PRESERVING THE STORIES OF ISSAQUAH
A Memory Book Project of the
Issaquah Historical Society
Lorraine Swanson Morton
April 4, 1949
I was born in Seattle, but grew up south of Issaquah on the family homestead, and with the exception of some college years and two years of my husband’s military time, that’s where I’ve lived all my life (and continue to live).
There’s no place like home.
1st through 6th grade @ Clark Elementary
7th through 9th grade @ Issaquah Junior High (now Issaquah Middle)
10th through Graduation @ Issaquah High School
Mom’s notes cover it!
I entered Issaquah High in September 1964. Chuck Fallstrom was the principal and later, in 1972 when I began working for the Issaquah School District, he was still principal. Even when we became colleagues, he was always MR. Fallstrom to me! A very fine man who always had the best interests of students in Issaquah High in mind.
Mrs. Piercey, business ed teacher. In addition to teaching shorthand and typing, she often had fresh flowers on her desk – she advised putting a drop of Clorox or an aspirin in the vase to keep the bacteria away and the flowers fresher longer. I still do that today! Others I remember well include Mr. Tonstad, Mr. White, Miss Crelly, Mr. Coyle, and Mr. Klein.
In 1965 I was sitting in French class behind my friend Jan Yourglich’s boyfriend (now her husband of 31 years) Rick Quandt. Rick turned around and said “EARTHQUAKE” about the same time the teacher said “EARTHQUAKE – get under your desks” She ran out of the room and I don’t remember much beyond that. As we reflected about the earthquake for this book, Rick said he recalled a big mess on the sidewalk outside the liquor store, which was located on Front Street at that time!
I remember a store about where Issaquah Floral is now. I think it was called DorMax and it was a clothing store owned and operated by sisters, Doreen Dahlbotten and Maxine Maulsby. I can remember buying my mom a sweater set there for Mother’s Day…maybe in the early 60s.
Yes, we grocery shopped at The Grange and had a frozen food locker there. My most vivid memory of The Grange was the day that we pulled up to go in and everyone got out of the car, my aunt and cousin were with us, and I slammed the car door shut with my cousin Tom’s fingers still in the door! We were probably 9 or 10 years old at the time. Ouch! I don’t remember anything else from that day.
My two favorites were The Shamrock Café which was on Front Street approximately where the Shanghai Garden and parking lot are now. Mike Shain owned it. I recall sitting at the counter with my dad – he always said no one could make a better real blackberry pie than Rena, Mike’s wife! And I loved their Green River sodas.
Also, the Honeysuckle on Front Street which was about where the Front Street Gallery is now. At that time it was also the bus station.
I worked at Boehm’s all through high school, 1965-1967. It was a wonderful place to work. Julius Boehm encouraged us to try the candy: “You can’t describe it to a customer if you don’t know what it tastes like.” When I began there Julius asked if I preferred light or dark chocolate. Me, who’d only had Hershey bars before, answered, “Probably light.” He told me that before long I’d find that dark chocolate was the best – much more depth and character. He was right. In answer to the question "Don’t you get tired of candy?” the answer, for me, was nope. I just changed from week to week – one week it was Divinity, the next week dark chocolate Rocky Road or Opera Roll, the next week peanut brittle or dark caramels. On Sundays Julius would fix lunch for the staff. A favorite was pork chops and mashed potatoes with spinach!
Co-workers at that time included Robin Pickering Taylor, Martha Hall, Martha Willard, and Robin’s mom, Rae Pickering. Rae was like a hostess, manager, and dorm mom rolled into one. She was lovely and solved our scheduling problems and answered our questions. Julius relied on her a great deal.
Many of my classmates were in the service during the war in Viet Nam. Bob Arndt, IHS Class of 1965, was killed over there and his name is listed on the Viet Nam Veterans’ Memorial wall in Olympia and Washington, D.C. I’m proud to remember Bob and all the others who served in the military services.
I remember big crowds for the Labor Day parade. When I was little, 5 or 6, my mom and aunt baked a lot of cookies and dressed my cousin Tom and me up as the King and Queen of Hearts and I got to hand out cookies along the parade route. Another year my dad built a boat around a bicycle and poor Tom had to peddle the bike “towing” me “water skiing” behind him! Dad had to jump out of the crowd and help push us over the railroad tracks on Sunset!
I remember the parachute jumpers who landed in the Pickering field that’s now home to Trader Joe’s, Cucina! Cucina!, and Barnes and Noble. I sure loved watching them.
Not frequently, and when we did go in, it was kind of a big deal. We usually took the bus from Issaquah to Seattle and got off near the Bon. We usually had lunch at Bartell’s Drugstore or the restaurant in the Bon.
My dad belonged to the Masons and my mom is still active in Eastern Star. I joined Rainbow when I was 12 and belonged until I reached “majority” at 20. I thought it was a great organization for young women, teaching poise, values, character and how to walk in high heels! I really remember wearing awful Suntan colored nylons – they were practically red in color.
We lived out of town and I didn’t go to the movies too often. I remember seeing West Side Story twice with my friend, Jan, who lived in town and saw it at least five times! Was there kissing in the back? I don’t remember a thing about that.