PRESERVING THE STORIES OF ISSAQUAH
A Memory Book Project of the
Issaquah Historical Society
Colleen A. Petersen
April 28, 1947
I’ve lived here all of my life.
I stayed here because my parents were here, I had a job here, and at that time I enjoyed the town.
Clark Elementary, Issaquah Junior High, and Issaquah High School.
I go back to the first Bush’s.
I remember starting high school in the old building, double shifting after the earthquake, and finally getting into our new high school building. I was in the locker bay when we got word of John Kennedy’s death. That was a sad day.
I didn’t have Minnie as a teacher, but I was privileged to have her as a friend. She’s one of the few people I’ve known to have an incredible wealth of memory that she would share with others.
I was a little too young for the earthquake damage to the schools in 1949, but our schools were damaged in 1965. Because of it, we had to double shift and share the high school building with the junior high kids until we could get into our new high school.
I was in the Home Ec. Club, which always served milk and cookies to the sports players after their games. Ha ha. It’s funny when I think back on it now. I participated in several school plays and musicals. I was also in FNA (Future Nurses of America) and we worked as candy stripers at the Villa.
My friends and I all had jobs in the summer. One friend was state president of the Baptist youth, so we spent a lot of time supporting her by accompanying her when she visited many different churches. If we had free time, my aunt’s house on Lake Sammamish was a favorite place. As for getting punished, the town was so small that if someone saw you doing something, your parents would already know about it by the time you got home.
Mr. Brady’s Dry Goods Store was located a little bit east of where the Texaco on Front and Sunset is now. You could buy everything from material to shoes. I remember talking to Mr. Brady about saving a sweater that I was saving money to buy for my brother’s Christmas present. It took me a long time to save because it cost $13.00, but he never told and he never let on to my brother. Mr. Cussac’s Leather and Harness Shop smelled like no other. The floor was wooden, the shoes were all leather, and Mr. Cussac had a genuine scar from dueling. He had a thick accent and had a distinct manner about him when he spoke.
The first beauty shop that I went to was Alpha’s. It had a large old-fashioned perm machine and a big fluffy grey kitty. After that we went to Evan’s Salon of Beauty. A popular hairdo was the D.A., and later the Beehive.
What wasn’t memorable about Lewis Hardware! You could get just about anything you needed and they would tell you how it worked at the same time. It was always like going home. My mom purchased my new green bicycle there for my twelfth birthday. Ed Lewis delivered it by riding it to my house! What a thrill!
We bought our groceries at Stevens’, which was in the IOOF building. The sweetest people in the world owned that store! Harry and Rae Stevens. If you wanted cheese you would ask for a pound or so and Harry would pull out a huge knife and cut you the amount you had asked for.
I can’t remember buying anything at the Grange, but I do remember having what I thought was a huge frozen food locker. I also remember when the refrigeration broke and lots of food went bad.
As a kid there was the Honeysuckle, which was run by Tom Drylie. It was also the place where you caught the bus to go to Seattle. Mr. Drylie was very stiff and tall and he also had an artificial leg, which made all of us kids curious. Mike Shane’s Shamrock had great ice cream, green rivers, and a drink called brown cow.
Boehm’s Candy was a real treat with my favorite being Truffles. We were all surprised when Mr. Boehm married a girl near our age. It was to be his only marriage. I did know of a friend who had a birthday party upstairs in the chalet.
I remember of a tavern at the intersection of Sunset and Newport. It was called Park Inn, and there was a carport covered with grapes. Also, behind it had many cabins that were rented out.
Lawill’s drug store was a place of wonder. Not only did it carry a myriad of things but it had two old-fashioned ice cream parlor chairs inside.
The coming to town of the carnival was the beginning of the Labor Day Celebration. It came on Friday, Carnival Night was Saturday, the “Kiddie Parade” was Sunday, and the “Big Parade” was on Monday. Growing up, I participated in both parades. A queen was chosen to reign over the festivities.
Every year was one to look forward to. I loved going to play bingo at the booth in memorial field and also eating the corn on the cob at the Demolay booth.
What special activities were there at Labor Day Celebrations, or at Salmon Days? How has Salmon Days changed over time?
The carnival at Labor Day was always a highlight, especially its’ large Ferris wheel. There was also a big merry-go-round and the “octopus.” The crowning of our queen was always exciting. This was a time when the townsfolk could really come together and socialize. Labor Day was more of a town celebration than Salmon Days has been. At Salmon Days you can walk the street and never see anyone you know. Salmon Days is more of an arts fair.
The Easter egg hunt at Gibson Park was a highlight for the youngsters. To find the egg wrapped in silver meant you took home a big chocolate bunny. But to find the egg wrapped in gold meant you took home a real live bunny! My brother taught me to pass up the little candy eggs and go straight for the hard-boiled ones. I also remember a really wonderful town talent show held at the old high school where the pool is now. The older men really could sing up a storm! The old Morgan gym was the site where we held our Campfire council fires. One in particular was memorable to me when I received so many beads that they went clear to the floor when placed around my neck.
Everyone spent a lot of free time outside whether it was gardening, picnicking, or just having fun. Most Saturdays I would get up early, put on my boots, get my fishing basket that held a butter horn that my mom had wrapped, and off I would go with my dad. He always told me to be quiet or I would scare the fish – and I believed him! He also took me on regular walks in the woods. Most of the time, he would take me until I got lost and then make me find our way home. We also would look for tracks whether it was bear or cougar. Yes they have been around that long!
People who fished in Issaquah Creek didn’t take time to count their catch. They were plentiful and large. A two-foot trout was not uncommon. I and every other kid in town fished in the derby. There were always a few who would cheat, but they never won. Now, too many people and buildings have taken away the pleasures of yesterday.
Vasa Park meant hours of roller-skating under the disco ball. It was a night of fun doing the hokey-pokey, etc., and talking with friends.
Sammamish, Beaver, and Pine Lakes were favorites for summer swimming and picnicking. Issaquah Creek was also a favorite for swimming with several good swimming holes.
The Monohon Mill was built next to East Lake Sammamish. The Red Hall’s mill was close to home. My brother and I would take the red wagon and go there to get gunny sacks full of sawdust. I would get to ride part way home on top of the sacks before he made me get off. We also would cut through there to go fishing or to visit Husky Prue. It was a sad day when the Preston Mill closed for good. Never again were we to see those huge logs. The Highpoint Mill had a very loud whistle like most, but this whistle we know is sitting in a house in Sequim, Washington.
The salmon hatchery has provided everything from entertainment and education to jobs. It used to have beautiful ponds on the backside. They had waterwheels and tall yellow iris. My grandpa worked there at one time.
The high school boys often worked in the hay fields during the summer. The farms of Issaquah were basically dairy and hay.
We traveled to Seattle a couple of times a month. We usually took the bus to get there. Sometimes we had a doctor or dentist appointment and sometimes it was just for shopping. Mornings always got me a buttterhorn and hot chocolate at Bartell's. Lunch sometimes was a hamburger and milk shake at the Copper Kitchen. When I was sixteen I began working for a doctor in Seattle, still taking the bus.
The construction of I-90 made it easier to get where you wanted. No more going around through Renton. Life was pretty big when we had our own four-lane.
I didn’t buy my first car from any of these dealerships, but I do remember going in to get our flags for school patrol from Jerry Malone’s, which used to be the Hepler Dealership.
Dances were held there though I was too small to attend. I remember going to boxing matches when Pete Radamaker had his training camp here. A paper article originating in Florida referred to Radamaker’s training camp as being in “Issaquah, an Indian encampment outside of Seattle.”
I remember attending wedding receptions in the Grange Hall. As I remember, the floor was long and slick – good for dancing.
My memories were mainly listening to memories of my dad and others. I do remember getting to ride in the coal cars along Issaquah Creek.
I saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, my favorite – Tammy, and many more. Children’s admission was 25cents and a penny for the governor. Adults admission was 50cents and two pennies for the governor. I was always too scared to go to the back upper corner, but we always kept an eye on it to see who did go!
As a child I attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. I remember the choir loft and the lady with the big bun on her head. I remember my grandmother being wheeled in on a stretcher to attend a wedding, and most of all, I remember on Easter morning when I lost the button on my new white fuzzy coat. I could see it, but couldn’t reach it until it was time to kneel. What an experience! When I was thirteen, I went to the brand-new in town Our Savior Lutheran Church. We met at the old Issaquah Theater. One Sunday, Pastor Collard was a little too long winded. His three year old son who had been so patient had had enough. At one of the responses, Paul replied “Amen Daddy, Amen!” It gave a chuckle to the congregation and a gentle reminder to Pastor Collard.