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Was the wrong person arrested and nearly hung in the murdersof two men nearly 130 years ago as they rowed a boat across LakeWashington? A suspect was arrested soon after the two men werekilled by gunshots coming from the southern shore of Mercer Island,but the case was never fully solved. At this month’s Saturday SpeakerSeries presentation, local historian Tom Hitzroth will unwrap the mystery
surrounding the double murder.Relax over a cup of coffee at the Redmond Historical Society
Saturday Speaker Series, a monthly program from September to Maythat features eight speakers addressing topics of local, state and Pacic
Northwest historical interest (No program in December). Also inside, learnabout the Redmond settlers of 1871 (p. 6).
Every town has a history. Discover ours. • J ANUARY 2016
THE R EDMOND R ECORDER REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
J ANUARY 2016 • VOL. 18 • NO. 1
Every town has a history. Discover ours.
UPCOMING —S ATURDAY SPEAKERS SERIESSaturday, Jan. 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center 16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA
UNWRAPPING A MERCER ISLAND MURDER M YSTERY
The home of James M.Colman, near Kennydale.Colman and friend WilburPatten were murdered in
mysterious circumstancesin 1886.
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J ANUARY 2016 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Joe Townsend • President
Mary I. Hanson • Senior Vice President
Ed “Dint” O’Brien • Vice President FinanceCrystal Rojas Mora • Vice President
Collections
TBA• Secretary
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Judith Simpson
Steve JohnsonBill McKenzie
Sharon Brocker
COLLECTIONS MANAGER
• JleanMcDonald
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER •
Laura Lee Bennett ATTORNEY • Charles DiesenOur nances are public record and may
be viewed at the ofce.
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If you don't subscribe, please sign up.
Call the ofce at 425.885.2919 or email [email protected].
State your preference of email or
U.S. Mail. The historical society prefers
email as it's inexpensive and photos areenhanced online.
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facebook.com/Redmond.Historical.Society
THE REDMOND RECORDER
is published nine times annually.
Jeanne Gustafson • Editor
Janice LeVeck • Webmaster
redmondhistoricalsociety.org
COMINGS & GOINGS 2016
M AJOR SPONSORS
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The Society Board and staff ison the move as we begin the newyear. Retiring from the board areSherry Stilin, the board’s SpeakersSeries Chair and Chair of theMarketing Committee, and KrisSwanson, Chair of the Speaker’sBureau Committee, though bothplan to remain very much a part ofthe Society. Thank you so much for
your service!We also thank Michael
Benavidez and Kim Walker , boardmembers who have stepped downfrom ofcial duties on the board
of directors. We wish them well,and thank them for their continuedvolunteer efforts.
In the meantime, we wouldlike to heartily welcome SharonBrocker, who has joined the boardas a director at large and will leadour Governance Committee.
We also welcome Laura LeeBennett, who has joined the staffas the Administrative Manager, and
congratulate Jlean McDonald, whois transitioning to her new role asCollections Manager.
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Every town has a history. Discover ours. • J ANUARY 2016
R EPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIPPRESIDENT’S NOTEBOOK
The Redmond Historical Society has just completed another successful year. Ourhighlights include eight programs of the SaturdaySpeaker Series that were informative andentertaining. We enjoyed record attendance atthese programs.The mission of the RedmondHistorical Society reads:
Redmond Historical Society serves the
community through stewardship: collecting,
preserving and sharing Redmond’s uniqueheritage.
Through this ongoing program, the Society fullled the provision in
our mission to share Redmond’s unique heritage, as well as regional andstatewide history.
In April 2015, I wrote about the Redmond Historical Society’s LongRange Plan (LRP). There are multiple goals and objectives in that
document. Notable accomplishments are completion of another round ofSammamish Valley News, digitizing and making these old newspapersavailable to the world on our website. With this project, we fullled the
preserving and sharing provisions of the Society’s mission.Yet another notable accomplishment from the LRP is completion and
implementation of the online archive. For years, the Society has beenengaging a number of volunteers to catalog our artifacts, photographs,and archives, using specialized museum software. Placing these images
online makes them available to a global audience. We are pleased to offerour Photo and Archive Gallery, an ongoing project that will be expandedand rened in the future.
In the spring and summer, the Society pursued the preservationprovision of our mission by appealing decisions that lead to issuance ofa demolition permit for the historic Nokomis Clubhouse. While the appealwas not successful, this huge project did contribute to that provision of ourMission and helped fulll our Vision.
We also enhanced our staff, to assist our hard-working committees;we made overtures for permanent exhibit space and continue to pursuethat goal; and to fund all of this, we continue to plan a capital andendowment fundraising campaign.
Joe Townsend~ Redmond Historical Society President
Joe Townsend
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J ANUARY 2016 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.
WHODUNIT? A NEW LOOK AT 1886MERCER ISLAND MURDERS
S ATURDAY SPEAKER SERIES
Was the wrong person arrested and nearlyhung in the murders of two men nearly 130years ago as they rowed a boat across LakeWashington? A suspect was arrested soon afterthe men were killed by gunshots coming from
the southern shore of Mercer Island, but thecase was never fully solved.
Having done his own sleuthing, Eastsidehistorian Tom Hitzroth will re-examine thecase—exploring the crime, the investigation,and the court proceedings in a presentation forthe Redmond Historical Society’s Speaker Series on January 9, 2016.
What is known is that on the morning of February 8, 1886, JamesM. Colman and family friend Wilbur Patten left Colman’s home nearKennydale and planned to row themselves (not a rare transportationmeans back then!) to Seattle.
Patten was going home and Colman was on his way to a grand jury hearing in a legal dispute with George Miller of Enatai over landacquisitions by Miller’s children.
The two were ambushed near the south end of Mercer Island, whichlocals later referred to as Murder Point.
Miller was arrested and tried four times before nally being freed
when the judge dismissed the case because some witnesses failed toappear.
Many locals were convinced Miller was the murderer, but he alwaysproclaimed his innocence and there were other potential suspects—including Miller’s daughter.
Hitzroth approached the case by reading the reports and courtdocuments with fresh eyes and then “asking myself the one question that
Tom Hitzroth
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Every town has a history. Discover ours. • J ANUARY 2016
had never been seriously considered by earlierresearchers: ‘What if Miller is telling the truth andhe didn’t do it, what changes?’”
Research challenges included “trying to locate the sources of theinformation that had become part of the story over the years and verifythem,” says Hitzroth, who besides wearing a historian’s hat is alsochairman of the Redmond Landmark Commission.
Court records that Hitzroth had to track down included the Millertrials, the grand jury investigating the land dispute and documents fromthe Territorial Supreme Court.
Efforts to visualize the murders included “working out a table ofdistances and times to better follow the different actions and testimonyfrom that time,” says Hitzroth, who learned of the case when he wasinvestigating the murder of Letitia Whitehall, another mystery that hereviewed at a Redmond Historical Society presentation in March 2004.
Miller died in 1894 and was buried in what is today Beaux Arts.
Colman and Patten are buried in Seattle’s Lake View Cemetery.
Colman’s tombstone inscription reminds visitors of his demise:“Assassinated at the south end of Mercer Island, Lake Washington, Feb.8 1886.”
The Saturday Speaker Series is a monthly program presented by
the Redmond Historical Society on every second Saturday (with the
exception of June, July, August and December) at 10:30am at the OldRedmond Schoolhouse Community Center, located at 16600 NE 80thStreet. Topics range from local, state and Pacic Northwest historical
interest. There is a suggested $5 donation for non-members. The Redmond Historical Society is a 501 (c)(3) non-prot
organization that receives support from the City of Redmond, 4 Culture,Nintendo, the Bellevue Collection, and Humanities Washington as wellas from other donors and members.
S ATURDAY SPEAKER SERIES
Like the Speaker Series? Bring a Friend!
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J ANUARY 2016 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.
LOCAL HISTORY THE SETTLERS OF 1871
By Tom Hitzroth
For a time it has been thoughtthat Warren Perrigo and LukeMcRedmond came to the area knowntoday as Redmond at the same time in1871 and all others, if there were any,came after. We now know that not tobe the case. In actuality, six settlerscame to Redmond in the year 1871
but only one of them, Warren Perrigo,stayed. Of the six who came threesettled in what today is Marymoor Park,while the other three settled farthernorth, but all in Section 12 on the map (shown here). The settlers of 1871are:
CLAIM FILED NAME CANCELLATION
OF CLAIMMay 1, 1871 David (Ovid) Mayhew July 29, 1871June 14, 1871 Warren Perrigo June 29, 1871 Olof Engblom Dec.19, 1872July 1, 1871 Joseph Terry Aug. 20, 1871July 7, 1871 Luke McRedmond July 12, 1871Sept. 23, 1871 James H. Hazelton Sept. 30, 1871
Mayhew, Terry, and Hazelton settled successively on the samegeneral claim. After 1871 the land was unclaimed until John Tosh settledthere on January 1, 1878. On October 24, 1887, John stated that whenhe settled on the land there was already a cabin on the property and headded on to it. Given the time each claimant was on the land the cabincould have been built by David Mayhew or Joseph Terry.
Warren Perrigo led his claim June 14, 1871 and obtained clear title
to the land October 1, 1879. He remained on the property selling it toHiram B. Runnels May 20, 1893. He appears in the Seattle City Directoryfor 1893 living at 1806 Madison and 1894 at 1808 Madison.
Luke McRedmond led his claim then cancelled it ve days later,
returning to his property in Seattle. He returned to the Redmond areaofcially settling on his original claim April 14, 1872.
Olof Engblom, aged 47 in 1871, would sign a petition for County
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Road 33 to be extended from Juanita to his claim inthe Redmond area in May 1872, and then leave sevenmonths later. He went to White River in south King County and is last
known in the Kent in 1892 aged 68.Joseph Terry does not appear in the records after August 20, 1871and his location after that date cannot be established.
James H. Hazelton, aged 41 in 1871, appears in the 1879 SeattleCity Directory and 1880 US Census as a soap maker. He is gone fromthe area by 1882.
SOCIETY NEWS
HISTORY H APPENINGS
Joe Townsend will be presenting Redmond History 101 tothe Woodinville Historical Society on January 16, 2016, at the
Brightwater Education Center in Woodinville. More info: http://www.woodinvilleheritage.org/about-us/events-calendar/
V OLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Would you like to help preserve and share Redmond’s unique
history? Here are some of our current open volunteer positions: • Development Committee Chair, supported by staff
• Program Committee Chair, supported by staff • Public Relations and Marketing Committee Chair,
supported by staff • Secretary, Board Member and Ofcer
• Board Member at Large.
More information on these positions can be found at VolunteerMatch.
org
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http://www.volunteermatch.org/search#k=redmond+historical&v=false&s=1&o=distanceBand&l=Redmond%2C+WA%2C+USA&r=20&sk=&na=&partner=&usafc=http://www.volunteermatch.org/search#k=redmond+historical&v=false&s=1&o=distanceBand&l=Redmond%2C+WA%2C+USA&r=20&sk=&na=&partner=&usafc=http://www.volunteermatch.org/search#k=redmond+historical&v=false&s=1&o=distanceBand&l=Redmond%2C+WA%2C+USA&r=20&sk=&na=&partner=&usafc=http://www.volunteermatch.org/search#k=redmond+historical&v=false&s=1&o=distanceBand&l=Redmond%2C+WA%2C+USA&r=20&sk=&na=&partner=&usafc=
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Many thanks to our Saturday Speakers Series volunteers for their
generous donation of their time and efforts to ensure a smooth programday.
Press Release—Miguel Llanos Audio Visual—David Rossiter Coffee—Beryl Standley and Kim Walker Door Greeters—Kris Swanson and Linda RandallSet-up Coordinator—Tom Hansen
Set-up/clean-up—Redmond High School student Stephan Nickel.Snacks—Cynthia Olsen and Bliss Ong, Coldwell Banker Bain.Book sellers: Julianne Rossiter, Margy Rockenbeck
This delightful vintage postcard from the 1920s, which wassent to Happy Valley, near Redmond, can be seen on the RedmondHistorical Society’s Facebook page, along with fun historical imagesevery day.
J ANUARY 2016 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.
HUGE HISTORIC THANK Y OUSSOCIETY NEWS
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SHIPPING & HANDLING: Please add $5.00 shipping & handling
surchage for any order that you would like mailed.
ORDERING INFO*:
NAME ____________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER _____________________
# OF BOOKS ORDERED _______ AMOUNT ENCLOSED (CHECK PLEASE) _$_____________________________
SHIPPING INFO:
NAME _______________________________________________________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________
CITY • STATE • ZIP _____________________________________________________________________________
NOTE:
REDMOND REFLECTIONS is also available at the RHS OFFICE at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. (Hours of operation on page 12.)
R EDMOND
R EFLECTIONS $10 (INCLUDES TAX)*
Need something special for someonewho appreciates our history? Theseare available at our Society ofce:
GREETING CARDS, MAGNETS
& NOTE CARDS featuring artwork by local artists:
• PATTI SIMPSON WARD
• DORISJEAN COLVIN• PAT DUGAN
“OUR TOWN”
History of Redmond by Nancy Way
“VIEW OF HISTORY ” DVD
This painting of Marymoor Park, Flying Kites at the Clise
Mansion, is the work of ne artist Patti Simpson Ward.
Visit her website to see more images of Eastside settings—
pattisimpsonward.com.
GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR HISTORY LOVERS
ORDER NOW
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J ANUARY 2016 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.
OUR SOCIETY LIFETIME MEMBERSRay Adams
Eric Anderson
John Anderson
Barbara Neal Beeson
Brad Best
Pierre Bruneau
Marjorie Stensland
Costello
John CouchLiz Carlson Coward
Tony Emmanuel
Frank Garbarino
Edward L. Hagen
Tom Hall
Lucille B. Hansen-
Bellings
Wayne Hansen
Jerry HardyNaomi Hardy
Chris Himes
Rosemarie Ives
Cory de Jong
Madeleine Roberts Hagen
Mary Hanson
Patricia Weiss Jovag
Barbara Weiss Joyce
Glenn Lampaert
Roy Lampaert
Allen Lang
Judy Aries Lang
Miguel Llanos
Jon Magnussen
Clare “Amo” Marr
Daryl Martin
Allison Reed Morris
John Phillips
Roxie Phillips
Dale Potter
Jo Ann Potter
Charles Reed
Frances Spray Reed
Bobbie Graep Rettig
Vivian Robinson
Laurie Rockenbeck
Vivian Robinson
Margy Rockenbeck
William Rockenbeck
Richard Shinstrom
Beryl Standley
John Stilin
Sherry Stilin
Fred SpringsteelFred Stray
Doris Bauer Schaible
Herb Swanson
Doris Townsend
Joe Townsend
Roger Trepanier
Arlyn Vallene
Patti Simpson Ward
Don Watts
Rose Weiss
Joanne Westlund
Margaret Evers Wiese
James Windle
SOCIETY NEWS
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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST LIFETIME MEMBERS
The Society welcomes three new lifetime members this month:
Mary Hanson, the late Ray Adams (donation by Ruth Adams) andBobbie Graep Rettig.
Mary Hanson you probably know from her tireless dedication to theSociety. She currently is the Vice President of Communications.
The Adams family is a historical Redmond family. They go back tothe late 1800’s and were the managers of the train depot, even livingthere. The famous Earnest Alexander Adams, who lore has it was#300 in population, allowing incorporation, was Ray’s brother.
Ray was Ruth’s husband. He passed away last year at age 91.Ray’s name may not be on the membership rolls but Ruth has been amember since 2002 and Ray was always with her. Ray and Ruth wereinterviewed for a story about his early family by the Seattle Times for theRedmond Centennial in 2012.
Bobbie Graep Rettig is the daughter of Gary Graep, who was aRedmond Mayor in the 1950’s.
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$5.00
$25.00$40.00
$200.00$250.00
$1,000.00
CONSIDER A GIFT MEMBERSHIP FOR A FAVORITE HISTORY BUFF.
LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP (Check one only.)
_____ TRAILBLAZER (Student) _____ PIONEER (Individual) _____ HOMESTEADER (Family) _____ ENTREPRENEUR (Supporter) _____ CORPORATE (Business) _____ HISTORY MAKER (Lifetime)
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Fill out the form below, cut out and mail with your check to:
Redmond Historical SocietyAttn: MembershipORSCC, Room 106
16600 NE 80th StreetRedmond, WA 98052
MEMBERSHIP (CIRCLE ONE): NEW RENEWING
NAME
If FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, OTHER NAMES TO BE INCLUDED
PHONE NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS
STREET ADDRESS
CITY • STATE • ZIP
NEWSLETTER DELIVERY (CHECK ONE): _______ EMAIL ________ U.S. MAIL
MEMBERSHIP
JOIN
R EDMONDHISTORICAL SOCIETY
Every town has a history. Discover ours.
Renew Now
for 2016!
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J ANUARY 2016 • Every town has a history. Discover ours.
RED
MOND
HISTO
RICALS
OCIETY
1660
0NE80th
Street,R
oom
106
Red
mond,W
A98052
PHO
NE
42
5
.885.291 9
WEBSITE
r ed
mondh
istorical so
ciety.o
rg
info@red
mondhi sto
ricalso
ciety.org
HOURS
Mo
nday ,
Wednes d
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Frid
ay:
9:30a.m
.to4:30
p.m.and
byappo
intment