HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 Issue 1 - Let's Roll, The History of RollerlandMarch 2006 Volume 37, Number 1
Continued on page 4Masthead Photo: Rollerland as seen from the front entrance.
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By Tom Monahan
PrefaceThe current popularity of in-line roller skating, and the construction of Renton’s new skating area in Liberty Park mightseem, to those unaware of the city’s history, like a totally new development. But Renton has a long history of daringindividuals who risked pain, injury and public humiliation, by strapping on a pair of roller skates and taking to the rink. Backbefore the invention of in-line skates and nationally televised competitions, Renton’s roller-racers went to a special placeto show off their skill on four wheels. That place was called Rollerland.
The History of Rollerland -“The Nation’s Finest Skating Pavilion.”
LET’S ROLL!LET’S ROLL!LET’S ROLL!LET’S ROLL!LET’S ROLL!
Skaters dressed for a performance line up in the practice room at Rollerland.
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Renton Historical QuarterlySusie Bressan, Graphic Design & LayoutLouise George, Copy EditorDaisy Ward, Text Input & Copy EditorKarl Hurst, City of Renton Print and Mail Services
Contributing AuthorsTom Monahan
Renton Historical Society
Board of Trustees Bob Hunt, PresidentSandra Meyer, Vice PresidentLaura Clawson, Secretary Pro-TemPaula Tran, TreasurerKevin McQuiller, '08Marge Richter '08Robert Bonner '08Ron Stroben '08Laura Clawson, '06Doug Kyes, '06Larry Sleeth, '06Patty Law, '07Vicky Persson, '07Jerrilynn Hadley, '07Terri Briere, City Liaison
Museum StaffElizabeth Stewart, Museum SupervisorDaisy Ward, Administrative AssistantDorota Rahn, Volunteer CoordinatorTom Monahan, Research AssistantLaura Crawford, Collections ManagerPearl Jacobson, RegistrarLouise George, SecretaryRenton Historical Museum235 Mill Avenue SouthRenton, WA 98055-2133Phone: 425.255.2330FAX: 425.255.1570
Board Meetings: Please call the museumfor time and location.
Hours:Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pmAdmission:$3 for adults$1 for childrenAlways free to members and to thegeneral public on the first Wednesdayand third Saturday of the month.
By Bob Hunt, PresidentPresident's Message
The More Things Change...Elizabeth Stewart has accepted an offer to become our next Museum Supervi-sor. You can read a brief introduction from her elsewhere in this quarterly.Those who have met her, and many who are eagerly awaiting their chance, areexcited at the prospect of her ideas, her energy and her enthusiasm for what wecan do together with our museum. Because of a variety of timing issues, wewon’t have her officially aboard until April 17th, but she has already found asatisfactory residence here in town and she is in the process of getting herselfmoved and settled. We’ll be making a big fuss about her at the Annual Mem-bership Meeting on June 7th at the Museum, but you can come down beforethen and bend her ear. I think you’ll be equally as excited.Some of the Board members and spouses got to take a short field trip down tothe White River Valley Museum in Auburn recently. If you haven’t taken thetrip, I highly recommend it. Their facility has many of the things that we couldwish for here: space to work (and even space for a working gift shop), tocatalog and research, to meet and educate, and most of all to exhibit and display.One gallery is dedicated to new exhibits that rotate approximately quarterly.Their geographic scope is larger, so the topics are a bit broader in some areasthan what we might cover in our permanent gallery. The exhibits are interestingand well put together, with some brief reading along the way. The location iswonderfully situated near the library, a beautiful park and the senior center in acentral, but quiet part of town.But it isn’t just the space that makes White River an interesting museum. Theyhave an excellent staff and an army of volunteers who seem to share a visionthat has lasted longer than any one person or group. Looking at the list ofdonors and supporters who’ve helped them achieve this vision, I’d guess thatthey have communicated that vision well and shared it with the community. Thedocents are proud of their place and it shows.I see many of these same characteristics in our people here. We’ve taken aslower (and certainly less expensive) road to get to where we are and our goalsare not the same. But we have been on a journey for some years and donesome good things along the way. Many of you have provided most of the sweatand produced some wonderful results. Still, I hear from you that you want tosee new exhibits, see some of the artifacts that don’t get out from storage, andsee some of the things that you, your family and friends have donated come outand tell our stories. Maybe some freshness in the gallery or some exhibitsloaned from other places would add to the value of having a museum here inRenton.The work of the last few years has been to improve our organization. Now wewill start the process of change out where you can see it. And, as with all ofthe changes that we’ve experienced over the years, you get to be part of it andyour efforts will be the actual work that makes it something even better anduniquely Renton. Are you ready to have your stories turn into a display or anevent? Let’s get to work.
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Renton Historical QuarterlyRenton Museum ReportBy Elizabeth P. Stewart
Someone on the museum board recently told me that everyone used to enjoyhearing Steve Anderson’s stories; in that tradition, instead of a dry retelling ofmy past accomplishments, I thought I’d introduce myself as new MuseumSupervisor with a story. My career in history began after my divorce years agowhen I decided to go back to school and finish my B.A. I moved from Floridato attend the University of South Carolina, planning ultimately to get an M.A. inHistoric Preservation. I knew what I wanted to study, but I also wanted to trylots of different kinds of history: Latin American, Russian, European, in additionto American History.
In my second year, I registered for a course on the history of Mexico taught byProfessor Michael Scardaville, who also happened to be Chair of the PublicHistory M.A. program. Mike believed that historians can be as useful andfulfilled working outside the university, a notion that has to be sold to manyacademics. He was also dedicated to accurate history that is fair to the spirit ofthe times it tries to recreate. His course focused on the everyday lives ofindividuals caught up in sweeping social and political change: conquest by theSpanish, the Mexican Revolution, and the vagaries of American foreign policy.Perhaps because I was studying a history so different from ours, I became evenmore powerfully aware of the ways in which the past affects every one of us.By the time I took the final exam—a complicated essay question asking studentsto use the example of one small city to explain which historical events mostchanged the nation—I had become captivated by the interplay between localand national history.
After reading my final exam, Mike took me aside and asked me what myaspirations were. What did I hope to do with my degree, he wondered? Iexplained that my plan was to study Historic Preservation after finishing myB.A. He looked at me with some puzzlement, and patiently explained thatsomeone like me, interested in historical change, would probably be less thanstimulated by the “bricks and mortar” focus of the Historic Preservation courseof study. In a conversation that would change my life, this very astute professorencouraged me to consider going on for a Ph.D. I knew instantly that he wasright about my interests.
That one course and that one conversation changed the direction of my life; tenyears later I completed my Ph.D. in American History. I have organizedexhibits and public programming, I have worked with oral history and materialculture, I have written publications and exhibit text—all the things a historiandoes in a museum setting. These experiences have demonstrated to me thatunderstanding history is essential to making sense of the world. Particularly in acity like Renton, where change is coming so fast, the Renton Historical Museumcan help influence the direction of the community’s future by preserving, docu-menting, and educating about its heritage. I am thrilled to have the opportunityto work with Dorota, Tom, Daisy, the Board, museum volunteers, and the City ofRenton to make the Renton Historical Museum a community heritage centerthat the whole city can be proud of!
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Let's Roll continued from page 1
Rollin’ Rollin’ rollin’….
Back before television and computers gave everyone more reasons to stay at home, recreational activities usually involvedgoing out and interacting with the public to socialize and stay fit. With the popularization of the roller rink as a place tohave fun and get exercise, a “Golden Age of Roller Skating” was begun, leading to the creation of more than 3,000 rinksin the United States, between the years 1937-1959.2 Renton joined in this trend in 1945, when the skating pavilion soon tobe named Rollerland was built at 14265 Rainier Avenue, housed in an enormous 150’x180’ building. The original ownerwas a man named Burt Lobberegt3 , and the rink he constructed would be made with skater ’s preferences in mind. Therewere few sharp angles and corners in the building, with most of the inner walls being rounded and curved. This gaveskaters an added sense of security, knowing that they wouldn’t crash into any sharp edges.
Great attention was paid to the physical details that made a visit to Rollerland a feast for all the senses. Beautiful hard-wood floors and plenty of backspace greeted visitors before they ever got to the skating area. The front entrance wasdecorated with glass blocks in the walls, in the Art Deco style. Just inside the main lobby, a fully stocked snack bar waitedfor patrons who sought fresh grilled cheeseburgers and tasty chocolate milkshakes, as well as other treats. Not far fromthe snack bar was a practice room for first time skaters. This was a special area where novices could slip and slidewithout fear of ridicule, and without tripping up more advanced skaters. A man known as “Smokey” volunteered to helpteach new skaters how to keep their balance in this room.4
Past the snack bar and practice room, a group of pinball machines were installed. Anyone not wishing to participate in theskating could still have a great time atRollerland – at an affordable price. By1963, admission was still only 60¢ aticket. There were also lots of benchesset up around the rink area for specta-tors to sit and watch the action. Nextto the pinball machines was a skaterental desk with a full-time repairmanwho was always ready to deal withany broken skates. The most impres-sive part of the Rollerland complexwas the roller rink itself. An enormousWurlitzer pipe organ provided asymphony of music and sound effects,with the pipes located in the center ofthe rink itself, inside a circular enclo-sure. As skaters made their lapsaround this central sound system,organist Pete Kraucher5 would fill theair with popular melodies, and a widevariety of sound effects, which wouldreverberate and bounce along therounded walls. Long before modern“surround sound” speakers and CDtechnology, Rollerland’s sound systemwas a marvel.6 Above: Lew Wells and Tubby Clark pose with the famous Rollerland Wurlitzer PipeOrgan. Mr. Wells was one of a number of organists who performed at Rollerland overthe years.
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Let's Roll story continued on page 6
Saturday Night Fever
By 1954, Rollerland was just beginningto capitalize on the growing popularityof skating rinks. Mr. Lobberegt wasno longer interested in running thebusiness, and so he sold the rink to apair of brothers named Dominick andLouis Delaurenti, along with theirsilent partner, Wes Stout. Mr. Stoutpreferred to let the Delaurenti brothershandle the day to day operations of therink, a job which they committedthemselves to with gusto. Dominick’sdaughter Shirley soon became in-volved in competitive roller-skating atRollerland. She recently described thedifferent activities and competitionsthat Rollerland hosted:
“ There was skating almost everyday, but the best times were on Fridayand Saturday nights. Two sessionswere held, one from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.,and the other from 10 p.m. untilmidnight. All of the best skaters cameto the late session. The session would start off with an “all skate” for one song, where everyone could participate. Thenthey would play a song just for couples. There were florescent lights along the walls, which would let people know whichdirection the skaters would go, and they would switch direction every few minutes just to keep things interesting. Therewere kids known as “floor boys” whose job it was to keep order out on the floor and watch for speeders. They wouldmake sure that no one was skating in a way that was dangerous or likely to cause problems, and I don’t remember thereever being any problems caused by anyone.”7 Shirley also described other session types which were meant to keep thingsexciting, like having one song where everyone was encouraged to skate backwards.
Along with the general skating to the music, certain dances were announced at different times during the night. The rinkwould soon be filled with couples, roller-dancing to traditional dances like the Waltz and Tango, or less formal steps likethe Bunny Hop or the Hokey-Pokey. Those free skaters that weren’t big fans of the Hokey-Pokey could take the oppor-tunity to rest on one of the benches until a free skate song was announced again.
Beside the general public skate sessions, some of the more proficient skaters at Rollerland began to put shows together.Just like the more famous “Ice Capades” these “Roller Capades” featured costume themes and lines of dancers doingtricks and high kicks, which resembled a Las Vegas review (on a much smaller, amateur scale). Skaters of all age groupswould collaborate to create an exciting spectacle on wheels for the enjoyment of the public.
Below: Six girls dressed up as leopards for a carnival themed performance atRollerland, with skaters portraying the animals.
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Let's Roll continued from page 5
Gold, Silver & Bronze
Skating at Rollerland did not consist of just dances, shows and free skating, however. With weekend evenings beingreserved for recreational skating, competitive skating occupied the daylight hours. Those with better than average skillscould choose to enter competitions where professional judges would critique their dance skills with a trained eye for detail.Serious skaters worked hard to perfect their techniques, mastering a variety of different dance steps and maneuvers,which they then had to execute before the judges. Those skaters who mastered the basics were awarded a bronze medal.By learning more difficult routines, competitors worked their way up to a silver medal Those who were the most talentedand committed to their sport, managed to earn the gold medal, symbolizing their mastery of several different roller skatingstyles and movements. Shirley Delaurenti Garrison, who participated in these competitions, stressed that these medalswere not given out arbitrarily, andworking your way up to earning agold medal was a real accomplish-ment within the roller skatingcommunity. Skaters in this programwere competing under a set ofnational standards, and all overAmerica, these awards wererecognized as distinguishing themedal winners as being on the toplevel of American Skaters.8
Competitions were held in severalcategories, including figure skatingand racing. There were specialevents for singles and pairs, andcompetitors were matched againstopponents according to age groupand gender, with juvenile boyscompeting against other juvenileboys, novice pairs against eachother, etc. The wide variety ofcategories listed in competition flyersshow that during its heyday, Rollerlandwas a thriving hub for this exciting sport. 9 Soon its reputation for being a premier venue for skating competitions got out tothe wider skating community, and before long Rollerland was hosting the American Amateur Roller-Skating Champion-ships, sponsored by the Roller Skating Rink Owners of America. Athletes from all over the Pacific Northwest made thejourney to Renton to compete.
Some Renton skaters became so proficient through Rollerland’s competitions that they traveled to many other parts of theU.S. to compete against the best skaters in the country. One in particular, Dennis Rossman, traveled to competitions deepin the southeastern U.S. According to his mother Anne Rossman, her family traveled around the country as he continuedto win. “Really it was a lot of fun. We went to Arkansas, Fort Worth, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Lincoln, Nebraska. Thatwas where he won nationals, in Lincoln, Nebraska. When it came to Dennis’ turn to compete, I went to him and said,'Son, God bless you. Do the best you can, and don’t worry if you make a mistake. Just keep going. Mother will be outsidepraying for you.' Then I would go outside while he’d be inside skating. I never saw one routine in all the years he skated.I would cry. These kids worked for years, and they make one little mistake and they’re through.”10Despite his mother ’s nervousness, Dennis Rossman went on to become one of the most successful skating championsthat Rollerland ever produced.
Above: Roller Skaters Ellen Brooks, Shari Stall and Shirley Delaurenti (Garrison)pose in their costumes.
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Hot Wheels
By 1963, the roller skating trend that had swept through Renton and the rest of the country through the 1950’s had begunto slow. Although Rollerland was still well attended and the Delaurenti brothers were not planning on selling out, it wasclear to those that skated there regularly that attendance had begun to decline. Unfortunately, we can only speculatewhether Rollerland could have lasted until roller-skating hit another peak of popularity in the late 1970’s, because on 9 July1963 at approximately 2:50 p.m., fate stepped in to settle the issue once and for all. According to newspaper reports,Renton Fire Chief M.C. “Scotty” Walls stated that a fire broke out in the back of Rollerland near an incinerator. Accord-ing to Walls, some trash had been burned in the incinerator, located approximately 30 feet from a shed at the rear of thebuilding. The department theorized that sparks from the burn barrels ignited the shed, which in turn caught the mainbuilding on fire. Fred Bowman, an employee of Nick and Louis Delaurenti, was inside working at the time of the blaze.He said that an unidentified person began to pound on the door to warn him of the fire, and he fled quickly.11
Firefighters from the Renton, Kent, Panther Lake, Spring Glen and Boeing Fire Departments and engine companies fromKing County Fire District #s 20, 25 and 40, fought a heroic battle against the flames that lasted well into the evening. TwoRenton firefighters were injured trying to put out the fire. Dave Walsh suffered burns to his hands, and Karl Stromreceived a nail wound to his foot. During the blaze, the firemen also lost a ladder as one of the concrete block walls on thenorth side of the building collapsed. Luckily, two firefighters who were on the roof at the time, managed to scramble downthe ladder before the wall collapsed on it. The Renton Police Department pulled men off duty to help with crowd control,as the massive clouds of smoke and a wall of flames attracted spectators from all directions. Rainier Avenue had to betemporarily shut down to one lane, but police managed to keep traffic moving.
The heat from the flames became so intense that it blistered the paint on one fire engine. Despite their best efforts, thebeautiful roller rink was completely destroyed. “We didn’t even save a skate key,” Dominick Delaurenti later told report-ers. Damage was estimated to be nearly $350,000. While part of the losses were covered by insurance, many of the itemslost were irreplaceable. The heat of the flames silenced forever the $25,000 pipe organ, which had produced such afabulous variety of sounds for the skaters.12 Also lost in the inferno were the personal effects of many of the skaters.Dennis Rossman, who was crowned the National Singles Champion skater in the intermediate class the year before, lost avaluable pair of skates, as well as his championship trophy. Also lost in the fire were over 1000 other pairs of skates, usedby the public.13
Despite their shock and sadness at the loss, the Delaurentis and Mrs. Stout, the widow of their silent partner Wes Stout,who by this time had passed away, only had the best interest of the public at heart. After thanking the Renton Fire Depart-ment for their efforts, they announced that anyone who had purchased general admission ticket books in advance couldstop by to their temporary office and get a full refund. Ironically, the beautiful hardwood floor, which had been the pride ofRollerland, was not damaged by the fire itself, but by the water used to extinguish the flames.
End of an Era
Along with the 20 employees who lost their jobs with the destruction of Rollerland, and the obvious loss to the Delaurentiand Stout families, the city of Renton lost a very special place when the fire consumed the rink. The owners determinedthat rebuilding Rollerland would be too costly, and the Delaurenti brothers went on to other business ventures. The legacyof the era that Rollerland pioneered in our city continues today with the resurgence of popularity for skating, which hascome around in the last two decades. The old style roller skates have been replaced with the more agile in-line skates,where the wheels are placed in a strait line like an ice skate blade. It is easy to turn on cable television today and seepeople roller-skating, from the competitive events on ESPN2, to the Roller-Derby themed show “Roller Girls.” Theinterest in skating seems to grow every day. Those lucky enough to have been able to enjoy Rollerland for themselves,can only wonder about how popular a place it would be in Renton today. Though the building is long gone, Rollerland willcontinue to live on in the happy memories of many Rentonians for years to come.
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1 Taken from Rollerland letterhead.2 For more information about the “GoldenAge of Roller Skating,” I recommend thebook Skate Crazy, by Lou Brooks.3 There is some dispute over the spelling ofhis name. The author took this spellingfrom an article in the Renton Chronicle.Other people interviewed for this storyremember his name being “Laborette.”4 Telephone Interview with Shirley Garrison,February 8, 20065 There were other gentlemen who played theorgan at Rollerland over the years.Another was Lew Wells, who appears in aphotograph in this story.6 Ibid citation 37 Ibid8 Ibid9 The Renton Museum has a RollerlandCollection filled with programs, ephemeraand announcements for a wide variety ofevents held during the mid 1960’s.10 Taken from the transcripts of an oralhistory interview of Anne Rossman,conducted May 24, 2002 by NancyFairman and Marian Sutton.11 Renton Record Chronicle, Wednesday July10, 1963. Page 112 The Seattle Times, Wednesday July 10,1963. Page 213 Renton Record Chronicle, July 10, 1963.Page 1
Contributions to MezzanineContributions to MezzanineContributions to MezzanineContributions to MezzanineContributions to Mezzanine
Contributions toContributions toContributions toContributions toContributions to
the General Fthe General Fthe General Fthe General Fthe General FundundundundundTrudy DasovickBettijane & Jerome ShepardJoanne OlsonBarbara Haugan George
Jacqueline Ridgley AdamsEileen AustinJoseph & Marjorie AvolioJames & Charmaine BakerWilliam BauderJohn & Eleanor BertagniBarbara BettsWilliam & Pat BorekHelenanne BothamHarold BruceZena CochranJohn & Katherine ConnellSylva CoppockFred & Gloria DelaurentiRalph DockhamGerry & Carole EdlundRosemarie FliseckGeorge & Frances GambiniEdwin & Claudia GillispieJean GillespieJohn Giuliani, Sr.Vincent GraceLisa Graham & Gloria NicholsDon & Judy GundersonRobert & Mildred HammondBruce & Sarah Jane Hisey
Jean HobartElmer HuffmanPauline KirkmanRobert & Roberta LogueMary Ann MasonJosephine MathewsonNaomi MathisenJudith MatsonGeorge & Gloria MehrensWesley & Velma MelvilleRalph & Peggy OwenKing ParkerDon & Vicky Persson with USBancorp Matching FundRaymond H. PetermeyerOwen ProctorDavid PughJoellyn RichterSally RochelleEthel SwansonFlorence TainiBetty WarrenRobert & Josephine WixomPearl Wolf$100 and overNancy Fairman
Contributions toContributions toContributions toContributions toContributions to
EndowmentEndowmentEndowmentEndowmentEndowmentBoeing Gift Matching Fund/Lloyd Hoshide
The Renton History Museum is currently looking for Board Members. Theboard meets at the Museum on the 4th Wednesday at 6:00pm. If you arean enthusiastic individual who is willing to assist with strategic planningand promoting the Museum, we look forward tomeeting you.
For further information and a trustee packet,please email Vicky Persson at:vicky.persson@usbank.com
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Renton Historical QuarterlyDocent Training and Spring 2006Historical Presentation SeriesBy Dorata Rahn, Volunteer CoordinatorThe Renton School District informed us recently that the third grade field tripsscheduled from May 9th through 26th are cancelled this year, due to the lack ofSchool District staff available to look after the tours. This is a very unexpecteddevelopment. However, we were informed that individual classes may stillreserve museum tours with us. As a result, docent training will proceed asscheduled.We are inviting any potential tour guide candidates to attend the training. Weneed more docents than we currently have to handle increasing number of toursfrom other places as well. There is no obligation to become a docent after thetraining is over. By attending the training, candidates can learn how to give amuseum tour and check their comfort level in public speaking. This is also agreat way of learning Renton history by interpreting the museum exhibits.During docent training we will discuss different guiding techniques depending onthe age level of a visiting group. Current docents will share their skills andknowledge of giving a tour. We want to advertise our services in the community,so we need to make sure that we have a sufficient number of well trained tourguides able to handle new demands. We also don’t want to get out of practice,as we hope the problems at the Renton School District are temporary, and thetours will resume next year.Three docent training sessions are planned beginning March 14 and will befollowed each time by lectures from invited speakers. The audience memberswho don’t participate in docent training (except museum members and children),will be charged a small fee for the lectures. The date of the forth training isreserved in case it is necessary.Participation registration begins at 2:15pm. Training starts at 2:30pm and endsabout 3:30pm. Tour guides will have a few minutes to have a snack before thepresentation begins at 4:00pm. Docent training is scheduled as follows:
u Tuesday, March 14 - 2:15 to 5:00pm including Father Luigi Rossi: Storyteller,Pioneer, Chaplain, and Missionary presentation at 4:00pm.
u Tuesday, March 28 - 2:15 to 5:00pmincluding Immigrants in the PugetSound lecture at 4:00pm.
u Tuesday, April 11 - 2:15 to 5:00pmincluding Arts of the Raven Coastpresentation at 4:00pm.
u Tuesday, April 25 - 2:15 to 4:00pmreserved as necessary.We strongly encourage potential tourguide candidates to participate in docenttraining. Your services are in demandand the museum staff will greatlyappreciate your involvement in educat-ing our community about Renton history.This is an important part of our mission.
Above: Aunt Harriet and Brother Ely
Gift ShopGift ShopGift ShopGift ShopGift Shop
The Museum Gift Shop is a greatplace to do your gift shopping.New items and books have beenadded to the gift shop. We havejust received a new shipment ofthe Centennial Afghans, sellingfor $74.59 plus tax and have anice selection of books, includingChief Seattle’s Vision “How CanOne Sell the Air?” RevisedEdition for $9.95 plus tax
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Obituaries
December 2005December 2005December 2005December 2005December 2005Oliver C. RouseRichard PattersonViolet PilloAlvina CastagnaBarbara PoznerRose PegoraroJanuarJanuarJanuarJanuarJanuary 2006y 2006y 2006y 2006y 2006Faith JohnsonEldra O’NealFloyd HarrisDennis PetchnickJohn KubiskyGeorge RichterIda Bellando MaxwellLawrence “Smokey” DickeyFFFFFebruarebruarebruarebruarebruary 2006y 2006y 2006y 2006y 2006Robert PuhichMary CulverEthel PringleRalph “Doc” DrewDelphine MurrayLovina RostLillian O’Hanian MillardNeil F. HolbrookRuby ‘Smoky’ BeckWilliam GlocknerRose Gamba FleischmannDr. Richard H. Cole
MembershipRenewals for 2006Notices were sent out in Novem-ber. Those not paid now areconsidered past due.2006 Membership RatesStudent/Teacher/Senior $12Senior Citizen Couple $20Single$20Family$30Patron Benefactor $100Life Membership $500*One time fee. Lifetime Member-ships will be transferred to the liv-ing spouse.
New MembersNew MembersNew MembersNew MembersNew MembersJacqueline Ridgley AdamsVincent GraceJosephine MathewsonBette ZwickerRobert Banel familyBarbara L. Betts
New Life MembersNew Life MembersNew Life MembersNew Life MembersNew Life MembersWayne & Janet WicksJerry & Barbara ShellanPatricia Goodwin Sell
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Renton Historical Quarterly
RentoniansRememberedZ denotes former Society Life Member% denotes former Society member
Lee AndersonLee AndersonLee AndersonLee AndersonLee AndersonFlorence Murray
KKKKKenneth Bakerenneth Bakerenneth Bakerenneth Bakerenneth BakerConnie Kerr Baker
FFFFFrank Caniparrank Caniparrank Caniparrank Caniparrank CaniparoliolioliolioliDon & Judy Gunderson
RRRRRalph Dralph Dralph Dralph Dralph DrewewewewewRonald & Roberta Stroben
Diane FDiane FDiane FDiane FDiane FororororordddddFlorence Murray
AarAarAarAarAaron Goodwinon Goodwinon Goodwinon Goodwinon GoodwinJohn & Joyce Peterson; PatriciaGoodwin Sell
Daisy GoodwinDaisy GoodwinDaisy GoodwinDaisy GoodwinDaisy GoodwinPatricia Goodwin Sell
Eva GoodwinEva GoodwinEva GoodwinEva GoodwinEva GoodwinJohn & Joyce Peterson; PatriciaGoodwin Sell
Lorraine GoodwinLorraine GoodwinLorraine GoodwinLorraine GoodwinLorraine GoodwinJohn & Joyce Peterson; PatriciaGoodwin Sell
Judy GrJudy GrJudy GrJudy GrJudy GregoregoregoregoregorJohn & Joyce Peterson
George GrubesicGeorge GrubesicGeorge GrubesicGeorge GrubesicGeorge GrubesicChrissie Grubesic; Tom & Sharon(Righi) MacNamara; Paul & DianaRighi; Ron J. Righi
Ann HamlinAnn HamlinAnn HamlinAnn HamlinAnn HamlinFlorence Murray
George HannahGeorge HannahGeorge HannahGeorge HannahGeorge HannahFlorence Murray
Louise HannahLouise HannahLouise HannahLouise HannahLouise HannahBea Mathewson; Florence Murray;Marlene Jensen
Jack HuppJack HuppJack HuppJack HuppJack HuppEleanor & John Bertagni
Z
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Thomas KThomas KThomas KThomas KThomas KerererererrrrrrConnie Kerr Baker
RRRRRobert Kramerobert Kramerobert Kramerobert Kramerobert KramerBert & Evy Nord; LillianRosenstrom
Ida Bellando MaxwellIda Bellando MaxwellIda Bellando MaxwellIda Bellando MaxwellIda Bellando MaxwellLouise George
Michael MillerMichael MillerMichael MillerMichael MillerMichael MillerBertha Miller
Angelo M. MoschettiAngelo M. MoschettiAngelo M. MoschettiAngelo M. MoschettiAngelo M. MoschettiPeter & Hazel Newing
James G. MurrayJames G. MurrayJames G. MurrayJames G. MurrayJames G. MurrayFlorence Murray
Shirley NewingShirley NewingShirley NewingShirley NewingShirley NewingPeter & Hazel Newing
DrDrDrDrDr. Jess Ochs. Jess Ochs. Jess Ochs. Jess Ochs. Jess OchsCatherine Rutkowski; MarthaKingen
Barney PoliBarney PoliBarney PoliBarney PoliBarney PoliFlorence Murray
Esterina PoliEsterina PoliEsterina PoliEsterina PoliEsterina PoliFlorence Murray
MarMarMarMarMary Postisheky Postisheky Postisheky Postisheky PostishekZena Cochran; Steve & LynnAnderson
Barbara PoznerBarbara PoznerBarbara PoznerBarbara PoznerBarbara PoznerSteve & Lynn Anderson
RRRRRobert Puhichobert Puhichobert Puhichobert Puhichobert PuhichRichard & Louise Major; Beth &Mike Potoshnik; ChrissieGrubesic; Martha Kingen
Lewis H. PurLewis H. PurLewis H. PurLewis H. PurLewis H. PurcellcellcellcellcellNancy Purcell; Olga Purcell
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Z
Z
Z
George RichterGeorge RichterGeorge RichterGeorge RichterGeorge RichterBeth & Mike Postoshnik
Evelyn REvelyn REvelyn REvelyn REvelyn RosenstrosenstrosenstrosenstrosenstromomomomomLillian Rosenstrom
RRRRReino Reino Reino Reino Reino RosenstrosenstrosenstrosenstrosenstromomomomomLillian Rosenstrom
Alice SamuelsonAlice SamuelsonAlice SamuelsonAlice SamuelsonAlice SamuelsonBertha Miller
Matt G. TMatt G. TMatt G. TMatt G. TMatt G. TomacomacomacomacomacHelen Tomac; Arko Family; Beth& Mike Potoshnik
Ernie TErnie TErnie TErnie TErnie TondaondaondaondaondaMike Rockey; Jenan McNeight;Patricia Goodwin Sell
MarMarMarMarMary Ly Ly Ly Ly Lackie Utshinskiackie Utshinskiackie Utshinskiackie Utshinskiackie UtshinskiJohn & Eleanor Bertagni; JaneBertagni Evans
Con WCon WCon WCon WCon WichoffichoffichoffichoffichoffJohn & Joyce Peterson
Z
%
MemorialMemorialMemorialMemorialMemorial
ContributionContributionContributionContributionContribution$100 and over
RicharRicharRicharRicharRichard Pd Pd Pd Pd PattersonattersonattersonattersonattersonOlga AzzolaErnie TErnie TErnie TErnie TErnie TondaondaondaondaondaBill & Carol Collins withBoeing Matching Gift
Renton Historical Quarterly
12
Renton History Museum235 Mill Avenue SouthRenton, WA 98055
Nonprofit OrgUS Postage PaidRenton, WAPermit No. 105
Centennial Snapshot
In honor of the Easter season, here is a picture showing members of the Methodist Church of Renton acting out the biblical story ofKing David. The date of this image is not known. If you, or someone you know, can tell us the names of the people in the photo, orthe date when it was taken, please contact the museum.