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These contemporary interior photos of Gibson Hall illustrate the building's
meeting space and kitchen facilities. The kitchen was extensively
remodeled during 2007 in memory of long-time member Linda Ruehle.
2007 photos by David Bangs
1940 Photo Courtesy of Washington State Archives
Shown here in its original configuration, the building could best be
described as an enclosable picnic shelter located in Issaquah's Town Park. Town
Park also included a campground and the fish hatchery. In 1948, community
volunteers added windows, doors, walls and a ceiling to create "Town Park Hall",
which opened in early 1949 for use by scouting troops and community groups such as the
Kiwanis Club.
I.H.S. #87-40-1
In 1952, The Kiwanis Club leased the building from the Town of
Issaquah for $1 per year and agreed to expand, maintain and manage the building
for the benefit of the community. Members of the Kiwanis Club remodeled the
building extensively and added the north wing (shown above), which includes a kitchen and
restrooms. The club renamed the building in memory of John H. Gibson.
On roof, from left to right:
Frank Castagno Ed K. Erickson Clifford Johnson Joe Santa
On ground, from left to right:
Ed Merrit Bert Dohl Mike Shain Hec. LaChance Clyde Mathews
Tony Walen Jim Brooks unknown Rod Stonebridge Dick Erickson
I.H.S. #72-21-14-123A
After the remodel, the building looked much as it does today, sans the urban
environment. The scenery
changed dramatically when Newport Way was cut through.
Building Description
Includes information from King County Historic Resources Inventory, 2003.
Gibson Hall, located on what was at one time the Town of Issaquah’s Free Camp Ground, was constructed as a Works Projects Administration (W.P.A.) project in 1936. The W.P.A. provided employment to many during the Great Depression. Other historic buildings in Issaquah constructed under the W.P.A. include the Issaquah Sportsman's Club and State Salmon Hatchery.
Gibson Hall is a log building with a rectangular plan and a bellcast roof form. The roof has wide eaves supported by brackets. The building has a large rock chimney located on the south elevation. The fenestration originally consisted of small square windows. Three larges openings were located on the east elevation. Two large windows flanked by doors have since replaced the openings. The building is clad in log stockade.
Since construction, a north wing has been added which now serves as a kitchen, and a lean-to section has been added to the back (west elevation) of the building to serve as storage.
1940 Photo Courtesy of Washington State Archives
This matching outbuilding provided restroom facilities until the building
gained its own restrooms with the addition of the north wing.
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“Gibson Hall 1920-1952: A Timeline of Gibson
Hall” Research provided by Monita Horn, Issaquah Historical Society
August 6, 1920 - Town Council: Petitions are to be circulated in favor of
expanding the town on the west, north and east. The Commercial Club
delivered a deed from the Pacific Coast Coal Co. dedicating 6A of land west
of Issaquah Creek for a public park (page 3) |
| Kiwanis And Gibson Hall From: 50 Years of Service: History of Issaquah Kiwanis by David Jepsen, written in 1979 Kiwanis was involved with the building of Gibson Hall from the beginning, but its hold was no stronger than the other service clubs and church groups in town, all of which provided volunteers to do the building in 1949. The Castagnos, Lee Hepler, Harold Stonebridge, Steve Somsak, Bill Bergsma, Ted Erickson, A.I. Garner, Einar Mattila, and Ted Stonebridge were some of the Kiwanians who helped build the log clubhouse. By late spring of ‘49, work on the clubhouse had slowed to a standstill. Other than a handful of Kiwanians, most of the volunteers lost interest in the project. Funds were low for completing the building, which by this time appeared to be headed nowhere. More than $2,000 was needed to get the project going. The discussion at a club meeting to provide the money went something like this. Mike Shane, a member, is discussing what the proposal is. While he’s talking, another member quietly circulates some bank notes. Before Shane could finish his short pitch to save the clubhouse, $2,500 worth of notes had been signed by the members. Kiwanis hasn’t let go of Gibson Hall since. In 1954 at the club’s 25th anniversary banquet, the sly Kiwanians burned the Gibson Hall mortgage. A note on the name: John H. Gibson, whose Issaquah exploits have already been detailed, received the honor of having the hall named after him. J.R. Stephenson chose that name in a name-the-town-hall contest. The prize was a new wristwatch, which Stephenson didn’t want and asked that the money be used for youth activities. Gibson Hall was the heaven the Kiwanians were looking for and they met there (except for a few months when they didn’t have a cook) from 1949 to 1975, when they moved to the Holiday Inn, the present meeting place. While at Gibson Hall, the members ate delicious, meals prepared for eight years by Laura Castle. |
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Linda Ruehle Kitchen From: July 2007 press release “The Kiwanis Club of Issaquah invites the community to attend the dedication ceremony for the newly remodeled kitchen of Gibson Hall, made possible by the generous donation of former Kiwanian, Linda Ruehle. Linda Ruehle, who was also the City Clerk for the City of Issaquah for over 30 years, left an endowment to the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah to remodel the outdated kitchen with the hopes the hall would better serve the Issaquah community. Linda was the first female to join the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah in 1987 and was its President in 1990-1991. Linda was an active member up until her death in 2005. The festivities will begin at 5 pm on Monday, August 6, 2007. Refreshments will be served.” |
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