Renton Pianist is a Finalist in KING Radio Contest

by Linda Petersen

Michael Messer is a Renton native and a busy high school senior. He will graduate in June from both Kentridge High School and Green River Community College with an Associate of Arts degree. He plans to major in piano performance and has many scholarship offers in consider before he enters college this fall.

Michael has studied piano for 10 years and is currently a student of Dianne Nichols of Renton. He has won awards at many piano competitions and has performed at the Washington State Music Teachers Association State Convention for the past three years. Performing, competing and serving at his church keeps him musically challenged. He says, "There is a reason they call it 'playing' the piano. Music is a gift to be shared and enjoyed!"

Michael is one of 20 finalists on www.king.org "10 Grands Young Artist Awards" - you can vote for him by going to the website and then page four, number 16 where you will see and hear him play. I heard him play in person a few weeks ago and was captivated by his music. Good luck Michael!

Linda Petersen is Chair of SoCoCulture.

Camel Express: Exotic Freight Conveyance in the Pacific Northwest

by Karen Meador

“The Camels are Coming” made the headlines in more than one newspaper in the American West of the late 1850s. Under the sponsorship of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, dromedaries (one-humped, Arabian camels) were imported to facilitate Army transportation in the surveying and exploration of the newly-acquired Southwest. Camels could carry larger loads than horses or mules, travel longer distances without food or water, and function in sand or snow.

Gold discoveries in British Columbia in the late 1850s and early 60s added a new dimension to the narrative. Word had spread of a single camel’s ability to carry over half a ton, a capacity worth “four good mules.” A British Columbia businessman imported the sturdier, two-humped, Bactrian camels from Asia for use in the Cariboo mines in 1862. Despite their superior freight-hauling ability, their feet were ill-suited to the rocky trails of the Cariboo. Some handlers made rawhide and canvas boots for their soft feet. The camels also proved difficult to manage for teamsters unaccustomed to their mercurial temperament; they panicked horses and mules along the narrow pack trails, sometimes causing stampedes and runaways. Lawsuits ensued, forcing the owner to sell off much of his herd.

Freighters on the U.S. side of the border saw potential in using the exotic animals to supply the mining districts of Eastern Washington, Northeast Oregon, Idaho and Montana. A number of them purchased Bactrians from British Columbia, as well as former Army stock. The “ships of the desert” were used to haul mail and provisions to the remote mining camps throughout the region, with the newly-completed Mullan Road, between Walla Walla and Fort Benton, Montana, carrying “a good deal of camel traffic.”

One early settler remembered observing the camel trains:

They would be loaded with sacks of flour until you couldn’t see anything of the camels except their heads. . . . They would go up and over the mountains in the roughest and steepest places and never refuse to keep moving in their slow, deliberate way.

The camel pack trains operated throughout the mining regions of the Pacific Northwest into the 1870s. Once again; however, the exotic animals proved disruptive, prompting one early settler to report that their “peculiar aroma and looks were enough to raise Cain on the [Mullan] road.” Idaho’s Stampede Lake derives its name from one such encounter.

These issues, as well as the coming of the railroad, led to much of the stock being sold to mining and freighting operations in Nevada and Arizona, as well as Sonora, Mexico.

Largely as a result of being the major supply point for regional mining operations, Walla Walla grew to become the largest town in Washington Territory by 1870. Many years later Walla Walla businessman William Kirkman reported, “I remember when Seattle boasted of being as large as Walla Walla.”

Karen Meador, a member of the Neely Mansion Association, is also an independent scholar who lives in South King County.

100 Years of Women's Suffrage in WA

The Highline Historical Society held a program last weekend featuring actress/historian Tames Alan. In her "Soldiers in Petticoats" lecture, Alan dressed in costume as a suffragette and reviewed the long and tortuous history of women's struggle to secure voting rights in the United States. Washington State was the fifth state to allow women to vote -- this was before the passage of the 19th Amendment. In fact, 2010 marks the centennial of women's suffrage in this state.

It was a fascinating program, and when Alan concluded her presentation, she opened it up to audience members. This is when it really hit home that we are living as part of an historic continuum, and that the struggle for women's rights is ongoing. There were at least a couple of audience members who had been born before the passage of the 19th Amendment. But even those born fifty years after women had gained the right to vote spoke of other forms of discrimination they had faced. Women talked about being forced to quit their jobs as flight attendants or school teachers as soon as they became pregnant (even though they were married). One lady recalled being required to get her husband's signature in order to get a credit card. Others recalled inequities in education and sports.

The program was followed by a reception honoring women who hold elected office today. State Senator Karen Keiser (33rd District), SeaTac Mayor Terry Anderson, SeaTac councilmembers Mia Gregerson and Pam Fernald, and former Burien Mayor Kitty Milne were on-hand to talk about their experiences as public servants. Senator Keiser noted that there are fewer women in the state legislature today than when she first went to Olympia. She reiterated the plea made by Tames Alan at the conclusion of the formal presentation: that audience members make sure to share their personal stories with the youngsters in their lives, so that the generation growing up now can appreciate that history is not something merely relegated to history books, but ongoing and consequential.

Submitted by Barbara McMichael, SoCoCulture administrator

Love Poem Contest Winner

Thanks to all who participated in our first-time-ever poetry contest - we received many wonderful poems celebrating love in South King County. Our judge had a difficult time deciding, but finally picked this entry by Marjorie Rommel as our winning poem. Happy Valentine's Day to all!


FLOWER LOVE - by Marjorie Rommel


She asked for yellow roses,

but roses were too dear,

so I sent white carnations

tied up in a yellow wire.



She stood at Cugini's window,

her disappointment clear

as water drops in the florist's case

on the roses of her desire.



I was moved to console her

--we twined in sheer delight--

and she bloomed yellow roses,

we sent up white carnation fire,

half the night.



Poet's Note: Cugini Florist is a venerable institution in Renton, destination of young men in need of orchid corsages for their girls on prom night, young girls and their mothers intent on the quintessential bridal bouquet, husbands seeking a dozen perfect long-stemmed red roses for their wives on Valentine's Day -- anyone needing anything in the way of flowers for any occasion from Mother's Day to the birth of a new baby. Women longing for their men to remember them are perennially pressing their noses to Cugini's always beautifully decorated windows.

The Case of the Missing Totem Pole

by Jennifer Davis Hayes, Renton Community & Economic Development

What do the Renton Fred Meyer store, the Duwamish Tribe, the Renton Municipal Arts Commission, the West Seattle Blog, KIRO.com, the Renton History Museum and a small town in Oregon all have in common? Each plays a part in an amazing tale that unfolded this winter and involved the mystery of the missing Henry Moses honoring pole.

Henry Moses was the last Chief of the Duwamish Tribe and a graduate of Renton High School. In the 1970s a group of local business owners commissioned an honoring pole for him. In recent years, it has been “hidden” in clear view in a planting strip in the Renton Fred Meyer shopping center.

At the November Renton Municipal Arts Commission meeting, Commissioner Fred Lund shared his disappointment at the state of the honoring pole, which was surrounded by weeds and garbage. The Commission encouraged Fred to gather information about the pole to discuss with Fred Meyer management. After going to Liz Stewart at the Renton History Museum and gathering articles from the 1970s about the pole and dedication ceremony, Fred visited the Fred Meyer store and noticed the pole was gone. Fred Meyer Manager Eric Georgia didn’t know about any corporate actions to remove the pole. Our next thought was that perhaps the Duwamish Tribe had the pole for restoration, since a member had contacted the Arts Commission eight months earlier.

But in early December, Fred found a mention on KIRO.com about two totem poles found in Keizer, Oregon. One was identified as a pole stolen from West Seattle, but the other pole was of unidentified origin. The developing story first had been reported on the West Seattle Blog.

After a frantic e-mailing of the story to Duwamish Tribe members Eric Georgia and White-Bear (the member who had expressed interest in restoring it) – a sigh of relief and exclamation: “That’s our pole!”

A visit by Seattle Police officers to Fred Meyer confirmed ownership and the SPD communicated that they wanted the pole out of their secured evidence room immediately because the pole was infested with bugs! As you can imagine, 1001 calls were made in several directions to figure out what to do next. Fortunately, the original carver, Jim Ploegman, still lives in Renton. He offered his studio space to allow the Duwamish to restore the pole.

Two things down, but now how to pay for it? Luckily all those involved wanted to see a happy ending for this story and the initial meeting with Fred Meyer confirmed their interest in restoring the pole and placing it back on their property – this time in a more visible location. Store officials also committed resources to pay for the work. We don’t know the amount it will cost, so we may reach out to other resources to help ensure this pole isn’t lost to age.

It has been an amazing story to date, somewhat of a Christmas miracle. What’s even more amazing is how this theft has brought together uncommon partners (Fred Meyer, Renton Municipal Arts Commission, Renton History Museum, Duwamish Tribe, and a wood carver) to restore a community treasure. Look for updates on this blog and for the rededication
ceremony which, if timing is right, may be tied into Renton High School's centennial year activities.

My Country

image by Julie Taylor

© Bob McKean 2008

Born here, raised here, probably die here
The Northwest coast, my country
Grays Harbor, it is called. Home of Grayland and no wonder.
Gray skies meet a gray sea crashing on gray sand

Temperate West Coast Marine, the geographers call it
Mild, dry summers, cool, wet winters
They don’t mention the length of those winters
But we are spared shivering in blizzards

Evergreen trees, some third generation, soaring to the sky
Douglas fir, Red cedar, hemlock, the occasional pine
Plant anything here, likely it will grow
Though some like it hot. We don’t do hot.

Salt water in my veins, webs between my toes
I could never live long away from the ocean
Emerald islands across open water
Waiting patiently for residents to return

Creeks and rivers that are gentle streams usually
But raging torrents after a Pacific storm
Occasionally flooding. The locals just rebuild
They don’t want to move anywhere else

Fish and game in such abundance
The indigenous peoples didn’t have to migrate
Unusual sea creatures, some found nowhere else
Visitors come from afar to watch the whales

Prone to earthquake, tsunami, eruption, wildfire
But not to hurricane or tornado; we give thanks
Looming volcanoes, some dormant, others not so much
Verdant valleys with rich soil left by receding water

Where else can you ski in the morning
Then golf in the afternoon of the same day
Here, I tell you, they are both right here
Less than an hour apart

Born here, live here now, likely die here
God’s country
My country


Bob McKean participates in the monthly Poetry Jam in Enumclaw.

SoCoCulture Love Poem Contest

(e-mail deadline February 10)

We're sponsoring our first-ever poetry contest! We are seeking a love poem to publish on this blog on Valentine’s Day.

Rules:
1. Must be an original, previously unpublished love poem, written by a resident of South King County (anybody residing in Burien, Tukwila, Renton, Maple Valley, and all points south to the county line).
2. Must include some reference to a South King County feature (lake, hospital, street, school, etc.) If the reference would be obscure to most readers, please tell us more about it in a brief note at the end of the poem.
3. Poem must be no more than 20 lines in length.

Winner will receive:
A $10 Starbucks gift card, recognition in the March issue of SoCoCulture’s monthly E-News, and publication of the poem on this blog. Poet retains all other rights.

To submit (read this carefully, please):
1. E-mail your poem to info@sococulture.org -- no attachments, please.)
2. The subject line should read: SoCoCulture Love Poem Contest.
3. Your poem should be included in the body of the e-mail, beginning with the title.
4. Following the poem, let us know your name, city of residence (must be in South King County), e-mail address, and phone number.
5. Deadline: Wednesday, February 10.

Thanks for your interest! We look forward to hearing from you!