History is Happening in Redmond!

The Redmond Recorder

September 2007 Vol. 9, No. 7
Redmond Historical Society
Our mission:
To discover, recover, preserve, share and celebrate Redmond’s history

16600 NE 80th St, Room 106, Redmond, WA 98052 425-885-2919

www.redmondhistory.org [email protected]
Office hours: Monday-Friday 1-5pm, and by appointment

President’s Corner Bella Bottega’s Farming Past

It was a Sunday afternoon Sept. meeting speakers: Duniel and Sylvia Murillo
in August and the invitation
read, “30s and 40s reunion
picnic” for neighbors of the
Stray farm. I was surprised to
be invited since I came from
the other side of the hill (and
not to mention the dates) but I
knew this would be a golden
opportunity to meet
descendants of the folks who
settled this area of Redmond
around the turn of the 20th
century.
The last time a reunion
picnic was held on the Stray
family farm was back in 2002.
When Fred Stray suggested Murillo family collection
they have another picnic, his
sister Anne Stray Salmi Tommy Murillo tends his field with Redmond-Woodinvlle Road behind
answered, “Sure. We have lots him. Today, apartments and the Bella Bottega shopping center sit
of room, but you do it.” So where the 20-acre Murillo family farm was. The house to the right of
Fred got busy and pulled off him belonged to Flo and Irene Murillo. The building behind Tommy is
a garage that Irene used as a summer produce shed.
another picnic. (By the way,
Fred and Fran Stray along
with barbecuers Cheryl and Join us Sept. 8th for photos and memories of the Sammamish
Gene Magnuson, were kind Valley -- especially the area of today’s Bella Bottega shops and
enough to volunteer their time movie theater -- when farming, not films, was the big deal. Duniel
to help host the Society’s and Sylvia Murillo will share their family’s farming history, which
picnic this past June). started with Sylvia’s parents, Sally and Tommy Murillo.
Well, I wasn’t disappointed. The Murillo family is also part of the valley’s Filipino heritage.
Besides meeting some folks, From the early 1930s, a close-knit Filipino farming community was
perched on Education Hill’s bluff above what today is Bella Bottega.
Continued on Page 2
The meeting begins at 10.30 a.m. at the Redmond Library.
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History is Happening in Redmond!

General Meetings President’s Corner

Second Saturday of the month
continued from Page 1
Sept. 8 at 10.30 a.m. at the
Redmond Library
Oct. 13, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. at the
Old Redmond Schoolhouse
Community Center at 16600 NE
80th St.
_______________________

2007 Executive Board

Judy Lang, President
Naomi Hardy, VP
Miguel Llanos, VP
Joanne Westlund, Treasurer
Margaret Wiese,
Corresponding Secretary
Beryl Standley,
Recording Secretary

Board of Directors
Terri Gordon
Chris Himes
Tom Hitzroth
Jon Magnussen
Amo Marr
Doris Schaible Long-time neighbors at the Stray picnic included, in front row, left to
Patti Simpson Ward right: Inga Carlson, Thelma Benson and Ann Gisle. Top row: Anne
Stray Salmi and Arlyn Vallene.
Office Manager
Beryl Standley

Attorney and seeing this wonderful old farm with lots of outbuildings and a unique
Charles Diesen barn, I got to listen in on the stories. Arne Stray, who seems to remember
everyone, was busy catching up with Tom Hanks, whose grandfather Olaf
Our finances are public record and
Hanks carried mail on horseback in Redmond.
may be viewed at the office.
Two families that go way back to the early 1900s were there. Inga
Kristianson Carlson came with her two nieces and Dennis Gisle brought
Free Newsletter his mom Ann.
If you’re not already a subscriber,
The Gisle family purchased their farm that borders the Strays’ from the
please sign up. Call our office at
425-885-2919 or send e-mail to Stensland family. To this day the original plank cabin built by the Stenslands
[email protected]. Just state your still sits on the property. Thora Gisle Johnson, who was born in the cabin
preference: e-mail or US Mail. (If and no longer lives on the farm, has decided that the cabin should be
either works, please sign up for e- preserved and moved to a site in Redmond for all to enjoy and learn about
mail as it’s cheaper for the City and
how our pioneers actually lived. Toward this worthwhile goal, Anne Salmi
photos show up better online.)
has been in contact with the Redmond Parks Department. Let’s hope they
Major Sponsors take the offer. If they do we all might have to pitch in some muscle, money
and ingenuity to get this piece of history preserved and moved.
More stories to be told at our Sept. 8th meeting held at the Redmond
Library, 10:30 AM. Hope to see you there.

Judy Aries Lang

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Derby Days Highlights Time Capsule

The Old Redmond
Schoolhouse is now guarding a
time capsule! Facilities manager
Phyllis Blower says it’s between
the auditorium kitchen and main
hallway. “We don't know how
long the items will survive,” she
says. “We are just trying to
preserve a little recreation
history for posterity!”
The items include a baseball,
cell phone, 2006 coins, a
Newsweek magazine, a City
recreation guide, a "Homes for
Sale" magazine, photos and
comments of park staff, a
Redmond Reporter newspaper,
and a grocery insert.

Audrey’s Award
Audrey Gorlick’s close
friend Linda Hussey writes that
“I received a call … from the
Redmond Senior Center that
Off we go to the parade they had an envelope of an
(top); the Gordons rode award for Audrey, so … I picked
their horses, while Nao it up and delivered it. It was
Hardy and John Couch THE PRESIDENT'S (yes, of the
cleaned up behind them United States) VOLUNTEER
(center). And the Perrigo SERVICE AWARD, presented
clan built a Trading Post by the President's Council on
replica as a float (right). Service and Civic Participation
Photos by John Davies for Audrey's commitment to
volunteerism. She received a
certificate and a silver pin.”

Perrigo Anniversary
Society’s Annual Picnic “The Perrigo Family is
celebrating 130 years, 1877-
Our thanks to
2007, in what is now known as
Cheryl and Gene
Magnuson, left, Redmond,” Cheri Perrigo wrote
who set up and to tell us. 169 Perrigos, and their
barbecued. Nao float, attended Derby Days and
Hardy, later had their reunion at Perrigo
granddaughter
Ella and others Park. The Seattle Times’ Sherry
take in the Grindeland even wrote about
accordion music the events. Go to
by Dave seattletimes.com and search for
Murawski.
Perrigo.

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Lifetime Tribute Thank yous

Derby Days 2007 was special
Madeleine Hagen honored
the memory of her late husband,
thanks to these folks.
Ed Hagen, by joining the
Society as a lifetime member. Natalie Hardy Hanson, who
Madeleine has fond memories organized our part of the kids
of their trips to T&D Feeds for parade and gave the Society
supplies, coffee and chats great credit over the PA system.
with folks like the Lampaerts
and manager Tom Bauer. Butch Kent, who once again
Madeleine writes: brought his vintage fire truck
“Edward ‘Ed’ Hagen was raised in the Seattle Greenlake area. After retiring and school bus for us to ride in.
in 1970 from the Seattle Police Department, we made our home near the
Redmond-Fall City Highway … Having a few farm animals and a large garden, Diantha Janus, for driving the
Ed also worked with his hands as a finish carpenter on our home and in sailing fire truck!
on Puget Sound. His life was cut short at age 50, leaving many unfulfilled
wishes. Dave Harder, who drove his
“I continued working part-time, moving to Bellevue and just recently retired. pony-pulled "marriage
… Donating to the Redmond Historical Society as a lifetime member is a carriage."
gratifying way to honor my husband’s memory, and helps keep history alive.”
Terri and John Gordon and
daughter Erin McGowen, who
rode the only horses in the
History Before & After parade.
Society member
Society
Joe Townsend helps Katie Olson and friend, who
the Society by carried our banner to lead off
restoring photos our group.
damaged over time.
He can take a Pied Piper Jerry Torell, who
damaged photo, entertained us with his flute and
make a digital copy green costume – exactly as he
and then fix it using did in 1970!
special software.
Take a look at these "Pooper scoopers" John Couch
before and after and Nao Hardy, who had a job
photos. to do and did it well. They stole
For more the show by cleaning up after
examples, check out the horses!
Joe’s Web site at
www.jjtownsend.com The Perrigo clan, for their
wonderful parade float.
From the Bob Martin
collection: Mark The Singing Mayors,
Johnson, left, and Rosemarie Ives and Chris
Henry Johnson (no Himes, who sang happy 95th
relation) sit on the birthday to the City --
running board of
early automobile. accompanied by John Couch
and his ukulele.

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History is Happening in Redmond!
Order Redmond Reflections
Lucille B. Hansen Bellings Also available for purchase
at the Redmond Library
Tom Hansen notified us that his mother, Lucille B.
Hansen Bellings, a Redmond resident since 1944, died on
April 6 at the age of 94. He provided a wonderful
biography we’d like to share:

“Mom was born in Seattle on Jan. 8, 1913, later

graduating from Lincoln High in 1931, also meeting
her future husband Wayne Hansen, graduating in
1932.
“My folks moved into the old Weber house at
Weber’s Point on East Lake Sammamish Road. They
became members of the Happy Valley Grange, where We ship free for members, so if you
mother put together with volunteer help the first haven’t joined or renewed, there’s a
Derby float of the Grange mounted on a wicker baby form on the back that you can send
buggy that my younger sister Christine used to in with the book order form below!
occupy. The theme was “The Old Woman in the
Shoe.” Being a part time seamstress, she made Price: $21.78 ($20.00 plus $1.78 sales tax)
costumes for the PTA Circus. Over the years, my
sister, myself and even my Dad participated in the Non-members, please add postage:
yearly event. $3 for 1 book, $5 for 2 books, $8 for 3
“Lucille Hansen became a Girl Scout leader, or more books
working with Rose Weiss … teaching the girls
camping skills. She also sold Beauty Counselor
makeup and products by referral out of one of the
family’s used cars. Sewing was a strong interest, Your Name
remaking clothes for her family and doing alterations
Phone number
for women in the Redmond area.
“Mom was a housewife, keeping all things going Number of books ordered
while dad commuted to work 50 miles a day to
Seattle. Two of her minor contributions were bringing Amount enclosed
milk delivery to East Lake Sammamish … Also, ten-
party line phone service was lacking, and she kept an Send book(s) to:
account for over two months and presented it at a
public meeting about phone service in Kirkland. ______________________
Name
“My Dad died of a heart attack in May of 1962. I
had left home and my sister was about to graduate
from Lake Washington High. Mom took a job a Address
Redmond Floors, also building a small house on the
back of the farmhouse property. … She married ______________________________
City/State/Zip
Chuck Billings in 1978, living up on Education Hill.
In December of 1983 Chuck died. Mom stayed on in
his house, fixing and improving it until her bad fall in Mail completed form and check or money
September 2006, knocking herself out. After nine days order to:
in the hospital and six months in a good nursing home, Redmond Historical Society / Book order
she died in her sleep. She is buried in Cedar Lawn 16600 NE 80th -- Room 106
Cemetery, Redmond, next to Dad.” Redmond, WA 98052

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History is Happening in Redmond!

Medical Center Delivers Kids Parade

Around 1,000 children turned out for the 2007 Derby Days
Kids Parade organized, as it has since 1989, by the Redmond
Medical Center. That’s more than any other kids parade at a
SEAFAIR event this year, notes co-organizer Jody Norwood.
“This was one of the best turn outs in the kids parade history,”
she adds. Each child got a water bottle from Evergreen
Healthcare; goodies from each sponsor group; $2 for wearing a
helmet (from Kempf and Co. and Clark Raymond and Company);
and a birthday party favor of a decorative bicycle spoke from the
City of Redmond.
Some 75 volunteers helped out, most from the medical center.
In addition, its tenants (see redmondmedicalcenter.com for
listing) helped fund the event.
Redmond Medical Center

Join the Redmond Historical Society

Please pay 2007 dues ASAP!!
And help discover, recover, preserve, share and celebrate Redmond’s history!

Levels of Membership Please make checks payable to:

(Check 1 only) Redmond Historical Society
‫ٱ‬ Trailblazer (Student).................. $ 5.00
‫ٱ‬ Pioneer (Individual)................ $ 20.00 Mail To:
‫ٱ‬ Homesteader (Family) ............ $ 35.00 Redmond Historical Society
‫ٱ‬ Entrepreneur (Supporter)...... $ 200.00 Attn: Membership
‫ٱ‬ Corporate (Business) ............ $ 250.00 ORSCC, Room 106
‫ٱ‬ History Maker (Lifetime) .. $ 1,000.00 16600 NE 80th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
All Contributions are Tax Deductible

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