Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

AG Ferguson to host public meeting Tuesday re the Fed's plan to sell Seattle's National Archives building and move the records to Missouri and California

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Seattle branch of the National Archives on Sand Point Way
Photo courtesy Archives.gov


Attorney General Bob Ferguson will host a remote public meeting on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, so the public can share their comments on plans by the federal government to sell Seattle’s National Archives building and move the records thousands of miles away.

The federal government did not hold any meetings of its own in the Pacific Northwest, and did not consult with state, local, or tribal leaders in the region prior to announcing its decision to sell the Archives facility.


One member of the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) recently said the sale would allow the Archives building to “become a part of the community, as opposed to what it is today.”
 

The office will record the public comments and forward them to the PBRB. Ferguson will also formally invite the PBRB members to attend the remote public hearing. The public meeting will be held via Zoom from 3:30pm to 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Zoom link:https://atg-wa.zoom.us/j/83852186385?pwd=amIvSHA4MHJJdzRVcDgzRSthQjdpQT09
Meeting ID: 838 5218 6385
Passcode: 426894
Phone: 253-215-8782, 838-521-863-85#
Find your local number:https://atg-wa.zoom.us/u/kBnoJrmI5
 
Individuals with questions about the meeting or looking to provide assistance with the case should use this form.
 
Cabinets are full of microfilm and microfiche records


On December 4, 2020 Ferguson announced that his office recently uncovered a dramatic change in the plan for the proposed sale of the National Archives building buried in a 74-page meeting minutes document from October. During the October meeting, the PBRB disclosed that it would move to immediately sell the Archives facility, along with a “portfolio” of other federal properties, in early 2021. It had planned on selling the properties individually over the next year.

Ferguson’s legal team is finalizing a lawsuit to stop the federal government from proceeding with an expedited sale of the National Archives facility in Seattle.

Additionally, Ferguson’s office already filed four lawsuits seeking access to public records about the PBRB’s decision. Judge Robert S. Lasnik of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington will preside over the four cases. On Dec. 10, Ferguson filed a motion for summary judgment in the records case against the PBRB.
 
In January, OMB approved a recommendation from the PBRB to sell the building on Sand Point Way in Seattle. 

The board’s recommendation included removing the contents of the Seattle archives and relocating them to facilities in Kansas City, Mo., and Riverside, Calif.
The Seattle archives contain many records essential to memorializing Washington’s history, including tens of thousands of records related to the Chinese Exclusion Act, records of the internment of Japanese Americans, and tribal and treaty records of federally recognized tribes throughout the Northwest.

Researchers, historians, genealogists and students routinely use these records.



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Saving the Archives: AG Ferguson leads a coalition of 40 tribes, states, and community organizations suing to keep the archives in Seattle

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

"Today I announced that our coalition of 40 tribes, states, and community organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court to save our National Archives and stop the federal government from scattering the DNA of our region more than 1,000 miles away." --AG Bob Ferguson

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that his office filed a lawsuit against the federal government for illegally proceeding with the sale of the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) building in Seattle. 

The government plans to ship the National Archives building’s irreplaceable, un-digitized records more than a thousand miles away to archive centers in Kansas City, Missouri and Riverside, California. 

This will effectively eliminate public access to the records. Twenty-nine federally recognized tribes, Alaskan tribal entities, and tribal communities from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, as well as nine community organizations, historical preservation societies and museums and the state of Oregon joined Ferguson’s lawsuit.

Tsimshean Child in Metlakahtla,
Alaska. Available at the National
Archives at Seattle 
The National Archives building in Seattle hosts exclusive and un-digitized tribal and treaty records, as well as Chinese Exclusion Act case files and records regarding the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. 

The records are invaluable resources for researchers, historians and individuals seeking information about their family history or heritage. 

For instance, tribal members use federal archive records to establish tribal membership, demonstrate and enforce tribal rights to fishing and other activities, trace their lineage and ancestry and access native school records. 

According NARA’s Seattle director, only “.001% of the facility’s 56,000 cubic feet of records are digitized and available online.”

“The Archives are critical partners in the conservation of our community’s history,” said Connie So, president of OCA Asian Pacific Advocates – Greater Seattle Chapter. 
“Most Chinese Americans left few records of their lives and history prior to 1950, making the Archive’s treasure trove of files related to the Chinese Exclusion Act all the more precious. 
"Once, when Seattle hosted the Association for Asian American Studies conference, we made a special trip to the Archives. People marveled at the fact that they could find information on relatives that they thought were long-lost. People shared poignant stories, especially when they discovered a photo of a family member.”
 
On Feb. 25, Ferguson sent a letter urging the federal government to reconsider the decision to move the records at the Archives. The letter details the regional historical significance of the records. At the same time, Ferguson sought public records related to the proposed sale. For nearly six months, the agencies refused to produce the public records. In fact, the PBRB demanded that taxpayers pay more than $65,000 for records redaction before producing them. In response to the agencies’ refusal to comply with Ferguson’s records request, Ferguson filed three Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits in August 2020 and a fourth in September.

After litigation commenced, the PBRB dropped its demand for $65,000. However, it is now requesting until March 31 to produce its responsive documents — a date by which the Archives building may have already been sold. In response, Ferguson filed a motion asking the court handling his FOIA lawsuits to accelerate the case schedule. To date, the four federal agencies have produced minimal records, and many of those were highly redacted. For example, a document provided by OMB noted “red flag objections” to the sale of the Seattle Archives facility, but OMB redacted the attachment listing these objections.

In October 2020, the PBRB decided that it would sell the Archives building in Seattle early this year as part of a bundled sale along with 11 other federal properties around the country. It buried the details of this dramatic decision deep in a 74-page document on its website from that meeting. 

The federal government did not inform any interested stakeholders of this decision, including tribal governments or the Attorney General’s Office — despite Ferguson’s letter, public records requests and FOIA lawsuits. The Attorney General’s Office only discovered it when an assistant attorney general happened across PBRB’s website in late November 2020 while conducting separate research. PBRB had previously planned on selling the properties individually over the next year.

Legal claims

Ferguson’s lawsuit asserts the National Archives building was never legally eligible for the PBRB’s accelerated sale process. The law granting the PBRB authority to sell these federal properties specifically excludes buildings used for “research in connection with federal agricultural, recreational or conservation programs.” The National Archives building is exempt from expedited sale by law because it is used for research in connection with federal agricultural, recreational and conservation programs. In other words, the Archives building legally never should have been included in the portfolio of buildings the federal government has put out for bid.

The lawsuit also alleges significant administrative procedural violations. For example, the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) failed to develop the standards, criteria and recommendations required by Congress. Additionally, the federal government failed to consult or coordinate with the tribal governments in violation of federal-tribal consultation law and policy.

Legal coalition

Twenty-nine tribes, the State of Oregon, and 9 community organizations are partnering with Ferguson’s office in bringing the case. They include:

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Confederated Tribes of the Coos
Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Doyon, Ltd.
Duwamish Tribe
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Hoh Indian Tribe
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
Kalispel Tribe of Indians
The Klamath Tribes
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
Nez Perce Tribe
Nooksack Indian Tribe
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Quileute Tribe of the Quileute Reservation
Quinault Indian Nation
Samish Indian Nation
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Skokomish Indian Tribe
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
Spokane Tribe of Indians
Squaxin Island Tribe
Suquamish Tribe
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Tanana Chiefs Conference
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
American Historical Association
Association of King County Historical Organizations
Historic Seattle
Chinese American Citizens Alliance
HistoryLink
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
OCA Asian Pacific Advocates – Greater Seattle Chapter
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Wing Luke Memorial Foundation
State of Oregon

Metlakahtla (Tsimshean) Children in
Metlakahtla, Alaska. Available at the
National Archives at Seattle
 
DNA of the region

The Seattle archives houses a significant collection of tribal and treaty records relating to the 272 federally recognized tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The archives contain original drafts of tribal treaties and original copies of correspondence from treaty negotiations during the mid-19th century.

Tribal members use federal archive records for many reasons, including to establish tribal membership, demonstrate and enforce tribal rights to fishing and other activities, trace their lineage and ancestry, and access native school records. If these historical records are removed from the Pacific Northwest, many tribal members will be prevented from exercising these important rights.

The federal government did not consult with Northwest tribal leaders before deciding to move these significant pieces of tribal history thousands of miles away from the Northwest, depriving local tribes of access to these critical historical documents.

More information here: 



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Register before noon Friday for presentation on the history of Playland

Friday, December 11, 2020

Playland photo courtesy Shoreline Historical Museum

Playland Program December 12, 2020 at 1:00pm

King County Library System and Friends of the Library Sponsor "Zoom" Presentation on the History of Playland!

"A Fairytale Called Playland: A History of the North End's Premier Amusement Park" will explore the ups and downs of Playland, the last "trolley park" to be built in America. Shoreline Historical Museum Director Vicki Stiles will reveal fascinating stories and photos that show just what it was like in the Bitter Lake area in the 1930s - 1950s.

Program starts at 1:00pm on Saturday December 12, 2020, click this link before noon on Friday December 11th to register at KCLS.


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AG Ferguson intends to file lawsuit against Trump Administration to prevent imminent sale of National Archives building in Seattle

Saturday, December 5, 2020

The Region X National Archives has been located on Sand Point Way in Seattle since 1963


Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that his office recently uncovered a dramatic change in the timeline for the proposed sale of the National Archives building in Seattle buried in a 74-page meeting minutes document from October. 

In it, the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) disclosed that it would move to immediately sell the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) building in Seattle, along with a “portfolio” of other federal properties, in early 2021. It had planned on selling the properties individually over the next year.

PBRB officials claimed COVID-19’s effects on the commercial real estate market justified the expedited, bundled sale.

An assistant attorney general recently discovered the plan listed simply as an “update” on the PBRB website. No officials from PBRB, the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) or the U.S. Department of Justice notified the Attorney General’s Office about the October decision.

Ferguson intends to file a lawsuit against the Trump Administration to stop it from proceeding with an expedited sale of the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) building in Seattle.

“The federal government is well aware of the intense public interest in the National Archives building,” Ferguson said. 
“Despite that, they chose to bury a dramatic change in the timeline for the sale. This is consistent with the utter lack of transparency demonstrated by the federal government since the start of this process. This is not how government should work.”

In light of the expedited sale schedule, Ferguson will also ask the court handling his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits against these agencies to expedite Washington’s motion for summary judgment, currently set for consideration in April 2021. 

The federal government has asked the court for permission to delay its response to Washington’s lawsuit until March — by which time it will have sold the building, according to the newly uncovered plans.

More information HERE



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HistoryLink: Mountlake Terrace incorporates on November 29, 1954

Monday, November 30, 2020

New Mountlake Terrace councilmembers H. Scott Wilson,
Harley McFarland, Gilbert Geiser, Lester Steele, Patricia Neibel,
November 1954. Photo courtesy City of Mountlake Terrace
Mountlake Terrace incorporates on November 29, 1954

By Phil Dougherty
Posted 3/18/2008
HistoryLink.org Essay 8531
https://historylink.org/File/8531

On November 29, 1954, Mountlake Terrace, located in south Snohomish County, formally incorporates, after a close vote approving incorporation the preceding week.

The fledgling city has mushroomed from a few scattered homes in 1949 to a tightly packed community with more than 5,000 residents in just five years.

A newly elected five-member city council names Gilbert "Gil" Geiser (1919-1987) acting mayor of the new city.

A Terrace, A Lake, and A Mountain

Mountlake Terrace can trace its beginnings to 1949, when the development team of Peterson-LaPierre, Inc., bought an abandoned airport just north of present-day 244th Street SW, between 60th and 61st avenues W (just east of today’s I-5). They found that the flat airport runway looked like a terrace, and that some parts of the property had views of both Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier. Thus Mountlake Terrace seemed like a natural name for what started out as a housing development.

Then the housing development grew in leaps and bounds. The economy was booming, and with World War II veterans starting families and settling down, there was a huge need for housing. Within five years the housing development had grown into a community that encompassed about one square mile covering an area between present-day 216th and 244th avenues SW and 48th and 68th avenues W.

Growing Pains

But although the number of houses and families in the new community boomed, the infrastructure needed to support them did not. People moving to Mountlake Terrace had to wait for a year to get a telephone -- and when they did they were on a 10-party line. There were no paved streets, and storm drains were open ditches. Police protection was provided by the sheriff’s office in Everett, 15 miles away.

Things finally came to a head one night in the summer of 1953 when someone tried to break into the home of Patrick McMahan (1930-2013), a Seattle firefighter who lived in Mountlake Terrace. The culprit was evidently scared off when he realized that McMahan’s wife, Beverly, was home. Beverly McMahan called the sheriff’s office. The sheriff did not respond until late the next afternoon. Patrick McMahan decided there had to be a better way.

McMahan approached the Edmonds city council and inquired if Edmonds was interested in annexing Mountlake Terrace, but the council turned him down. He then organized the Mountlake Terrace Study Committee to determine the feasibility of incorporating the small community. McMahan and another Mountlake Terrace resident, Fred Smethurst, were named co-chairmen of the committee; Levy Johnston and Bill Hennessey, two local attorneys, were also early and active leaders on the committee. They prepared a petition for incorporation as a third-class city, which was approved by the Board of Snohomish County Commissioners. On August 24, 1954, the commissioners set the vote on incorporation for November 23.

Incorporation

There was considerable give-and-take between local residents over whether to incorporate during the autumn of 1954. This finally culminated in a meeting on November 16 at the Mountlake Terrace Elementary School, where council candidates spoke and issues were discussed. On Election Day, precisely 1,000 people voted. The incorporation measure passed, though by a fairly close vote of 517 to 483. The measure was defeated in several precincts, mostly notably the precincts that voted at the Mountlake Terrace Elementary School.

The election ballot actually had two questions. The first was on the issue of incorporation, and the second was to name five residents to serve on the city council if incorporation was approved. Twenty people ran for the five positions. Elected were Gilbert “Gil” Geiser, 35 (Geiser received 540 votes, more than the total vote to incorporate), Harley McFarland, 36, Patricia Neibel, 26, Lester Steele, 31, and H. Scott Wilson, 32. Neibel had actively opposed incorporation but ran for a council spot, saying that if it passed, someone who had questioned the need for a city should be on the city council.

The new council had its first meeting on the evening of November 24 and named Geiser the first city mayor. The next Monday, November 29, 1954, Mountlake Terrace’s incorporation became official under a council-manager form of government, and the council appointed Evan Peterson as the first city manager.

County officials estimated the city’s population at 5,104 in 1954; the 2000 U.S. Census pegged the population at 20,362, with a population density of 5,036 people per square mile, making Mountlake Terrace one of the most densely populated communities in Washington state.

This essay made possible by: Henry M. Jackson Foundation

Sources:

David A. Cameron, Charles LeWarne, M. Allan May, Jack C. O’Donnell, Lawrence O’Donnell, Snohomish County: An Illustrated History (Index, WA: Kelcema Books LLC, 2005), 298-302; “Mountlake Will Become City,” The Seattle Times, November 24, 1954, p. 4; Charles Russell, “Mountlake Terrace Is Newest City,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 25, 1954, p. 26; “Census 2000 Data for the State of Washington”, U.S. Census Bureau, website accessed March 12, 2008, (http://www.census.gov); "History," The City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, website accessed March 12, 2008 (http://www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us).

Note: This essay was updated on September 24, 2013.



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Update on Shoreline Naval Hospital Chapel landmark process

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Interior of Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest
Photo by Janet Way

By Janet Way

The Shoreline Preservation Society has been through a nearly yearlong process of nominating and researching the extensive history of the very first freestanding Naval Hospital Chapel in America located at Fircrest School in Shoreline!

We were quite pleased with the reception we received from the King County Landmarks Commission Hearing, November 19, 2020 in a Zoom meeting (of course), but we need to be patient and wait a little bit longer for our final wish for our beautiful historic treasure to be granted.

All of the commissioners praised our presentation expertly presented by our historian experts at Northwest Vernacular. And they also seemed enthusiastic about the building’s history, beauty, interior and surrounding forest setting. They were impressed as well by the community response and many comment letters. 

SPS also provided a short “walkabout video” to better give the commissioners a sense of the Chapel in its serene, wooded surroundings. Numerous community members gave verbal comments at the hearing too.

While Department of Social and Health Services testified they were also supportive, they requested an amendment of the nomination proposal to reduce the forest area protected in case of expansion parking at the bottom of the hill. But the Commissioners seemed interested in supporting our original surrounding forest area nomination and said that DSHS could always come back to them if need be to amend the space if more parking spaces are desired.

However, the Commissioners decided to table the final decision and asked us to provide a more precise map that could be clearly defined the measurements. And provide a list of what would be eligible for preservation in the Chapel Interior.

We are already working on a response with our historians and hope that these details can be settled at their next hearing. It is up to the KC Landmarks Commission as to whether there will be another hearing this year or whether it would have to be in January.




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Brick Garden at Fircrest

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Bricks from the Brick Garden at Fircrest
Photos by Janet Way


Near the Navy Chapel on the Fircrest campus is a commemorative Brick Garden.

Made to be accessible to people in wheelchairs, the bricks are engraved with notable historical events and the year they occured.

It was designed and created by the University of Washington Public Art Program Spring Quarter 2003 by the Design Build Studio which included students and faculty from the School of Art, College of Arts and Science; and The Department of Architecture and Urban Planning.

It was funded by the Stella Osborne Family.

The Navy Chapel at Fircrest is on the agenda for the Thursday meeting of the Landmarks Commission, nominated for Historical Landmark Status.

Comments on the nomination can be email to ssteen@kingcounty.gov

The meeting can be viewed on zoom.

Thursday, November 19, 2020 4:30pm on Zoom.

Link to Zoom Conference Meeting 

Name and location of nominated property:

Naval Hospital Chapel, 1902 NE 150th Street Shoreline, WA 98155



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COMMENTARY by Evan Smith: Happy belated birthday

Friday, November 13, 2020

Courtesy Washington State Archives


Happy belated birthday, Washington.

Wednesday was the 131st Anniversary of Washington’s admission to the Union as the nation’s 42nd state.

On November 11, 1889, Washington residents got the statehood they had sought since Washington became a territory in 1852.

When Washington became a territory in 1852, residents sought to influence decision-makers by naming the territory’s two largest counties after President-elect Franklin Pierce and Vice President-elect Rufus King. They got statehood; it just took 37 years.

When Washington Territory had separated from Oregon, residents had considered naming it Columbia Territory but rejected the name to avoid confusion with the District of Columbia. Instead, they chose the name Washington and got the same confusion.

Yes, Wednesday was also Veteran’s Day, the 102nd anniversary of the end of World War I.



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Veterans, Gold Star Families get free entrance to national parks, refuges, other public lands

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Devil's Tower - photo courtesy Dept of VA

From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans and Gold Star Families will be granted free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior starting on Veterans Day this year and every day onward.

“With the utmost respect and gratitude, we are granting Veterans and Gold Star Families free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect starting this Veterans Day and every single day thereafter,” said Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt.


Entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation sites will be waived for Veterans and Gold Star Families. 

They will have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle, from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing and climbing.

Many Department managed lands have direct connections to the American military, such as frontier forts, Cold War sites, battlefields, national cemeteries, and memorials. 

These special places pay tribute to our veterans and serve as reminders of their courage and sacrifice throughout the history of our nation, from Minuteman National Historic Park where colonists stood in defense of their rights, to Yellowstone National Park, which was protected from vandalism and poaching by the 1st U.S. Cavalry before the National Park Service was established, to Mount Rushmore where modern warriors attend reenlistment ceremonies.

Details on program

For purposes of this program, a Veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and is able to present one of the following forms of identification:

Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces.

The Interagency America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program already includes a free annual pass for active duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Other free or discounted passes are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth grade students, volunteers, and senior citizens age 62 years or older.

The Department also offers free entrance days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration including the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day, and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act.




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Historic Fircrest Chapel under consideration for landmark status

Monday, November 9, 2020

 

The chapel is nestled in the woods - Photo by Janet Way

Fircrest, on 15th Ave NE, is now a rehabilitation center owned by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS). The site was originally a Naval Hospital during WWII, which is when the beautiful chapel was built. (See previous article)

The chapel is now under consideration as an historical landmark and the public is invited to comment at the Landmarks commission zoom meeting November 19, 2020 at 4:30pm. Written comments may be submitted to the address at the end of this article.

Interior of chapel - Photo by Janet Way

Landmark Nomination Hearing for Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest School

You are invited to make a comment at the hearing and offer pertinent information about the history and value of preserving this beautiful historic gem in Shoreline, built during WWII in 1944. Both the building along with some of its surrounding native landscape is under consideration for this Landmark nomination.

The surrounding native forest was specified in the original vision and the creation of the building by base commander, Captain J.T. Boone. Also, the building interior with its custom designed original woodwork furnishings are part of the nomination.

The Public can be part of the process to get Historical Landmark Status for the Chapel at Fircrest by submitting written comment - but need to do so as soon as possible.


Shoreline Landmarks Commission Notice of Public Hearing to consider Landmark nomination of the Shoreline Naval Hospital Chapel in the City of Shoreline.

DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING 
NAME AND LOCATION OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 
  • Naval Hospital Chapel, 1902 NE 150th Street Shoreline, WA 98155
OWNER: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services - Fircrest School 15230 15th Ave NE Shoreline, WA 98155 and Washington State Department of Natural Resources 

DESCRIPTION/BOUNDARIES OF SIGNIFICANCE PCL B SHORELINE:

The 3.08-acre proposed boundary encompasses the chapel building; directly associated walkways; the curvilinear driveway servicing the building; the hillside descending to and including the associated lower parking area; the immediate landscape and the forest setting. 

Questions, written comments or requests for copies of documents may be directed to:
  • King county Department of Natural Resources and Parks Historic Preservation Program 
  • 201 S JACKSON STE 700 SEATTLE WA 98104 
  • 206-477-7976 
  • ssteen@kingcounty.gov


Correction: the address of the chapel is 1902 NE 150th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155



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Indigenous Peoples Day Storytelling with Roger Fernandes and Fern Renville

Thursday, October 8, 2020


Indigenous Peoples Day Storytelling with Roger Fernandes and Fern Renville

Saturday. October 10, 2020 from 11am-Noon

Register Online for Zoom link (Registration required, limited to 100 attendees)

In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, Roger Fernandes and Fern Renville will share cultural stories which connect to Shoreline’s Indigenous history and current day. 

Roger Fernandes is a member of the Lower Elwha Band of the S'Klallam Indians. He is an artist, storyteller, and educator whose work focuses on the local Puget Salish tribes of western Washington.


Fern Renville is a citizen of the Sisseton / Wahpeton Tribe of South Dakota. She is an artist, a theater actor, director and playwright, and a Dakota Sioux storyteller. 

Recording will be shared on the Shoreline Historical Museum and Kruckeberg Botanic Garden websites for those who cannot attend.




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Shoreline at 25 years

Thursday, October 1, 2020

The first Shoreline City Council takes the oath of office
Photo courtesy Shoreline Historical Museum



City with a Past, City with a Future: 
The 25th Anniversary of the City of Shoreline

Enjoy an hour with the director of the Shoreline Historical Museum as we look at the history of the City of Shoreline, how it got its start and how its history informs its future. Sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library. 

Registration is required by October 2 at 10:30 am. Register at the King County Library link below, and a Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the program.

https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5f64e918b6e59ca8040540c1

Contact 206-542-7111 for more info or
e-mail: shm@shorelinehistoricalmuseum.org



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Ahead of the Curve - Washington Women, 1910-2020

Sunday, September 27, 2020


Ahead of the Curve - Washington Women, 1910-2020
Presented by John Hughes (Ahead of the Curve) and Legacy Washington.

Wednesday, September 30, 7-8pm


Washington has been Ahead of the Curve since it first granted women the right to vote in 1883. 

In 1910, our state became the fifth to include women's suffrage in its constitution — a decade ahead of the nation. And Washington women keep blazing trails in fields from science to bridge building. 

Discover the pioneering spirit of some larger-than-life women and little-known stories with big impacts on Washington, the nation and beyond.

Presented by John Hughes, Co-Author and Chief Historian Legacy Washington.

Find the Ahead of the Curve book here and virtual exhibit here

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library. In partnership with Mercer Island Historical Society.



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City with a Past, City with a Future: The 25th Anniversary of the City of Shoreline

October 3, 2020 at 10:30am

City with a Past, City with a Future: 
The 25th Anniversary of the City of Shoreline



Image courtesy of the Shoreline Historical Museum. 1995, Left to right: Shoreline City Council Members Ron Hansen, Bob Ransom, Mayor Connie King, Larry Bingham, Linda Montgomery, Scott Jepsen and Cheryl Lee approve the first “City of Shoreline” sign at 145th and Greenwood.


Have you ever wondered how we got here?! Now's your chance to find out! (And this doesn't have anything to do with the Big Bang Theory!)

Enjoy an hour with Vicki Stiles, the director of the Shoreline Historical Museum, as we look at the history of the City of Shoreline, how it got its start and how its history informs its future.


Sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.

Registration is required by October 2 at 10:30am. Register at the King County Library link below, and a Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the program.

https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5f64e918b6e59ca8040540c1



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HistoryLink: First Costco discount warehouse opens in Seattle on September 15, 1983

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Photo courtesy Costco


By David Wilma

HistoryLink.org Essay 3609

On September 15, 1983, the first Costco discount warehouse opens on 4th Avenue S in Seattle. The warehouse offers food, appliances, clothes, office supplies, and other goods at prices below general retail levels. The company is headquartered in Issaquah.

The warehouse concept was pioneered by Price Club in San Diego in 1976. Jeff Brotman and former Price Club executive Jim Sinegal founded Costco and offered small businesses, such as restaurants and gas stations, the opportunity to buy a limited variety of food, tires, cosmetics, and other goods at 8 to 9 percent over wholesale. 

Later, the market was expanded to include retail customers. The self-service warehouses offered only about 4,000 items and didn't advertise. Members typically paid a $25-$35 annual membership fee.

Costco earned lawsuits from manufacturers by diverting cheap product lines intended for overseas consumption, such as clothing and bicycles, and stocking them in warehouses. Customers will often see a single brand of an item, which might change before their next visit.

In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club.

The first store was just a warehouse with a hot dog stand in front. In 1997, stores featured food courts, pharmacies, optical departments, photo processing, a mail-order business, health-care plans, home insurance, and a car-buying program for its members.

Sources:

"Seattle-based Costco Plans To Sell Shares," The Seattle Times, September 15, 1985, p. D-5; Lee Moriwaki, "Costco: The Empire Build On Bargains," Ibid., July 20, 1997, p. A-1; Lynn Asinoff, "A Special Background Report On Trends in Industry And Finance," Wall Street Journal, August 15, 1985, p. 1; "Investors Overview," Costco website (www.costco.com).



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Becoming Washington: Who Came to the Northwest and Why

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Washington Territory 1866
Becoming Washington: Who Came to the Northwest and Why
Saturday, September 19, 
10:30am – 12 pm
KCLS Online Event

Presented by Janice Lovelace, PhD. 

What conditions existed for your ancestors to leave their homes and make a journey to the Pacific Northwest? 

Learn about the factors for immigration and settlement in mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries. 

Register HERE by September 18, 12pm.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Lake Forest Park Library.




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City with a Past, City with a Future - The 25th Anniversary of the City of Shoreline

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Image courtesy Shoreline Historical Museum. 1995, From left: Shoreline City Council Members Ron Hansen, Bob Ransom, Mayor Connie King, Larry Bingham, Linda Montgomery, Scott Jepsen and Cheryl Lee approve the first “City of Shoreline” sign at 145th and Greenwood.


City with a Past, City with a Future-The 25th Anniversary of the City of Shoreline

Saturday, September 12, 2-3:30pm

Shoreline Historical Museum Executive Director Vicki Stiles presents a history of the City of Shoreline, how it got its start and how its history informs its future.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.

Registration required by September 11, 12pm. Register HERE.

A Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the program.




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Kellogg (Morgan) Middle School: demolition photos May 29, 2020


By Diane Hettrick
Photos by Steven H. Robinson

Every time I publish articles about Kellogg Middle School, I get comments from readers that - it's not Kellogg - it's Morgan!

The Kellogg buildings had indeed been Thomas Hunt Morgan Junior High School. According to the history of the Shoreline School District "Shore to Shore and Line to Line" it opened in 1953, along with two other junior high schools.


Named after Nobel prize winners, the schools were Morgan, Nicholas Murray Butler, and President Thomas Woodrow Wilson.

Morgan opened with 600 students in grades 5, 6, and 7 under principal Elbert J. Honeycutt and vice-principal Lynn Waller.


During the school year 1953-54, Morgan was also used for evening recreation by U.S. Army troops stationed in Lake Forest Park. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church held services there before they built their own building.

During the twenty-plus years Morgan was open, the number of grade levels changed, other junior high schools opened and closed. Morgan had close to a thousand students for much of its life.


According to Shore to Shore, "Beginning in 1975, with the combination of the exodus of the Boeing workers and the conclusion of the WWII baby boomers passing through, the junior high enrollments in the Shoreline District began to decline."


At the end of the 1976-77 school year, Morgan was closed. It became district administrative offices for a time and then was closed and left empty.

Now, in 2020, the Morgan buildings have been completely demolished, to make way for a new Kellogg Middle School.

Source: Shore to Shore and Line to Line: A History of the Shoreline School District 1944-2004, by a writing group headed by Jack Rogers.




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AG Ferguson files federal lawsuits against three agencies for failing to produce records related to National Archives in Seattle

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

The Federal Archives building in north Seattle. It is due to be sold and the documents will be shipped to Missouri and California. The archives contain extensive local records including on the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Japanese-American internments, records from native tribes, and the history of the property itself, which was a farm belonging to a Japanese family who were forcibly removed.


Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuits today against three agencies involved in the January decision to close the Federal Archives and Records Center in Seattle, sell the building and move the records stored there to facilities more than 1,000 miles away.

Ferguson is also sending a letter to a fourth agency who is demanding tens of thousands of dollars to produce the requested records, informing them that if they continue to fail to produce the documents he is prepared to file a lawsuit against them, as well.

The lawsuits seek public records that Ferguson requested more than six months ago under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) related to the decision. Not one of the agencies has provided a single document to the Attorney General’s Office — an egregious violation of the key federal open government law.

Ferguson’s letter informs the PBRB that he is prepared to file a lawsuit if they do not produce the records he requested.

“The decision to close the National Archives in Seattle has far-reaching impacts across the Northwest,” Ferguson said. 
“The first-hand, historical records contained there is essential to the cultural fabric of our communities. 
"The federal government did not seek any local input on its decision to move these important records more than 1,000 miles away, and now illegally refuse to provide documents about how the decision was made. The people have a right to know.”

In January, the OMB approved a recommendation from the PBRB to sell the Federal Archives and Records Center on Sand Point Way in Seattle. The board’s recommendation included removing the contents of the Seattle archives and relocating them to National Archives facilities in Kansas City, Mo., and Riverside, Calif.

The Seattle archives contain many records essential to Washington’s historical record, including tens of thousands of files on the Chinese Exclusion Act, records on the internment of Japanese Americans, and tribal and treaty records of federally recognized tribes throughout the Northwest. Researchers, historians, genealogists and students routinely use these records.

More information here



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Edmonds roots: New murals by Andy Eccleshall honor Edmonds' indigenous people

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Andy Eccleshall on an accordion lift painting
the top portion of the mural. 

Andy Eccleshall has created murals in Shoreline including Echo in Time at 1st NE and NE 205th, and the street scene on the Drager's building (soon to be demolished).


Edmonds, WA– Before George Brackett’s canoe landed in Edmonds in 1870, members of the Snohomish, Suquamish, Swinomish and Stillaguamish tribes enjoyed the fertile hunting and fishing this land afforded them. A new pair of murals will soon give viewers a glimpse of what a day on Edmonds’ waterfront may have looked like when it was inhabited by the first residents of the region.

Inspired by the epic style of Sydney Laurence (1865-1940), a renowned American Romantic landscape painter, the pair of murals in the alley between Bop’N Burger and The Papery will be painted by Edmonds muralist Andy Eccleshall. Eccleshall collaborated every step of the way -- from concept to final drawings -- with Native American artist and member of the Tulalip tribes, Ty Juvenil.

“When I first learned of the project, I was excited by the idea but recognized it would be essential for it to be a full and open collaboration with members of the Salish community,” Eccleshall said. 
“All matters relating to the depiction of the history and culture of the Salish people would have to be directed by a tribal representative. With the help of Clayton Moss, I reached out to Ty Juvenil, a renowned Tulalip artist, historian and wood carver who was recently commissioned to carve a piece for the entrance of the Edmonds Historical Museum. 
"Ty agreed to be a paid consultant for this project. All matters relating to how the history and culture of the Coast Salish people are represented have been and will continue to be guided and directed by him. I am honored to be able to be a part of this project and to be able to work alongside Ty to see these murals come to fruition.”


With the traditional name of Zu Waq' Sub Waq'Waq' (Lightning Frog), Tulalip tribes’ artist Ty Juvinel has been submerged in his culture for as long as he can remember. Juvenil established his creative outlet at a young age with drawing and as a graffiti artist. Later in life he discovered Coast Salish art and carving. He became a graphic designer for the Tulalip tribes until earning the spot as an Apprentice Carver. Over time, Juvinel has perfected his craft and expanded his artist reach from children's books which he writes and illustrates, to carvings of paddles, masks, house posts, panels and much more.

“Too many times history is written by people who have no care in telling all sides of the story. Fortunately, this mural will be appropriate to the times, and will reflect regional Coast Salish culture. It will depict how it may have looked during this time period and how encampments would have appeared,” Juvenil said. 
“Again, I cannot be more happy that they (Eccleshall and the MPE) took time to set the record straight, and make it appropriate to the Coast Salish peoples.”


The two murals face each other 
across a narrow alley in Edmonds


The two murals will face each other on the Main St. alley between 4th and 5th Avenues in the Edmonds Bowl. The west facing mural will replace “The Brothers” with a much larger scene, looking west towards the Olympic Mountains at sunset with a fishing party out on the water. The east facing mural will depict the beach before Edmonds existed as a town. The slow slope of trees rising up against the sky with a beach camp by the water. This mural will make use of the full height of the building.


“I am excited to begin work on this project. I hope when completed it will invite people to stop and think about the vast history of this place,” Eccleshall said. “That the history is not only represented by the city we now love, but in the water, the mountains, the wildlife, the nature and the culture which has called this place home forever.”


Artist Andy Eccleshall on the lift and
donor John Osberg standing below


The murals are of made possible this year due in large part to a donation from Edmonds resident John Osberg, who wants to see the Coastal Native American tribes who originally called the area home recognized and honored. The remainder of the costs were covered by a grant from Edmonds Downtown Alliance (Ed!) and money raised by Art Walk Edmonds.


“I’m happy to see this project finally come to fruition, and that the indigenous people of this region are finally recognized in artwork,” Osberg said.


The process to put up a mural is a long and arduous one. Mural Project Edmonds is committed to installing murals that will stand the test of time. This means themes and locations are thoroughly vetted to enhance their surroundings. Then the muralist is chosen based on their style and experience. The artists hired must have a proven track record with outdoor mural experience, must use high-quality paint or other materials that will withstand outdoor exposure, and must adhere to the City’s strict permitting codes.

Eccleshall works his way down the wall
applying the first layer of paint


This pair of murals have been in the works for over 18 months. It took countless volunteer hours to bring it to fruition -- from scouting locations, to consulting with the artist and tribal members, to contracting workers to repair damaged walls, to submitting permit applications, and more.

“This mural was probably our most ambitious to date. While we were able to dial in the design and muralist fairly easily due to Mr. Osberg’s specific wishes after input from a tribal representative, finding a location proved to be more of a challenge. 
"Add to the fact that the two buildings that face the alley have two different owners, and that one of the walls required repair work before a mural could be painted… we’re talking about dozens of hours of volunteer work,” said Denise Cole, owner of Cole Gallery and MPE committee chairperson.

Mural Project Edmonds (MPE), a committee of Art Walk Edmonds, has been responsible for new murals in downtown Edmonds for the past few years. The overall goal of the new MPE is to bring professional-level, well-planned artistry to our community and to fit appropriately into the chosen space.

Usually, to pay for these endeavors, MPE uses funds raised by Art Walk Edmonds’ Summer Wine Walks, as well as donations and sponsorships by building owners and businesses. This year’s Wine Walks -- Art Walk Edmonds’ only fundraisers -- have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, putting next year’s MPE plans in jeopardy.

Anyone interested in donating to the Art Walk Edmonds can do so HERE
  
Companies or entities interested in sponsoring a new mural should contact Art Walk Edmonds at info@artwalkedmonds.com

--Photos from Art Walk Edmonds

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