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FOLLOWUP: Save The Stone Cottage’s first ‘Story Stones’ winner, plus new dates for next 3 contests
January 10, 2021 10:46 am
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Save The Stone Cottage’s first ‘Story Stones’ winner, plus new dates for next 3 contests
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Ever wonder how many stones cover the historic bungalow at 1123 Harbor SW? Now we know, as the first of four “Finding the Story Stones” events ends, and the others get new start dates. Here’s the announcement from Save The Stone Cottage, the volunteers working to save and relocate the little house:

Congratulations to Tanya Johnson from the Lake Stevens area, the winner of our first event ‘Count the Stones.’ Tanya’s guess was just 274 stones shy of the actual number of stones on the front facade of the Stone Cottage, which is 3,774. Tanya says, “I think it’s magical that you are working to save this cottage.” By completing the “Count The Stones” challenge, Tanya has unlocked the “Story of Eva,” the free spirit who built the Stone Cottage.

‘Count the Stones’ is the first of four events the “Save the Stone Cottage” committee is hosting, a series of educational, entertaining and inspiring events called “Finding the Story Stones,” to raise awareness about the GoFundMe Charities fundraising drive. A total of four fun activities will be held this month, in which individuals, virtual teams of friends, and families with children all can participate. Finding the four “Story Stones” will unlock elements of the unusual stories surrounding the Stone Cottage, Eva Falk, and the early history of Seattle and Alki.

Finding Story Stone #2: ‘Search for the Lost Stone’ launches January 16, 2021. This second contest is a clue-based Twitter search in which clues to the whereabouts of the second Story Stone will be tweeted out over six hours. Finding this Story Stone will unlock stories and secrets about the Stone Cottage itself.

We previewed all the contests a week and a half ago; the third one, “Walking in Eva’s Shoes,” now starts January 23rd, and the “Stone Cottage Karaoke Rock Concert” is set for January 30th. More details are on the this page of the Save The Stone Cottage website, where the newly unlocked “Story of Eva” will be posted this week, along with a photo of the “story stone.” Meantime, the crowdfunding campaign continues here, with $52,440 of the $110,000 needed for the move, as of this morning.

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ONLINE: Your next chance to learn about West Seattle’s 20th-century streetcars
January 9, 2021 7:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Transportation | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

(Seattle Municipal Archives photo of what’s described as the Highland Park-Burien line’s Hillside Station – possibly in Riverview – 1915)

Even as our transportation future remains in flux, there are lessons to be learned from our past. Historic Seattle offers you a chance to learn about West Seattle’s streetcar history a century ago, in a free online event two weeks from today (11 am Saturday, January 23rd). Here’s the announcement:

Join us for an exploration of West Seattle’s streetcar history from 1916 to 1940 with Mike Bergman. This virtual lecture will cover the construction of the streetcar system and the many ways in which it influenced West Seattle’s development and growth in the first half of the 20th century.

From an early age, Mike Bergman was interested in Seattle’s transportation history – especially the city’s bridges, railroads, and public transit systems. Mike joined a transit consulting firm shortly after graduating from UW, followed by tenures at, both, King County Metro and Sound Transit. Following his retirement in 2016, Mike has maintained a strong interest in local transit and transportation history. He is a volunteer at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive (PNRA) and has organized PNRA’s large collection of material on the Seattle Municipal Railway. He is the president of the Tacoma Chapter- National Railway Historical Society, and regularly contributes articles of local historical interest to The Trainsheet, the chapter’s monthly newsletter.

Although the event is free, registration is required. More information, including the registration link, is here.

Bergman gave a similar presentation back in August for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

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ENTRY TIME: Here’s the latest on the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s contest for students
January 9, 2021 10:44 am
|    Comments Off on ENTRY TIME: Here’s the latest on the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s contest for students
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

We have new information about the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s essay contest for young writers, first announced in mid-December. Here’s the update:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce that it is now accepting submissions for its first history essay contest in partnership with Paper Boat Booksellers. Submissions will be accepted in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

The theme of our competition is WOMEN HISTORY MAKERS OF THE DUWAMISH PENINSULA. We encourage students to write an essay that explores the contributions of a specific woman from the Duwamish Peninsula who has made an historical impact on the community, past or present, famous or not-yet-famous. Tell us how the woman you choose to write about inspires you.

This contest is open to all students. Winners will be selected in each grade category outlined below:

Grades 3-5 – 250 words maximum

Grades 6-8 – 500 words maximum

Grades 9–12 – 750 words maximum

Essays will be judged by a panel of SWSHS staff, volunteers, and community partners based on the following criteria:

-Demonstrated understanding of the woman as a person and the role she has played or is playing in the history of the Duwamish Peninsula

-Effective use of descriptive language.

-Correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar

-For grades 6 and up, appropriate citations in any reference style

To submit an essay for consideration, please visit loghousemuseum.org/blog/essaysubmissions . Submissions should include a cover letter indicating: the title of the essay, the student’s name, grade level, and contact information where the student can be notified of the contest results.

We encourage students to make use of the Historical Society’s archives and historians. Email Maggie, the museum Programs and Interpretation Coordinator at writingcontest@loghousemuseum.org.

Submissions will close on Monday, February 15, 2021 at 5 pm. Winners will receive a special certificate and gift from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Paper Boat Booksellers. Winning essays will also be published on the Historical Society’s blog and West Seattle Blog. Best of all, winners will be honored at a special event hosted by the Historical Society and have the opportunity to read their essay at the event!

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2020 LOOKBACK: This year’s 10 most-commented WSB stories
December 31, 2020 1:30 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

What a year! With hours to go until 2021 arrives, it’s time for our annual lookback, with the 10 most-commented WSB stories of the year. As you can probably guess, the pandemic and the West Seattle Bridge closure loom large on the list; those two ongoing emergencies also made this a record year for WSB readership, averaging almost 2 million pageviews a month. Thanks for reading, commenting, sending tips, and huge thanks to the local businesses and organizations whose sponsorships cover our costs (which increase along with traffic, as we work to increase reliability and our server’s ability to handle big breaking news). Now, on to the countdown!

#10 – GOVERNOR EXTENDS STAY-HOME ORDER
May 1, 2020 – 190 comments
Gov. Inslee announced the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order would be extended another month, and also outlined his plan for reopening in phases.

#9 – CITY COUNCIL GETS BRIDGE BRIEFING
April 20, 2020 – 195 comments
Four weeks after the West Seattle Bridge was closed, five days after SDOT announced the closure would last until at least 2022, the City Council got a briefing.

#8 – SEATTLE EVENING MARCH COMES TO ALKI AND ADMIRAL
July 30, 2020 – 196 comments
Their demonstrations weren’t the biggest seen in West Seattle, but the Seattle Evening March protesters’ visits here were among the most memorable, as they marched along many residential streets on their way to visit officials including City Councilmembers and, on this night, King County Executive Dow Constantine.

#7 – ‘STAY HEALTHY STREETS’ ADD ALKI POINT
May 7, 2020 – 215 comments
As part of the city’s pandemic response, some streets were closed to through traffic to give people more space to walk, run, and roll. When Beach Drive’s northern end, alongside Constellation Park, was added, many were thrilled, many others were not.

#6 – ALKI POINT ‘STAY HEALTHY STREET’ EXPANDS
May 10, 2020 – 230 comments
Shortly after the aforementioned stretch of Beach Drive was closed to through traffic, it was suggested that adding Alki Avenue west of 63rd would make sense too – and that happened quickly.

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Save The Stone Cottage’s campaign continues with four ‘Finding the Story Stones’ events
December 31, 2020 11:09 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(1940s-era photo courtesy Save The Stone Cottage)

As reported here last weekend, Save The Stone Cottage is almost halfway to raising the funding needed to move the iconic beach bungalow off its to-be-redeveloped site, putting it on the path to preservation. Next step: Four events for you! Here’s the announcement:

In a race to beat the wrecking ball, throughout January 2021 the “Save The Stone Cottage” committee is putting on a series of educational, entertaining and inspiring events called “Finding the Story Stones,” to raise awareness about the GoFundMe Charities fundraising drive. Four fun activities will be held over the course of the next 30-day period in which individuals, virtual teams of friends, and families with children all can participate. Finding the four “Story Stones” will unlock elements of the unusual stories surrounding the Stone Cottage, Eva Falk and the early history of Seattle and Alki.

The first of four family-friendly events launches this weekend!

Finding Story Stone #1: ‘Count the Stones’ Begins January 1, 2021

The first contest begins with the onset of the New Year. From January 1st to January 6th you and/or your team can be one of the first to “Count the Stones” on the front façade of the Stone Cottage at 1123 Harbor Ave SW. Participants who correctly guess the number of stones (within a 50-stone range) will earn bragging rights and help unlock the “Story of Eva,” the free spirit who built the Stone Cottage. Submit your team’s name, contact information, and single best guess at: savethestonecottage.org/storystones

Finding Story Stone #2: ‘Search for the Lost Stone’ launches January 9, 2021

This second contest is a clue-based Twitter search in which clues to the whereabouts of the second Story Stone will be tweeted out over six hours. Finding this Story Stone will unlock stories and secrets about the Stone Cottage itself.

Finding Story Stone #3: ‘Walking in Eva’s Shoes’ January 16, 2021

This third contest highlights the story of Eva Falk when, during the early 1930s, she enlisted the help of her children to tow wagon loads of beach stones from the Alki Lighthouse to where the house was being built on Harbor Avenue more than two miles away. Participants will be encouraged to complete the trip from the Alki Lighthouse to the Stone Cottage and symbolically re-enacting the journey of Eva and her children. Finding this third Story Stone will unlock the story of “Building the Stone Cottage.”

Finding Story Stone #4: ‘Stone Cottage Karaoke Rock Concert’ January 23, 2021

We will hold a live “Stone Cottage Karaoke Rock Concert” in which participants can choose from a list of songs to perform. Songs can be performed as an individual or a team. The winning Karaoke performer will receive the final Story Stone and unlock the “Story of the Duwamish.”

You can enter the first contest here starting at midnight tonight; crowdfunding continues here.

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FOLLOWUP: Save The Stone Cottage campaign almost halfway to goal
December 26, 2020 2:49 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo by Stewart L.)

Two weeks after launching a crowdfunding campaign, Save The Stone Cottage is almost halfway to its fundraising goal. The group of local preservation advocates and volunteers is aiming to raise $110,000 to move the stone-studded beach bungalow off its site at 1123 Harbor SW before a redevelopment project starts construction. As of today, the campaign has passed $47,000. Save The Stone Cottage is working with building-moving experts Nickel Bros to move the century-old structure to a temporary site next month – likely storage at a Port of Seattle site nearby – until a new permanent site is found. More backstory is in our previous coverage here and here; donations are welcome here.

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Young writer in the family? Southwest Seattle Historical Society contest!
December 16, 2020 1:52 pm
|    Comments Off on Young writer in the family? Southwest Seattle Historical Society contest!
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Winter break is almost here. Young writers might consider planning/writing an entry for a new contest that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is launching. We’re happy to play a small part in it, too. Read on for details in SWSHS’s announcement:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce its first history essay contest for students in partnership with Paper Boat Booksellers. The theme of our competition is: WOMEN HISTORY MAKERS OF THE DUWAMISH PENINSULA. We encourage students to write an essay that explores the contributions of a specific woman from the Duwamish Peninsula who has made a historical impact on the community, past or present, famous or not-yet-famous. Tell us how the woman you choose to write about inspires you.

This contest is open to all students. Winners will be selected in each grade category outlined below:

● Grades: 3 – 5 250 words maximum
● Grades: 6 — 8 500 words maximum
● Grades: 9 – 12 750 words maximum

Essays will be judged by a panel of SWSHS staff, volunteers, and community partners based on the following criteria:

● Demonstrated understanding of the woman as a person and the role she has played or is playing in the history of the Duwamish Peninsula
● Effective use of descriptive language.
● Correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar
● For grades 6 and up, appropriate citations in any reference style.

Students should include a cover sheet that outlines: the title of the essay, student’s name, grade level, and an email address or telephone number where the student can be notified of the contest results.

Submissions will open 9:00 am on Monday, January 4, 2021 on our website at www.loghousemuseum.org. We encourage students to make use of the Historical Society’s archives and historians. Email Maggie, the museum Programs and Interpretation Coordinator at writingcontest@loghousemuseum.org.

Winners will receive a special certificate and gift from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Paper Boat Booksellers. Winning essays will also be published on the Historical Society’s blog and West Seattle Blog. Winners also will be honored at a special event hosted by the Historical Society and have the opportunity to read their essay at the event!

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FOLLOWUP: ‘Save The Stone Cottage’ community campaign launches
December 9, 2020 2:24 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo by Stewart L.)

We’ve been reporting for almost two years on advocates’ hopes of saving “Eva’s Stone Cottage,” the little rock-covered house across from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, on a site set for redevelopment. Today, they have launched a community campaign – here’s the announcement:

The stone-studded cottage at 1123 Harbor Ave SW has been a beloved and legendary landmark in West Seattle for 90 years. The wrecking ball is looming and we need help to save this piece of Seattle history.

(Stone Cottage, circa 1940s)

Eva Falk built the cottage in the 1930’s and her children came up with its unique façade of more than 15,000 beach stones. The stones were carried from the beach near the Alki Lighthouse, and each stone was thoughtfully placed by hand on the exterior of the building. Eva told her daughter Carmecita Munoz that “This house is for giving shelter to anybody and anything.” For good reason, one stone placed prominently near the cottage’s front door bears the shape of a heart, welcoming all who entered. Eva passed away in 1997 at age 92.

The Stone Cottage is now surrounded by condos and townhouses and is slated for demolition in January. For more than two years, a group of West Seattle neighbors, Save The Stone Cottage LLC, has joined forces with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Historic Seattle, to develop a plan to save the 90-year-old beach home. These community volunteers, working in conjunction with the new property owner, Chainqui Development, have developed a three-phase, adaptive-reuse plan, and have until mid-January 2021 to move the house off the site before the wrecking ball arrives.

The plan involves securing and transporting the structure into temporary storage, siting and selecting its final location, and eventual site placement and structure restoration. Our vision is to preserve the cottage and keep it in the immediate Alki neighborhood, as a place for the community to gather. “Old buildings matter because they tell the story of the city. Once they’re gone, that’s it. You can’t build an old building,” says John Bennett, owner of Bennett Properties and historic-building consultant.

Save The Stone Cottage LLC seeks to raise $110,000 in donations to execute the plan to rescue, relocate, and restore the Stone Cottage. Donations are being accepted through the website www.savethestonecottage.org and a GoFundMe charity account. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is serving as the fiscal sponsor of the Save the Stone Cottage Project, and has no operational role in this project.

Save The Stone Cottage plans Friday media briefings at which volunteers will talk more about the plan. (That’s also when they expect to launch the crowdfunding page.)

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ONLINE TONIGHT: SW Seattle Historical Society gala; OLG ‘Light Up the Night’
December 4, 2020 1:45 pm
|    Comments Off on ONLINE TONIGHT: SW Seattle Historical Society gala; OLG ‘Light Up the Night’
 |   Holidays | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Quick reminder of two major West Seattle events happening online tonight:

SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY GALA/AUCTION: 7 pm tonight is the official virtual champagne gala and auction, but you can bid even sooner – go here to register. You can go here for a look at the auction items – which include an autographed Pearl Jam poster, a chance to create your own Husky Deli ice-cream flavor, even a chance to have Desmond Hansen paint a signal box for you! (Added: If you’re not bidding, you can watch here.)

OLG’S VIRTUAL ‘LIGHT UP THE NIGHT’: The first Friday of December is always the night Our Lady of Guadalupe lights West Seattle’s highest-elevation Christmas tree, in front of the church at 35th/Myrtle, and tonight it’s still happening – music and all – but don’t go in person; this time, it’s livestreamed! 7 pm is when to watch, here.

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FOLLOWUP: Volunteers prep ‘Alki Beach Rock House’ for move
November 22, 2020 9:04 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB photos – first 4 are from Saturday)

If all goes well, the well-known “Rock House” (“Stone House’ to some) across from Don Armeni Boat Ramp will be moved to a temporary new home within the next month or two. To get ready for the move, advocates and other volunteers have been working to clean it up and prepare it. We stopped by this weekend while several were working at the site.

As we first reported almost two years ago, the nearly-a-century-old cottage studded with scavenged beach stones is on a site that’s destined for redevelopment. But the new owners were willing to give preservation advocates the house, as long as it could be moved. And first, there’s a lot to be removed.

Hopes of moving it to a Seattle Parks site aren’t advancing at this point, we’re told, but advocates with the Alki Beach Rock House Association are working on other options in the area.

First task, though, is moving it to a holding site. The renowned house-moving firm Nickel Bros is set to do that in December or January.

(WSB photo, 2019)

The house is not a historical landmark, but the group wants to save the structure as a reminder of Alki’s beach-cottage history, as what’s left of that history continues to make way for redevelopment.

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‘Washington on Wheels’ @ next Words, Writers, & SouthWest Stories
November 9, 2020 9:03 pm
|    Comments Off on ‘Washington on Wheels’ @ next Words, Writers, & SouthWest Stories
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

We talk so much about transportation, you might be getting bored of bridges, tired of tunnels, weary of water taxis … So on Thursday, travel a different road by watching the live presentation “Washington on Wheels: Odd and Innovative Transportation Ideas from the Pacific Northwest” – and participating! Here’s the announcement from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:

‘Words, Writers, & SouthWest Stories,’ a historically based speaker series, is excited to announce that it is hosting Harriet Baskas for a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, November 12 at 6:00 PM. Baskas will deliver a presentation titled “Washington on Wheels: Odd and Innovative Transportation Ideas from the Pacific Northwest.”

Though Boeing is the best-known innovator in travel to have emerged from Washington State, there are many others. From canoe journeys to flying cars (that actually worked!), explore the history and culture of travel in Washington State. Author and broadcaster Harriet Baskas will take the audience on a tour of notable highlights of state transportation history, examining not just how we get around, but why we travel and where we might be going next.

The audience will be invited to share family stories of migration, memories of first flights and unforgettable car trips, and consider a future of autonomous cars and vacations in space.

Harriet Baskas has a MA in communications from the University of Washington, has served as the general manager for three Pacific Northwest radio stations, and has created award-winning radio for NPR. Her books include Hidden Treasures: What Museums Can’t or Won’t Show You. She currently writes about airports, air travel, and museums for outlets that include NBC News, CNBC, and USA Today. Baskas lives in Seattle.

Registration is required; registered participants will be emailed a link to the presentation on the date of the event. You can register here.

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Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s 2020 plan for annual celebration of future and past
November 1, 2020 10:52 am
|    Comments Off on Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s 2020 plan for annual celebration of future and past
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

(WSB file photo)

In pre-pandemic years, early November is when the Southwest Seattle Historical Society would host its annual Champagne Brunch, celebrating community and raising money for programs including its Log House Museum. This year, a new plan: An online evening event and multi-day auction in early December. Here’s the announcement:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce that this year the most important fundraising event of our calendar will be held digitally on Friday, December 4 at 7:00 PM. While we will miss seeing you at our traditional brunch at Salty’s on Alki this year, we hope you will join us online for the perfect opportunity to join together as a community to celebrate the successes of 2020 and support the Historical Society as we work together to build a foundation for a successful future.

This year’s theme is “History Proves We Are Stronger Together.” We are delighted to announce that Lora Radford, Executive Director of the West Seattle Junction Association, will be delivering keynote remarks that highlight the ways in which individual members of our community have come together to rise to meet the challenges of this unprecedented year. Kathy Blackwell, President of the Board of Trustees, Michael King, Executive Director, and others will offer additional remarks and key updates.

Our online auction will open on Tuesday, December 1, and close on Friday, December 4, ahead of our free celebratory program. As usual, the auction will uniquely reflect West Seattle through a range of exciting experiences, items, and gifts on which to bid. Remember, every bid you make helps to support the Historical Society!

Starting tomorrow, you can join in the online “Raise the Paddle” donation drive to kick it all off. Find the info here.

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BOOKS: Poet spotlights West Seattle in ‘Listen to the Trees’
October 9, 2020 3:57 pm
|    Comments Off on BOOKS: Poet spotlights West Seattle in ‘Listen to the Trees’
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Sean Petrie)

In pre-pandemic times, you might have seen Sean Petrie writing poetry on his century-old typewriter at the Farmers’ Market. In 2018, he was in residence at West Seattle Summer Fest, typing in the Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum‘s booth, and now that round of live poetry has become a book! In collaboration with SWSHS, Petrie has published “Listen to the Trees: A Poetic Snapshot of West Seattle, Then and Now,” via Documentary Media.

It features some Junction businesses, too, including Husky Deli, Easy Street Records, and Elliott Bay Brewing. You can see and hear him online in a SWSHS presentation at 6 pm next Tuesday (October 13th). There will also be a limited-capacity in-person launch at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW), noon Saturday, October 17th. The publisher says the book will thereafter be available at both of West Seattle’s independent bookstores, Paper Boat and Pegasus Book Exchange (4553 California SW).

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Restoration work begins for another mural
September 17, 2020 11:26 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

At the corner of California/Oregon in The Junction, muralist Bob Henry has started work on the next West Seattle mural restoration. This time it’s “Bank Day,” on the north-facing side of the Chase building (which, by the way, has been a bank since its 1952 dedication as a Washington Mutual branch). Henry tells WSB he’ll be working on this one for “four or five” days, and it’s weather-dependent, so that might stretch out a while. The mural was painted by Alan Wylie, one of 11 murals created ~30 years ago. Of the nine remaining at their original locations, this is the sixth to be extensively renovated. While the mural-restoration project kicked into high gear with philanthropy seed money two years ago, donations will get it to the finish line – you can assist by going here.

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WEST SEATTLE HISTORY: Remember this business?
September 12, 2020 1:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

On a day when you might be looking for diversion … how about some history? Local preservationist/entrepreneur John Bennett texted us that photo, saying he just bought this at an estate sale. So far, we’ve found a bit of information about Helen’s Hol’N One Donuts – while this says 4454 California SW, the city lists the building as 4452 California SW – most recently a real-estate office. The building dates to 1956; this site says the donut shop was there 1957-1960, with proprietor Helen Allen then operating Helen’s Fine Foods with husband Earl.

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FRIDAY: Hiawatha play-area project briefing
August 27, 2020 3:28 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle parks

Interested in what’s planned for the play-area move at Hiawatha Playfield/Community Center? You can see a briefing during tomorrow morning’s meeting of the city Landmarks Preservation Board‘s Architectural Review Committee. The project is in the board’s jurisdiction because Hiawatha is a landmark, one of the city’s historic Olmsted parks. You can preview the briefing packet here; the meeting, which starts with a public-comment period, is at 8:30 am Friday (August 28th), online – here’s the link. If you plan to comment, register here, or email your comment to erin.doherty@seattle.gov and/or sarah.sodt@seattle.gov. You can also listen to the meeting by calling 206-207-1700 and entering meeting access code 146 522 0524. (Thanks to Deb Barker, who recently completed two terms on the Landmarks Board, for the tip!)

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THURSDAY: Learn about West Seattle’s streetcar-driven days
August 10, 2020 2:49 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

1926photo
(Heart of The Junction, 1926. Photo courtesy SWSHS)

Among other things, streetcars are why The Junction is The Junction. Though they’ve been gone for many decades, streetcars play a big role in West Seattle history, and you can learn more about it Thursday. Here’s the preview:

Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly speaker series will host local transportation enthusiast Mike Bergman in his presentation of “To West Seattle by Streetcars: 1916 to 1940” at ‘Words, Writers & SouthWest Seattle’s’ next digital event, which will be hosted via Zoom at 6 PM on August 13th.

Bergman’s talk will explore the history of West Seattle’s streetcar system in the first half of the twentieth century, including its construction and the influence the streetcar system had on the area’s development and growth. Showcasing numerous historic photos, Bergman will address the evolution of three segments of the West Seattle corridor: Youngstown (Spokane & Avalon to the bridge), the West Waterway bridge itself, and the elevated streetcar trestle between the bridge and downtown.

Advanced registration is required at www.loghousemuseum.org. Registered participants will be emailed a Zoom link to the presentation on the date of the event.

Born and raised in Seattle, Bergman has been interested in Seattle Transportation history from an early age, especially the city’s bridges, railroads and public transit systems. He has a degree in Geography from the University of Washington, and was employed as a transit consulting firm, then moved to King County Metro in 1980. At Metro, he worked as a transit service planner, project manager and communications specialist. He took a new position at Sound Transit in 2000, where he produced the agency’s annual service plan and developed schedules for ST Express buses, Sounder commuter rail and Link light rail.

Following his retirement in 2016, Mike maintained a strong interest in local transit and transportation history. He is a volunteer at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive (PNRA), a non-profit educational organization developing a repository of Northwest rail history, including city streetcar systems. Mike has organized PNRA’s large collection of material on the Seattle Municipal Railway and has developed and shown powerpoint presentations on Seattle streetcar history to various community groups. He is the president of the Tacoma Chapter- National Railway Historical Society, and regularly contributes articles of local historical interest to The Trainsheet, the chapter’s monthly newsletter.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has been sponsoring this free speaker series regularly for the past seven years. Future presentations for following months are planned to be shown live via Zoom to continue observation of safe, social distancing. Corporate sponsorship is being sought for this series and donations are welcomed.

Next month’s event will be by former presenter Eric Wagner, and is titled, “After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens”. For videos on these and other speakers’ presentations, check out “Events” at www.loghousemuseum.org. This series is open to hosting any author or speaker addressing historical issues relating to the Puget Sound/Duwamish Peninsula and/or the general public.

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HISTORY: Explore Seattle’s oldest home without leaving yours
August 1, 2020 7:20 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Two weeks from today, the oldest house in West Seattle – and the entire city – opens up, virtually, for you to see. Here’s the announcement:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual “If These Walls Could Talk” historic-home tour has gone digital! Join us online to support SWSHS and explore the history of the oldest house still standing in Seattle –the Maynard House on Alki. Lovingly restored in 2018, you will get to experience the updated interior of the home and learn how the house has changed in its 100+ year history.

This tour will be a YouTube 360 experience, so you can explore the interior of the home while learning about the lives of Doc and Catherine Maynard. A recent donation of personal letters from the Maynards will illuminate new insights into one of Seattle’s most interesting figures. After registering, you will receive a link to the video to explore at your leisure. This will be sent to you on the morning of August 15th. The video will be about 15 minutes of recorded content about the Maynards with the ability to pause and move around the 360 space. The experience is available for a suggested donation of $10-20.

For a deeper experience, register for our live VIP session where local historians will discuss the Maynards in greater depth. You will get a chance to hear some letters read, including never-before-seen firsthand accounts of the Battle of Seattle! This VIP panel session will be held on August 15th at 11 am PST. The price for access to this exclusive conversation is $50. Our panelists include:

Ken Workman, the Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson of Chief Seattle. He is a retired Systems and Data Analyst from Boeing’s Flight Operations Engineering Department, a former Duwamish Tribal Council member as well as a former Duwamish Tribal Services 501(c)(3) President. Ken is a member of the Duwamish Tribe, the first people of Seattle. Today Ken enjoys retired life on a river, in the mountains, east of Seattle and he serves as a member of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s Board of Trustees.

Phil Hoffman, a graduate of Georgia State (Atlanta) and Wayne State (Detroit) Universities holding a Masters of Urban Planning degree. He resides in Seattle’s Alki neighborhood. Mr. Hoffman is the retired director of the University of Washington Office of Institutional Studies. Upon his retirement, he established the Alki History Project. The Project’s mission is to document, explore, and interpret the history of Seattle’s founding neighborhood. Current research includes investigation of proposed and failed transportation improvements which would have forever changed Alki’s landscape and land use and an effort to identify ‘Watson,’ the suspected 1893 Herring House arsonist.

Greg Lange, a life-long Seattle resident and King County Archivist. He became interested in local history while selling northwest history books at used, antiquarian, and new bookstores. Greg is one of the original staff members of Historylink.org. He is a former member of the Pioneer Square Preservation Board and the Washington State Board of Geographic Names. He conducted a survey of houses built prior to 1905 for the city of Seattle and he has given many presentations on how to complete a history of a house. Greg has extensive experience researching early EuroAmerican settlement of Seattle and King County.

Registration is due by August 14th at this link.

P.S. Here’s our coverage of the gift the SWSHS received from the Maynards’ descendants half a year ag.

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FOLLOWUP: See part of the restored West Seattle Junction mural that’s going back up
July 28, 2020 2:55 pm
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 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos)

It’s almost as if Bob Henry has an audience! As we reported Monday, the muralist is at work this week on the north side of 4727 44th SW in The Junction, re-hanging the restored panels that comprise the “Press Day” mural. Today, we got a look at part of the restoration:

It’s been more than two years since the restoration project began.

This is one of nine surviving murals of the original 11 created in the late ’80s/early ’90s – one, “Midnight Call,” was removed four years ago; another was re-created at a new location near the demolished building that originally held it. Crowdfunding is supplementing the philanthropy and grants to pay for the restoration.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Junction mural restoration continues
July 27, 2020 1:25 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, August 2019)

Almost a year ago, we reported on the next West Seattle Junction mural to be restored, “Press Day,” on the north side of 4727 44h SW. This time, the process is different – this mural is on wooden panels that were removed so muralist Bob Henry could work on them. Today, he’s back to start re-hanging the restored panels.

(This photo & next, courtesy of West Seattle Junction Association)

First – scaffolding goes up. Then, the panels.

West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford tells WSB the process is expected to last all week. It’s one of the murals created ~30 years ago as a celebration of local history; restoration is funded by philanthropy, grants, and community contributions (the crowdfunding page is here).

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REGISTER NOW! Live local online event: ‘Before Seattle Was a City’
July 18, 2020 7:02 am
|    Comments Off on REGISTER NOW! Live local online event: ‘Before Seattle Was a City’
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

(WSB file photo)

Though its Log House Museum still can’t reopen for visitors, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society remains busy finding ways to share our area’s history with you. Here’s the next event:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce our latest virtual program. On Thursday, July 23rd, at 6:30 pm. we will be offering a live panel discussion of historical experts. You may have heard that this year’s historic home tour features the oldest house in Seattle … the Maynard House on Alki! This August we will be bringing you a special virtual experience to explore the house and the lives of Doc and Catherine Maynard. But before Doc and Catherine arrived in Washington Territory in the 1850s, the area that would become Seattle already had a rich history. We invite you to join our panel discussion to explore what was going on … before Seattle was a city.

What world did Doc and Catherine step into when they arrived in the Puget Sound area? What did the landscape of the 1850s look like? Who were the political players? What was the relationship between the colonial settlers and Indigenous peoples like?

Our panelists will explore those questions and more. We are pleased to include Ken Workman, 4-times great-grandson of Chief Seattle as one of our panelists. Tasia Williams, Curator of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, will moderate the discussion. We will be announcing our other panelists soon!

Register here.

Ticket price is “donate what you can.”

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RSVP ASAP: Words, Writers, Southwest Stories presents Clarence Moriwaki with ‘Let It Not Happen Again’
July 6, 2020 5:15 pm
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 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

This is happening live online Thursday night, but you need to register to get the link. As announced by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:

‘Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories,’ a historically based speaker series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, is excited to announce that it is hosting Clarence Moriwaki for a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, July 9 at 6:00 PM. Moriwaki will deliver a presentation titled, “Let it Not Happen Again: Lessons of the Japanese American Exclusion.”

Registration is required. Registered participants will be emailed a link to the presentation on the date of the event. Please register here.

In March of 1942, 227 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes on Bainbridge Island by the US Army. Starting with this small community, a national strategy began, with more than 120,000 Japanese American men, women, and children forcibly removed and incarcerated during World War II.

Clarence Moriwaki shares the story of Bainbridge Island — the origin point of the Japanese American exclusion — to provide a human, historical account of this national tragedy, and to ask the question: Are there parallels to what’s happening in America now? Moriwaki uses historical images, including historical and current propaganda, to explore the fear, racism, and failure of political leadership that led to these unconstitutional actions during World War II, and why we must not let it happen again.

Moriwaki is the president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community and a founder and former president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association. Moriwaki has written guest editorials on the subject that have been published nationwide. Moriwaki has served as a spokesperson for administrations including the Clinton Administration, the Office of the Governor, and Congressman Jay Inslee. Moriwaki lives on Bainbridge Island.

This presentation is part of the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is grateful for the support of Humanities Washington.

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‘War on the Homefront’: Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents ‘mini-exhibit’ online
July 4, 2020 11:49 am
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 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Right about now every Fourth of July, Southwest Seattle Historical Society members and friends gather at the Log House Museum on Alki for their annual picnic. Not this year. But the SWSHS is offering you the chance to celebrate by learning more about a chapter in American history – here’s the announcement:

Over the past year, staff at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society have conducted a series of oral histories with the West Seattle High School classes of 1944 and 1945. The purpose was to document the impact of WWII on the youth of West Seattle.

We had hoped to have a pop-up exhibit at the all-school reunion at WSHS (last month). However, the reunion was canceled due to the pandemic. So, we are bringing you a mini-online exhibit of War on the Homefront. Head over to our website for a glimpse of the rich stories our wonderful participants shared with us. We look forward to creating a more robust exhibit at the museum in the future.

(To explore the “mini-exhibit,” mouse over the bottom of the window that’ll come up on the SWSHS website, and you’ll see the arrows.)

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