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Clark Close
From:Kai Dalton <kaidalton@comcast.net>
Sent:Thursday, December 29, 2022 4:04 PM
To:Clark Close
Subject:4350 Lake Washington Blvd N
Attachments:1981.7351.158 - May Creek Logging Co. train.pdf
Hi,
I am Kai Dalton, a Newcastle resident and board member at the Newcastle Historical Society. I am concerned that the
development by Kennydale Gateway LLC, which as I understand is a subsidiary of a development group owned by Paul
Allen, will negatively impact the proposed site. This is for many reasons, but I’ll just touch on my main concerns.
1) This is a historic site. Not only is this site located where the historic wetland/alluvial fan of May Creek was, it is also
located extremely close to the village inhabited by the Shu-Bahl-tu-Ahbsh (the drying-house people), the indigenous
group that lived in the area for over 10,000 years prior to outside contact. I would say that it is possible or very likely
that there are artifacts relating to their habitation of the area at this site, albeit below the surface. Developing this site
would destroy any chance of recovering artifacts and learning more about the people, their village, and their culture.
2) Adding on to the site’s history, around 1900-1905, the Lake Washington Mill Company established itself at May Creek.
Unfortunately, I have no records directly from the corporation, or much information about their operation, but we know
that they had a substantial mill site built with rail connection to the Lake Washington Belt Line. Under the Lake
Washington Mill Company, three individuals (French, Fish, & Peterson) began a logging operation in 1905-1907.
Eventually, it evolved into the May Creek Logging Company, which had somewhere between 15-20 miles of rail from
their landing & wharf at what’s now the Barbee Mill and extended all the way to Coalfield and the Renton Highlands.
The company survived on as the May Valley Logging Company in 1917, and eventually logging stopped in 1921. In 16
years, the logging companies which operated in May Creek logged (presumably) all the timber. I’m not exaggerating
either, as there are (to my knowledge) no old growth trees left in May Creek or May Valley.
3) Specifically relating to the boundary between the property and May Creek Park (Renton), the logging railroad may
have had exterior structures or other improvements/developments relating to the railroad. If any such structures did
exist, or if there were any connections to the mill on the eastern side of the current property, those areas which they
were in could be potentially damaged by development. This would prove archaeology impossible. Since I’m on the topic
of exterior structures, I will also say that it is possible that the Colman homestead (c. 1875) had buildings or developed
land at this site.
I do have official documentation from a variety of sources to back these all up. I can send them if you would like to look
at them.
Ultimately, while housing and rapid transit would be very valuable to Renton and the Eastside, I think a far better use of
this site is for it to be preserved (at least for a time) for archaeology to be conducted. It’s also worth mentioning that the
exact location of the drying-house village is not known, at least not to me or anyone else I’ve spoken to, including folks
at the Renton History Museum; but we do know that it was not far south from the creek. The creek’s original path is
almost exactly where the current Exit 7 interchange is, so I’m sure you can see why (by proximity alone) there is a
potential for these types of artifacts to be located here.
I have attached a photo of the May Creek Logging Co. Climax Engine, under the Columbia & Puget Sound R.R. Trestle &
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over May Creek as a sort of sample of what materials I have.
Your reply would be appreciated,
Kai Dalton