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