HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 Issue 2 - Women's Lib in Renton.pdf(continued on page 4) May 2003 Volume 34, Number 2Women’s Lib in RentonWomen’s Lib in RentonWomen’s Lib in RentonWomen’s Lib in RentonWomen’s Lib in RentonEthel Martin’s Woman-run Fashion BoutiqueBy Morda Slauson & Maxine Martin AndersonEdited by Tom Monahan More than a century ago, long before single working mothers became a familiarsight in America, A Renton businesswoman disregarded traditional social cus-toms and did what she needed to do for herself and her daughter. Out of sheernecessity, Ethel Martin started a women’s clothing shop and ran it successfullyfor more than twenty-five years. This was the first store in Renton to be ownedand operated entirely by women. She had neither experience nor training forsuch work when she began, but in spite of this, she developed into a successfulbusinesswoman. For many years, “Ethel Martin’s” was where the fashionableladies in town would go for the latest styles. Her story serves as an example forsubsequent generations of successful women entrepreneurs in Renton who havefollowed in her footsteps. -editorModest BeginningsIn 1888, 4-year-old Ethel Francis Yand accompanied her family from Kansas toWashington1. Like so many families leaving the midwest during this period,Ethel’s parents, John Henry and Sarah Yand, initiated the move in order toimprove their lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, where mines, railroadsand lumber mills were booming. John Henry settled into the business of a coal miner, choosing Renton’s CooperativeCoal Mine, along with countless othermen who had also traveled to this areato seek their fortunes. Toward the endof the 1890s, Ethel’s dad caught the“gold fever” and headed north to thegold diggings of the Klondike, return-ing sometime around 1902.Ethel and her brother Charles wereboth members of the first high schoolclass to graduate from the old CentralSchool. In November of 1910 shemarried John Martin, owner of one ofthe earliest garages in Renton, locatedat the corner of main and fourth,across the street from the Wood’sStore (the current location of TaylorAuto Body). In 1916 the Martins wereblessed with the addition of a daughter,Maxine to their happy family. But sixyears later, a different kind of feverstruck Renton’s citizens. “My fathercaught the flu (influenza) in theepidemic of 1918, and then again in1921. He died of complications topneumonia about 24 hours aftercontracting the flu the second time.”Ethel’s parents had been very young,and since her mother knew nothingabout running a garage, she wasforced to sell it and try something new. 2Many years later, Maxine recountedher memories of her mother ’s firstattempt at running a store: Martin's Apparel Above: Looking north on Wells Street in the middle 1930s, Ethel Martin’s shop was located in a smallstore front indicated by the inset arrow. She later grew her business, occupying larger spaces in bothRenton and Enumclaw. Renton Historical Society Special Collections Image # 1949A Masthead caption: When Ethel Martingraduated from Renton’s Central School 8thgrade in 1898, the ceremony was probablyphotographed in a manner similar to what isshown here, with Central School’s graduatingclass of 1911. The only difference was that thisclass had the option of going on to the newRenton High School that opened in 1912.Renton Historical Society Special CollectionsImage # 565 Foreword Renton Historical Quarterly 2 By Barb HortonPresident's Report This quarterly publication is mailed to all membersof the Renton Historical Society as a membershipbenefit. Manuscripts submitted for future articlesabout Renton history are welcomed from all sources.Authors are responsible for the accuracy and contentof their submissions. Renton Historical QuarterlySteve A. Anderson, Managing Editor,Susie Bressan, Graphic Design & LayoutLouise George, Copy EditorDaisy Ward, Text Input, Copy EditorDeborah Willard & Karl HurstCity of Renton Print and Mail Services Contributing AuthorsMorda SlausenMaxine Martin Anderson Renton Historical SocietyBoard of Trustees Barbara Horton, PresidentBill Gaw, Vice PresidentDerek Almo, SecretaryJennifer Sharp, TreasurerNaomi Mathisen, '03Marge Richter '03Allan Unbedacht, '03Ted McLendon, '04Vicky Persson, '04Eric Black, '05Bob Hunt, '05Ken Becker, Ex OfficioTerri Briere, Ex Officio Museum StaffSteven A. Anderson, DirectorDaisy Ward, Administrative AssistantStan Greene, ArchivistSteve Smith, CuratorDorota Rahn, Volunteer CoordinatorTom Monahan, Museum AidePearl Jacobson, RegistrarLouise George, SecretaryDick Hawkins, Grounds/MaintenanceErnie Tonda, Director EmeritusEthel Telban, Librarian EmeritusRose Mary Green, Curator EmeritusRenton Historical Museum235 Mill Avenue SouthRenton, WA 98055-2133Phone: 425.255.2330FAX: 425.255.1570Email: saanderson@ci.renton.wa.us The Renton Historical Society Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of every monthfrom 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., at either the Renton Community Center or the RentonHistorical Museum. Please call the museum for meeting locations on the followingdates: February 26th, March 26th, and April 23rd. Public hours for the Renton Historical Museum are Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am to4:00pm and by appointment for archival and photographic research purposes Wednesdaythrough Fridays, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Admission: $3 per adult, $1 per child (ages 8 - 16) andRenton Historical Society members are always free. Free days: first Wednesday and thirdSaturday of the month. What a lovely spring we’re having! Well, it is a bit soggy, but we’re starting toenjoy some warm days. Spring always means that we’re preparing for the Renton School District 3rdGrade tours that the Society and Museum support each year. It’s always abusy time, with lots of energy coming from all parts of the community, teach-ers, staff and volunteers. The most important thing is that our kids get an earlyintroduction to the fascinating subject of local history. They get to see the toysthat children played with 100 years ago, the tools that the parents used, andthe way the community looked so long ago. We have many new treasures to enjoy at the Museum. Several come from theCuster Collection. These items are truly rare, in that they come from a localfamily who lived only blocks away from the Museum in the heart of downtownRenton. The high quality and the perfect condition of the items that come fromthis private collection make them priceless community treasures. The Board of Trustees continues to work on the City/Society Agreement, theAnnual Report, and the Bylaws update. These documents require intensivecollaboration, so they don’t come together quickly. Some of our team mem-bers are changing, so we must also allow time for new folks to get up tospeed. At this point, the City Attorney has reviewed the document and wehave presented our return comments. The Annual Meeting is coming up on June 1st and we have great plans for amuch more enjoyable time. We will be sending out information on this eventsoon! Barbara HortonPresident, Renton Historical Society 3 Renton Historical Quarterly Notes Received Endowment Committee Report Dear RHS:Several weeks ago I visited Renton(my old home town) and had someextra time, I decided to visit yourmuseum. I used to live next door tothe old fire station and was a memberof the civil defense volunteer fire dept.(1942).I was very impressed with what youhave done in capturing the history ofRenton. I recognized many old ac-quaintances at Gladding-McBeanwhere I worked as a kid, also CusterHardware.I was also glad to see that MissTelban was still on your board. Shewas one of my teachers at RentonHigh. I graduated in 1943.It was nice to see the old Roberts IceCreamery, service men’s pictureswere preserved and displayed. I amone of those pictured. Also the news-letter telling about Fred Hancock Post19 – American Legion. I was Com-mander, 1950-1951, as it states on theback cover of the newsletter.Thank you again for sharing thehistory of Renton.Enclosed is my dues plus a donation. Iwill look forward to the next newslet-ter.Sincerely,Ray PetermeyerTigard, Oregon(Harlan Petermeyer) Dear RHS:I do enjoy reading the “quarterlies.”Please compliment Steve on his articlein the Nov. ’02 issue, “Ouvre’s River”which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Ihave a long standing interest in thePacific NW Indians and Steve pro-vided an interesting “view” of themand trading.Sincerely,Barbara GeorgeReston, Washington The Endowment Committee met on the 23 rd of April with the Chair, KenBecker presiding and committee members Allan Unbedacht, NaomiMathisen, and Steve Anderson attending. Society trustee Vicky Perssonwas also in attendance. It was reported that the fund rested at $184, 389 onMarch 31st. Currently 48% resides in fixed income investments and 52% resideswithin equity investments. Ken Becker indicated that $2,400 was being trans-ferred from the Society’s memorial/life membership income from the firstquarter of 2003 to the Endowment. He also indicated that the Board of Trusteesvoted to commit $1,000,000 (one million dollars) of the Custer donation to theworking capital of the Endowment Fund at their last meeting, and that theywished for the entire fund to be named the George W. and Annie Lewis CusterEndowment Fund of the Renton Historical Society. This name change andseveral modifications to the endowment program policy were approved by theBoard of Trustees as well, and implement by the committee.Next, a presentation was made by representatives of US Bancorp's investmentgroup, hosted by Society Board Trustee Vicky Persson. The Committeemembers appreciated the information and presentation made by the members ofthe US Bancorp's contingent, who explained what services they could providethe Endowment Committee and Program in the future, if such services were feltnecessary.As there are currently several vacancies on the committee, Chairman Beckerrequested that the committee’s members provide names of any individuals thatmight be interested in serving; all candidates will be considered by the Board.Anyone interested in service on this committee only need have some investmentexperience (with your own 401K or IRA accounts) and have a desire to furtherthe Society’s goals. As there were no other investment decisions to be made,the meeting adjourned. The committee meets quarterly, with the next meeting onJuly 23rd, 2003.All memorials, life membership dues and directed gifts go toward the fund’sworking capital. All gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law. Consult your taxadvisor. Only the interest generated by these invested funds will be used assustained support to the Renton Historical Society.Please call 425/255-2330 for more information,or email at saanderson@ci.renton.wa.usfor more information regarding includingthe Renton Historical Society in yourliving will orbequest. Renton Historical Quarterly 4 “ I am not sure, for I was only six when my father died, but I believe mymother bought her first little store from someone else, and it had prima-rily embroidery and sewing materials at that point. It was located in theHarris building between Brendel’s drugstore and the Post Office on WellsStreet. It was a tiny narrow space with a center door and two small showwindows on either side of the entrance. I remember those windows well,because it was often my duty when I grew older to wash and decorate, or“dress” those windows. This gave me many chances to practice my talentat display.My mother's friend Mary Kaylor came to work for my mother, makingup the displays soon after, but I was given the first chance to try when Igrew old enough to graduate from folding lingerie and counting embroi-dery thread skeins. In addition to “fancy work” material, mother added“millinery,” lingerie, hosiery and corsets, as well as “house dresses.”Later, she added more formal dresses and coats, gift items like potteryvases, and even a small selection of costume jewelry. Somewhere alongthe way, mother even had a small balcony built in the portion of the storewhere we unpacked merchandise, pressed ready to wear items and didalterations on a sewing machine. The tiny stairway up there was narrowand steep, and the space between the bottom of the stairs and the lava-tory was used as a dressing room. It was a tight squeeze for the customerand clerk in that space, especially when ladies were trying on corsets, andsomeone had to go through the cubbyhole to go up the stairs! As I thinkback on it now, it seems incredible that so many things could fit into thatsmall store.”3 A little help from her friendsWith no state-sponsored welfare or social programs in existence at this time,Ethel struggled with two pressures of simultaneously starting a successfulbusiness, and of raising her daughter virtually alone. To cope with these prob-lems Ethel relied on many helpful people. According to her daughter,“Mary Kaylor lived with mother and I during part of the time. I went toHenry Ford School after leaving the Central School where my mother hadgone. I would come back to the store at lunchtime to eat sandwiches withmy mother in the back of the store, and then I’d come straight back to theshop again after school. Mother would have girls from the high schoolcome and live with us, so there would always be someone at home with mein the evening and make sure I got home safely, which was just up theblock from the store. My Grandfather, Henry Yand, also came to live withmother and me some of the time. I have fond memories of us sitting out bythe woodshed where he chopped kindling for the stove until my motherreturned from the store. A block west – I guess that would have beenFourth and Wells- from Grandpa’s house was the home of ‘GrandmaBishop’. Her daughters Izella Mason and Minnie Wher rie, who were thesame age as my mother, used to visit her often. ‘Auntie Zella’ and ‘AuntieMinn’ had children near my age, and when they came to visit, us kidswould all play together.”4 With so many people helping to raise her daughter, Ethel focused on her livelihood,and quickly became a competent business owner. Her business savvy was demon-strated by her plan to expand the shop’s merchandise to include things that could notbe easily found in a small town like Renton, such as fancy notepaper and pottery. Itwas mainly through tapping into this previously overlooked market that she made itthrough the first and most difficult year of her new business. As her store began togrow and flourish, Ethel soon realized that she would need more help to run hergrowing business. She hired Florence Culp to work as a sales lady and part timebaby sitter for the times when Ethel needed to make trips into the city. Not longafter, she added Mary Lotto Kaylor to her growing staff of fashion professionals.Mary came from a well-known and respected family in the area, and had grown upin Issaquah. She moved to Renton to work, and remained in town after getting married. When asked about her experi-ences working in Ethel’s shop, Maryremembered the environment in thoseearly days clearly:“Third and the streets whichcrossed it were all very busy. Itseemed that all of the town’s retailbusiness was concentrated in a fewblocks. There were several grocerystores nearby, including MattPeterbin’s, Delaurenti’s, andPistoresi’s. There was Hughes Men’sStore not far away, and Roy Kellyhad a restaurant at the corner of3rd and Williams. I remember folkssitting in rocking chairs on theporch of the old Renton Hotel,watching the traffic and thinkinghow much there was. They shouldsee that area today.”5 By 1935, business was going so well thatMrs. Martin decided to rent a muchlarger space on the south side of Thirdstreet, midway between Wells andWilliams. With new fixtures and amplestorage space, her original little shopgrew into a handsome store with a muchgreater variety of goods for women.Mary Kaylor ran this one, while Ethelmade arrangements to open a secondshop in Enumclaw. Ethel sold her shopsin 1940, choosing instead to seek newcareer opportunities in Santa Cruz,California, where she bought and ranapartments during the war. After comingback to Renton, she started another newdress shop on Wilson Avenue, and ran itfor about five years, finally selling it -when she was seventy years old!ConclusionEthel Martin’s story is another exampleof the ground plowed by early pioneeringwomen- women who are often over-looked in historical narratives from pastdecades. And while she didn’t cure aterrible disease, or rise to political power,Ethel Martin’s ordinary struggles made ahappy life for herself and her daughter.She helped to change public perceptionabout the roles open to women insociety, well before WWII accomplishedthat task on a grand scale. She also gaveus an impressive example of how a new,inexperienced business owner canbecome successful in a small market.Finally, her longevity as an activebusinesswoman showed that peoplecould be productive citizens long pastretirement age. For being a role model inso many ways, she truly deserves thetitle of “trail-blazer”. 5 Renton Historical QuarterlyMonaghan Family101Years on Renton Hill(Submitted to the Renton Historical Society, April 2003, by Marilyn Monaghan Ragle,daughter of Bill and Flora Monaghan.) Four generations of direct descendants of John and Mary Monaghan have livedon Renton Hill continuously since 1902. That is when the Monaghan’s movedfrom Gilman (now Issaquah) with their family of three boys and four girls: John,Bill, Francis, Anna, Nellie, Esther and Leona. They bought a home in the 400block of Cedar Street. Their last child, Tom, was born there in 1905; when hewas three years old they purchased the east side of the 600 block on CedarStreet. The land was heavily timbered and needed to be cleared before thehome could be built. The family lived in a tent at 629 Cedar while the house wasbeing built.In an audio taped interview from 1975, Tom Monaghan and his sister, NellieMonaghan O’Brien described Cedar Street as a cow trail with boardwalks.They said their father later sold off the lots to the north of their home: two lotsto Jack Stewart (father of former City of Renton Police Chief), two lots toAgnesini, two lots to Pottner (not sure of spelling), and gave one lot to theireldest son, Johnny.John Monaghan, Sr. was a coal miner who emigrated to Illinois from Airdrie,Scotland when he was 17. Mary came with her family to Illinois from SouthShields, England at age 5. Mining jobs in the west brought them to WashingtonTerritory.John and Mary’s son, Bill and his family lived at 324 Cedar from 1937 until1987.Bill’s son, Pat and his family built their home on High Avenue in 1968 andresided there until Pat’s death in 2002. Pat’s son, PJ Monaghan now lives onHigh Avenue South.Once you’ve lived on Renton Hill there is no other place like it, according to thisfamily. RentonHistoricalSocietyMembership CardGot One? Membership DuesA reminder for those who havenot paid their dues for 2003....Yourcontinued support of the RentonHistorical Society is appreciated. CelebrationCelebrationCelebrationCelebrationCelebration GifGifGifGifGift !!t !!t !!t !!t !!Happy 40th AnniversarytoLoraine & Donald CusterfromJean & Attilio Franceschinaand Wilma Dallosto Congratulations toVanecia AddersonVanecia was honored at a receptionon April 7, 2003 by the Renton Mu-nicipal Arts Commission for hersupport of the arts in Renton.Vanecia is a life member of theRenton Historical Society and hasbeen a volunteer at the Museum formany years. 1 Some obituaries say the family came fromIndiana, but this version of the family’smigration story was related by familymembers, and so is trustworthier.2 See note iii3 Interview by RHM staff with Maxine MartinAnderson, June 20th, 19754 See note iii5 Quoted in “Women’s Lib in Renton,” byMorda Slauson and Maxine MartinAnderson. Footnotes toWomen's Lib in Renton Renton Historical Quarterly 6 By Steve A. Anderson, Museum SupervisorRenton Museum Report Steve Anderson Shock and awe. That’s what museum professionals around the world experi-enced as they watched the audacity of Iraqis citizens and professional artthieves who pillaged antiquities from the country’s cultural institutions follow-ing the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime. With 170,000 artifacts missingfrom the Baghdad National Museum alone(some of which dated to 5,000 years ago), thisform of cultural robbery has not been seensince the Nazi’s sacked Europe’s treasures.The bleeding of Iraq’s antiquities was just thebeginning of the horror, as the citizenry of thatravaged country went on to destroy whateverthey could not remove. Museum directors andcurators packing AK-47 attempted to protectmillennia-old collections of the Assyrian,Sumerian, Ancient Mesopotamia andBabylonian cultures – but in the end could donothing but save their own necks. Much like ourfederal government’s support of theSmithsonian Institution or Renton’s city govern-ment supporting this museum operation, theBaath Party under Saddam undoubtedly supported Iraq’s cultural institutions orthey would not have existed, period. Perhaps that is why Iraq’s citizens torethem apart, or perhaps they were just looking to make a quick buck or expresstheir pent up frustration with it all. No matter the cause, the museums of Iraqwill likely spend decades regaining a portion of their collections and positionwithin the world’s museum community – but no one said freedom – especiallyfreedom of expression - comes cheaply.I must qualify everything I write here by stating that I’ve never had theopportunity to visit Iraq, or its museums, so I speak hypothetically (and fromwhat TV images I can grasp) about what might have been exhibited withineach site. Certainly, a visitor would anticipate encountering millennia oldartifacts from the “cradle of civilization.” I’m sure many of these objectswould have graced the galleries and exhibit cases along with many artifactsfrom Biblical times. This exhibition potential, and the images broadcast onCNN, CNBC and other cable news stations certainly generated within me agreat deal of wonder. Such as, considering how much Saddam loved portray-ing himself as savior to his people, I must wonder how much of “him” wasrepresented within Iraq’s museum’s walls. I also wonder how much heroworship or sanitized/altered politically correct Baath Party history was con-tained within each cultural site. As one remembers the amount of truth por-trayed by public information official “Baghdad Bob” towards the end of theregime’s life, one must also wonder what near truths or outright lies werepresented as fact within Iraq’s museums, especially those areas and exhibitscovering the past fifty years. Finally, I also wonder if the Iraqi people loathedthese institutions as much as they did Saddam himself. I don’t have theanswers to that – but it does raise some interesting questions.Straight off the top, if such a scenario ever happened in Renton, I don’t knowif I would have the gumption to defend the museum with an automaticweapon. I don’t personally feel that “and other duties as required” includesshooting people. Also, the very nature of the possibilities presented abovebrings to bear important concepts vital to all museums’ existence: that muse-ums need government support to exist and that they need to be centers ofdiscussion and dialogue – not sanitized and politically correct dispensers ofpropaganda. Take for example the lead article we published on prohibition inthe last edition of the RHQuarterly. There are those who may feel thatdiscussing this taboo subject went “out of bounds” and damaged the reputa-tions of those mentioned. Many of those cling to the notion that sworn secrecy oaths between bootleggers made over80 years ago shall never be broken.Tom Monahan’s sensitive approach tothis touchy subject proved that it couldbe dealt with honestly, accurately,have historical integrity and be enter-taining to boot! Further, as noted onthe next page of this newsletter, thearticle has generated more discussionand information that in some cases hasliterally been buried. We’ve attemptedto share some of the short stories thatwe’ve recruited from a growingnumber of “snitches” who haveadded greatly to the history ofRenton’s attempt to go bone dry. Indoing this, we’ve stimulated dialogue,raised questions and, more importantly,documented a little known era inRenton’s past – to the benefit offuture generations. This achievementcan truly be stamped: mission accom-plished.These concepts of (1) challengingaudiences and (2) generating publicdialogue are several of the corner-stones embraced by museum profes-sionals across America – a reality thatperhaps the museums of Iraq maysomeday embrace as well. As wework into the summer months, pleasetake some time to come down to yourRenton Historical Museum and bechallenged and stimulated by what youfind here. 7 Renton Historical QuarterlyMore Blind Pigs “ During the Prohibition years mymother became adept at brewingbeer in our basement. My parentshad emigrated from Denmarkearlier, and ran the Smithers FarmDairy in Renton at that time. TheDanes loved their parties and likedto serve beer. I recall making a tripduring the Prohibition years toVancouver, British Columbia whereliquor was still available, and myfather purchased a bottle of whis-key and placed it under the seatwhere my mother sat. When we cameto the border, an inspector thor-oughly searched the car looking forillegal liquor. Because my motherwas quite pregnant, she remainedseated over the bottle. The inspectorwaved us on, and the whiskey wasenjoyed at the next Danish party!”- Olga (Nielsen) Munro “Prohibition, that was a lot offun too. We made our shill moneyhijacking the bootlegger ’s stuff andthen selling them back their ownbottles and stuff. I remember therewere “blind pigs” (legitimate busi-nesses which acted as fronts forbootlegging) on the lake boat-houses along by Kennydale and atthe mouth of the river. The funnything about those “blind pigs” wasthe clever way they had of hidingthe stuff. They would run it (thebeer) down in the lake in gunny-sacks with a rope on it, so whenthey wanted it they would just pull itup. When any one came and raided,they couldn’t find it because it wasall kept cool in the lake. To get their stuff to the people, abootlegger would come down andstand on the corner, and whenfellows came along he’d collecttheir money and tell them where togo to pick up the booze. He didn’thave the stuff on him. He’d keep ithidden up on the hillside in an oldburned out stump or something, ordown at the car shops under thewooden fence that was there. So thefellows on night shift would maketheir transactions through thefence. Meanwhile, us kids wouldwatch where the bootlegger hid thebooze, and when he went down tothe road to collect his money, we’dcollect his moonshine. He didn’t likethat much. Us kids would sell it orgive it away. The younger kids usedthe money to go to the show. Thatwas our entertainment.” - Art Wood Edited By Tom MonahanIn the last newsletter article entitled, “Grapo, Hootch & Blind Pigs,” we askedpeople to send us their personal stories about life in Renton during Prohibition.Here are some of the interesting stories, which we have discovered since then.We took the liberty of editing some of the grammar, and the last two storieswere edited from longer narratives, which included other topics. - Editor “My dad used to work in the coal mines in Newcastle, and they went onstrike. He had to do something, and bootlegging was something you could doto make a dollar and feed your family. (Because of troubles with the RentonPolice Department) my dad said,“ Jeez, I better get out of Renton’s jurisdiction.” So he moved out to the top ofthe hill where Mike’s Tavern is now. He bought seven and a half acres upthere, just to get away from the jurisdiction of the Renton Police Depar tment.We moved out there, and he started a little gas station and grocery store. It wasabout a mile from the ballpark. That was way out of town back then. Ever ytruck that was going over the mountains passed by our store. When my dad got out there, he had to worry about the King County Sherifftrying to stop his bootlegging. There were a couple (Sheriff ’s Deputies) thatwere after him all the time. Pretty soon he (a Sheriff ’s Deputy) came trottingalong. He said, “Mike, we know you got booze out there. You might as well tellus where it is.” My dad said, “If you know I got booze, you go find it.” Theywere out there with sticks pushing them into the ground, trying to find outwhere the tank full of moonshine was buried, but they never found it. I knewwhere it was at, by a big stump down there. What he (Mike Sr.) would do, he’dbring it in and uncover some of the dirt around the cap, and he’d take off thecap and put a little hand pump on the pipe, and fill these pints. You could go toMcLendons and buy them (empty 1 pint bottles) because people would findthem and trade them in to Pop McLendon for money. My dad would go to Wilderness Corner, Black Diamond, Issaquah, andTwilight Corner. He’d pick up a barrel of moonshine, and we three kids wouldsit right on top of the barrel in the back seat. Then he’d bring it down and godump it into his tank underground. Then he would fill these pint bottles. Hewould go out, and then when somebody wanted a pint of moonshine, he’d say“OK”. He would get their money first- cash business. Then he would go pullup a fence post nearby and pull out a pint bottle and fill it up for the guy.There were other guys around town who would have a bottle on their hip, andthey would sell it by the shot glass. There were a lot of prominent Rentonpeople in the bootlegging business. They all know who they are. I think halfthe town knows who they are. It was no secret. I’m a bootlegger ’s son and Iwitnessed it happening; it put shoes on my feet.”- Mike Potoshnik Jr. Mike Potoshnik Sr.’s gas station on the Sunset Highway leading up to the Highlands in around 1830.Mike is standing next to his 1927 Hudson which has Angeline (wife) standing in front while his kids,Walt, Emery and Mike Jr. sit on the running boards. RHS Photograph #425/6194 Renton Historical Quarterly 8 Donations John GiulianiJohn GiulianiJohn GiulianiJohn GiulianiJohn Giuliani D. J. MooreD. J. MooreD. J. MooreD. J. MooreD. J. Moore DarDarDarDarDaryl & Pyl & Pyl & Pyl & Pyl & Patricia Orsethatricia Orsethatricia Orsethatricia Orsethatricia Orseth RRRRRalph & Shirley Owenalph & Shirley Owenalph & Shirley Owenalph & Shirley Owenalph & Shirley Owen VVVVVicky & Don Perssonicky & Don Perssonicky & Don Perssonicky & Don Perssonicky & Don Persson Fred SharpFred SharpFred SharpFred SharpFred SharpNew Members Jacqueline CallJacqueline CallJacqueline CallJacqueline CallJacqueline Call MaurMaurMaurMaurMaureen Teen Teen Teen Teen Trimm Frimm Frimm Frimm Frimm Fiskeriskeriskeriskerisker Sara & Greg GarnerSara & Greg GarnerSara & Greg GarnerSara & Greg GarnerSara & Greg Garner FFFFFrances Trances Trances Trances Trances Trimm Hiltonrimm Hiltonrimm Hiltonrimm Hiltonrimm Hilton Jean JohnsonJean JohnsonJean JohnsonJean JohnsonJean Johnson RRRRRaymond H. Petermeyeraymond H. Petermeyeraymond H. Petermeyeraymond H. Petermeyeraymond H. Petermeyer Manio L. PhillipsManio L. PhillipsManio L. PhillipsManio L. PhillipsManio L. Phillips Joellyn RichterJoellyn RichterJoellyn RichterJoellyn RichterJoellyn RichterComplimentaryMemberships from thefrom thefrom thefrom thefrom the Chamber of CommerChamber of CommerChamber of CommerChamber of CommerChamber of Commercecececece Mixer DrawingMixer DrawingMixer DrawingMixer DrawingMixer Drawing Northwest RibbonNorthwest RibbonNorthwest RibbonNorthwest RibbonNorthwest Ribbon RRRRRecycling & Suppliesecycling & Suppliesecycling & Suppliesecycling & Suppliesecycling & Supplies C. Allan, The SilkmasterC. Allan, The SilkmasterC. Allan, The SilkmasterC. Allan, The SilkmasterC. Allan, The Silkmaster “Mo” R“Mo” R“Mo” R“Mo” R“Mo” Randhawa, Sales Associate,andhawa, Sales Associate,andhawa, Sales Associate,andhawa, Sales Associate,andhawa, Sales Associate, ERA American BrokersERA American BrokersERA American BrokersERA American BrokersERA American Brokers LLLLL arararararrrrrry Wy Wy Wy Wy Wood,ood,ood,ood,ood, RRRRRenton Housing Aenton Housing Aenton Housing Aenton Housing Aenton Housing Authorityuthorityuthorityuthorityuthority Dan J. FDan J. FDan J. FDan J. FDan J. Foleyoleyoleyoleyoley,,,,, Edward Jones InvestmentsEdward Jones InvestmentsEdward Jones InvestmentsEdward Jones InvestmentsEdward Jones InvestmentsNew Benefactor Scott & Gaye FScott & Gaye FScott & Gaye FScott & Gaye FScott & Gaye Faull McClellanaull McClellanaull McClellanaull McClellanaull McClellanNew LifeMemberships Clinton & Ruth CannonClinton & Ruth CannonClinton & Ruth CannonClinton & Ruth CannonClinton & Ruth Cannon RRRRRobert McLendonobert McLendonobert McLendonobert McLendonobert McLendon Jimi Hendrix MemorialJimi Hendrix MemorialJimi Hendrix MemorialJimi Hendrix MemorialJimi Hendrix MemorialOlga Azzola - $250 Jimmy Hendrix's grave is located inJimmy Hendrix's grave is located inJimmy Hendrix's grave is located inJimmy Hendrix's grave is located inJimmy Hendrix's grave is located in GrGrGrGrGreenwood Memorial Cemetareenwood Memorial Cemetareenwood Memorial Cemetareenwood Memorial Cemetareenwood Memorial Cemetar yyyyy 350 Monr350 Monr350 Monr350 Monr350 Monroe Aoe Aoe Aoe Aoe Avenue NE - Rvenue NE - Rvenue NE - Rvenue NE - Rvenue NE - Renton.enton.enton.enton.enton. 9 Renton Historical Quarterly RentoniansRemembered Memorials shown were received from those noted in re-duced print from February 2, 2003 to April 30, 2003. denotes former Society Life MemberZ% denotes former Society member RRRRRay Jon Alimentay Jon Alimentay Jon Alimentay Jon Alimentay Jon AlimentJennie Bozzello Antonette BisiackAntonette BisiackAntonette BisiackAntonette BisiackAntonette BisiackGeorge & Chrissie Grubesic;Frances Trimm Hilton; MaureenTrimm Fisker LLLLL arararararrrrrr y Bozzelloy Bozzelloy Bozzelloy Bozzelloy BozzelloJennie Bozzello Clara BrClara BrClara BrClara BrClara BredaedaedaedaedaMario & Victor Tonda; MaryBreda; Lynn & Marian Thrasher;Dorlene Bressan; Mr. & Mrs. LouisSutter; Anne Rossman DorDorDorDorDorothy Bruceothy Bruceothy Bruceothy Bruceothy BruceHarold Bruce DorDorDorDorDorothy Bunstineothy Bunstineothy Bunstineothy Bunstineothy BunstineThe Rose Turner Service Guild LaDonna BusinelloLaDonna BusinelloLaDonna BusinelloLaDonna BusinelloLaDonna BusinelloPat & Elda Businello Staats Shirley CarlosShirley CarlosShirley CarlosShirley CarlosShirley CarlosNesika Chapter #54 OES PastMatrons Club Gene L. CarpineGene L. CarpineGene L. CarpineGene L. CarpineGene L. CarpineFred E. Carpine & Family Genevieve ChristiansenGenevieve ChristiansenGenevieve ChristiansenGenevieve ChristiansenGenevieve ChristiansenDon & Carmel Camerini Elsie ClarkElsie ClarkElsie ClarkElsie ClarkElsie ClarkKatie Gilligan Alec CusterAlec CusterAlec CusterAlec CusterAlec CusterBert & Shirley Custer Hugh FHugh FHugh FHugh FHugh FancherancherancherancherancherJohn D. Cline Adeline FAdeline FAdeline FAdeline FAdeline FaullaullaullaullaullFrank & Tillie Purcell AarAarAarAarAaron Goodwinon Goodwinon Goodwinon Goodwinon GoodwinLorraine Goodwin; John & JoycePeterson Eva GoodwinEva GoodwinEva GoodwinEva GoodwinEva GoodwinJohn & Joyce Peterson Jack GravesJack GravesJack GravesJack GravesJack GravesMr. & Mrs. Bert Nord PPPPPaul Houseraul Houseraul Houseraul Houseraul HouserJack & Lois Gannon Thomas KThomas KThomas KThomas KThomas KerererererrrrrrKen & Connie Baker H. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonLouise George; FlorenceDelaurenti; Stan & Norma LouJones; Emma Livermore; EileenButton; Carrie & Greg Bergquist;John F. Livermore; Bert & ShirleyCuster; Rose Camerini; Don &Carmel Camerini Dan B. McGovernDan B. McGovernDan B. McGovernDan B. McGovernDan B. McGovernKatie Gilligan MarMarMarMarMar y McGoverny McGoverny McGoverny McGoverny McGovernKatie Gilligan RRRRRose Rose Rose Rose Rose Reggiareggiareggiareggiareggiardo Nelsondo Nelsondo Nelsondo Nelsondo NelsonEvelyn Rosenstrom; BerniceJorgensen Joyce TJoyce TJoyce TJoyce TJoyce Tuttle Nessuttle Nessuttle Nessuttle Nessuttle NessLouise George; Rose Camerini Z Z % Z % ZZ % ZWWWWWilliam Richarilliam Richarilliam Richarilliam Richarilliam RichardsdsdsdsdsLouise George; Florence Delaurenti;Harold Bruce; George & ChristineGrubesic; Mike Rockey; Walter &Joan Clark; Eileen Button; Mary JoCarlson; Beth & Mike Potoshnik;Frank & Tillie Purcell; William &Annie White; Frances Potocnik;Ann, Jim, & Bill Belmondo; Roy &Peggy Bevan Anderson; MargaretBisiack; Mr. & Mrs. Ron Leetch Minnie RidgelyMinnie RidgelyMinnie RidgelyMinnie RidgelyMinnie RidgelyKatie Gilligan WWWWWalter Hugo Talter Hugo Talter Hugo Talter Hugo Talter Hugo ToschioschioschioschioschiRenton High School Class 1940; MikeRockey; Harold Bruce; Walter & JoanClark; Eileen Button; MadelineDonckers; Robert & Roberta Logue;Beth & Mike Potoshnik; Frank & TilliePurcell; William & Annie White;Peggy Bevan Anderson; LorraineGoodwin; Scott & Gaye McClellan;Betty Richards; Ann, Jim & BillBelmondo; John D. Cline; Lynn King Obituries Doris AndersonDoris AndersonDoris AndersonDoris AndersonDoris Anderson Dorothy BunstineDorothy BunstineDorothy BunstineDorothy BunstineDorothy Bunstine RRRRRobert Carobert Carobert Carobert Carobert Careyeyeyeyey Louie ColombiLouie ColombiLouie ColombiLouie ColombiLouie Colombi LLLLLucille Rucille Rucille Rucille Rucille Reid Cobbeid Cobbeid Cobbeid Cobbeid Cobb Margaret DayMargaret DayMargaret DayMargaret DayMargaret Day John (Jack) FlemingJohn (Jack) FlemingJohn (Jack) FlemingJohn (Jack) FlemingJohn (Jack) Fleming Shawn HuppShawn HuppShawn HuppShawn HuppShawn Hupp Christine Kauzlarich TChristine Kauzlarich TChristine Kauzlarich TChristine Kauzlarich TChristine Kauzlarich Trrrrroyoyoyoyoy Agnes Klepach LamsekAgnes Klepach LamsekAgnes Klepach LamsekAgnes Klepach LamsekAgnes Klepach Lamsek Gail Hansen LeeGail Hansen LeeGail Hansen LeeGail Hansen LeeGail Hansen Lee H. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonH. Frank MathewsonH. Frank Mathewson Allen McBainAllen McBainAllen McBainAllen McBainAllen McBain Aline McLellanAline McLellanAline McLellanAline McLellanAline McLellan RRRRRose Monaghanose Monaghanose Monaghanose Monaghanose Monaghan Alvin MuhonenAlvin MuhonenAlvin MuhonenAlvin MuhonenAlvin Muhonen Medora NelsonMedora NelsonMedora NelsonMedora NelsonMedora Nelson Joyce NessJoyce NessJoyce NessJoyce NessJoyce Ness Frances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga North WWWWWilliam (Bill) Richarilliam (Bill) Richarilliam (Bill) Richarilliam (Bill) Richarilliam (Bill) Richardsdsdsdsds Masami SadoMasami SadoMasami SadoMasami SadoMasami Sado Lena TLena TLena TLena TLena Tomichomichomichomichomich WWWWWalter Hugo Talter Hugo Talter Hugo Talter Hugo Talter Hugo Toschioschioschioschioschi Thelma Dinning NewtonThelma Dinning NewtonThelma Dinning NewtonThelma Dinning NewtonThelma Dinning NewtonLee Newton & family WWWWWilliam Norilliam Norilliam Norilliam Norilliam NorrisrisrisrisrisMary Postishek Frances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthFrances Codiga NorthLouise George Gertrude PetermeyerGertrude PetermeyerGertrude PetermeyerGertrude PetermeyerGertrude PetermeyerRaymond H. Petermeyer Renton Historical Quarterly 10 Centennial Snapshot Please Choose Membership Category & AnyDonation You Wish To Make: ppppp Student Individual($8+) =__________ ppppp Senior Individual ($8+) =______________ ppppp Individual ($10+) =__________________ ppppp Senior Couple($12+) =_______________ ppppp Family ($15+) =_______________ ppppp Benefactor ($50+) =_________________ ppppp Business ($40+) =__________________ ppppp Corporate ($1000+) =_______________ ppppp Life ($250+)_______________________ One Time Only p General Fund Donation _____________ p Endowment Fund Donation __________In Memory of:___________________ Total enclosed:____________________ Join the Renton Historical Society Today! Name:__________________________________________________________Membership Level:________________________________________________ Business Name:__________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________ City:State:__________________________Zip:____________+ 4 (______) Please make checks payable to the Renton Historical Society.VISA/MASTERCARD #__________________________Ex.Date:_________Your Signature:_______________________________________________ p Please share your e-mail address with us:__________________________ p Please send me a volunteer application form. (32/1)Mail To:Membership Secretary, Renton Historical Society235 Mill Avenue South, Renton, Washington 98055-2133 Photo IdentificationMary Anita Russell Jones sent in this photo of Henry Ford Elementary School 6th grade class, 1932. Miss Padden is theteacher. Can you identify any of the students?