine months, the committee
has finalized plans for the 2015-2016 season currently underway and is
working on the 2016-2017 season. This is planning at its finest.
If you are interested or know someone looking for such an
opportunity, we invite you to contact Laura Lee Bennett at info@
redmondhistoricalsociety.org or 425.885.2919. A detailed description of
the opportunities can be found on the VolunteerMatch.org website, or on
our website, under the Get involved/Volunteer menu.
Happy Volunteering!

Like the Saturday Speaker Series?

Bring a Friend!
Every town has a history. Discover ours. February 2016

Local
History

Redmonds First Post Office

By Tom Hitzroth

One thing I dislike in

historical investigations is
a loose end. While that is
not always avoidable, this
article is to tie up a loose
end. In the April 2014
edition of the Redmond
Recorder, page 8, I noted
that The first postmaster
was Adam Tosh, having
been appointed in 1881 as
the postmaster of Melrose.
We have no idea where he
operated the post office.

Arial view of the location of Redmonds first

Post Office, circa. 1950s, by Uberto Dickey

That statement truly
bothered me so much
that the following month I
went to the National Archives at Sand Point and pulled the applications
for the establishment of the Melrose Post Office in 1881, as well as the
application for the change of name from Melrose to Redmond filed by
Luke McRedmond in 1883. I learned where the Melrose Post Office
was located and the 1883 map filed by Luke McRedmond showed
the locations of the principal land owners in the Redmond area which
resolved some of my questions about land ownership in 1883.

On June 6, 1881 Adam Tosh, an early Pioneer, filed application with

the United States Post Office to establish a post office in what was then
the settlement of Melrose. On the application he notes that the only
nearby post office was in Newcastle (opened August 22, 1878) although
there were proposed sites in Houghton (opened June 20, 1881) and
Woodinville (opened June 27, 1881). Adam noted that the post office
would be located on the Sammamish River in Section 14, immediately on
the west bank of the river.
A review of the old maps of the Sammamish River channel show
that the river flowed west out of Section 13 and was in Section 14 for
about 600 to 800 feet before turning north into Section 11. In my aerial
photograph collection I have a 1950s aerial of Marymoor during the time
Uberto Dickey owned the property and found that it contained the part
of the river described by Adam Tosh in his application. In the photograph

February 2016 Every town has a history. Discover ours.

(shown by the arrow, Clises windmill is to the left) is

the location of the Melrose Post office.

Society
News

Adam Tosh was appointed postmaster of Melrose June 28, 1881.

Tosh located his post office so it could be reached by land or water. Post
offices did not operate the hours then that they do today. Since the
population was small in those days getting the mail once or twice a week
was normal. The Melrose and first Redmond post office were open on
Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
In 1963 and 1964 the Army Corps of Engineers dredged and
straightened the Sammamish River and the part of the river where the
Melrose Post Office once stood was removed. Today a green field at
Marymoor Park covers the site of the Melrose Post Office but the location
can still be found if one knows where to look.

Nokomis Clubhouse Update

The Nokomis Clubhouse was razed on Jan. 8, 2016. Redmond

Historical Society participated in the appeal of the Determination of NonSignificance, as reported in earlier issues of the Redmond Recorder. The
appeal failed, as did subsequent appeals by the Nokomis Club.
For more information, please see the Jan. 15 issue of the Redmond
Reporter on their website: http://www.redmond-reporter.com/green_editio
ns/?iid=i20160114170905429
Every town has a history. Discover ours. February 2016

Society
News

Huge Historic Thank Yous

The Society thanks Paul Dorpat for his recent donation of this historic
photo. Complete with bell tower and a fleet of trucks, Mayor Browns
garage was the place to gather in Redmond in 1920. Author and historian
Paul Dorpat published a column on Redmond this month on his Seattle
Now & Then website. The article appeared Sunday, January 24, 2016, on
the final page of the Pacific NW Magazine of The Seattle Times. Dorpat
and Jean Sherrard consulted with Tom Hitzroth, Chair of the City of
Redmond Landmark Commission, on the historical details. Dorpat has
donated the digital image to Redmond Historical Society, and attributes
the photograph to the Society. A longer version of the article can be found
on the website: http://pauldorpat.com/.

Saturday Speaker Series Volunteers

Many thanks to our Saturday Speakers Series volunteers for their
generous donation of their time and efforts to ensure a smooth program
day.
Press ReleaseMiguel Llanos
Audio VisualDavid Rossiter
CoffeeBeryl Standley
Door GreetersFred and Fran Stray
Set-up CoordinatorTom Hansen
Set-up/clean-upStephen Nickel, Aaron Ong and Allen Mui
SnacksCynthia Olsen and Bliss Ong, Coldwell Banker Bain

February 2016 Every town has a history. Discover ours.

Order
Now

Redmond
Reflections

$10

(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:
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NOTE:

REDMOND REFLECTIONS is also available at the RHS OFFICE at the Old

Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. (Hours of operation on page 12.)

Great Gift Ideas for History Lovers

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

GREETING CARDS, MAGNETS

& NOTE CARDS
featuring artwork by local artists:
PATTI SIMPSON WARD
DORISJEAN COLVIN
PAT DUGAN
OUR TOWN
History of Redmond by Nancy Way

VIEW OF HISTORY DVD

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.

Every town has a history. Discover ours. February 2016

Society 2016 Historical

News Walking Tours Announced

Redmond Historical Society is pleased to announce the 2016 Walking Tour

schedule, led by local historian Tom Hitzroth.
There is a $10 suggested donation for each person.
2016 Walking Tour Schedule*
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
The tour runs from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., starting from the Redmond Connector
across NE 76th St. from the Justice White House at 7730 Leary Way
Pre-register for the event by calling our office, 425.885.2919, or email us at:
info@redmondhistoricalsociety.orgPlease drop in our office or mail in a check to
16600 NE 80th St. Room 106, Redmond, WA, 98052.
Tours include a significant amount of walking and standing, with limited
opportunity for resting. We recommend comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate
clothing, and rain/sun gear.If you have any further questions about our tours,
please call our office.

Our Society Lifetime Members

Ray Adams
Eric Anderson
John Anderson
Barbara Neal Beeson
Brad Best
Pierre Bruneau
Marjorie Stensland
Costello
John Couch
Liz Carlson Coward
Tony Emmanuel
Frank Garbarino
Edward L. Hagen
Tom Hall
Lucille B. HansenBellings
Wayne Hansen
Jerry Hardy
Naomi Hardy
Chris Himes
Rosemarie Ives
Cory de Jong
Madeleine Roberts Hagen
Mary Hanson

10

Patricia Weiss Jovag

Barbara Weiss Joyce
Glenn Lampaert
Roy Lampaert
Allen Lang
Judy Aries Lang
Miguel Llanos
Jon Magnussen
Clare Amo Marr
Daryl Martin
Allison Reed Morris
John Phillips
Roxie Phillips
Dale Potter
Jo Ann Potter
Charles Reed
Frances Spray Reed
Bobbie Graep Rettig
Vivian Robinson
Laurie Rockenbeck

Vivian Robinson
Margy Rockenbeck
William Rockenbeck
Richard Shinstrom
Beryl Standley
John Stilin
Sherry Stilin
Fred Springsteel
Fred Stray
Doris Bauer Schaible
Herb Swanson
Doris Townsend
Joe Townsend
Roger Trepanier
Arlyn Vallene
Patti Simpson Ward
Don Watts
Rose Weiss
Joanne Westlund
Margaret Evers Wiese
James Windle

February 2016 Every town has a history. Discover ours.

Membership
Join
RedmondHistorical Society
Every town has a history. Discover ours.
CONSIDER A GIFT MEMBERSHIP FOR A FAVORITE HISTORY BUFF.

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Fill out the form below, cut out and mail with your check to:

Redmond Historical Society

Attn: Membership
ORSCC, Room 106
16600 NE 80th Street
Redmond, WA 98052

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Every town has a history. Discover ours. February 2016

11

Redmond Historical Society

16600 NE 80th Street, Room 106
Redmond, WA 98052

425.885.2919
PHONE
WEB SITE redmondhistoricalsociety.org
info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org
EMAIL
Monday, Wednesday and Friday:
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment

HOURS

February 2016 Every town has a history. Discover ours.