As part of her monthly video series "Here in Redmond!" and in honor of Women's History Month, Mayor Angela Birney recently met with the Redmond Historical Society to learn more about a few of the incredible women who helped make Redmond what it is today. You can also read about five interesting women we've highlighted this month! Naomi Hardy Emma McRedmond Madhavi RajGuru Miye Yoshitake Christine "Chris" Himes The first woman on our list has a special place in our hearts as a driving force behind the establishment of the Redmond Historical Society! Naomi Hardy: The Redmond Historical Society was co-founded by Naomi “Nao” Hardy in 1999, with those who shared a similar passion in researching and sharing Redmond’s unique history. She was a dedicated volunteer, who served the Society as the Board President, and later as Vice President. Naomi was determined to document Redmond’s history and worked to share this valuable information with as many interested citizens as possible. To this end, she collected thousands of historic photographs, documents, and artifacts that are the foundation for the Society’s collections today. She was also an accomplished writer who published a mystery novel, poetry, and wrote humorous editorials for several newspapers. She eventually wrote Redmond Reflections: From Settlers to Software – a publication highlighting photos from Redmond’s past. Naomi passed away in 2012, but her significance and importance to Redmond was recognized by Mayor John Marchione, naming the Redmond Clock Tower, located at O’Leary Park, after her. Learn more about the Naomi Hardy Clock Tower here. Speaking of founders, this name of this next individual may sound familiar to you, as her father is a well-known early pioneer, and Redmond's namesake. Emma McRedmond: Emma McRedmond was born in Seattle to Irish immigrant Luke McRedmond and his wife Catherine Morse on February 11, 1869. Emma was just 3 years old when her family moved to Redmond. At 16, Emma became Redmond's postmistress. On July 20, 1891, she was deeded a small piece of land, which became the site of Redmond’s second post office, making her one of the first women to own land in the Redmond area. At 29, she married William Henry White, who would soon become a Washington Supreme Court Justice. Emma operated their 14-room hotel, which still stands in historic downtown Redmond today Much like Emma, many women in Redmond's history first moved to Redmond with their families, working to build a home in this community. Madhavi RajGuru: Madhavi RajGuru and her family moved to Washington from New Delhi, India in 1969. They are believed to be the first Indian family to immigrate to Redmond. Before moving she worked with an American filmmaker making a film for international charities, and eventually at the American Embassy. In Redmond, she was hired as the assistant to the Lake Washington School District's Deputy Director, due to her fast typing skills and knowledge of shorthand. Her husband “Raj” was later hired as a budget supervisor -- in the following years they were promoted and eventually found themselves working together as a high level assistant and the Deputy Superintendent. Madhavi and her family experienced many firsts in Redmond -- their first car, owning their first home and first snow! The family became citizens in 1974, which was "a badge of pride" she and her husband wore until their last day. Although they all share a connection to our community, each of these women followed a unique path to Redmond. Miye Yoshitake: Following the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, Miye Shiogi Yoshitake and her husband Frank moved to the Beacon Hill area in Seattle. In the summer of 1955 they moved to Redmond, in search of "good soil" and a place to call home. They purchased land on Avondale Road, with enough space for a house, a home for Frank’s parents – and to start a nursery and landscape business, Sunset Gardens. They later turned it into a 3-par golf course, Lil Augusta. Today, Redmond's Sunset Gardens Park honors their legacy -- and all they did to build a life in Redmond for their family. The accomplishments of these women have had a lasting effect on the community we know today, but history is still happening here! Christine (Chris) Himes: When she first moved to Redmond, Christine volunteered at her children’s schools – Horace Mann Elementary and Redmond Junior High – where she was eventually honored with the Golden Acorn service award. She would go on to serve as Vice President of the PTSA, a Board Member of Faith Lutheran Church, and in 1975, a Redmond City Councilmember. While on the city council, she was appointed chairman of the bicentennial celebration, and worked with Dorothy Hanscom to develop the first Redmond Walking Tour. In 1979 Chris was elected Mayor of Redmond by 63% of the votes, making her the first woman to fill the role. She served from 1980 to 1984; and was an advocate for the preservation of parks, horse trails, and open spaces in Redmond. At the end of her term Redmond could boast of 19 parks, a trail system and 14 designated historical landmarks. She has remained civically active, as a past president of the Redmond Historical Society and one of its long longstanding supporters.

Lisa Rich, a space commercialization expert, founder, and Chief Operating Officer of Xplore, coined the name of the Redmond Space District. The city has become a leading global satelite hub, with more satellites made in Redmond, WA than anywhere else in the world. Learn more about Xplore and the Redmond Space District below. How did the Redmond Space District (RSD) name come to be? Lisa Rich, a space commercialization expert, founder and Chief Operating Officer of Xplore, coined the name The Redmond Space District. The phrase has a two-fold purpose: it describes Xplore’s location, it also serves to communicate that Xplore is among the cadre of high-quality satellite companies in Redmond growing the emerging space economy. Ms. Rich started using the term in press appearances – and when she shared the fact that more satellites than anywhere in the world are produced in Redmond, Washington, the significance of the term gained traction. The Redmond Space District resonated with Kristina Hudson, CEO at OneRedmond whose collaboration with Xplore and neighboring space companies resulted in Redmond Mayor Angela Birney’s proclamation, and Representative (WA-01) Suzan DelBene’s resolution (H.Res. 646) which was introduced into the Congressional record. Tell us about your company's work. What brought Xplore to Redmond? Xplore's satellite constellation is engineered to provide data products, sensors, data fusion and edge computing from our XCRAFT® satellites. This powerful platform delivers video, optical and hyperspectral imagery to solve global economic, security, climate, education and science challenges. Xplore’s decision to move to Redmond in 2021 was based on criteria such as local access to professional talent from space and non-space companies, specialized testing and manufacturing businesses, its proximity to Seattle and other Eastside communities, and the ability to secure a high-quality, purpose-built, 22,000 sq ft satellite assembly facility. Xplore is a thought-leader in the space sector – and the first to introduce the concept of Space as a Service to the industry. Our innovative focus on services helped drive the evolution of an industry focused on selling hardware in exchange for government cost-plus contracts to a commercial model where space companies sell services to government and an array of commercial customers. Xplore’s range of services include providing data products, sensors, data fusion and edge computing from our XCRAFT® satellites. Our powerful platform of advanced sensors and data products expand the use of remote sensing data to solve global challenges and achieve societal benefits among commercial, government, national security, education, science and environmental customers. Today’s small satellites typically carry one or two instruments and acquire data at a high cost. Xplore is disrupting the quantity, quality and cost of data it can acquire from space with a multi-sensor satellite that is the equivalent of 8 satellites in 1, and is uniquely engineered to deliver high quantities of data at a low cost. The XCRAFT platform also supports on-board compute and edge processing - a next-generation capability that processes data to deliver insights from space. To date, Xplore has won over $5M in government and commercial contracts, most recently with the National Reconnaissance Office for high quality hyperspectral imagery. Xplore is listed on the Silicon Valley Defense Group NatSec100 list as a top venture-backed dual-use company whose capabilities have high value to national security. Xplore is building its XCRAFT satellites at our 22,000 sq ft facility in Redmond, WA and is preparing for its first launch with SpaceX.

By Laura Lee Bennett “Wagner’s book is an impassioned ode to the scientific method and the irrepressible resilience of the natural world."—Ben Goldfarb, Author, UW Press On November 11th, 10:30 am at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse, the Redmond Historical Society welcomes writer and biologist Eric Wagner, who will discuss the resilience of the Mount St. Helens ecosystem, following its giant volcanic eruption in 1980—now known as the greatest natural experiment in Pacific Northwest history. Based on his book, After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens, the author takes us on a journey through the blast zone. He explores not just the surprising ways plants and animals survived the eruption, but also the complex roles that people have played, all while showing how fascinating Mount St. Helens still is, 40 years after the blast. Wagner is speaking courtesy of Humanities Washington. We caught up with Eric for a bit of Q&A. RHS: How old were you when Mount St. Helens blew in 1980? What were you doing when you heard the news? Eric: I was actually just two when Mount St. Helens erupted, so I don't remember it at all. I'm told that the eruption could be seen from Astoria, Oregon, where I grew up. My first memory of Mount St. Helens is going on a hike there in 1986, or thereabouts. I think we were on the Johnston Ridge (west) side of the blast area. I remember it being very hot and dry and dusty, and drinking a lot of white grape juice. I also remember my dad having eventually to carry both my and my sister's backpacks! RHS: What first prompted or inspired you to write about Mount St. Helens? Was it based on news stories, personal experience, or...? Eric: I was pointed to the idea by an editor at UW Press who was interested in a book on Mount St. Helens since the 40th anniversary of the 1980 eruption was approaching. I'm a seabird biologist by training, and so more of an ocean person, but I love the mountains and found the idea of spending time around Mount St. Helens and learning more about it really attractive. Five years later the book was done! Way past deadline, of course…. RHS: Were any non-native species discovered in the "new" ecosystem? If so, to what do you attribute this phenomenon? Eric: Oh, there are many non-native species at Mount St. Helens. It's just kind of the nature of the beast―species move around, humans help move them, humans move through Mount St. Helens spaces and bring other species with them, etc., etc. One of the most interesting examples of this phenomenon is the rainbow trout in Spirit Lake. RHS: What is the most intriguing part of your investigation of the recovery of this ecosystem? Eric: Ooh, tough to choose just one thing! I suppose the most intriguing part was learning just how idiosyncratic the response was all over the mountain. There were very few blanket statements to be made―things that happened in one spot didn't necessarily happen in another. So I guess in the end the most intriguing element was learning just how important it is to look closely at a place for a long time and learn as much as you can. RHS: You've been giving this talk through Humanities Washington for the last two years. What questions do audiences most frequently ask? Eric: People tend to ask about wolves at Mount St. Helens (watch this space!). They ask about logging and its effects on the post-eruption landscape. There's also a lot of memory sharing, i.e., people telling me where they were when they learned of the eruption. I love learning all the different ways that people relate to the mountain. RHS: Will Mount St. Helens erupt again? Eric: Absolutely! I mean, it erupts about every 140 years on average, so we'll be due in a little bit. It might not be a catastrophic eruption like the 1980 one—perhaps more of a dome-building eruption, as in 2004–2008. There are lots of ways for mountains to erupt. RHS: What does the future look like for this ecosystem? Eric: The future of the Mount St. Helens lies in the reestablishment of large conifers. You can see this process beginning on the Pumice Plain and in the Debris Avalanche areas. Big firs and hemlocks and cedars and such are starting to come back. Once that happens, the mountain landscape will be more or less enfolded back into its surroundings, much the way it was before―and then it will erupt again, and everything will change!

In August of 2023, the Redmond Historical Society partnered with Venues for Artists in the Local Area (VALA Eastside) to present "Dudley Carter on Paper," offering a unique insight into the lesser-known works of Redmond's legendary carver, Dudley Carter. World-renowned for his impressive wood carvings and totems, Dudley Carter also produced an array of rarely seen two-dimensional works. The exhibition included sketches, figure studies, gestural abstracts, and pastel landscapes―all from the Society's Collections. Relive this exhibit by reading the Opening Night Review, or viewing the Panel Discussion below. To learn more about these pieces or Dudley Carter's history in Redmond, contact our office at manager@RedmondHistoricalSociety.org. Dudley Carter on Paper: A Glimpse into a Genius A 2D portfolio of the man who sculpted the Pacific Northwest Opening Night Review and Photos by Krishna Nandanoor It was an evening to remember at VALA. When I walked in, the first thing that caught my eye were the sketches! By Dudley Carter, the sculptor! We know him from his thought-provoking sculptures on display at the Redmond library, at Dudley Carter Park, at SAM, and at BAM! An artist whose art revealed the side of the Pacific Northwest we are a part of! Loving tradition, embracing the contemporary and enhancing the future: all on display in the present! At such scale! To see the sketches was a different perspective altogether into the psyche of the sculptor. From figure drawings to landscapes, from pastels to pen and ink, the sketches were vastly different from the substrate of Carter’s work but then, it was no surprise that he would formulate his ideas and work on paper. And were they interesting! His drawings of a man rowing down the river in a kayak and also those of the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest showed not only an amazing level of intricate detail, but also his love for his roots of the Pacific Northwest and how his early years influenced his perspectives of the evergreen state and its love of nature. Another sketch was that of a waterfall. Completely black and white and yet, it conjured such colorful images of our state’s love for our outdoors. And, true to his artistic penchant, the themes varied as did his love for all things Northwest and into the world beyond: An abstract one with strong ties to his roots realistic. One sculpture that manifested that was an appropriately named Creation. It’s a concentric circled sculpture within a totem symbolizing creation. It embodies geometry! Art! Surrealism within a real material as grounded as wood but exhibiting the enigma of creation that is right in front us. It evinced as many thoughts as the stars in the skies! And what was even more interesting is that the exhibit made it a point to actually put forth the thoughts of the legend himself. It was fascinating to see what the artist actually thought, in his own words about art, his art, and how the world perceives the world and the art in it. “In abstractions there is no limit as to what you can do. In more realistic or representational sculpture you are to some degree limited to what you can do―you can’t make great departures from realism.” This exhibit shows us a new way of looking at Dudley Carter’s work. For me, it will not only paint the Northwest in a massive woody scale, but also cerebrally sculpt an abstract world that existed in the virtuoso’s mind! Krishna Nandanoor is a mom, engineer, history buff, amateur writer, and a huge Jane Austen fan! She loves Redmond, its history, culture, and people. She is now happily a part of the RHS newsletter team, and is enjoying exploring various facets of Redmond, and bringing them into the literary limelight! Opening Night Photos: Dudley Carter Panel: On August 20th, VALA hosted a panel discussion, “Exploring the Portfolio of Redmond’s Legendary Carver, Dudley Carter,” moderated by Halee Turner, RHS Administration and Collections Manager. Panelists included author (and Dudley’s secretary and confidant) ‘Lyn Fluery Lambert, artist Jon Kraft, a carver himself who restored some of Dudley’s works; and Laura Lee Bennett, RHS Vice President and local community organizer. Click below to read their full bios. PANELISTS: https://fb.watch/mPnoexixVS/

By Laura Lee Bennett On October 14th, 10:30 am at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse, Redmond Poet Laureate Laura Da’ will discuss the practice of writing about the place and history of the Cascadia bioregion. Da’ will read from her collections of poetry and provide context into her creative process of engaging with the land and history both as a writer and teacher. Also, Da’ will discuss her engagements with the waterways and lands of Redmond during her tenure as poet laureate, including her poetic maps of the Lake Sammamish and Sammamish River We caught up with Laura for a bit of Q&A. RHS: Where does the term “Cascadia” come from? What is meant by the “Cascadia bioregion”? Laura: “Cascadia” is a term that has been used for the last few decades to describe the region from the Cascade Mountain Crest to the Pacific Ocean in the areas of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Our region’s incredible natural abundance, diversity, and saturation all contribute to its status as an utterly singular region. RHS: How does poetry connect us to history? How do we honor place and community through writing poems? Laura: Poetry connects to the history through the movement from the individual poet’s vision to the collective of the historical narrative and of the audience itself. Poetry embraces the ambiguity of history—not just one story or place, but a biome of narratives. RHS: What gave you the idea to create “poetic maps” of local waterways? How did you create the poetry prompts? Laura: I proposed the creation of poetic maps to encourage creative engagement with the land. Many people are fundamentally disconnected from the land they live, work, and learn on, and I am so pleased to have learned more about the lands and waters of Redmond by creating these maps and walks and encouraging greater knowing in the public as well. I elected to highlight waterways to acknowledge the original routes of movement and ecosystem environments of the region. RHS: During your tenure as Redmond Poet Laureate, you’ve worked with the City’s Streams and Habitat Team, and led workshops at the Old Firehouse Teen Center. How have these experiences informed your teaching style and curriculum? Laura: Being in community has been the best part of my laureateship. I particularly treasure all of the time and knowledge that the Streams and Habitats Team has generously offered me, from showing me a pre-contact tree off a trail to explaining the Bear Creek fish rehabilitation process. Working with young people to write about the local ecosystem also helped me feel more deeply connected to the community. RHS: In the 2023 issue 1 of Humanities Washington Spark Magazine, in an interview with WA State Poet Laureate Arianne True, she says, “Anyone can do poetry. Poetry is for the People.” What are your thoughts on this? Laura: I agree with this statement! RHS: You are Eastern Shawnee, and past WA State Poet Laureate Rena Priest is a member of the Lummi Nation. Also, Arianne True is Choctaw/Chickasaw. What are your thoughts on why poets of Native Nations are currently serving in these roles? Is there a trend here? Laura: Indigenous poets are not so much the trend as the integral and perpetual storytellers of the land itself. I see myself as a product of tribal sovereignty, someone who benefited from tribal education and community connections that helped prepare me to serve. Perhaps that is a part of the resurgence of Indigenous representation. We are speaking from community traditions that have always been here and it is a beautiful thing to be a part of. RHS: What's the status of the Idylwood Park Poetry Walk? We can share info (and/or flyer) on our website and social media. Please let us know how we can help to promote this event. Laura: The Idylwood Poetry Walk is currently being installed with a focus on the unique ecosystem of Lake Washington and the Kokanee Salmon. Resources can be found here: https://www.redmond.gov/2006/Currents-of-Connection . We will be holding a special celebration event with projections and prompts on site on the evening of October 6. RHS: Let’s step outside the RPL role for a moment. As Poetry in Public (formerly Poetry on Buses) Poet Planner, you are leading a 4Culture project called “Places of Landing.” In a nutshell, what can you tell us about that? How can the community participate? Laura: I am the Poet Planner for King County for the next two years and I brought many of my experiences from my laureateship to the experience. I want to encourage poetry across the county and to honor the histories and ecosystems of our region. I came up with the following theme: Many of our transportation hubs, roads, docks, and recreational spaces exist directly over Indigenous places of landing. As our community grows and changes, new paths will arise. The concept of landings extends from the land itself to each person’s sense of being, and we all hold memories of the places that shape our days. “Places of Landing” will offer writing and thinking prompts created to engage with place, water, and season and to connect literacy and land with a sense of balance, agency, and regard of place. Please feel free to check out the resources, attend a workshop, and submit a poem. https://www.4culture.org/poetry / More info about this October 14 Saturday Speaker program: www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/rhs-events

By Laura Lee Bennett On May 20, 2023, past Redmond Poet Laureate, Rebecca Meredith led a writing workshop at VALA Art Center based on the 10x10 Project, a series of poems written in response to photos of historic Redmond. The technique, ekprhastic writing—writing in response to works of art—allowed participants to describe what they saw in the photos, place themselves in the scene, refine their work, and connect with Redmond’s history. The resulting poems were both poignant and humorous—from two pioneer sisters singing hymns on wash day to a cheeky lullaby to the 1960s Nike Missile site. Here are three poems from participants that came out of the workshop—and inspired the RHS photos that inspired them. We appreciate the work of these poets, and making a personal connection to Redmond’s history! Lullaby for a Missile By Janka Hobbs Sleep little missile on your launcher under a warm summer sun. Pointed at cities in Mother Russia though I do not know which one. A bus has brought a crowd of people to ogle at your launching stands. The newspaper prints patriotic speeches serenaded by a military band. Sleep little missile on your launcher may your flight remain a dream. Long after your builders have died of cancer may your field grow up again in trees. Nike Missiles in Redmond, 1955 By Janka Hobbs Rocket launchers pointed at the sky, each at it’s own angle – they wouldn’t want to miss anyone! Below them, a crowd in military uniform and their ladies in Sunday best enjoy the sunshine. Can you hear the band? Is the Colonel going to make a speech? Can someone fix the microphone so we can understand a word he says? Meanwhile, the photographer from the Sammamish Valley News has stepped over the barrier to get that perfect photo for the paper. It’s okay. It’s 1955 and he’s had his clearance checked. Those missiles never flew. Now, kids play soccer in the field and trees grow tall around the edges. Two By Pamela Carolina In this universe two wet noses find their way to the aromatic azalea laves we hold Our hands rejoice on the sopt fur of the docile creatures. You, my baby sister, always fascinated by the cuteness of cuddly, fluffy, adorable animals, large or small; when your awe and enchantment show on your face even greater cuteness. I miss the day we discovered the colorful and soundful amazon jungle. Together. From the phosphorescent caterpillar, to the pink wet nose of the ocelot. In some other universe two sisters found their way to wet nosed, furry, chirping, multicolored, vibrant, flowering adventures for a lifetime. The workshop was offered in conjunction with the exhibit, “Though a Poet’s Eye,” co-hosted by RHS and VALA, where 10 photos from the Society’s archives were on display alongside 10 poems written by local poets during the City’s Centennial celebration in 2012. In fact, three of the poets—Allison Ohlinger, Denise Calvetti Michaels, and Rebecca Meredith—were part of the original 10x10 Project. Rebecca Meredith is a retired psychotherapist, poet and fiction writer, as well as a co-founder of Redmond Association of Spokenword (RASP), Redmond’s long-running literary arts organization. In 2011 she was chosen the first poet laureate of Redmond. As part of her work she headed the 10x10 project, along with a group of local poets. Her work has appeared in numerous publications. She is the author of two novels, The Last of the Pascagoula and Look Up From the Water.

Questions by Deb Akerstrom Feliks Banel is a broadcaster and historian who focuses on Pacific Northwest history, geography, cartography, and pop culture. He presents stories about Northwest history twice each week on KIRO Newsradio, and is host of the weekly radio program and podcast "Cascade of History" heard live Sunday nights from historic Magnuson Park on SPACE 101.1 FM. Prior to joining the staff at KIRO, he created the history series "This NOT Just In" for KUOW Public Radio. Feliks also produces history documentaries for the Seattle Channel. He lives in Seattle. We caught up with Feliks, speaker for the April 8 Saturday Speaker Series program, "All Over the Map: Surprising Places and Place Names of the Evergreen State,” for a bit of Q&A. RHS: When the founders of a town or city decide a name, do they have a complicated process to go through to make it official with the state? Feliks: I'm not sure what it's like nowadays, but the Post Office was the main arbiter of place names in the 19th century and early 20th century. A community could apply for recognition from the US Postmaster for a specific name, but that name could be rejected if it was already in use somewhere else in the state or if it was somehow confusing. RHS: So many city, town, and area names are Native American, what other inspirations have there been … founding families, natural amenities, or historic information? Feliks: A big one is ego! People like to name things for themselves! Also, many of the maritime names bestowed by British explorers like Captain Vancouver or Americans like Charles Wilkes are for fellow naval/military men. RHS: Are there any local written or unwritten rules (prior to the state) behind officially placing a name? What is the process? Feliks: The US Board on Geographic Names is the part of the Department of Interior in charge of maintaining the massive database of US place names now. Before that, it really was about the Post Office and the need to be able to circulate the mail. When a city or town incorporated (in territorial days and then the state era), that was, of course, important for being able to create a local governing entity with local control over law enforcement and other civic services (unlike unincorporated areas which fell under county jurisdiction). RHS: Which locale in Washington best represents its name? Feliks: Tough question! I can't pick one, because what I really like are the layers of names that relate to Indigenous, British, Spanish and American influences over the various eras here―it's like inadvertent poetry! For more info about this April 8 Saturday Speaker program: tinyurl.com/RHSAllOverTheMap

By Colleen Kemp Master pastel artist, art teacher, entrepreneur, and author, Dorisjean (née Mittmann) Colvin was well known in the Pacific Northwest. A proud self-employed artist her entire life, she created paintings in realistic and impressionistic moods. Doris was active in Redmond in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, known for drawing distinctive scenes of downtown Redmond (now Old Redmond). She drew buildings that are no longer standing, capturing Redmond in days long gone. Doris and her drawings have been honored in local Redmond publications. She also painted Redmond barns and surrounding communities. Many of her paintings hang in the Redmond Historical Society’s office/museum and City Hall. Often she was seen about town by locals with her easel and art supplies as she painted the scene before her. They often became her customers. She painted until she was 85 years old, and critiqued her students’ paintings into her 89th year. She loved the pastel medium, was a longtime member of the Pastel Society of America, and was instrumental in bringing the soft pastel medium to the Pacific Northwest. “She champions pastels as though they were the neglected Cinderella of the art world,” wrote Fran Walthall in the Sammamish Valley News, September 28, 1977. A Celebration of Life will be held April 23, 2023, at 211 21st Avenue SW, Olympia, WA beginning at 2 pm. Please contact Colleen Kemp with questions: 360-456-5467. Donations in Dorisjean’s name can be made to Redmond Historical Society, 16600 NE 80th St., Suite 122, Redmond, WA 98052. As remembered by Chris Himes, Past Mayor of Redmond, Lifetime Member Redmond Historical Society: Dorisjean and I became close friends while I was on the City Council. Dorisjean contacted me because she was having a problem with the City's fire department. The department was trying to close down her studio because she not only taught there, she lived there also, and the department argued it wasn’t safe. I helped her get permission to maintain her home and business in the small house across from the Methodist Church. We remained friends from that time on. Her studio was always busy. People in the area had never had much involvement with the arts, and this gave them a great opportunity to learn art and to be exposed to the world of oil painting. Dorisjean’s impact on Redmond was her great contribution to Redmond’s history! Doris was a friend of the Society, and many of her works are preserved in the Society’s Collections. In March 2022, RHS hosted an exhibit at VALA Art Center, titled “Art and Memory: Viewing Redmond History Through an Artist’s Eye,” which Introduced her work to new fans. This exhibit included a sampling of her works in the Society's archives, and examined how she captured a moment in Redmond's history. Many of her pieces are also a staple in our permanent displays at the Redmond Historical Society office and offer a unique view of many Redmond community landmarks. She saw art all around Redmond, from its storefronts to it's historic barns. She shared this view with her students and friends through her annual Christmas cards, containing a numbered print of her latest subject -- a fond memory for many who knew her. Please reach out to our office at manager@redmondhistoricalsociety.org or 425-885-2919 for opportunities to view her Christmas cards or other works by Dorisjean Colvin.

By Halee Turner and Dean Jowers Staff and volunteers of the Redmond Historical Society are always working to improve our collections and displays. During some recent sorting and filing, we found a bronze plaque, accompanied by a short note. The note indicated that the plaque had been donated, in 2007, by Frances McEvers. She was a relative of Edward Charles McEvers, who was named on the plaque. However, the note also indicated that RHS volunteers were unable to determine anything about the history, source, or significance of the plaque at the time. We decided to investigate. Googling a phrase on the plaque quickly brought us to Wikipedia. We learned that the plaque is a “Memorial Plaque” (Medallion) and is sometimes called “Dead Man’s Penny,” since it resembles the much smaller coin. Mystery of the Memorial Plaque Many of these plaques were issued, following World War I, to the next of kin of any British Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war. That made us wonder: how had the piece ended up in Redmond? How did Edward Charles McEvers—an American born in California—come to receive British plaque? That story follows. Looking for a place to appropriately file the plaque, we went to our “People” section of our archives and were surprised to find a photo postcard of Edward during his military service. With it we found a photo postcard of Claude Hanks and a notation that they had both gone to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) that was being organized to go to France to fight in WWI for the British Commonwealth. Further investigation showed that Edward and Claude both lived in Kirkland, were about the same age, were both Methodists, both musicians, and lived on the same street a few doors away from each other. Our conclusion was that they had probably gone to school together and were at least acquainted with each other, if not friends. Why the Canadian Army? We learned what may have connected these two gentlemen before their service, but what motivated them to join the Canadian Army? We found that Edward’s parents were from Canada. Charles Edward McEvers (1852–1901) and Frances Hortena Allingham (1852–1896) were married in 1882 in Trenton, Hastings, Ontario, Canada. They had three boys, all born in California: Hugh Allingham, John Lander, and Edward Charles. Charles McEvers was listed as a Gentleman in the section labeled “Rank or Profession”, on his Marriage Register, though we know he later worked as a Methodist Minister. We wondered if perhaps Edward joined out of loyalty to his parents' heritage, but we found no Canadian connection for Claude. Maybe they both joined for adventure or to see more of the world. Next, we looked for the Canadian Military Records for Edward and Claude. We found them in the Library and Archives Canada. By coincidence, their files had been updated on August 30, 2022—just a few days before we began our search. We found that Edward entered the Canadian Army on February 5, 1916, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. His papers say that he is married, with no children. He gives Mrs. Stella McEvers, of Redmond, Washington, as wife and next of kin. Claude entered the Canadian Army a few weeks earlier on January 17, 1916. He gives Mrs. Edith Hanks, of Kirkland, as his wife and next of kin and states that he has one child. They are both assigned to the 67th Battalion. The Regimental Brass Band and Pipes is a part of that battalion. We learned from Edward’s military will that he had played the trombone, as it stipulated that if he were to die in the war, all of his money and belongings–including the trombone–were to go to his brother, Hugh A. McEvers, of Redmond. A Falsified ‘Attestation Form’ We were curious why he opted not to leave these belongings to his wife Stella. We noticed his payroll record included an extra $3 a month for being married, and that he was sending $20 a month back to Stella in Redmond. However, in July of 1916 there is a note on his pay sheet that the account is closed and no more checks are to be issued. The note reads, “Issue no more cheques. Mrs. Stella McEvers is wife of soldier's brother. See letter from Postmaster Redmond Washington.” At the time, this would have been Herman S. Reed, but we do not know what was in that letter from the Postmaster, since it’s not included in these records. It would appear that Edward falsified his initial Attestation Form to get an extra $3* each month. A new account was opened and moving forward, Stella was sent only $17 a month. *This would have been a roughly 17 percent increase in his overall pay, and we estimate it to be equivalent to about $80 today. Another Local Connection A story we found, at Kirkland Heritage Society, mentions a third man from Kirkland that went to Canada to join the army. That man is Delma Ernest Lee. He joined on October. 26, 1915. He was in the same battalion as Edward and Claude. He was much older and had prior military service in the United States. We noticed a coincidence on the pay records for Claude and Delma. The original addresses for their wives were in Kirkland. At some point in time, both wives moved to Canada, and the pay sheet address for each was changed to the same address in Victoria. After their husbands shipped out, the addresses were changed back to Kirkland. Could Edward and Claude—or their wives—have been friends? If so, it’s possible Delma and Edward were acquainted as well. Since Edward was the last to sign up, perhaps that’s where he got the idea of being married on his enrollment papers to get the extra $3 per month. The military records of all three men show that they shipped out of Halifax, Nova Scotia on the RMS Olympic on April 1, 1916. The Olympic was a sister ship of the RMS Titanic that the British had commandeered as a troop transport. They landed in Liverpool on April 11, 1916, and from there they shipped out to France on August 13, 1916, landing in Havre on August 14, 1916. Fate of Edward McEvers Revealed Edward’s military records show him in a series of noncombatant positions. His obituary says that he was a musician and a stretcher bearer. A story from the Kirkland Heritage Society implies that as an American citizen, whose country was not yet at war, Edward was not used in a combat capacity. Once the United States entered the war, he asked to be transferred to the US Army, but it was either denied or had not yet occurred when he was killed in action. While his record simply states, “Killed in Action, July 23, 1918”, we found additional information on a separate record within the Canadian “Circumstances of Death Registers”. It reads, “Whilst on sentry duty in the vicinity of Oppy, on the night of July 22nd/23rd 1918, the Company on his left raided the enemy’s outposts, and the enemy retaliated with artillery fire. At about 12.40 A.M., he was taking cover from the barrage when killed by a shell which exploded in front of him.” A letter from Edward was published posthumously, indicating he had also supported the Social Hygiene Movement during his lifetime. We found two letters that he sent to The American Social Hygiene Association discussing the threat of venereal disease to the soldiers in the Canadian Army in France. The first letter was unsigned as he did not want to get into trouble with his officers, but the second one was found in his belongings and sent by the lieutenant in charge of his platoon. The ‘500th Soldier to Die’ Records note that Edward is buried in Anzin St. Aubin British Cemetery which is 1½ miles northwest of Arras, France. There are 361 World War I British Empire soldiers buried there, plus 4 from World War II. At the time of his death, Edward was serving in the 102nd Battalion. Their history shows that he was the 500th soldier to die, from the war, in that battalion. ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ Laid to Rest After Edward’s death, his belongings and presumably the memorial plaque in our Collections would have been sent to his brother Hugh. In the 1920 US Census, we find Hugh and Stella (Hutcheson) McEvers still living in the Avondale area of Redmond. Presumably they lived on Stella’s family land, which later became Farrel-McWhirter Park. Hugh and Stella must have passed the plaque down to their daughter Frances, who ultimately donated this acknowledgement of her uncle’s sacrifice to the Redmond Historical Society. While this story is not necessarily typical of the wide variety of items and archives at the Redmond Historical Society, it does illustrate the important work our Collections team does to research and organize our archives—and how new information can be found over time, revealing untold stories. In this case, our “simple” discovery of a bronze plaque with a note led to a larger story of a WWI veteran from Redmond, and brought to light his service record and unique history. Thanks, in part, to the large quantity of resources for researchers and genealogists that has been made available digitally—including census records, military documents, and more. If one of history's puzzles has you stumped, keep looking! You never know what you might find. Edward Charles McEvers Full Military Records:

Thank you for your interest in this Saturday Speaker Series presentation! We hope you enjoyed this discussion with David Berger, and will consider joining us for future events. View below for a recording of the presentation and additional resources. Description: What brings thousands of men, women, and children to Washington’s sandy coastal beaches every year, braving weather and surf? The buried treasure known as the Pacific razor clam. Hunting and gathering these creatures has preoccupied Northwesterners from the time of the Native peoples to the present moment. Challenging to dig, delicious to eat, and providing a sometimes-heady experience of abundance, razor clams are entwined with the state’s commerce, identity, and history. Author and clam digger David Berger explores the twists and turns of a quintessential Northwest activity from its pre-settlement days to the present. Speaker bio: David Berger has worked as a visual arts critic for The Seattle Times, executive director of a botanical garden, and as a communication officer for Dunhuang, a World Heritage Site on the Silk Road in China. He is also a Metcalf Fellow for Marine and Environmental Reporting. Berger started razor clamming when he moved to Washington after graduating from college. Answering the many questions generated about razor clam lore, history, and biology led to writing the book, Razor Clams: Buried Treasure of the Pacific Northwest, published in fall 2017. David was on the Humanities Washington Speaker’s Bureau roster a few years ago, and he has offered his talk about “Razor Clams” all across Washington state. In today’s program, David brings us an updated version of this history of Razor Clams—a source of food, commerce, and tribal identity—and a lesson in shellfish treaty rights. This historic bivalve has become such a passion-project, that the author is working with a group to make the razor clam the state clam: http://projectrazorclam.org/ Links: To learn more about the author: http://razorclams.net/ To learn more about tribal shellfish rights: https://www.humanities.org/blog/these-treaties-mean-something/ For more information about clamming from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams

Thank you for your interest in this Saturday Speaker Series presentation! We hope you enjoyed this informative discussion with Ross Reynolds and will consider joining us for future events. Please note the Redmond Historical Society does not hold a recording of this program. However, an earlier recording of “How Audio Technology Changed the World” with Humanities Washington speaker and broadcaster Ross Reynold’s is currently available through Town Hall Seattle at https://townhallseattle.org/event/ross-reynolds/ You may also view some of Ross Reynolds's future engagements and the full schedule of Humanities Washington Programs at https://www.humanities.org/events/. Please read below for additional resources. Description: Although we live in a visual world, audio still has the power to create intimacy and spark the imagination like no other medium can. Join us on October 8 as veteran broadcaster Ross Reynolds explores the impact that audio transmission has had on society and storytelling, beginning with the first century of radio up to the modern age of audiobooks, internet streaming, podcasts, and smart speakers. How has audio transmission changed society, and what makes it such a still powerful form of communication? Attendees will be encouraged to share stories of their formative audio experiences, and local radio broadcasters and podcasters will be invited to share their stories. Speaker bio: Ross Reynolds (he/him) joins us courtesy of Humanities Washington. He is an interviewer, moderator, and convener. He recently served as KUOW’s executive producer for community engagement, before which he was a program host for 16 years. His awards include the 2011 Public Radio News Directors First Place in the call-in category for Living in a White City. In 2015, he was named to the University of Washington Communication Alumni Hall of Fame. Recommended Reading A Tower in Babel: A History of Broadcasting in the United States to 1933, Erik Barnouw. Oxford University Press, 1966. The Medium Is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects (1st ed.), Marshall McLuhan with Quentin Fiore, produced by Jerome Agel. Random House, 1967. The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media, Brook Gladstone, Josh Neufield. W.W. Norton & Company, 2011. Merchants of Truth: The Business of News and the Fight for Facts, Jill Abramson. Simon & Schuster, 2019.

By Paige Norman Karen Snepp’s family hails from Indiana, where Karen spent her early childhood years before moving to Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Following her college years at Purdue and Northwestern, she started her career in marketing research with the Carnation company in Los Angeles, California. After her brother, Dave, settled in Washington state to work for Boeing, she visited several times and fell in love with the nature and beauty, moving here in 1999; making her home on Education Hill. Her brother’s death in 1988 changed the course of the family’s life as Karen turned to The Compassionate Friends, a group dedicated to providing “comfort, hope and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild.” Her association with The Compassionate Friends progressed from member board member, before taking a board position at the TCF Foundation. She remains as a Trustee on the Foundation to this date. Deciding she wanted to spend quality time with her parents, Karl M. and Suzanne “Sue” (Lowe) Snepp, she retired early to travel extensively with them before their deaths. During their last years together, she worked with them to sort through the family’s historical collections including photos, documents, and other artifacts; her aim now is finding homes for the family collection and distributing grants from her parents’ estates. Continuing to ensure her family’s history has a home, she remains in contact with many historical and genealogical societies, especially in the Indiana area. Some of the collections she has donated can be found at Indiana Memory. She has volunteered in the past at Redmond Historical Society, working with Collections Committee members Libbi Wright and Halee Turner, Collections Manager Jlean McDonald, and Administration Manager Laura Lee Bennett. Awarded her Lifetime Membership certificate in March, 2022, she notes she joined as a Lifetime Member because “she has always loved history and is very pleased with the Redmond Historical Society and its way of telling local history stories.” Redmond Historical Society is pleased to have Karen Snepp as a Lifetime Member; we celebrate her dedication to keeping history alive. https://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_4345e533-a9b8-53a6-b97c-4198ff4b260f.html https://archives.lib.purdue.edu/repositories/2/accessions/2156 https://www.compassionatefriends.org/adults-grieving-death-sibling/