WSHS Centennial Year

2010 marked a centennial celebration for West Seattle High School, who graduated their first class in 1910 (only 12 students!) , though the school was opened in 1902 as the West Seattle School. In 2010, the WSHS senior class numbered 257 students!

1998.45.15

Who are these people!?

2004.21.1590

The Log House Museum has thousands of photos in our collection Unfortunately, quite a large number of these photos have no identifying information! No names, no dates, no places, sometimes not even any clues. This makes it very difficult to interpret what is happening in the photo and to determine the relevance the photo has to the collection and overall mission. This problem of unidentified persons is not limited to museum collections though. This is a problem that is probably lurking in your home, in your family's photo collection. I know it is in mine! A good habit to get into is labeling photos on the back in pencil, so that future researchers will not be perplexed by the questions "Who ARE these people and why do I care?"

We do know that this photo belongs to Lucille's Photographic Salon Collection. Lucille Mason operated a photo studio in West Seattle from the 1960's-1990's. She had worked at other photo studios before that. By knowing the provenance of the accession this photo belongs to, a safe guess would be that this is a family who lived in or had ties to West Seattle. But her studio also specialized in photo restoration, so there is no guarantee that this photo was taken at the studio. What are some of the visual clues in this photo that may help us determine something about the family?

Holiday Open House 12/9/2010

Stop by the Log House Museum on Thursday December 9th, from 4-8pm for a special neighborhood open house!
How can you say no to apple cider, cookies and history?


FIC2010.30

For those special people on your holiday list
Purchase an autographed copy
of the newest Arcadia book,
Images of America “West Seattle”
Meet the people who brought west side history alive!

Holiday shopping close to home!

The museum is the best place to find your pick
of local history books and DVD’s including the original “West Side Story” and “Hiking Washington History” by local author, Judy Bentley.
Also find unique Christmas tree
ornaments, posters, cards, and of course “log” pencils, birdhouses, and much, much more.

Basit's Seattle Maps - 1912

Thanks to Paul Dorpat for sharing this amazing resource with us!




http://pauldorpat.com/?p=10957

Veteran's Day

Came across this photo today during some cataloging.


2000.35.54

Happy Veteran's Day!

Founder's Day is November 13th!

Stop by the museum this Saturday to celebrate! We will be having an Arcadia book signing event.

November 13th, 1851 was the day the Alki Landing Party arrived on the rainy shores of West Seattle aboard the Exact. Visit the museum to hear their story.



Also on November the 13th, SWSHS will be having our annual membership meeting. We are YOUR historical society, so attend and hear what we have accomplished this year, and what is coming up for 2011. Even if you are not a member, we encourage you to attend (and to join!)

The annual meeting of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society will be Saturday, November 13 from 10:30
a.m. to noon at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 9010 35th Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98126, 206-684-7455.

Chris Moore of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation will show images and talk about "Southwest
Seattle Landmarks: Present and Possible," detailing the structures in southwest Seattle that have already
become city or national landmarks and identifying buildings that might quality for future designation.

The membership meeting will begin at 10:30 with the program at 11:00, pastries and coffee provided. The
meeting is open to the public; members may vote in the business meeting. Membership information is
available at www.loghousemuseum.info, or call the Log House Museum at 206-938-5293.

Gala Photos and New books in the gift shop

If you are looking for photos from the 2010 Gala, head on over to Gail Ann's Photography. www.gailannphotography.com/SWSHSFundraiser2010/
I personally look terrible, but have fun trying to identify all those in costume.

Halloween candy is now 50% off so it must be time to start your holiday shopping. Don't forget Hanukkah comes early this year. Museum members always receive 10% off all LHM gift shop purchases.

Check out these new titles:


Images of America: West Seattle, the Log House Museum's labor of love


Postcard History Series: Seattle


Hiking Washington's History, by SWSHS board president Judy Bentley

Images of America - West Seattle book release

Join SWSHS staff and volunteers at Zeek's Pizza on 6459 California Ave SW on November 2nd, at 6:30 PM to celebrate the release of Images Of America: West Seattle. We are then moving over to Beveridge Place at 7pm to eat, read and be merry!

Books will be available for sale there. Everyone is welcome!

How To : Complete a landmark nomination...r

Information on the landmarking process... or just learn how to research the history of your own house or business!

Landmarks Nomination Workshop Sponsored by Historic Seattle

Location: Good Shepherd Center, Room 202, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle
Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Registration: Please register to reserve a spot (includes refreshments and a CD of resource materials)
Cost: $15 members; $20 general public; $10 students
Register on-line at www.historicseattle.org ( Deadline to register online is Wednesday, November 3)
Or register by phone at 206.622.6952

Learn the nuts and bolts of preparing a landmark nomination and the ins and outs of the process for designating landmarks. Find out where to go to do historical research. There will be an overview of Seattle’s diverse and unique historic resources, discussion of architectural styles, and a review of the preservation achievements of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Landmarks Preservation Board. Presenters include professional historians, architects, City staff, City Landmarks Preservation Board members, neighborhood activists, landmark owners, and Historic Seattle staff and volunteers. Further one-on-one training for preparing a landmark nomination will also be offered to those actively preparing a nomination.

Note: I took this class a few years ago and is a great resource in itself. For West Seattle-ites, our own Clay Eals will be presenting on the "Save the Admiral" campaign.

Need a Halloween costume idea?

How about this creepy guy?! Perfect timing by Brandie, one of our beloved collections volunteers, uncovered these two photos of a ghoulish fiend stalking Miss Vashon Island and scaring little kids as part of the Hi-Yu Festival! Date unknown.


2004.21.1562


2004.21.1563

Books in the Carriage House Gift Shop

We have a small gift shop within our museum. Many of the books available are not found elsewhere. Stop in and visit! We can also ship books....

“West Seattle Memories : Alki” by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society (SWSHS) $16.95
These are excerpts and stories from oral histories, and local photographs. A popular and fun booklet to read that can bring back memories….

“Memories of Southwest Seattle Businesses” by SWSHS. $18.95
Showcases the merchants and local businesses in our area.

“All Aboard for Luna Park” by Patricia Filer and John Bennett. $15.95
Luna Park images and history, including the Luna Park Natatorium.

“Welcome to the Green Land: A Children’s Activity Guide to the Birthplace of Seattle” By Patricia Filer and Cathy Fulton. 39 pages chock-full of activities, fold-out pages, including a creativity packet views the history of Seattle through the eyes of the First People, as well as those of the settlers who came to this land and developed a city. $24.95

“Four Wagons West”, hardcover. 24.95
The detailed journey of specifically the Denny family as they make their way across the Oregon Trail and with the assistance of the Terry, Low, Boren and Bell families, and other pioneers, (Maynard, Yesler, Collins) founded the city of Seattle.

“Elvida, Daughter of Harbor Avenue” By Ada Hallberg 9.95
This small booklet is loaded with the life and times of a colorful local Alki resident. It is a thoroughly entertaining account of early West Seattle.

“The Sons of the Profits” 12.95
This highly entertaining book is the “other-side” story of the early pioneers. The author is the founder of Underground Seattle.

And the West Seattle Herald/White Center News published:
“ West Side Story”, $14.95. We consider this the “bible” of West Seattle history.

October 15th Ghost Review

Set-up by PIHA was intensive as they ran monitoring equipment from the basement to the upstairs -- the museum was wired! Sarah Frederick patiently waits for recording equipment to be set up. Former Log House Museum resident (1959-early 1970's) Marcy Johnsen tells tales of the building to investigators and staff.

Paranormal Investigations of Historic America

We just completed a survey from PIHA (Paranormal Investigations of Historic America) last night. My questions were 1) why are these ghost hunting ventures always done at night, and 2) why do the lights need to be off?

And, for the public record, during the day I don't believe in ghosts, but at night in the dark it is a different story.
A big thank you to Vaughn Hubbard of PIHA, Electronic Voice Phenomena Specialist Dave and Sandy and Russ Wells -- radiohosts of Para Explorers and Dark moon rising talk shows.

Gala Information

Log House Museum - Southwest Seattle Historical Society Annual Gala

It’s a Historical Halloween Haunting!




Catch the ghosts of Seattle’s past for an entertainingly ghoulish fun-d-raising event!

Brunch, program and silent Auction

Date: Saturday October 30th 2010

Time: 11:30am to 2:30pm

Place: Salty’s on Alki

Tickets $65 adults; kids 13 and under $25; kids 4 and under are free!

All proceeds benefit the Log House Museum!

Please RSVP to (206) 938-5293

Costumes encouraged!

solutions for collections storage, cataloguing and digital access

solutions for collections storage, cataloguing and digital access

Check out this 4Culture blog post, featuring a photo of Collections Manager, Sarah Frederick, hard at work, cataloging photos in the Lucille Mason Collection.

How Would You Catalog This Photograph?

(Photo #2005.23.1077 Donated by Gerald Robinson)
A day in the life of a museum collection manager processing museum artifacts can yield many things. Education is an excellent tool to teach us how to process museum materials correctly, from preservation, public access, technological advances to long-term storage needs. What we need beyond that is to be able to fully describe what is happening in an image. This photo is from 1969 and shows 31st district Democrats (left to right) Curly Witherbee, Gordon Herr, Norm Ackley ??(spelling) Andy Hesa. If your job was to catalog this, what would you say? How would researchers access the information in this picture, (what would they want to know, how is this a helpful document for future generations...) and what keyword search terms could you use to describe it? And, is there anything missing here that is glaringly obvious for a 2010 individual that would not be noticed in 1969? Would you choose to note that in the description?

Another Chance to Support the Homestead

"This Place Matters" really says it all: we need to stand up for and defend the places that matter to us. Your contribution will help us preserve a sense of place in Seattle for future generations.

Here is another opportunity to be an advocate for the preservation of the Homestead. All money raised will be used by SWSHS for projects directly related to supporting and protecting the Homestead Restaurant.

Just copy and paste this website address into your browser to donate:
https://secure2.convio.net/nthp/site/Donation2?df_id=7442&7442.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=6hyw5rw4v4.app217b

Thanks again to all who voted during the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "This Place Matters" campaign!

Saturday September 18th : A Day at the Museum

West Seattle's First Jail Photo by Patrick Robinson. LHM#2010.10.4 Donated by White Center News West Seattle Herald.

Today turned out to be a stunning day! Brilliant sun... after buckets of rain falling yesterday. We started the day with a 10 am tour led by local Peder Nelson of his ol' stomping grounds -- Schmitz Park. The museum doors were then unlocked at 11. Today we had folks from as far away as Wales, Woodinville and 63rd Ave SW.(two blocks away.) Visitors and volunteers were looking for answers about : the Alki Lighthouse, the first West Seattle jail, what to do in the area and thoughts on novel ways to outreach oral histories in our "social media oriented" society.
Regarding the jail : it was barely a smidge of a memory for a fellow who lived in this area long ago. He said friends thought he was crazy for remembering something that did not exist, they denied knowledge of any jail in West Seattle, and could not find it on google. I copied off an article in our subject file excerpted from an early West Seattle Herald and he thanked us profusely for proving his sanity. I won't vouch for his sanity, but I will vouch for the existence of a jail! Torn down in 1975, many remember its location near Duwamish Head, the last location being SW Leon Pl. and Harbor Avenue. The article dated Feb. 19th, 1975 said it's original location was on the West Seattle ferry dock across Harbor Avenue, and since being moved had been partially buried by landslides and ivy, and for "the safety and appearance of the area" was bulldozed. West Seattle's early city hall, a simple single story structure next to the jail, was also removed.
Cheers for history! ~ Andrea
www.loghousemuseum.info

Smithsonian Day at the Log House Museum

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, The Log House Museum will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide to open their doors free of charge to all visitors who download the Museum Day Ticket from Smithsonian.com. A journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities.

Museum Day 2010 is poised to be the largest to date, outdoing last year’s record-breaking event. Over 300,000 museum-goers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Museum Day 2009. Last year, two million visitors logged on to www.smithsonian.com/museumday to learn more about the program.


The Log House Museum is a project of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and collects, preserves and shares the history of the Duwamish Peninsula. This is the society’s third year of participation, and the first with a walking tour included. The 50 minute tour will include the historic area surrounding the museum and begin at 10:45 am. The museum is open on Saturday 11-4 and located at 3003 61st Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116. www.loghousemuseum.info


For your free Museum Day Ticket visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people to participating museums and cultural venues. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. Listings and links to participating museums’ and sponsors’ sites can be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Toyota of North America is a sponsor of the 2010 Smithsonian Magazine Annual Museum Day.

Reminder : Rainy Day walkin' tour in the morn

Saturday, September 18th, 2010.
Reminder to you all to join us at 10 am for Peder Nelson's Walking Tour of Schmitz Park! Stroll the 53 acres of history, hear the tales, get dripped on by large fir trees... it will be a blast.
The tour will meet at the northwest entrance to the park on 58th Ave SW and SW Stevens St near Alki Elementary. Rain or Shine of course.

Hope to see you then,
Cheers for history! ~ Andrea
www.loghousemuseum.info

(Photo courtesy City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods)

Voting ended for This Place Matters !

Thanks all for voting for heritage through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We were #46 out of 119 applicants!! The Paramount Theatre in Texas won the $25,000 first place award. The National Trust for Historic Preservation wants you to know : Thanks again for your participation in the Community Challenge and for showing us that the power and passion of local preservation efforts. Here are the final standings in the Challenge with percentages shown for the top ten...



1 Paramount Theatre, Alicia Fillip (13.8% of the vote)

2. Tinker Cottage Museum, Beverly Broyles (11.3% of the vote)

3. Pemberville Freedom Historical Society, Pemberville Opera House, Carol Bailey (5.6% of the vote)

4. Madison Main Street Program, Ohio Theatre, Rhonda Deeg (3.8% of the vote)

5. Yankton County Historical Society, Mead Building, Crystal Nelson (3.7% of the vote)

6. The Chatham FIlm Club, Crandell Theatre, Mary Gail Bielbel. (3.6% of the vote)

7. Ford Highland Park, Woodward Avenue Action Association, Heather Carmona (2.9% of the vote)

8. Highland Park Heritage Trust, LA's Arroyo Seco region, Southwest Museum, Nicole Possert (2.9% of the vote)

9. Baltimore Heritage, Hebrew Orphan Asylum, Eli Pousson. (2.7% of the vote)

10. Cana Island Lighthouse, Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse, Trudy Herbst (2.7% of the vote)

11. Oxnard Historic Farm Park Foundation, Jeff Mauldhardt

12. The Downtown Turnaround Partnership, Madisonville, KY, Jenny Gibson

13. Historic Downtown Helena, Paula Oliver

14. Discover Jefferson City Foundation, Missouri State Penitentiary, Steve Picker

15. Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, Bob Hovansian

16. Stuart's Opera House, Nesonville Ohio, Brian Koscho.

17. Midland Theatre, Newark, OH, Steve Krempasky

18. Main Street Vermilion, Harbor View, Gary Barnby

19. Colorado Preservation, Amache, Nicole Moore.

20. Save Clifton Elementary, Elizabeth Schultz

21. Aldo Leopold Foundation, Jennifer Kobylecky

22. Downtown Milford, Elizabeth Purcell

23. Butler Downtown, Pennsylvania, Becky Smith.

24. Lake Norconian Club Foundation, Kevin Bash

25. Historic Pataskala Town Hall Inc, West Licking, Dianne Harris

26. New Holstein Historical Society, Historic Market Square, Terry Thiessen

27. Windsor Hotel, Finney County Preservation Alliance, Don Harness

28. Main Street Orion, Illinois, Deborah Ford

29. Goffstown's Public Library, Goffstown, New Hampshire, Robbie Grady.

30. Simmons' Stables Preservation Fund, Inc., International Saddlebred Hall of Fame, Mary Littrell

31. Sublette County Historical Society, Sommers Ranch Homestead

32. Hood County Courthouse, Preserve Granbury, Mary Saltarelli

33. Friends of Norman Studios Silent Film Museum, Jacksonville, FL, Laura Lavernia

34. Granada Theatre, Hollister, Sharlene Van Rooy

35. Belfast Maine, Anne Saggese.

36. Historic Tishomingo County Courthouse, TCHGS, Cindy Nelson

37. Preservation Trust of Spartanburg, Heather Marrow

38. Argentine Kommunity Awareness, St. John, Diana Aguirre.

39. Salem Preservation Society, Reilly Stadium Wall, Virginia Maria Grilli

40. Sgt. Alvin C. York Patriotic Foundation, Claudia Johnson

41. Cahokia Mounds, Lori Belknap

42. Historic Mill Village, Tupelo, MS, Stacey Gregory

43. Anniston City Land Company Building in Anniston, Alabama, Jennifer Edwards

44. Monroe Arts Center, Inc., Richard Daniels

45. The Midland Theater/Alamo Project, Coffeyville, Kansas, Janie Houston

46. Wyoming Valley School INC., Erica Esser

47. Historic Saint Paul, Carol Carey

48. Alameda Architectural Preservation Society, Nancy Hird

49. Historic Florissant, Franz Gittemeier House, Gretchen Crank

50. The Black American West Museum, Anthony Young.

51. Clark Park Coalition, Detroit, Deb Sumner

52. The Footlight Club, Eliot Hall, Eleza Cort

53. The Volunteer, Canal Corridor Association, Patti Cannon

54. Pasadena Heritage, Pasadena's Colorado Street Bridge, Jenna Kachour

55. Buffalo Soldiers Museum, Houston Light Guard Armory, Ed Udell

56. Chase Stone Barn Park, Kristin Kolkowski

57. Capitol Theatre, Burlington IA, Rebecca Anderson

58. Historic Denver, Molly Brown House, Andrea Malcomb

59. South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, Ashley River National Scenic Byway, Grace Nelson

60. Arnuadville Experiment, Frederick l'Ecole des Arts, Jill Hackney

61. Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library, John Rasmusson

62. Johnsville Centrifuge & Science Museum, Cynthia Daymon

63. Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park, Kathleen Quigley.

64. Southwest Seattle Historical Society, the Fir Lodge, Andrea Mercado

65. Carnegie Restoration Project, Main Street Beatrice, Maria Waltos

66. Port Washington Historical Society,1929 Fire Engine House, Jackie.

67. Clay City United Methodist Church, Stella Schlegel

68. Heritage Museum of Orange County, Kellog House, Sharon Brown

69. Tiffin Historic Trust, Spiva Manley House, Theresa Sullivan

70. Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization/CURE, Mary Gillespie

71. Adams County House of History, Derek Lumsden

72. Neighborhood Ministries, Mark Samuel, Sheet and Tube Company Homes, Ohio.

73. Mineral Point Historical Society, Orchard Lawn and Gundry Family, Mark Runge.

74. DCPL, Union Station, Rebecca Miller

75. South Salt Lake Arts Council, Troy Bennett.

76. Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People, Eric Baker Home, Chuck Schuller.

77. Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives, Clay County, MO, Kevin Morgan

78. Jefferson's Poplar Forest, Pattie Burgh

79. Building a Better Boyertown, Library Project, Heather Oxenford.

80. Concerned Citizens of Sol Legare, Seashore Farmers' Lodge Museum & Cultural Center.

81. HoLa Hora Latina, Admiral Farragut's Birthplace, Knox Heritage, Coral Getino/Margaret Kline

82. Building a Better Boyertown, State Theatre, Heather Oxenford.

83. Historic Newton, Durant Kenrick House, Melissa Westlake

84. Main Street Elyria, Lorrain County Transportation Center, Tamela Grubb

85. Beauregard Parish Historical Jail, Louisiana, Tayra DeHoven

86. Charleston West Side Main Street, Staats Hospital, Patricia McGill

87. Villages Folk School, Morris Park, Dorothy Gilbert

88. Landusky Foundation, Herold Heppner

89. Romeo Historical Society, Gray's Opera House, Susan Kane

90. Barton County Arts Council, Inc, Great Bend, Kansas, Karen Neuforth

91. Preservation Oklahoma, Hopewell Church, Katie Friddle

92. Capitol Theatre Restoration, Flint MI, Scott Whipple

93. Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, Bobby Wagner

94. Dodge City, KS, Carnegie Center for the Arts, Dona Lancaster.

95. Wichita Scottish Rite, Lisa Sparks, KS.

96. Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, Sean Thomas

97. Building a Better Boyertown Crane Preservation, Heather Oxenford.

98. Rockville Downtown Association, Inc., Music Museum, Clifford Edwards.

99. Main Street Waterloo, the Black's Building, Mark Biersner.

100. Nebraska State Capitol Fourth Fountains Project, JL Schmidt

101. Bryant Baptist Church, Verna Brown

102. Friends of the Foster Farmhouse, Cheryl Flammer

103. Historic Rialto Theater, Beeville, Texas, Molly Young

104. Mount Ida Preservation Association, Carol Durant.

105. Historic Sutherland-Wilson Farm Museum, Pittsfield Township Historical Society, Betty LeClair

106. Thomas Paine Cottage, Huguenot and New Rochelle Historical Association, Jennifer Fowler.

107. Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin, Heidi Royal

108. Save The Rosenwald Coalition, Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments, Bobbie Johnson

109. Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, Maggie Leyman

110. Agape Community Center

111. Preservation Through Progress, Preservation House, Akron Ohio, Diane Orender

112. Japanese Cultural and Community Center, Paul Osaki, CA

113. Renaissance Arts Center, Inc., Historic Wilson Theatre, Christine Jackson

114. Grand Junction Depot, Bennett Boeschenstein, Western Colorado Interpretive.

115. Waukesha County Museum, Waukesha County Historical Society Museum, Jim Hahn

116. Eagles Halls, Fort Bragg, CA, Ruth Sparks.

117. Booth Theatre Foundation, Kym Kayes, Independence KS.

118. The Center for African American History, Immanuel Institute, Aiken, SC, Jo-Anne Saunders.

119. Historic Georgetown, Fava's, Kitty Dougoud.



Cheers for History! ~ Andrea www.loghousemuseum.info

Vote NOW for historic preservation for the Duwamish Peninsula!

Vote before Wednesday, September 15th to award the Southwest Seattle Historical Society $25,000 for preservation education and advocacy
on the Duwamish Peninsula.


The Southwest Seattle Historical Society (SWSHS) is competing with other not-for-profits nationwide in the National Trust for Historic Preservation “This Place Matters” photo contest. The grant supports communities across the country who post a photo and a story of one place in their community that matters – then rally online supporters around that place for the chance to win $25,000. We need your vote! The SWSHS is the only organization competing for this award in Washington State and one of only a few on the West Coast. To vote, visit the This Place Matters webpage (cut and paste the following) http://my.preservationnation.org/site/PageNavigator/TPM_CC_Map
and click on the Washington blue dot, and "View Web Page" then you are free to register to vote.

On July 4th, 2010, the people of Seattle stood up for a century-old West Seattle city landmark. Originally called the Fir Lodge, the 106-year-old log structure has been known for decades as the Alki Homestead restaurant. The building was damaged by a January 2009 fire and since then has sat vacant. The SWSHS operates the Log House Museum, which was formerly the carriage house for the Fir Lodge estate, and now sits a half-block away. The society’s mission includes advocacy for the preservation of historic sites. Any awards received from the National Trust for Historic Preservation would fund landmark advocacy and preservation education on the Duwamish Peninsula.


Cheers for History! Andrea ~
www.loghousemuseum.info

September 18th Entertaining Walking Tour - Old Growth Forest Schmitz Park

Cheers for History! Andrea ~
www.loghousemuseum.info
















WHEN : September 18th, at 10:00am

WHO : Join local historian Peder Nelson on a walking tour of West Seattle's old-growth gem, Schmitz Preserve Park. Learn how this beautiful city park came to be and how it has remained an urban forest while traversing its many scenic trails. Experience West Seattle in its natural state!

WHERE : The tour will meet at the northwest entrance to the park on 58th Ave SW and SW Stevens St near Alki Elementary. 98116, West Seattle. Rain or Shine of course.

Free with museum membership (available pre-tour) or $5 donation.

MORE INFORMATION : Visit www.loghousemuseum.info or call 206-938-5293



Images Courtesy : (right)City of Seattle Parks and Recreation. Modern walking trail map
(left) Seattle Municipal Archives, Sherwood Collection

Sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society (501C3) all proceeds benefit the Log House Museum

August Public Walking History Tour - Riverside

To be specific ... Saturday, August 28, 2010, 10 a.m. Seattle poet and writer Richard Hugo wrote of his fascination with this community of fishermen in The Real West Marginal Way.Walk the old neighborhood of Riverside on the northwest side of the Duwamish River, below Pigeon Point and over the hill from Delridge. Settlement origins go back to the Duwamish tribe, later settled by Croatian immigrants in the early 1900’s. They formed a multi-ethnic neighborhood of European immigrants where Duwamish camps and longhouses had once been. As the Duwamish River was straightened and dredged, the residential community of Riverside co-existed with manufacturing and shipbuilding. The tour is sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and will be led by first-generation resident Frank Zuvela. Last time this was one of the most popular walks... an easy pace is set, with frequent stops and tales from Riverside of the past sixty years.
Donation requested... or free attendance with a new museum membership!



Directions: From the stoplight at Spokane Street and Delridge Way, take W. Marginal Way east. After it curves under the low bridge over the Duwamish River, take the first right and park in the parking area on W. Marginal Pl. to the north.

Homestead - Fir Lodge Landmark documentation

For further perusing, here is a link to all the landmarked structures in SW Seattle... including the Fir Lodge / Alki Homestead.
www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/sw.htm

Homestead update as per the westseattleblog.com

If you are so inclined for a whole lotta reading, this link will lead you through all the Homestead news since the fire in January of 2009. The West Seattle blog has links to Dept. of Planning and Development Homestead information and every wee bit of information that is out there.
www.westseattleblog.com/category/alki-Homestead

This Place Matters - Homestead Fir Lodge

July 4th, 2010... close to 200 folks showed their support for the 1904 former Fir Lodge... now called the Homestead Restaurant. The street was closed off, Paul Dorpat and Jean Sherrard stood on the second floor of the apartment across the street and took a myriad of photographs to document the moment. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (http://www.preservationnation.org/) developed this community-friendly method of getting involved in your history. Go ahead and visit the site and see the images sent in of all the locations around the country that have meaning within their community. Feel free to print out your own "This Place Matters" sign, stand proudly in front of your fave spot wherever that may be... and then send it off to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Click on photo to enlarge

Photo Courtesy Jean Sherrard www.pauldorpat.com

Youtube - Fir Lodge/Homestead

The day of July 4th 2010 was captured in many ways... here is two of the youtube versions!
Above was composed by Jean Sherrard and Clay Eals, below is the KOMO TV version.



Courtesy Jean Sherrard and Paul Dorpat. http://www.pauldorpat.com




Courtesy KOMO TV, Seattle.

All and any news of : This Place Matters

The blog of Paul Dorpat and Jean Sherrard:
http://pauldorpat.com/?p=7856


West Seattle Blog:
http://westseattleblog.com/2010/07/about-200-turn-out-for-alki-homestead-this-place-matters-photo


West Seattle Herald:
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2010/07/04/news/slideshow-place-matters-highlights-historic-signi


KING5-TV:
http://www.king5.com/video?id=97777034&sec=549122

KOMO-TV:
http://westseattle.komonews.com/content/group-photo-hopes-raise-awareness-alki-homestead


KCPQ Fox Q13 News:
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-070410-alkihomestead,0,6869737.story

Historic Seattle blog:
http://main2seattle.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/almost-200-people-turn-out-to-say-this-place-matters-at-alki-homestead-on-july-4th/#more-743

Fir Lodge/Homestead building update 12/2009

Threatened Seattle Landmark Fir Lodge/Homestead Restaurant

The owner of the Alki Homestead restaurant, Tom Lin, has had a preliminary meeting with the Architectural Review Committee of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board concerning the building that has housed the restaurant. Lin told the committee he plans to ask for a certificate of approval to demolish the 105-year-old Fir Lodge and does not plan to rehabilitate the structure.

This news follows the January 2009 fire in which a portion of the Homestead’s second floor and roof were damaged and the first-floor restaurant suffered severe smoke damage. (For more information on the original fire see www.westseattleblog.com.)

Because the Homestead has been given landmark designation by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board since 1996, any changes, including demolition of the structure, must be approved by the board. As per the designation documents the exterior of the building, including the roof; the first floor interior, excluding the kitchen and bathrooms, and the site, excluding minor plantings, have been landmarked (http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/SW.htm).

The Architectural Review Committee toured the site on December 4. Following the tour, if Lin applies for a certificate of approval, the committee will make a recommendation to the full board, and the board will vote to approve or not approve demolition.

In the event of the Homestead’s demolition, Lin has said that he plans to construct new buildings on the site. At a meeting of the Alki Community Council in September, he mentioned potential plans for a lodge, bar, spa and living accommodations.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society and owner Doris Nelson nominated the Homestead for landmark status in 1995. The SWSHS’s Log House Museum has heard countless concerns from community members and heritage groups who have expressed a strong reaction to the lack of action in the past 11 months to preserve the Homestead. Part of the Society's mission is "to preserve historic sites," and we fittingly have taken leadership in supporting the Homestead and other landmarked structures on the Duwamish Peninsula.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society operates the Log House Museum, which was built as part of the Fir Lodge estate in 1904 and to which the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board also granted landmark status in 1996. The Society initiated and oversaw the preservation and restoration of the Log House Museum. We know that rehabilitation of this type of building is possible, and we realize the value the Homestead building has to West Seattle, Seattle and the region. We have been supported in this advocacy by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, 4Culture and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Your opinion counts. Is this building important to Seattle's history? Community history? West Seattle? Seattle? The region? To be kept informed of developments in its preservation and restoration, monitor this web site, the Log House Museum’s Facebook or e-mail the Society at loghousemuseum@comcast.net.

Thank you!

The Log House Museum

Welcome to the Log House Museum. We will share event info, how-to restore your log structure, landmark information and whatever is on our to-do list at the moment.