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Oral Histories

Oral histories offer us a deep and very personal understanding of local history. Hearing the stories of our fellow community members reminds us that we all share a common humanity. Here are stories that highlight the human experience, like love and loss, winning a fight, finding your voice, finding  your path, and starting fresh.  And while they spoke a lot about the past, narrators have shared their thoughts, hopes and observations for Issaquah’s future.  We’re grateful to our community narrators for sharing themselves with us. We look forward to meeting new narrators in the near and distant future.

A. J. Peters

Archie Howatson​

Bob Evans

Camilla Berg Erickson

David Arthur Lewis

Donna Pedegana Arndt

Eleanor Wicklund Hope

Esther Jones Bush

Fred Butler

Irene Bonomi Malmassari

James “Pinky” Hailstone

Keith Hansen

Leona Bogdan Plute

Marilyn Dodge Batura

Mary Lou Lewis

Nina Milligan

Rhonda Brown

Rowan Hinds

Skip Rowley

Walter Seil

Alex Kolonji Bunema

Aubrey Aramaki

Bob Gray

Dallas Darst

Debbie Berto

Dorothy Hailstone Beale

Elvin Barlow & Marie Barlow Chandler

Florence Bergsma Harper

Greg Spranger

Irja Maunus

Joe Peterson

Lavern Clifford Keir

Leslie Grossruck

Marisol Visser

Mary Scott

Olive Quigley

Robert Pickering

Roy Peterson

Thomas Mosby

William Hunt

Alicia Spinner

Beryl Baxter

Bush, Cutsforth, Workman

Dan Anderson

Delores Kinnune Busby

Ed Mott

Emery Cobourn Hill

Florence Koss

Harriet & Edwards Fish, Andy Wold

Ivan Darst

John Hircko

Lee Roy Hepler

Linda Hjelm

Mary Colton Lucas

Minnie Wilson Schomber: 1993

Patricia “Pat” Louise Currie

Robin Hailstone Kelley

Ruth Kees

Vernon “Babe” Anderson

Wilma Nikko Hill

Allen & Thomas Flintoft

Bill Evans

Bush, Gregory, Horrocks, Pickering, Wold

Dan Kramer

Dick Campbell

Ed Seil

Ernie Neuman

Floyd Bush

Ida Walimaki

Jake Jones Jr.

Josephine Cornick Ross

Leo Finnegan

Manny Brown

Mary E. Lewis

Minnie Wilson Schomber: Pre-1983

Paul and Florence Koss

Roland Shew

Ruth Mohl

Viola White Petersen

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Dan Anderson

An Eagle Scout, graduate of MIT in Nuclear Physics, winner of the Howard Hughes fellowship, a Physicist and Patent Law Attorney Dan Anderson is somewhat of a Renaissance man. He was a 58-year member of the Kiwanis and one time president of the club in Issaquah. Dan was a marathon runner, member of Master Chorus and a benefactor of the Village Theatre. This oral history is filled with fascinating stories of one man’s life.

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Vernon “Babe” Anderson

Lifetime resident of Issaquah, Babe Anderson discusses his grandparent’s immigration to the United States and Issaquah, his life growing up and remaining in Issaquah, his work at the Issaquah Creamery, and being drafted for both WWII and the Korean War. Vernon requested recognition of his grandfather, Tolle Anderson.

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Aubrey Aramaki

The owner of Aubrey's Clocks in Gilman Village, Aubrey Aramaki is an accomplished storyteller. He discusses starting his clock business in Korea, Vietnam and Japan, the racism he has encountered, his parent's internment at Tule Lake, the purchase of buildings in Issaquah, his business and the influential people he has met throughout his time in Issaquah.

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Donna Pedegana Arndt

Donna Pedegana Arndt, longtime Issaquah resident, discusses her childhood, her father's time as a coal miner, her mother's death, the Eastern Stars, WWII, attitudes in Issaquah and her role as museum docent and the preservation of Issaquah.

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Elvin Barlow and Marie Barlow Chandler

The Barlow's parents were Finnish and Swedish immigrants who moved their family to Issaquah in 1906 and opened a dairy farm. They discuss culture and traditions of being brought up in a Finnish area of Issaquah and how people of other ethnicities would come to baseball games, barbecues and events.

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Marilyn Dodge Batura

A resident of Issaquah since birth, Marilyn was an adventurous and precocious little girl who had a wonderful time growing up in the area. Her oral history tells of her “Stand By Me” moment in the woods of Issaquah in junior high, as well as her work on the city council, volunteering at Issaquah History Museums and raising a family while living on the same land she grew up on.

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Beryl Baxter

A member of several prominent Issaquah pioneer families, Beryl was born and raised in Issaquah. She shares family lineage of the Wold, Bush and Baxter families in this oral history. Other topics include farming, holidays and everyday life in Issaquah in the early 1900s.

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Dorothy Hailstone Beale

 

Dorothy Hailstone Beale was born in 1919 and talks about growing up in Issaquah, logging, and the Hailstone family. Her extensive interview covers many families in Issaquah as well as some fascinating discussion about the KKK and cultural and race relations in Issaquah.

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Debbie Berto


Finding your voice.

Longtime Issaquah resident and editor of the Issaquah Press, Debbie Berto helped to tell the stories of Issaquah for over 40 years. Debbie raised a family, owned a business in Gilman Village in its early days and co-chaired Issaquah’s Salmon Days

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Manny Brown


Finding your path.

Social justice activist and longtime Issaquah resident, Manny was an Assistant Coach to the Issaquah Eagles Wrestling team.  He is a member of the East Shore Unitarian church and is active in the Black Lives Matter movement; hosting events such as Flash Stance.  Manny shares his story as a person of color living in Issaquah.

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Rhonda Brown


The past, plus thoughts, hopes, and observations for Issaquah's  future.

Rhonda moved to Issaquah with her husband and two children. Through her oral history, we see the challenges of living in Issaquah for a young African American family. Rhonda tells of her work as a longtime employee of IBM and antiracism work with her sister and with the Unitarian Church in Bellevue.

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Alex Kolonji Bunema

Originally from Kinshasa, Congo, Alex traveled to Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. He started boxing when he was 5  and won 5 national titles and 2 African titles. During his career, Alex was crowned by Nelson Mandela and fought at Madison Square Garden. He came to work with manager, Ray Fry, who lived in Issaquah. He was happy to be able to fight at the Issaquah Community Center so that his fans in Issaquah could be there.

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Delores Kinnune Busby

Delores shares the history of her life as a child living in downtown Issaquah. Her father owned a shoe shop and a restaurant on Front St. She discusses the 1949 and 1965 earthquake as well as the changes in Issaquah over the years. Delores also covers life in Issaquah during WWII and throughout her life.

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Esther Jones Bush

Moving to Issaquah after her marriage to Floyd Bush, Ester recalls Floyd's work at the Grange, his service in WWII and raising her children. A member of the Pythian Sisters Lodge, she also discusses the Issaquah Rodeo and the businesses and people of Issaquah.

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Floyd Bush

Moving to Issaquah after her marriage to Floyd Bush, Ester recalls Floyd's work at the Grange, his service in WWII and raising her children. A member of the Pythian Sisters Lodge, she also discusses the Issaquah Rodeo and the businesses and people of Issaquah.

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Bush, Gregory, Horrocks, Pickering, Wold

This group early Issaquah residents discuss their family histories, how their families arrived in Issaquah; the settlement and development of Issaquah; stories of Native Americans; coal mining, logging and farming; the railroad; early education; community roles of other early families; and their thoughts on life then verses life now.

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Bush, Cutsforth, Workman

This group of Issaquah residents discuss early settler families and their relationships; how to clear land; logging and coal mining; various lumber mills; barns and dairies; stories of Native Americans; and travel by waterways and auto freight.

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Fred Butler


Army veteran, longtime resident of Issaquah, mayor, councilmember, and active civic leader outside of government, Fred Butler shares his unique memories and insights of Issaquah.

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Camilla Berg Erickson

Camilla Berg was born in 1918 and discusses raising chickens (her family had 800), the Norwegian community and food, and Issaquah during the depression. She also discusses changes in Issaquah over the years.

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Bill Evans

William C. Evans Jr. was born in 1923. In his interview, Bill talks about his grandfather’s work with Issaquah Water Department, his upbringing in Issaquah, his time in the service in World War II, meeting his wife and his life in Seattle and Issaquah.

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Bob Evans

Longtime Issaquah resident, Bob Evans discusses working in the coal mines and logging camps, his school days and what he did for fun, the Depression, Prohibition, the mayoral recall, and the Ku Klux Klan meeting in Pickering's fields.

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Leo Finnegan

Leo arrived in Washington when he attended Gonzaga to study engineering. In the mid 1970s, he, his wife, Rose and 5 children moved to Issaquah. Concerned about what would happen to their developmentally disabled son, Rose started a parent group for people with children with disabilities. And through their work, Life Enrichment Options was formed.

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Harriet and Edwards Fish, Andy Wold

Harriet and Edwards Fish and Andy Wold discuss the history of Issaquah at a meeting of the Friends of the Issaquah Library. Topics include settler families, coal mining, logging, the railroad, and development. They tell of early families, indigenous peoples, hop farming and the many businesses in Issaquah.

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Allen and Thomas Flintoft

Allen Flintoft discusses how his family settled in Issaquah and opened a funeral home, his grandfather as mayor, his childhood, and how he decided to continue the family business. In the middle, his father Thomas enters the conversation and describes his family and how they entered the funeral business.

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Bob Gray

Bob Gray discusses how he started the Presbyterian Church in Issaquah, the history of the church, the social services provided through the church, Issaquah in the 1960s, the Forum Theater and Forum Bookstore, influential people of Issaquah and the Issaquah Group for Health and Environmental Research

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Leslie Grossruck

Stepdaughter of the founder of the Issaquah Skyport, Leslie tells a story of innovations in flying, living on and losing the Skyport, her stepfather, Linn Emrich, brother Thor and D.B. Cooper.

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James “Pinky” Hailstone

James “Pinky” Hailstone was born in British Columbia in 1898 His interview has a lot of interesting stories including he and some friends burning a “fiery cross” and the KKK being blamed for it, and the story of the only hanging in Issaquah.

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Keith Hansen

Former Mayor of Issaquah, Hansen describes politics in Issaquah as well as difficulties had faced as mayor. One of the issues was lack of and enforcement of ordinances in Issaquah. He changed much of that during his time as mayor. He was involved in the Pickering Barn development as well as the Skyport and Gilman Village.

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Florence Bergsma Harper 

Florence Bergsma Harper discusses her Dutch ancestry and their entry into Ellis Island, the Issaquah Valley Dairy and life on a dairy farm, becoming Labor Day Queen (1955), Darigold, Boeing, Salmon Days, the Grange and memories of her close-knit family, particularly her father as Santa Claus.

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Wilma Nikko Hill

Wilma Nikko Hill discusses her ancestors, her parents and siblings, her childhood and her school days, Finnish traditions and special foods, Monohon Mill her first washing machine, Polio, her marriage and son, development in Issaquah, WWII and her work at the fish hatchery.

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Rowan Hinds

Former mayor of Issaquah, Rowan Hinds was interviewed by sitting Mayor, Mary Lou Pauly. Rowan discusses his time as the Mayor, major issues during his time on the council and his many accomplishments: including the Skyport, Costco, Issaquah Library, Issaquah Community Center and the Julius Boehm Pool.

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Linda Hjelm

Linda Adair Hjelm discusses her ancestry and how her family settled in Issaquah, her childhood, the Grange, Issaquah Theatre, WWII, her career with Holiday Inn, the Vietnam War, and changes in Issaquah over the years.

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Lee Roy Hepler

Lee Hepler discusses running the Ford agency he later sold to Foothills Motors, changes in the automotive industry, his time as the mayor of Issaquah during the Depression, replacing the wooden sidewalks, and known bootleggers during Prohibition.

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John Hircko

The owner of Johnny's Food Center in downtown Issaquah, John Hircko, discusses his youth as a supplier to the bootleggers of the area and how easy it was to get alcohol during Prohibition. Hircko discusses the Great Depression and how it affected the sawmills and the mines of Issaquah.

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Eleanor Wicklund Hope

Eleanor Hope grew up in a Swedish community in High Point. She discusses her father's death in a logging accident, logging and shingle mills in High Point, Swedish weddings and holidays, Communism, the Depression and her career as a teacher.

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Archie Howatson​

Archie Howatson discusses being born in Monohon, fire and its aftermath, his childhood and education, The Great Depression, his career as a logger and his time in the Army.

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William Hunt

William Hunt, longtime Issaquah resident talks about working at the weekly paper and the technicalities of the printing press. He tells stories of swimming in Lake Sammamish and Issaquah Creek as a boy, traveling to Seattle, Cowie's Boats, bootlegging, and union work at a print shop.

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Jake Jones Jr.

Jacob Jones Jr. was born in 1881 to Jacob Jones Sr. and Mary Anderson Jones. He was born in Washington and lived in Issaquah until his death in 1959. His interview is from 1958 and contains many first person accounts of Issaquah’s early days. His interview is a fascinating picture of what life was like in early Issaquah.

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Ruth Kees

Ruth was born in Nebraska in 1923 She worked as a government inspector during WWII, getting her pilot’s license and working at Boeing. Ruth discusses the impact Issaquah’s development has had on the environment and her effort to protect it. If you’re interested in local environmental issues, both of Ruth’s interviews are amazing reads.

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Lavern Clifford Keir

Lavern Keir discusses his home on Tiger Mountain, Keir Company, his machinist career, the Depression, hunting, and his family. He talks about being 97 years old and having no regrets.

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Robin Hailstone Kelley

Former Director of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Robin Hailstone Kelley discusses her heritage and genealogy, memories of her parents, her childhood and school days, changes in Issaquah, Salmon Days, and why Issaquah is her home.

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Florence Koss 

Florence Koss, longtime area resident, discusses her childhood, illness as a child, her marriage and children, husband Paul's work in the WPA, her bout with Tuberculosis, politics and changes in Issaquah.

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Paul and  Florence Koss 

Paul and Florence discuss each of their family's genealogy and their father's professions as coal miner and secretary of the Grange. They tell stories of growing up in Issaquah and how it has changed over the years; as well as, Florence's time in a sanitorium for TB and Paul's time at Boeing as a mechanic.

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Dan Kramer

Longtime Issaquah resident, Dan Kramer talks about his family businesses, The Red & White Grocery Store and Coast to Coast Hardware. Kramer discusses serving in Germany and France in WWII and how Issaquah has changed over the years.

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David Arthur Lewis

Dave Lewis discusses his childhood and school days, his working days in construction, the coming of electricity, his barbershop, the atmosphere and people of Issaquah, and the changes he has seen during his many years in Issaquah.

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Mary Colton Lucas

Mary Colton Lucus lived from 1898 to 1982. She was  a teacher in the Upper Squak School. In this interview, she discusses her experience there in 1917-18.

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Irene Bonomi Malmassari

Irene Bodoni Malmassari, lifetime resident of Issaquah, discusses historic events and how they affected life in Issaquah. Subjects include early childhood, education, WWI, Prohibition, bootleggers and various pioneers of Issaquah.

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Thomas Mosby

Thomas Mosby served as the football coach at Liberty High School during a time of racial upset. As a person of color, Mosby came in and taught the mostly white student body compassion and acceptance. As a counselor, he worked to bring people together and promote a better understanding of the different cultures within the school.