PRESERVING THE STORIES OF ISSAQUAH
A Memory Book Project of the
Issaquah Historical Society
Phyllis “Fifi” Krumbach Laughlin
Your history in Issaquah/How long lived here, etc.:
I graduated from Issaquah High School in 1951. There were several teachers that were respected and no doubt influential.
Minnie wasn’t teaching while I was in school, but she was a neighbor living about three blocks away. She and Jake were wonderful, kind people.
I well remember the earthquake of 1949, Mom was working at the school cafeteria and I was going to see her about something(?). The brick chimney on the old Fin Church came tumbling down and I was pretty close!
I turned out for every sport I could. The most memorable was in 1951 when Joyce Castagno Lewis and I won the Lakeside League Championship Tennis Doubles. I believe tennis was the only sport for women in the league.
Our most fun was the time we “piled” into some ones car and went dancing at the local resorts. French’s Pine Lake, Alexander’s and there was always the Saturday night at the Fire Hall with Leo Labre’ band.
Trouble? No way!
The Honeysuckle owned by Tom Drylie. Had great Green Rivers, Cherry Cokes and ice cream and who would forget the milkshakes.
I remember Jimmy Flynn when he worked for Tony and Johnny’s. He loved to tease and give me candy.
The memory of the Grange for me was when I was about seven years old. We had dance recitals upstairs on stage with all the parents watching and clapping.
I worked at the first XXX on Sunset next door to Stonebridge Chevrolet. It was a great place, because everyone came by for something! Burger, cokes, Root Beer, or fries. Drive-ins were starting up and the owner wanted me to work outside; trouble was the windows were so small it was hard to see people drive up.
My dad, Melvin Krumbach was on the city council while Remo Castagno was mayor.
Stella lived next door to us on Hill Street. She was no longer Mayor, but as a neighbor she was nice. P. J. Smith was also a past Mayor and a neighbor. Also Mrs. Smith had great cookies.
At the start of the war there were hobos still walking the train tracks and riding the trains. They would come to our back door for a meal.
We couldn’t go much because of gas ration. Many of the young people in town had a horse and we spent hours riding in the mountains.
What kinds of jobs did the War bring to the area? Where did you work at this time?
When the Labor Day parades took place and I was very young I rode on top of George Ek’s ice cream truck. Then when I got Older I rode my horse in the parade. I did the Barrel Race one year in the Rodeo.
I remember the carnival would come to town. What fun.
Dad would take me to lake Sammamish while he hunted ducks. I can remember “large” rafts (flocks) of Mallards on the lake. I loved hiking to Round Lake – Lake Tradition area.
We used to catch small trout and craydads in the creek. In the summer all the kids hung out along the creek and played war with our rubber guns.
Vasa Park roller rink was just the greatest. I hated to miss a Friday night roller-skating.
Lots of swimming and large picnics would take place in the summer. Fireman, Alpine Dairy and town picnic.
My father was Manager of Alpine. I spent lots of my time there visiting and waiting for dad to get off work.