UPDATED, PART ONE: RHS 25th Anniversary Celebration / John Oftebro

 

Redmond Historical Society 25th Anniversary Celebration in the new Senior & Community Center

President John Oftebro of the Redmond Historical Society (RHS) did a fabulous job producing, directing and emceeing the Redmond Historical Society 25th Anniversary Celebration and Social.  Over 120 attended.  The event was held on Saturday, October 28 at the new Redmond Senior and Community Center.  John's an excellent fund-raiser and superlative jack-of-all trades.  

Laura-Lee Bennett, the Executive V.P. oversaw the event.  RHS Co-founder Miguel Llanos flew up from Los Angeles and gave a 30-minute interactive slide show.  John Couch, Redmond's Park & Rec. Director of 30 years dressed-up as Mayor Bill Brown. Chris "Hurricane" Himes, Redmond's first Strong Mayor gave a charming, short speech. Former Mayor Rosemary Ives was on Block Island attending to her family.  

Board member Deborah Oftebro assembled lead-members to work the coffee cake and cookie table: Judy Lang, Jo Ann Potter, Deb Akerstrom and a Morelli?  My wife Pam and I got to sit with good friends, John Reinke, Gary Smith and Terry Lavender. John Reinke gave the entire audience a holler as he sang along.  

Photo and story by Yoder

9/29/2024

UPDATED 10/20/24: Miguel Llanos, Redmond Historical Society / 25th Anniversary Celebration

Miguel Llanos

Miguel Llanos is seen orchestrating a "Redmond Historical Society (RHS) Speaker series" event / photo Yoder

I first met Miguel Llanos during the 2008 Perrigo Woodland (Ashford) Trail neighborhood demonstration march through the Perrigo Heights preliminary plat to save its woodlands from development. Council was inspecting the safety of the 40% steep slope sewer line at the time. Miguel set up an exhibit to educate citizens on the history of the woodlands.  

Llanos is an extraordinary Redmond community member.  Among his many roles, he was a co-founder of the Redmond Historical Society, editor of the Redmond Recorder newsletter, a commissioner of Redmond's Landmarks and Heritage Commission, on the Design Review Board, and the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.  He played a big part in the founding of the Redmond Library. 

Miguel was sworn into the Landmarks and Heritage Commission after Rep. Ross Hunter's Town Hall meeting.  The commission meets when an owner of one of the 16 properties listed as historic by the city wants to make a change. or when a property owner wants to have their property added to list.

Miguel was a strong advocate for preserving Old Town and its 2-block row of historic "Perrigo Plat" Craftsman bungalow houses on 164th Street.  The old Brown Bag Cafe bungalow on 164th was once owned by long-time Mayor Bill Brown (1913-1948) and did not meet the commission's historic criteria.  [Same for the E.A. Walcher House, a 112+ year Craftsman-style bungalow on 8117-166th Ave. NE, also once owned by Bill Brown.]

Miguel currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.  He's in town for the Redmond Historical Society's 25th Anniversary Celebration and Social where he will give a 30-minute slide show. The Redmond Historical Society President John Oftebro did a fabulous job emceeing and directing the event.  

Approximately 100 attended the event, including the first full-time Mayor Chris Himes and John Couch, Parks and Rec. Director of 30 years.  Couch dressed up as Mayor Brown. Hilarious!   

Bob Yoder

Updated 9/27/2024, Updated 10/20/2024

See a Video of city attorney Jim Haney swearing in Miguel to the Landmarks & Heritage Commission. 🙂 

Historical Society's Walking Tour App Debut

The Redmond Historical Society recently launched its "Steps in Time" mobile App. The App  gives a walking tour of Redmond's landmark buildings, its cemetery, and other places of Redmond history.  Historian Tom Hitzroth created the guide and gives customized walking tours on a regular basis.  Register here.

The launch event was creative and fun, featuring costumed society members, interesting stories by Hitzroth, and youth coloring programs.  

Redmond Historical Society senior V.P. Mary Hanson coined the App "Steps in Time"

Richard Morris is the society webmaster

 

RHS President Joe Townsend's notebook page 

Historian Tom Hitzroth tells his story - don't miss it!

https://youtu.be/axFaj2aFsmI

John Tosh Homestead, by Hitzroth

https://youtu.be/gWnK_0fxSVY  

 Miguel Llanos, co-founder of Redmond Historical
Society and Redmond's friendliest cop.  

The costumes were donated by A Masquerade Costume  and bags to carry home literature and small gifts donated by city businesses. 

Posted by Yoder, March 2017, Edited 5/20/2024

Redmond Historical Society "Hero Award" Recipients

History Hero Awards 2006-2014

Over the past five years the Society has given 5 "History Hero" awards to people in the community who are making a contribution to preserving and sharing history in Redmond. Here is a list of this years' and past years' recipients of the award: 

2001    Tom Fix. City of Redmond

2001    Dale Potter, Member & volunteer

2001    William "Billy" Dale Tibbits

2006    Rosemarie Ives, then Mayor of Redmond

2007    Charles Payton, then Director of King County's Heritage Division

2008    Dianna Brodie, then City Planner, City of Redmond

2009    Randy and Stephanie Reeves and Paul and Patty Gordon, owners of the Stone House

2010    Brad Best, owner Brad Best Reality

2011    John Couch, Former Redmond Parks Director of 30 years.

2012    Naomi and Jerry Hardy, RHS Co-founder, Historian; Jerry’s support

2012    Richard Morris, Webmaster, 2008 to 2013

2013    Gene and Cheryl Magnuson, society photographer and exhibit designers

2014    Miguel Llanos, co-founder and Newsletter editor for 16 years

We thank all the award winners for helping the Redmond Historical Society's mission of ensuring our History for future generations.

   -- The above article was found on the Redmond Historical Society web site: redmondhistoricalsociety.org

My Notes & Comments:

Tom Fix played a key role during the installation of the Perrigo Springs historical marker

Rosemarie Ives:  I've had long phone talks with Rosemarie over the years for one reason or the other. It's a bit challenging to put a word in.   Rosemarie probably knows more current city "history"  than any member of the Redmond Historical Society, but I feel she's frustrated because she doesn't seem to have an outlet.  Hopefully, the Society will  someday embrace her and record more of her knowledge and experiences.  A podcast would be nice.  Perhaps the society could fund a biography.

Redmond Historical Society member photo of first meeting in 1999.

1999 Redmond Historical Society holds its first meeting at the Redmond Library with 22 in attendance. Founders are Miguel Llanos (far right in front), Margaret Evers Wiese (fifth from left), and Naomi Hardy (center right in front)

Updated: Council Studies Plan To Rejuvenate Old Town District

Pho Restaurant, 2011 - an historic hotel/ photo Yoder

2013: The need for higher and better purposes for the Old Town Downtown neighborhood were discussed at a September city council/mayoral study session.

Leary Way is at the heart of Old Town which is delineated by Cleveland Street, Redmond Way to Gilman and 164th Avenue. Sixteen landmark buildings, 40 years and older, occupy this historic district.     David Scott Meade, Chair of Redmond's Design Review Board, commented on Leary Way at the Council meeting, as follows:

"We are working on new guidelines and standards. I'd like to wrap my arms around the historic district and create an envelope of landscaping, hanging pots, street furniture, paving scapes, and opportunities to promote the businesses and structures that exist here now. I'd like to see a higher and better purposes so we can enjoy them for the next 100 years."  

Miguel Llanos, Landmarks Commissioner said  "There's a Master Plan for the Downtown Park but not for Old Town. Old Town is a vibrant district that uses it's history to make it different from the rest of Redmond and other parts of the Eastside." Miguel ran down a list of Old Town signature historic buildings contributing energy to the downtown core: The Matador, Redmond Sports Bar, Half Price Books, Brown's Garage Liquor Store.

Miguel suggested a guided tour of the vacant second floor of the Pho Restaurant  on Leary- once an historic hotel. "We need to reach out to Old Town tenants and landowners, like the Nelsons", said Miguel, to help rehabilitate the core.  Graffiti is tagged on the metal siding.  The Pho Restaurant building has a new owner and he may be more amenable to removing the metal siding (10/8/13 Council Meeting).   

David Scott Meade agreed that something is needed to be done with the metal siding on the Pho Restaurant and to save, improve, and enhance the Old Town structures, in general. He recommended applying transfer development rights as bargaining chips to trade for improvements. "Incentives are needed now before things change," said Meade, "Leary is the heart of what Redmond is and, as Miguel notes, and we need to be more proactive."

"A Master Plan is needed before Old Town gets overwhelmed," said Llanos.

-- Bob Yoder, 9/2011, Updated 9/2013

Without a Master Plan Old Town rapidly deteriorated.  Leary Way is now the home of a crime-ridden "pot shop," a vape store and crazy utility box art. Two other pot shops are located in Old Town.  Panhandlers hang out.  And an 8-story residential building will wall off the north-end of Leary and plug the historic district. However, Palmers and the RBG offer flowered curbside dining and deck out the holidays with colorful lights. Development of the gas station is still up in the air and providing scarce parking space. 

Redmond Landmarks Commission asks Council to recognize LWSD "History Day" winners

The Redmond Landmarks Commission met with City Council for their first time in a September 11 Work Session, for the most part, to discuss initiating a master plan for the "Old Town."  

At the meeting Tom Hitzroth, Chair of the Landmarks Committee, reminded Council of "National History Day" Competitions.  He announced that half of the entrants to North Puget Sound National History Day came from Lake Washington School District.  Twelve of the LWSD entrants went onto the State finals in May and three went onto the June, 2012 National finals held in Maryland to win awards.

Students work all year submitting papers, exhibits, documentaries, and even performances which are judged in March the N. Puget Sound History Day Competition.   Hitzroth sits on the judge's panel. 

Owing to the wide enthusiasm for history in LWSD, Hitzroth suggested a "Redmond Category" be  created to foster a competition between West and East LWSD students.  He felt LWSD students should be recognized in some way- perhaps by Council - at the regional, state, and national level. 

Council President Pat Vache' agreed and suggested recognition for the national winners was certainly appropriate in Redmond's Centennial Year.  Councilman Hank Margeson concurred adding that more emphasis should be placed on Redmond's native American history.  Will LWSD and the School Board take a leadership roll to extend the competition intra-district? 

Tom Hitzroth noted that Leary Way is three feet higher than it used to be and during redevelopment of Old Town, care should be taken by workers to recover any artifacts.

Reported by Bob Yoder

"Lodging Tax Advisory Committee" Stimulates Tourism

The community role of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) might be described as a business tourism alliance to "increase heads and beds."  It's funded by a 1% sales tax on participating hotels. 

Dan Angular, General Manager of the Redmond Marriott of Redmond Town Center said LTAC brings Redmond Chambers, Realize Redmond, and Redmond Economic Development Alliance (REDA) together to stimulate tourism.  

Over $337,300 was raised by the LTAC last year from a 1% hotel tax. So far, 50% of the tax revenue pays "Bullseye Creative" to rebrand the "Realize Redmond" website e.g. "Paint the Town" tag was removed. $31,365 pays promoting private and city sponsored events. Councilmember John Stilin recommended allocating more funds towards the events to attract more people and less emphasis on the website. 

East Redmond Park & Trail Corridor Plan

Eastern Corridor Park Property Master Plan - "String of Pearls"

The City of Redmond Parks and Recreation recently held its first of two community workshops on our Eastern Corridor of parks and trails. Linkage of five creek-lined, parks with trails and ideas for "best uses" were discussed. Parks planner, Linda Frkuska facilitated the meeting stating: "This collection of Parks is a tremendous asset to Redmond and we want to make sure we are shaping them for the people that will use and enjoy them.". The Eastern Corridor parks, from north to south, are Juel Community Park, Ferrel-McWhirter, Conrad Olson, Perrigo and Arthur Johnson. Approximately 20 citizens attended, including councilmembers Nancy McCormick and briefly, Hank Margeson. Hank was past Vice-chair of the Parks Commission. Hank's family enjoys the Pony Club at Ferrel-McWhirter and soccer fields at Perrigo. Three citizen interest groups were noticeably present:

• Equestrian interests - horse trails at Juel and Perrigo; preference for soft trails; a covered arena at Farrel-McWhirter; signage to warn mountain bikers near the Avondale-PS trail.
• Bear and Evans Creek natural area interests - pervious, narrower trails; attention to the preserving the natural environment; environmental education; trail location & best use.
• Sports interests - Cricket use of Juel Park. Disc golf at Juel. Mountain biking clubs did not attend.

Guy Mikelson, a Seattle consultant of Berger Partnership, led discussion by suggesting three themes for the eastern corridor: 1) history, 2) environmental, 3) "linear arboretum" . Bear and Evans Creek riparian habitat touches all five parks and is the signature piece connecting all parks. Historical buildings add interest and possible uses by "artists in residence" and heritage exhibits.

Miguel Llanos, Redmond Historical Vice President, recommended signage along the future connecting trail to explain the area’s natural (salmon and other wildlife) and human (Native Americans, loggers, farmers) heritage. He suggested the historic Conrad Olsen barn, Juel house and Perrigo Park barn as possible locations for heritage displays and a quasi-museum.

Citizens having interests in using this corridor should contact the Parks Commission or a staff. A final meeting will be held on Thursday, June 5th, 7pm, Old Redmond School House Community Center. Public is invited.  

-- Bob Yoder & Richard Morris, Education Hill neighborhood

Historical Society "Saturday Speaker Series" Program, Brief History

Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center houses
   the Speaker Series venue and society museum 

For those citizens lucky enough to sit in on a Redmond Historical Society (RHS) Saturday Speaker Series event they might describe their experience "an awakening" to the treasure trove of Redmond history and now current events.   

You don't just see lots of brown & white stills at Series events these days. Years ago, Redmond Historical Society's co-founder Miguel Llanos weaved a rich fabric of multi-media into the Series. Today, its a mix of live and remote presentations and published on YouTube. Miguel also played a significant role in writing and editing the society newsletter with honorable co-founders Naomi Hardy and Margaret Wiese.

Some past speaker topics: the turkey farming industry and moonshine operations; Nike rocket launching; Evergreen Hospital Chair Al DeYoung's story on his lumber business; Ben Franklin owners' story; retired Park and Recreation Director John Couch's description of his Recreation role; David William's "Human and Natural History of Puget Sound book"; and a recent "Redmond Space District" talk.  

 Zesty "Nao" Hardy built a solid foundation for the society recording detailed history on the website, compiling and editing "Redmond Reflections" (2006.) I think she co-founded the Series.  Nao coined the phase "History is happening In Redmond" -- a great motivation for me.  Mayor Marchione  recognized her contributions with a tiny park and kiosk on the corner of Leary and Redmond Way.

It's my understanding Joe Townsend started the Saturday Speaker Series and John Oftebro, the current President of RHS and Executive Vice President Laura Lee Bennett are continuing the tradition.  John re-developed Redmond's museum and is moving the society to Redmond's new Senior & Community Center.  

Background:

Mayor Rosemary Ives cum laude, and Judy Lang played big roles in founding the society, as did Mayor Chris Himes (1980 - 1984.) John Couch, 30-year Park and Recreation Director is doing  invaluable work digitalizing the "Sammamish Valley News." I like to remember Doris Scheibel, Chair of RHS Community Relations; known for her work as City Clerk to four Redmond mayors,1969-1995. She once told me I complained so much, I should run for council. 

-- Story / photo Bob Yoder, 3/29/2007, edited 5/20/2024