It started as an innocent evening, watching 20 small children slowly settle onto a jigsaw mat for Kid’s Movie Night at the Sunset Hill Community Association clubhouse. In short order I graduated from learning to make popcorn to riding shotgun with 83 year-old John Schlagel while we picked up five sandwich board signs announcing the event that also serve to delineate the landlocked boundaries of Sunset Hill.

By some miracle of foresight back in the 1920’s the Sunset Hill Community Club had not only formed (in 1922), but managed to acquire property and build a two-story hall (1929). Founded as an “improvement” club, Sunset Hill Community Association is the oldest club its kind on record in Seattle. The clubhouse in its newly re-roofed glory towers slightly at the southwest corner of 30th Northwest and Northwest 66th.

On weekends balloons and streamers indicate the facility is being used for a wedding reception or an anniversary. On weeknights groups such as Weightwatchers and diving clubs meet there less conspicuously.

The Sunset Hill Community Association managed to host all of the candidates for Seattle City Council in their last election year and it provides home base for Thistle Theater, Sustainable Ballard, and the club’s own Kid’s Movie Nights. Every year there is at least one wine-tasting, a beer-tasting and an annual summer barbeque. And for every club event there is John Schlagel in his trademark Seattle Yacht Club red sweater.

John has been a member since 1958, the same year that he and his wife purchased a home on Northwest 70th, bought a boat and joined the yacht club. His attendance at club events is as regular as his attendance at the monthly Ballard District Council meetings. A week before club events he places the heavy event signs at his proscribed locations.

For the price of individual or family membership ($15 or $20/year) anyone can join the Sunset Hill Community Association, but voting privileges are only available for residents who live from Market north to 85th, and from 24th Northwest west to Puget Sound.

Voting privileges were of no concern to the children in pajamas running in circles around the lower floor of the clubhouse and making shadows on the pull-down screen before the start of “The Great Muppet Caper.” One little girl kept toting her little sister around the room, both facing forward, asking, “Anyone want a pillow?” The little sister made a lovely pillow.

Longtime member and board member Robert Drucker has recently assumed the presidency from Carol Beers. Drucker is particularly interested in land use issues; the association would love to find a way to acquire the former Seattle Light Substation at 32nd and 65th Northwest in order to create a park.

The association organizes street clean-ups and food drives, gardening lectures and ice cream socials. According to board member John Feese, they are always trying to step back and determine what they do best for the community; with a focus on low-cost entertainment.

The Kid’s Movie Night is $2 for the children of members, $3 for non-members. Apple juice and popcorn are included for the pajama and sleeping bag crowd; the adults provide their own beverages – the kind that need to be consumed inside the clubhouse.

On this particular Friday night, John Schlagel pressed me into service filling cups of popcorn and then taught me how to make another batch. A tablespoon of oil divided over both sides of the cooker, a cup of popcorn sprinkled around, lid on, plug it in, cook for five minutes.

On my solo run John watched as I transferred the popcorn from the cooker to the plastic bowl. “Two kernels,” he said picking up the two that got away, “Not bad.”

Accepting my presence in the clubhouse kitchen without question he told me about Seattle Yacht Club and bicycle routes that he and his wife favor. Around 7:15 he decided to go out to pick up the signs and offered me a ride, “Did you walk here?” His car was a Volkswagen Golf; the same bright red as his perennial sweater.

What surprised me more than our lengthy route was how John handled his car. He is the master of the u-turn, praising the tight steering radius. We zipped up to 85th and 24th, then down to 80th, then 65th. At 6 foot 2 inches, the only slow part of the mission was John unfolding himself from the front seat of the VW Golf. When I carried back the signs with weights attached weights he praised me as strong.

Near Taco Time at Market Street, John hesitated a moment to make sure the red lights weren’t police; then aimed for the sidewalk for the next-to-last sign. We got farther from the clubhouse where I could still picture the 20-some children all pressed together like a patchwork quilt. I realized that it wouldn’t be worth convincing John to drop me off near my house; he would be taking me home. Indeed he saw me home, stepping into visit for awhile.

The Sunset Hill Community Association quietly perseveres as it nears its centennial, but we should be careful not to take such an unassuming asset for granted – either the clubhouse or its unofficial keeper in a bright red sweater.

Peggy Sturdivant is a freelance writer and writes a regular column for the Ballard News-Tribune.