Historic Preservation
PRESS RELEASE:
The Highline Historical Society, in partnership with Burien Little Theatre, presents Chautauqua actress Joan Wolfberg in "Golda Meir: From Pogrom to Prime Minister" on January 22, 2 PM, at the Burien Little Theatre, 425 S.W. 144th St.
As a child, Golda Meir, knowing the fear of pogroms in Russia, dreamed of a homeland for her people in Palestine. Her dream became a reality in 1921.
Golda's continued commitment to her land and to her people was the paragon of human dedication. Her complete involvement, tempered with love, fired by fierce devotion, and a wonderful sense of humor, caused the world to know that she was a true mover of mountains.
Joan Wolfberg, as Golda, takes the audience from the pogroms of Russia, to Milwaukee, to Denver, to Palestine...and finally to "life in state of our own"...Israel...as Prime Minister.
At the end of this program, Wolfberg will stays n character and answer questions posed to her about Golda, and her life.
Nostalgic about the “good old days” of school and youth sports in the Highline area?
Then the Highline Historical Society has a free program for you on Sunday, Nov. 20 at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S. 188th St.
From 2-4 p.m., a special panel will reminisce about Highline sports.
Panelists include retired Tyee baseball coach Walt Edmiston, former Tyee girls swimming coach Kaija Lietuvietis, church-league basketball writer Phyllis Mitchell and Highline Little League coach Gordon Shaw.
Former Highline School District Superintendent Kent Matheson will moderate.
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By Michael Miller
On a recent visit to the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle I was saddened to see that yet another landmark has disappeared. The Totem House, Seafood and Chowder, Family recipes since 1948, has given up the fight leaving a note on their door stating,
“Goodbye friends, the economy has overtaken us, we will miss you greatly!”
Four people signed the note.
It seems to me that more and more funky sites are morphing into condominiums, apartment houses and most unbelievably into - out of state banks bearing names foreign to the local tongue. Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase Manhattan Bank have replaced Peoples Bank, Rainer Bank and Seattle First National Bank, all absorbed by these and other larger institutions.
Photo credit:
Photo by Michael Miller
Lifetime Ballard resident Allan Wenzel has always been interested in history, so when the old-timers near his family's summer home on Lake Cavanaugh would tell him stories about the history of the lake and nearby Alpine Village, Wenzel would listen.
Now, decades later, Wenzel has used those old-timers' first-hand accounts as the springboard for his newest book, "Alpine on the Lake: A History of the People of Lake Cavanaugh and Alpine Village," the first book ever written on the history of that little-known area in Skagit County.
The book is a history of the people who were associated with the lake and village during the first period of its settlement, 1890 to 1910.
Since he was a baby, Wenzel was captivated by Lake Cavanaugh, which is situated a mile above sea level with mountains on all sides. In the summer, the surface of the water can reach 83 degrees, and in the winter, the one-mile-wide, three-miles-long lake can completely freeze over.
"It's very picturesque," Wenzel said.
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Photo credit:
Courtesy of Allan Wenzel
Event Planned at Rotary Viewpoint Park for 5 pm
The public is invited to join the Rotary Club of West Seattle as they celebrate the return and rededication of West Seattle’s beloved Totem Pole on Tuesday August 10 at 5:00pm.
The totem was recently refurbished and re-installed at The Rotary Viewpoint Park on 35th and Alaska SW. In attendance will be the original carver Robin Young, Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribal Chairperson and other dignitaries.
After the ceremony, everyone attending is invited to join the Rotary Club at the West Seattle Golf Course Fox Den Grille.
Refreshments will be available for purchase.
For more information, please contact Shirley Clough at s.clough@comcast.net or 206-293-2773.
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Photo credit:
Patrick Robinson
As part of the MOHAI Minute series, the Museum of History & Industry released a short video on Ballard's old Carnegie Library earlier this week.
The Carnegie Library was built in 1904 and was one of the first free public libraries, according to the video.
It became a part of the Seattle Public Library system when Ballard was annexed by the city in 1907.
The library, located at 2026 N.W. Market St., was built by Andrew Carnegie, and the community raised money to buy the property through business donations and the selling of library memberships.
The Carnegie Library, which now houses Carnegie's Restaurant, ended its career as a library in 1963.
The Museum of History & Industry, started in 1952 and located in Montlake, focuses on preserving, sharing and teaching the history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region and the nation.
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Photo credit:
Michael Harthorne
The election for members to the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 17 at Lagerquest & Morris, located at 5135 Ballard Ave. N.W.
Absentee voting is available through June 17 at noon at the Ballard Neighborhood Service Center, located at 5604 22nd Ave. N.W. Ballots are available there.
To vote in the election, either by absentee ballot or in person, you must be registered to vote in the district election.
Two seats on the seven-member Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board are currently up for election. Both open positions are two-year terms ending June 30, 2012.
There are two candidates for Position #1, which is reserved for district property owners:
- Richard Hiner, Hiner Architects, 5337 Ballard Ave. N.W.
- Robert Whaley, New York Fashion Academy, 5201 Ballard Ave. N.W.
There is one candidate for Position #2, which is reserved for district property owners or businesspersons:
- James Riggle, 5301 Leary Ave. N.W. (Olympic Athletic Club)
"Everything you need is here," Bryan Johnston said about his 3,500-square-foot, 98-year-old Ballard house. "There is a room for everything."
He isn't kidding.
There is the spacious living room and dining room, complete with fireplace and original woodwork. The sunroom that Bryan's wife Susan used while making calls for the 700 Club and now holds a half-played board game. A former bedroom with its own private stairwell to the kitchen so the children could eat without interrupting their parent's parties. Another former bedroom, now converted into a dressing room with tiered walk-in closet.
Add to the house's interior accommodations and surprises, the views of Puget Sound from second and third-floor balconies and a double lot-sized yard, and it becomes clear that Susan and Bryan Johnston's home isn't just any house.
"The moment you walk in, you feel something," Susan said.
In 1975, Bryan bought the house at 8344 32nd Ave. N.W. from his parents, who had purchased the house in 1943 when Bryan was 6 months old. In 1976, he started redoing the house.
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Photo credit:
Michael Harthorne
The nomination period for the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board elections ends at 5 p.m. on June 10.
There are two positions – one for a property owner or business person and one for a business owner – open this election cycle.
To nominate a candidate, the nominator and the nominee must be registered to vote in the district, and the nominee must also sign the nominating form.
Nominations for the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board should be submitted to Lagerquist & Morris, 5135 Ballard Ave. N.W.
Download the attached documents for more information and the nomination form.
As the 97-year-old, 133-foot schooner Adventuress waited to pass through the Ballard Locks May 12, its crew bellowed a collection of sea shanties to entertain those watching.
Adventuress' crew were making a last-ditch effort for a $100,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Partners in Preservation grant program.
The schooner is one of 25 sites in Puget Sound that is eligible for the grant. The winner is determined by online voting, which closes today.
Adventuress is owned by Sound Experience, a Puget Sound-based environmental and youth leadership nonprofit organization founded in 1989. More than 3,000 young people and adults are involved in Sound Experience each year.
Visit www.VotefortheBoat.com to vote for Adventuress and be entered to win a free sailing trip on the schooner.
Adventuress will be open for tours from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. tonight at South Lake Union's Center for Wooden Boats, located at 1010 Valley St.
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Photo credit:
Michael Harthorne
