Summer 2014 - White River Valley Museum

July 2014
a newsletter of the white river valley museum
Featured History
What’s Happening?
Things To Do
From the Back Room
Good News!
Page 1, 4
The game farm
behind Game Farm
Park
Page 2
Shoe Obsessed, be
Warned!
Page 3
Alice and the Mad
Hatter
Page 10
Shoes, shoes and more
shoes
Page 11
Vitally valuable
volunteers
FEATURED HISTORY
The Game Farm behind Game Farm Park
by
Craig Holmes
When we look back over our history we so often learn of actions and attitudes that are
different from those held today. Interesting instances of this are central to the story of
Auburn’s Game Farm Park.
Not so many decades ago without much critical thought we introduced non-native
species to the region, diverted a river, and watered livestock in the river.Today
each of these actions is likely to be against code, environmental standards
and maybe even common sense. Historically, right here in Auburn all
of these actions have taken place and with the best intentions.
Interestingly they all happened at what we now know of as
Game Farm Park.
The story starts interestingly enough with elk. The
indigenous elk of our state are Roosevelt Elk. Hunting had
depleted Washington State’s herds so in early February of 1913 a number
of Rocky Mountain Elk were relocated to Auburn from Yellowstone
Park—the first King County Game Commission project in Auburn.
Continued on page 4
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Things To Do
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Things
Things To
To Do
Do
Sumner at the Farm!
Sole Obsession:
Mary Olson Farm Summer Hours Open every Saturday and Sunday June 21 – August 24
from noon – 5 p.m. Thanks to the Wyman Youth Trust, admission is FREE!
100 Years of Women’s Shoes from
Kitten Heels to Power Pumps
Sunsets at Mary Olson Farm
Shoe Addicts Be Warned!
Sole Obsession presents a range of dressy and fabulous footwear, spanning from 1910 to 2010, and reflects upon the dramatic changes experienced by the
women who wore them. Over one hundred pairs of
shoes from regional museums and private collections
will be displayed with examples of women’s cocktail
and party apparel from the Museum’s own collection.
Curated by Christine Palmer.
July 10, 24 & August 7th
The Auburn Symphony Chamber Orchestra presents
an evening series of outdoor chamber music. For more
information and tickets please visit
www.auburnsymphony.org.
Living History Camp
Veggie Car Races
July 12 , Saturday, 1 – 3 p.m.
Museum Mysteries Camp!
Late Play Dates
July 28 - August 1,
Every First Thursday of the Month!
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy fun activities throughout the museum and
FREE admission. Late Play date is perfect for kids age 3-12.
This is a drop-in program and no registration is required.
Girls Only Overnight
July 18-19
9 a.m. – noon
Kids age 7 – 12 will unlock daily mysteries that include
mythical characters, missing artifacts and stolen art. Clues
will lead to locations in the Museum, Library and Les Gove
Park where activities include black light hunts, orienteering
treks, puzzles and more! Cost: $80 per camper,
registration required.
7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Girls age 7 – 12 will love spending the night learning about
historic fashions, playing games, having a tea party and
watching a movie at this all girl overnight! Cost: $30 per
1st child, $25 additional siblings, registration required.
Peep Toes and Cosmos
September 17
7 p.m.
Spend a cocktail hour at the Museum sipping cosmos and enjoying a special lecture
with Sole Obsession Curator Christine
Palmer! 21 and up only, $25 per person,
registration required.
To register for events visit www.wrvmuseum.org or call 253-288-7439
Gentlemen start your turnips! Stop by the Farm and try
your hand at making a race car using just vegetables, and
then send it zooming (or puttering) down our race track!
Free, no registration required.
Sponsored by our friends at Mosby Farms
August 11 – 15
9 a.m. – noon
Kids age 7-12 will explore the daily activities of farm life
in the early 20th century while caring for farm animals,
working in the garden, preparing farm fresh food and
playing historic games.
Cost: $80 per camper.
Mad Hatter’s Sweet Tea
July 26
1 p.m.
Enjoy a bevy of teatime treats and iced tea with the Hatter and his friends at this family friendly outdoor tea!
Cost: $12 adult, $8 child 3-12, children 2 and under are free.
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FEATURED HISTORY
The Game Farm behind Game Farm Park
by
Secret Society:
Nation of the Lakotah Lodge
Continued from page1
Craig Holmes
They were released on 37 fenced acres of land at a new
King County Park near Auburn, the site of a recently built
dam designed to divert the White River to flow south
to Commencement Bay. Charlie Stevens was the caretaker for this herd which consisted of two bulls and 6 to
8 cows, plus calves. Stevens was happy to show off this
new herd to townsfolk who came to visit. Viewing was
hampered by the fact that the elk preferred the seclusion
of the wooded river bottom.
State involvement in the rearing and preservation of
game goes back to Article 20 of the Washington Territory Session Law of 1897 which defines the duties for
a future game warden. By 1901 the Washington State
legislature passed HB #294 “for the protection or game
animals and songbirds” and created an appointed position of the Washington State Game Warden, beginning
the State’s role in protecting and promoting game birds
and other animals. At this point in the narrative it may
be useful to point out that the purpose behind all of this
was to plant the animals in appropriate local habitat for
the enjoyment of sports fishing and hunting, not wildlife
protection as we may picture it today.
Aerial view of Auburn’s game farm in 1957. Note the line of pens and
small brood houses in the center left.
In 1902 King County Fish Commissioners appointed
Henry Reif to become the first King County Game Warden, and the organization of Washington State Game
and Fish Protective Association (Game Association) was
formed by leading citizens. Reif soon moved into the
position of State Game Warden. He had many opportunities to promote a hatchery program and other goals
set forth by the Game Association. This organization was
instrumental in changing existing game laws, splitting fish
and game into different commissions, and most importantly creating county operated propagation programs
for fish and pheasants.
A newly formed Seattle secret society, the National
Lakotah Lodge, was dedicated to promoting and propagating fish and game birds. The Lodge had considerable
political clout and financial backing, which enabled its
membership to successfully lobby for King County fish
Elk Populations in Washington State
Today’s elk herds west of Interstate 5 are Roosevelt
Elk, a variety of elk that has lived in this region for
thousands of years. Those seen in the Cascades,
Eastern Washington and a few select Western
Washington areas are Rocky Mountain Elk. They are
descended from those imported from Yellowstone
in the early 1910s and reared at game farms such as
the one located in Auburn.
and game policies. To increase the supply of sport fish to
be planted in local waters, a portion of each member’s
dues went into a fund which financed new fish hatchery
projects. The Lodge purchased property at the mouth of
Tokul Creek on the Snoqualmie River, paid for construction costs and managed the hatchery’s development.
With only four months in existence the National Lakotah
Lodge had nearly completed its first new fish hatchery.
The Lodge turned the hatchery’s ownership and operations over to the King County Game Commission making
King County the first county in the nation to operate a
fish hatchery. The next goal for the Lodge and King County Game Warden Reif was to create a hatchery for quail
and pheasants. By 1914 their dream was realized on a 3.5
acre site also on Tokul Creek—again a first in the nation.
“This is the name of a new organization recently organized in the Elks Hall, Seattle Wash the object of
which is to protect and promote the propagation of
game fish and birds. It is a national secret society
composed of American sportsmen. That it will prove
popular may be indicated by the fact that though but a
few weeks old the enrollment is already 300 men most
them citizens of Seattle and vicinity. The principal officers chosen for the government of the organization
are: Mr. W.S. Phillips (El Comancho), who has been
chosen the national Head Chief and Mr. G.E. Grant,
national storyteller. The organization has been regularly incorporated under the state laws of Washington
with headquarters in Seattle for all time. It is founded
on the legends, traditions and beliefs of the old Sioux
Indians whose ritual and regalia are used in its initiatory ceremonies…
Incidentally it may be stated that the new secret society of sportsmen founders showed their love of the
picturesque in their instinctive attachment to the ideals of organization in adopting as a mascot a little
maid of the Sioux tribe, Zintkalla Nuni... She is full
blooded and first saw the light of day in an Indian
teepee. Three months after her birth she became an
orphan at the battle of Wounded Knee. Bereaved of
parents in battle she was picked up by General Colly
and reared by his family. She was educated in the
ways of the conquering race and eventually became
a telegrapher. Zintkalla Nuni was at the organization
of the Nation of the Lakotah [National club], dressed
in the full regalia of the tribe. The Lakotah [club] adopted the little Indian maiden for reason that failing
eyesight has reduced her to poverty and prevented
her from following her chosen vocation as a telegrapher. Tender hands have cared for her and the officers
of the new organization will see to it that the Sioux
maiden will want for nothing as long as the organization holds together.”
National Lumberman, Volume 45, 1910
www.wrvmuseum
.org •.253-288-7433
www.wrvmuseum
org • 253-288-7433
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Game birds of this era were raised by
broody chicken hens that fostered the
game bird chicks. The chickens were purchased from the nearby farmers. At Auburn
pheasant eggs were collected from the
large enclosures and placed with a chicken
hen in an individual brooding house. Twenty
one days later, when the pheasant chicks
hatched they were allowed to go out of
the brooding house into small wire pens to
explore, eat and grow.
Tokul Creek Trout Hatchery and Gamebird Farm (in 1914) once had a half acre of game bird enclosures. These are arranged in the same way as those
built in the Auburn Game Farm.
The second King County game farm was developed near Duvall. It was a large site and became a major bird hatchery,
breeding and distributing pheasants throughout the County. Along with County efforts, during the 1910s several private game preserves were set aside by King County Commissioners and private citizens. J. H. Taylor and Walter Lunn
owned private reserves in the Auburn area. By 1920 Auburn had over 800 acres of land designated as game refuges.
These preserves became the release sites for birds from state and county hatcheries. A newly obtained King County
park along the White River in south Auburn was one of those release sites.
In March 1924 work began on the new 120 acre King County game farm, three miles south of Auburn. Construction was under the direct supervision of Walter Lunn, the King County Game Commissioner and an Auburn resident.
Upon completion the farm had 96 separate 24’ x 24’ poultry wire enclosures that covered three acres. A water
system from a hillside spring was installed with standpipes in each pen. A framed feed house was built, along with a
‘modern’ bungalow for the caretaker. By midsummer, 2,000 birds had been purchased from a farm in Oregon—24
birds were placed in each pen. To help keep out poachers and predators the entire compound was surrounded with a
tall wooden fence.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary History
6
By the spring of 1925 Supervisor C.D.
White and Assistant A.D. McGonigle were
expecting to hatch 4,000 pheasants necessitating building another 120 enclosures.
That year the King County Game Commission spent $2,000 to purchase Hungarian Partridges to be raised at the Auburn
farm. These are a hardy bird, and there was
hope to raise enough to provide for future
releases. In 1929 deer enclosures were
also built at Auburn and Supervisor White
reported having 16 deer in his new pens.
A pair of female pheasants reared at the State Game Farm in Steilacoom, Washington, 1962.
Bruce Brewer, Assistant Superintendent at the Whidbey Game Farm, separates the new
pheasant chicks from their eggshells and places them in a special box to carry them to the
electric brooders, 1960.
With the stock market crash and a downward spiral economically, the last year of full
operation of the Auburn game farm by the
King County Game Commission was 1932.
That year the County raised and released
over 5,000 Chinese Ringneck pheasants.
Since they are not native to this area, if you
see or hear a local pheasant it is no doubt
a relative of these original birds.
www.wrvmuseum.org
• 253-288-7433
7
Seeking efficiencies and savings, State
legislator Ben Paris authored Initiative #62
which would do away with county game
commissions, collecting all administration
functions under the State. The initiative
won overwhelming support and passed in
1932. So by the spring of 1933, Auburn’s
game farm began operations as a State
agency.
The State’s work began with a clean-up
campaign initiated by Game Farm Supervisor C.W. Meyers. He sought support
from local sportsmen who were joined by
members of the Civil Works Administration. Putting the farm back into working
order required a budget not available
until the summer of 1936. So along with
some repair, their work largely consisted of
mothballing the operation.
In 1936 with the arrival of new State funds,
members of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built several new buildings,
erected 3,600 linear feet of wire fence,
built two new building foundations,
cleared 20 additional acres of land
and painted all of the structures.
Auburn’s Game Farm was back in
business and raised several thousand
pheasants that year. Over the years breeds
such as Chinese Ringneck pheasant, Hungarian Partridge, Bamboo partridge, Bobwhite Quail, Coturnix Quail and Chilean
Tinamou were imported species born and
raised at Auburn. Throughout the years at
Auburn’s game farm many of the most exotic ornamental birds were raised in show
pens for the public to view.
State Tax Assessor’s document providing details for the ‘modern’ residences built at the Auburn Game Farm in 1920.
Ringneck pheasant brood stock enjoying a summer’s day, June 1945, Auburn game farm.
Auburn’s Game Farm Park
The old State game farm is today one of the largest and most frequently-used community parks in
Auburn. Game Farm Park contains a variety of facilities for organized sports, activities, and special community events. The hillside backdrop and proximity to
the White River creates a spectacular natural setting.
The park is popular for rentals and a one-mile paved
loop trail allows for walks around the meadows, play
structures and ball fields.
Auburn Game Farm Park
3030 R ST SE, Auburn WA 98002
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53 developed acres
86 open space acres
2 basketball courts
4 tennis courts
2 soccer fields
4 softball fields
Sun Circle artwork by George Tsutakawa
100 seat picnic shelter
Len Chapman Amphitheater
During its 65 years of operations the Auburn game
farm produced thousands of game birds and hundreds
of deer and elk. All were released into the wild for
the enjoyment of our state’s sportsmen. Over the
years there have been a number of Auburn Game
Farm Supervisors beginning with C.A. Meyers and
ending with Bruce Brewer.
The propagation of game birds became increasingly
expensive for the State and the means to run all nine
State owned game farms became too much. In 1977
a decision was made to shut down the Auburn game
farm, so in the spring of 1978 the farm officially closed.
The land was deemed surplus and turned over to
Washington State Parks and Recreation. The City of
Auburn signed a long-term use agreement in 1984
which stated that the City would cooperate with
State Parks to develop the site as a park which was
aptly named Auburn Game Farm Park. This sizable and
much loved park was developed under the leadership
of City of Auburn Parks Director Len Chapman and
dedicated in 1988.
A Red Leg Partridge raised at the Auburn Game Farm, 1961.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary History
8
www.wrvmuseum.org
• 253-288-7433
9
Good News!
FROM THE BACK ROOM
By Hilary Pittenger,
Curator of Collections
Did you know that several
trained volunteers must be at
the Farm or Museum each and
every open hour? Their work
greeting guests, giving tours,
acting as guards and collections
caretakers is invaluable.We have
a crew of roughly 45 volunteers,
some of whom have worked
with us for many years. Let’s take
a moment to celebrate our 20+
year veterans: Deane Davies,
Jean Edberg, Hilda Meryhew and
Esther Toombs, and our 10+ year
veterans: Fran Calkins, Charlie
Clarke, Edna Frostad, Karen
Haglund, Craig Holmes, Marlene
Jones, Ruth Leslie, Bill Messecar,
Kathryn Natsuhara, Gordy
Nishimoto, Dick Ode, David
Payn, Susanne Payn and Elaine
Ruth. Thank You All!
Exhibit Preview:
Sole Obsession
Take a look at some of the beautiful
shoes and fascinating stories that are
on display in
Sole Obsession:
100 Years of Women’s Shoes
from Kitten Heels to
Power Pumps.
The exhibit will be on display through
November 9th, 2014.
Movie stars did not just wear fashionable shoes - they advertised them, like Miriam Hopkins in this
1935 advertisement for Red Cross Shoes.
The 1920s was one of the most tumultuous periods
of the 20th century, marked especially by Prohibition,
the popularity of jazz, and the development of mass
media. Women gained the right to vote and were
becoming more socially daring – they began to publically smoke, wear makeup, swear, and otherwise shock
conventional thinkers.
Women began to go on dates with men outside the
home, often to clubs or dancehalls. Shoe styles changed
to accommodate late-night dancing to the Charleston,
which resulted in women’s shoes of the 1920s looking
much like professional ballroom dancers’ shoes of today
- designed to stay securely on the foot with a flexible
sole, low heel, and closed toe.
Flapper-era shoes were often fastened with a stylish
10
T-strap and buckle. They incorporated previously
unthinkably bright fabrics such as brilliantly dyed leather
and metallic finishes. Interestingly, in the 1920s shoes did
not necessarily match a woman’s apparel or accessories.
The stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing economic depression changed the nation radically.
Apparel needed to wear well and serve a variety of
purposes. Women sought sensible, low-heeled footwear
in somber, versatile colors such as maroon, black, brown,
and navy.
The harsh reality of day-to-day life during the Great
Depression was juxtaposed with the fashionable glam
depicted in the movies, especially shorter skirts and platform shoes. Skirts with hems just below the knee were
not only fashion-forward; they also economized on
Advertisements like this one in the 1928 fashion magazine The Delineator were targeted at
women who loved dancing.
fabric. This silhouette was complemented by the added height of a platform
sole. Designers experimented by creating platforms from materials like wood
and cork. Depression-era shoes often have a fuller look than those in other
decades due to the high cut of the vamp, the upper portion of the shoe that
covers the base of the toes.
Even with this great crew, we
could use a few more volunteers.
If you are interested in learning
about these opportunities,
contact Janet Wells at
(253) 804-5010 or
[email protected].
The 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor thrust the country into World
War II and created a wave of nationalism which was reflected in everyday
fashion choices. Women dressed down because it was considered gauche
to show off one’s wealth during a time of shortage. U.S. war rationing rules
limited the height of shoe heels and allowed for only six color choices.
Leather was restricted for military use, so shoe designers were forced to creatively use other materials. Cork or wood-soled wedgies became a staple,
and canvas and rope espadrilles also grew popular. Trims and embellishments
were kept to a minimum, and the peep toe became very popular.
www.wrvmuseum.org
• 253-288-7433
Janet Wells
Volunteer & Facility Coordinator
11
White River Valley Historical Society
918 H Street SE
Auburn, WA 98002
253.288.7433
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AUBURN, WA
PERMIT NO. 193
Address service requested
2014
Board Members
Pat Cavanaugh
 President
Kim Perry
Vice President
Jamie Bothell
Treasurer
Ronnie Beyersdorf
Past President, Secretary
Megan Evans
Past President
Want to receive our monthly E-newsletter?
Send your email address to Erin Hash at [email protected].
Scott Gibbons
Bill Greene
Gerry Honeysett
Rhonda Larson
Doug Lein
Joan Mason
Rosella Mosby
Michele Oosterink
William Sundqvist
Toya Turner
Mike Weibel
Museum Staff
Patricia Cosgrove
Director
Julie Sand
Bookkeeper and
Administrative Assistant
Erin Hash
Education Assistant
Rachael Burrum
Curator of Education
Hilary Pittenger
Curator of Collections
Janet Wells
Volunteer and Facilities
Coordinator
White River Journal
is a quarterly
publication of the
White River Valley Museum,
which is
supported in
large part by
City of Auburn.
Endowment Funds Grow
If you recall, the Museum has embarked upon an effort to raise
endowment funds from our friends and supporters. Each of us
must create a will, so why not be tax-wise and prepared? With
some help you can structure your estate to minimize the tax
burden, provide ongoing income, be assured that your loved
ones are left the gifts you specify, and support the Museum’s and
Farm’s worthwhile programs.
Even during one’s lifetime there are many ways to incorporate
the Museum into your finances. Contributing from your required
IRA distributions or donating appreciated assets such as jewels,
stocks or real estate can be ways to benefit your current tax
situation and the Museum. If you wish to explore any of these
options, please contact Patricia Cosgrove, Museum Director at
(253) 288-7437 or [email protected].
White River Journal is edited by Patricia Cosgrove, designed by Jan Hoy Design
White River Valley Museum | 918 H Street SE | Auburn, WA, 98002 | Tel. 253.288.7433 | Fax 253.931.3098 | wrvmuseum.org
Museum Open: Noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, 6 to 8 p.m. first Thursday and by appointment for group tours and research.
Admission: $2 for children and seniors, $5 for adults. Museum members free. First Thursday and third Sunday free.
Provides Ongoing
Support