PRESERVING THE STORIES OF ISSAQUAH

A Memory Book Project of the

Issaquah Historical Society

Personal Bio

Name: 

Jim Elser

Local businesses

What local businesses do you remember?  What items did you purchase there?  Who owned the business?  Where was it located?  What do you remember most about it?

As a boy around age 8, I remember going to the Grange Mercantile Grocery with my grandfather, a big Irishman named James Filbin.  While he was shopping, I waited for him on the bridge over the creek watching the salmon run.  An elderly couple was also there taking in the show.  A very, very large salmon got hung up on the rocks.  The elderly gent climbed down the bank with great zeal.  All the while his wife is complaining about what he is doing.  He grabbed the salmon with both hands by the tail and pulled him completely into the water.  His wife called him an “Old fool.”

What barbershop or beauty shop did you frequent?  What do you remember about these places?  What were the popular hairdos when you frequented the beauty shop?  Did you do a lot of socializing at the barber and beauty shops?

Yes.  I remember “Hank” well.

What is memorable about Lewis Hardware?  What items did you purchase there?

I have shopped at Lewis’ since the later 40’s.  I have purchased all typed of items from plumbing to stovepipe.  I’ve really purchased a lot of stovepipe from them to this day.  I remember them all.  Great people.

Did you purchase things at the Grange Mercantile Building?  What type of things did you get there?  Did your family rent a frozen food storage locker? 

Yes, we had a locker there for years.  Had our beef, pigs and deer, butchered and wrapped.

What restaurants or soda shops did you enjoy going to?  Did you go to Rena’s Café, or XXX Root beer?  What was your favorite food?  Were there memorable waiters or waitresses?

I hung out at all of them.

Did you go to Boehm’s Candies?  What candies were your favorites?

Yes.  Loved the Boehm’s chocolates.

Issaquah Round-Up-- Salmon Days-- Labor Day Celebrations

What do you remember about Labor Day Celebrations or Salmon Days?

I sold arts & crafts at the events 1972, 73 & 74

Outdoor Recreation

What are your memories of Vasa Park?  What did you do while there? 

I fished went roller skating at Howard & Ida’s Vasa park rink in 1956.  I was a regular until they left.

What was your first car?  Did you buy it from Hepler Ford Motors, Stonebridge Chevrolet, or the Kaiser-Frazier dealership?

I bought my third car from Stonebridge.  A 1954 chevy.