Herman Sales Reed

Herman S. Reed contributed greatly to the development of Redmond, but is rarely highlighted. He arrived just thirty years after our town's earliest settlers, and quickly became an integral part of the town's operation and economy.

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When Mr. Reed first came to this locality the road was little more than a trail through the woods from Lake Washington and in the intervening period of twenty-nine years he has witnessed a marvelous transformation in the appearance of Redmond and the surrounding country, rejoicing in what has been accomplished. He has contributed liberally of his time, efforts and means toward all projects for civic growth and betterment, also rendering assistance to those in need, and is respected and honored because of his generous nature his public spirit and high standards of life. -- Clarence Bagley, Regional Historian A History of King County, 1929

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Herman was born in Livingston County, Michigan, on February 17th, 1876 to Eugene Cary Reed and Mary Ellen (Sales) Reed.

He attended high school at Howell, Michigan, before going on to normal school, where he was trained as a teacher. After graduation he taught for several years, but in 1898, he enlisted for service in the Spanish American War, and became a Corporal in Company M, 35th Regiment of Michigan Volunteers.

Herman appears on the Federal Census for Michigan in July of 1900, but is also listed as a school teacher, at Redmond School, in that same year.

A Husband and Father

In 1901, Herman married Addie B. Burkhart in Ballard.  He first knew her in Michigan, and she decided to follow him west after he moved to Redmond.

In March of 1902, she gave birth to their oldest son Leo. The following year, Herman and Addie lost their second son at just one month old to whooping cough. The baby was buried at Redmond and the following month Mrs. F. A. Burkhart, of Howell, Michigan came to Redmond to visit her daughter Addie, during what was surely a difficult time.

Herman and Addie's family continued to grow, when their first daughter Genevieve Ellen Martha was born in 1904. The next addition was August Ruth E. Reed in 1905, and Gail Francis Reed in 1908, then Willie Sales in 1909. And, their youngest son Woodrow Allison was born in 1916.

Reed family home, 1915

A Dedicated Teacher

At the first meeting of school teachers of Association District No. 1 in Bothell, Herman presented a paper on “The Teacher’s Influence”. The association included teachers of all schools, in the northern part of the county, which are tributary to the Seattle & International Railroad, as far east as Issaquah. In January of 1902, he presented again on “The Professional Teacher” and “Geography” at their regular meetings.

By March of 1903, he is listed as the President of the rural section of the Teachers Association. 

1917: In December Herman placed another Wanted ad for a light truck, suitable for transporting school children, a Ford was preferred.

In July of 1923 he placed an ad wanting a passenger body for a ton and a half truck, suitable for hauling school children. It's possible these became the town's first school buses, which were made in the school's manual training classes.

A Man of Many Interests:

Records show that Herman had wide and varied interests.

In the 1902 Yearbook of The American Society of Curio Collectors, he is mentioned under the headings of Archaeology, Coins and War Relics.

In April of 1905, Herman was listed as one of the 100 winners of the Grand Prize Contest put on by Cline’s Piano House. 

In July, Herman was chosen to be the financial secretary by Court Redmond No. 106, F. of A.  Also listed are recording secretary, W. E. Sikes, lecturer, William Brown, beadle, William Donnelley. 

In March of 1907, the Fraternal Order of Eagles organized an aerie in Redmond. Herman was the secretary.

In March of 1926 he placed a wanted ad for a 15 or 18 passenger auto stage car.  No junk considered.  In September, the Consolidated Grange Fair was held at Redmond.  It included the Happy Valley, Cherry Valley, Novelty, Vincent, Issaquah, Snoqualmie and Sammamish Granges.  There was music, a horseshoe tournament, tug-of-war, dog show, livestock and agricultural exhibits, handicrafts, cookery, needlework, an automobile show and a collection of war relics owned by H. S. Reed.

 In October Herman received some 2 cent stamps commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of White Plains, N.Y.  The article goes on to say that at the recent Consolidated Grange Fair at Redmond, he had exhibited a large collection of stamps and curios.  Among the curios were German helmets from the World War, a group of medals including the Victoria Cross, Croix de Guerre, British Sebastopol Medal of 1854, Turkish Star of Gallipoli and a collection of newspapers and legal documents dating back to 1684. 

Real Estate:

Throughout the years he was involved in several real estate transactions around Redmond, both for his own investments and acting as a realtor for others.

In March of 1903, he bought Lot 10, block 4 of Sike’s first addition from Harry Kelly, for $60.  He built a building that would be used as the town's first community hall, a movie hall Odd Fellows Hall and today is home to Redmond’s Bar & Grill.

In April of 1904, Herman listed a for sale ad in the newspaper, advertising the Hotel Normandy, 16 rooms, fully furnished, two barns, land 60x240 feet. 

That would be the Valley Hotel or Sikes Hotel.  It was located on what today is Gilman Street.  The price was $2,500 and the ad ran for a couple of months.

In June of the same year, he bought some property, in four different sections, from R. O. Wesby. 

1905 - In  August, Herman bought several lots in Kirkland for $3,000. 

  In May of 1908, Reed sold Lots 1 and 3, Block 5 of the Redmond plat to Mary Walther for $3000.  This was the Normandy Hotel which she would rename as the Hotel Walther.  In August there was a collection being made to help elect William Jennings Bryan as President of the United States.  It asked for each contributor to send $1 to the Seattle Times.  The Times listed H. S. Reed of Redmond as having contributed $1. 

     In March of 1910, Arthur Adams was elected Director of the Redmond School District.  He was opposed by Herman Reed, who made no active fight for the office.  In April, Reed was the enumerator of the Federal Census for the Redmond Precinct.  He listed himself as a teacher.  In the household were his wife Addie, children Leo, Genevieve, Ruth, Gail and Willie.  Also in the household are his Father in Law, Frank Burkhart and Mother in Law, Carlie (Caroline) Burkhart.  In March and April he is still running ads to sell the stock from the general store.  In December the ad reads “For Sale - Cheap, general merchandise stock.  H.S. Reed, Redmond, Wash.”

     In March of 1911, the ad now reads “FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE - General merchandise store.  H. S. Reed, Redmond, Wash.”  In May Reed attended an address by Gov. Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey.  It was held at the Dreamland Pavilion in Seattle.  In August he ran an ad for a Piano certificate worth $120 for sale, trade or best offer.  Perhaps that is somehow associated with the prize he won in April of 1905 that was put on by Cline’s Piano House.   In October he ran an ad wanting a good 5 passenger auto, Ford preferred.  In November he ran an ad selling a “Nearly new covered Studebaker delivery wagon.”

     In June of 1912 Herman was awarded a teaching contract for the Willows School. 

     In July of 1914, Herman was mentioned in an article about the King County Convention of Democratic Party Men.  It said he was one of the group that had one half of a vote per man.  In August H. S. Reed was a Checker in the Second Annual Post-Intelligencer Reliability Run.  The automobiles had to run a course of between 600 and 1000 miles in five days.  One of the checkpoints was in Redmond.  The pilot car was a 1911 Franklin which covered the route twice, marking the path, without falter.  The winner was a 1908 Pierce-Arrow which completed the run with only two points charged against it, due to a broken ignition wire.  In September, Herman was one of the judges watching the voting in the Redmond Precinct.  Also in September Herman is mentioned as being a member of the King County Democratic Executive Committee.  In October, Herman withdrew from the Socialist ticket as candidate for justice of the peace, Redmond.

1928:  In February he was elected vice president of the Seattle Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Postmaster:

In February of 1915, Herman became the Postmaster of Redmond—a job he would hold until March 6, 1933.

However, he had been a mailman of sorts for some time. It has been reported that while teaching at the Happy Valley School, Herman would pick up mail for Happy Valley, from the Post Office, and take it to school. There he would give it to the students to pass along to their families. 

In January of 1916 it was published that voters could register in the Poll Books which were in the hands of the registration officers who had been recently appointed by the county board.  Herman was listed as the registration officer at the Redmond Post Office.  In July, Herman, as Postmaster of Redmond, notified the Canadian Army that he was unable to deliver mail to Mrs. Edward McEvers in Redmond.  The mail was a $20 monthly check as Edward had claimed to be married to Stella Hutcheson McEvers.  She was really married to Edward’s brother Hugh. The ruse was so Edward would get an extra $3 per month married allowance.  In August, Woodrow Allison was born to Herman and Addie.

In December three men tried and failed to blow the safe in the Redmond Post Office.  Three explosions were heard by local residents who woke Postmaster H. S. Reed.  The men were seen running out the back door of the Post Office.

In March of 1917 the Post Office safe was dynamited and the robbers got away with $25.  In April another attempt was made to rob the safe in the Post Office and general store of H. S. Reed.  Two men were arrested.  Two nights later another attempt was made.  This time there was a note on the safe that said “Don’t blow open the safe.  Turn the knob to the right and open the door.”  The instructions were followed but Deputy Sheriff Sidell, Mayor Reil and Postmaster H. S. Reed were in an adjoining room.  They chased the robber, with their revolvers, and caught him.  In May, H. S. Reed is listed as the registration officer for Redmond Precinct under the new Federal Conscription Law.  The Post Office is the place of registration.  In June it was reported that Redmond had 98 men registered with 54 claiming exemption.  Of the 98, H. S. Reed reported that 18 were Japanese and Italians, none of whom claimed exemption.  He hand delivered the returns to the office of the county auditor at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

  In September of 1918 Herman registered for the draft.  He gave his name as Herman Sales Reed, Redmond, King, Wash.  He said he was 42 years old and was born Feb. 17, 1876.  He was white and native born.  He said he worked for the U.S. Govt. as Postmaster at Redmond, King, Wash.  He noted Mrs. H. S. Reed as his closest relative.  He said he was tall, slender with brown eyes and black hair.  He signed his full name on the front of the form and signed the back H. S. Reed as the registrar attesting to the fact that the person being registered had read the questions and answered truthfully to his knowledge.  The date of the registration is date stamped SEP 12 1918.  In November he ran a Real Estate For Sale ad for a 40 acre ranch.  It appears he was acting as a broker.

In August of 1922 he received a new commission as Postmaster.  He had passed the Civil Service examination in April of 1921 with an exceptionally high average.  He had the support of Republicans and Democrats.

Unexpected Places:

Reed was a well known figure in town, and today he appears in many kinds of records, including some unexpected places.

In November of 1905 Reed is mentioned in testimony during the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of George Butchard.  The witness, McKay, was the owner of the saloon where Butchard had been drinking the night before.  He said it was Reed that had woken him up the following morning to tell him there was a dead man in the street.

On January 2, 1920 he began taking the 1920 U.S. Census.  He is the enumerator and the first eight lines of Sheet 1, Redmond Precinct are his household: Herman, Addie, Leo, Genevieve, Ruth, Gail, Willie and Woodrow.  He lists himself as a retail merchant of groceries.

1923: In November Herman reported a story that made the front page of the Seattle Star newspaper.  He told the paper that a $20,000 logging engine had been blown up by nitro-glycerine or dynamite.  This was the latest in several attempts to damage logging equipment in the area.

In July of 1925, a highway was completed over Stevens Pass.  The route was inspected by state and county officials, members of the Washington Automobile Club and various other motor and highway organizations.  H. S. Reed was there representing Redmond. 

In September he was elected as the Democratic committeeman for Redmond.  That same month he attended a speech, held in Seattle, in support of William Jennings Bryan for President.  In October he attended another speech, in Seattle, for the same cause.  Still in October, he was elected, by the King County Central Committee, to be a Judge at the polls in Redmond Precinct.

     In August of 1909, Herman began running an ad to sell a General merchandise store in Redmond.  It included a residence, wareroom and entire stock of goods on a corner location.  In September, Herman amended the ad to note that the buildings were all new.  In October he again amended the ad to say the property was for sale or lease.  That month he also ran an ad for a “Competent man to conduct dancing school.”

1912: In November H. S. Reed is mentioned in a newspaper article about the Rifle and Pistol Club.  The club meets at the Seattle Armory every Monday night.

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     In June of 1924 Herman was sworn in as the Town of Redmond City Clerk and water cashier. 

     In March of 1926 he placed a wanted ad for a 15 or 18 passenger auto stage car.  No junk considered. 

In December he placed a wanted ad for a good boy’s or young man’s bicycle for cash.

     In March of 1927, H. S. Reed attended a meeting and dinner held at the Snoqualmie Falls Lodge.  Many prominent county officials were present and tempers were running hot over several subjects.  In October, realtor Reed ran a For Sale ad for a 5 acre tract, 6 room house, electric lights, running water and outbuildings.  In November he ran another ad for a similar property.

     In April of 1927, H. S. Reed appears as a Notary Public on two Warranty Deeds.  The deeds appear to be an arranged swap of property which would allow the First Methodist church building to be moved from its original site to its current location. 

     In January of 1928 he ran another ad for a 5 acre tract, 5 room house, large chicken house, electric lights, daily mail and free school bus.   In March realtor Reed ran a For Sale ad for 40 acres near Lake Sammamish ¾ mile from Redmond.  He ran the same ad again in April.  In May Postmaster Reed received a consignment of the new Valley Forge 2 cent stamps via air mail from the postmaster at Valley Forge, Pa.  They are believed to be the first to be shown in Western Washington.  In June Addie Reed was sworn in as the Redmond town clerk and Herman was the water cashier.  At a November meeting, in Redmond, of the Sunset Highway Improvement Club, Herman was elected secretary.

     In the April 1929 issue of Stamp Collectors Magazine, Herman is listed as member number 5787 collecting G.C. and U.S. commemoratives.  In September he placed a Miscellaneous for Sale ad for a Dayton computing scales and hand coffee grinder, Cheap.

     Herman was not the enumerator for the 1930 Federal Census.  He is listed as Postmaster working for the government.  In March Herman’s son Leo, of the Redmond Stage Company, announced that the eastside will have an ambulance.  It will be on call through the Stage Company office in Redmond.  In May Herman was named to a committee organizing the celebration of the opening of the Lake Sammamish Scenic Drive in June.  That is today’s West Lake Sammamish Parkway.  The celebration was sponsored by the cities of Kirkland, Issaquah, Redmond, Bellevue and Bothell.  In October realtor Reed placed an ad selling 10 acre tracts overlooking Lake Sammamish.

     In February of 1931 Herman and Addie celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.  Friends and family attended the dinner.  Also in attendance was B. F. Brooks, the man who married them.  In October it was decided to commemorate the bicentenary of George Washington's birthday in 1932 by rededicating the Aurora Avenue Bridge as the George Washington Memorial Bridge.  A general committee was formed and members of various sub committees were named.  H. S. Reed of Redmond was named to the Military committee.  The rededication was done February 22, 1932, with the cooperation of the Sons of the American Revolution of which Herman was a member.  At that time Mrs. H. S. Reed was in Washington D.C. attending the national conferences of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  In September of 1932, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Reed and son were guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Luke of Kennewick.

     Herman S. Reed died on March 5, 1933.  His obituary says that he had been suffering acute pain for several days and was unable to obtain relief.  At 8:15 a.m. he went to the woodshed and shot himself in the head.  He had lived in Redmond since July of 1900 and been postmaster since May of 1915.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, belonging to the Blue lodge at Bothell.  He was a Knight Templar of the Nile Temple in Seattle.  He was an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution and a Spanish American War veteran.  He was a collector of rare stamps and coins and his collection was an unusually good one.  He was a recognized authority on either.  He was born in Michigan in 1876 and met his wife Addie there.  She followed him west when he moved here and they were married in Ballard.  Mr. Reed was active in all community enterprises and will be greatly missed.

     Another obituary says of him “Meticulous as to detail, he has been called upon to take care of the business of the town.  He has been a veritable watchdog of the town’s affairs.  He has been the spark that has kept things moving.  Redmond will miss Postmaster H. S. Reed.”

     When Herman died the Postal Department declared a vacancy in the office.  Herman’s wife Addie had been helping him for years and was familiar with the job.  She made an application for the job.  Fred Reil withdrew from seeking the job when he heard Addie wanted it.  He had been the Postmaster prior to Herman.  Addie held the position from March through May of 1933.  Her son Leo Reed took over the job on May 31, 1933 and held it until August 24, 1956.

     Herman and Addie are buried in Acacia Memorial Park, Lake Forest Park, King County, Washington.