PRESERVING THE STORIES OF ISSAQUAH
A Memory Book Project of the
Issaquah Historical Society
Kenneth Schmelzer
1925
Arrived in Issaquah June, 1951.
Accepted a job teaching “wood shop” Industrial Arts in Issaquah High School, school year of 1951.
Retired from teaching 1982 and decided that Issaquah “was” a good place to spend retirement.
We had just moved into a new High School when the 1965 quake occurred. The lights to the classroom dimmed and went out. As the power panel for my wing of the school was placed in a small room at the rear of my classroom, I discovered the circuit breaker had tripped. Just as I threw the breaker handle into place, I heard this rumble, looked out the door into my classroom and noticed the floor moving up and down. I shouted to the 24 boys in the class to stay in the room and wait until the movement subsided. Later inspection proved that no damage to the building had occurred! We went on double shift the next day as the Junior High had been damaged beyond repair.
1. Cussac's Shoe Store. Still in business in 1951.
2. Tom Drylie's “Honeysuckle.” Old fashioned soda parlor, soda bar and booths. Our first meal upon arriving in Issaquah, June 1951. A milkshake and cheese sandwich. Tom was also the local Greyhound bus agent that stopped in front of his business. They still had the iron stools at the bar and the “cut” glass soda glasses.
3. Red and White Market. Located where the entrance to Issaquah Market is now.
4. Dave Lewis’ Barber Shop and Brady's Department Store about where the service station is located at Sunset and Front Street.
5. Maulsby's Department Store. Located about where Edward D. Jones is now. Best clothing store Issaquah ever had, even now. Carried shirts, suits, Filson jackets, work clothes, women’s wear, men’s hats, sewing yardage, hunting clothes.
6. Fischer's Market. Still had sawdust on the floor in 1951.
7. Washington State Bank. Only two tellers in 1951.
8. Dahlbottom 10 cent Store. Next to Peters Agency. Mrs. Dahlbottom was a sister to Mrs. Maulsby.
The ceiling high stack of small drawers with a sliding ladder. These were full of small parts dating back to ?. If you needed old hardware for your house, Tom Lewis could locate same in one of these drawers.
In 1951 Tony Whalen arrived on the steps of the “wood shop” with a “split in two pieces” meat cutters block. He wanted it fixed and assumed that any good woodshop teacher worth his “salt” could solve his problem. Now that block was about 30 inches square of rock hard maple. How to drill several holes through it was a problem. I welded a ¼ inch rod to an auger bit and drilled the block several times and inserted threaded rods to pull the two sections together. Tony picked up his block the next day and returned to his meat market. The next time I went shopping at Tony and Johnny’s, Tony handed me a package wrapped in butcher paper. It contained four of the finest “T bone” steaks I have ever cooked.
Good meat market, good food locker and good variety of “basic” groceries. Managed by Mr. Kramer. They always had an extensive line of groceries and there was a Dance Hall upstairs.
“The Honeysuckle” preceded Rena's Café.
The Drylie family lived upstairs.
Local bars and saloons were a “No-No” for a school teacher in Issaquah in 1951. I did not even by beer at the grocery store!
Stonebridge's Tavern located where the bath fixture store is now.
Union Tavern located where it still is.
There was a Tavern where the new library is now.
Park Inn located where the road leading to Gibson Hall intersects with Sunset.
Airport Tavern located where Costco is now.
There may have been a tavern on Goode's Corner in 1951.
How about Grange Mercantile now Chinese furniture, etc., etc.
It was located where Edward D. Jones office is now. There in 1951 Mr. Lawill was very polite and reserved acting.
Also Henniger's Drug Store in 1951 or so (can’t remember), ask Eric Erickson.
Dr. Hillery and Ross Grimm were only doctors in Issaquah at that time.
Please ask Walt Seil about his father who was a memorable police officer (the only one) in 1951.
Mayor Flintoft who was the local undertaker.
Junior Chamber of Commerce put the new street signs up. Contact Roy Peterson ex city councilman at that time.
Football games at Memorial Field. Weather freezing cold, seems like the whole town tuned out for the game. Viewers stand built in 1951 of World War II lumber furnished by Issaquah School District. Located where library is now. A number of ex-Issaquah players always coached from the side-lines even though the school had a football coach on the field.
Ask Eric Erickson about this. Charles Fallstrom and Dan Coyle were coaches in 1951.
A lot of times there was a fist fight after the game.
195? Something the Junior Chamber of Commerce made the Christmas lights and decorations for Front Street. Had a turkey raffle to raise funds. After that, sold birthday calendars to raise funds. This started the annual Christmas light decorations.
Hiked all of the old railroad grades on Tiger Mountain before Issaquah Alps was ever thought of.
Favorite Hike: A number of men teachers from the High School used to hike to the radio beacon on Squak Mountain and eat supper watching the sun go down over the Seattle skyline and walk back in the dark with flashlights.
I have a history of Wood and Iverson, Inc. now being published. It should be ready by summer.
The photograph in the Memory Book was shot on Tiger Mountain road crossing. It is a Wood and Iverson Climax Locomotive.
It stopped the number of collisions at the intersection of Front and (Gilman Blvd.) I-10. No stop light, just a caution light. You had to look both ways and if all clear, “Floor it” to go out East Lake Sammamish Parkway. Many, many wrecks there.
1953 Chevrolet bought from Stonebridge Chevrolet.
Washington state Bank: contact Hazel Wilfong. (Bicycle shop now)
M. Johnson Lumber Company: Contact Gary LaChance. (Chinese restaurant)
Stevens Grocery Store: Contact Hazel Wilfong. (About where barbershop is)
Brady's Department store: Contact Clint Brady.
Fasanos: Contact Walt Seil or Erick Erickson (Next to Log Cabin tavern)
U. S. Post Office: 1951 next to Fish Hatchery.
Reg. Thomas’s Furniture Store: Now Allens’.
Dr. Hillery.
Clive Berry Flora Shop: Contact Roy Peterson.
Issaquah Laundry: Contact Hazel Wilfong. (Behind Flintofts)
AUTHOR of THIS MEMORY BOOK (signature and date)
Kenneth Schmelzer, February 26, 2001