Bainbridge Island educator Roberta Newland and her co-author (and son) John Newland-Thompson will discuss their book The Cle Elum Fire of 1918 from the 'Images of America' series at this, the first event of the new series.
West Seattle resident Roberta Newland has taught French and English full-time at Bainbridge High School and holds masters degrees in humanities/history and historic preservation. Many of her historic preservation research projects have dealt with West Seattle properties and brick making. Her son, John Newland-Thompson, a writer and editor; together they compiled vivid images that depict Cle Elum before the fire, during the blaze, and as the city rebuilt and developed.
This free event by 'Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories,' a new historically-based series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and co-sponsored by the Seattle Public Library, will take place at 6 PM at the SW Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave.SW, on Thursday, July 11, 2019.
"Tle-el-Lum", (a rendering of the local Native American phrase for "swift water"), now known as Cle Elum, Washington, was founded in 1883 by Walter Reed and Thomas Gamble. Nestled in the eastern foothills of the Cascades, Cle Elum grew as a railroad town, transporting lumber and coal. Catastrophic fires burned it down twice -- once in 1891, and after rebuilding and reaching a population high of over 2,700, the second, more destructive fire broke out 27 years later, in 1918.
'Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories' presentations are scheduled for the Second Thursday of each month at 6 PM at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library. On August 8th, 2019, Humanities Washington is sponsoring Mayumi Tsutakawa, an independent writer and curator who has focused on Asian/Pacific American history and arts. She will be speaking on "Washington's Undiscovered Feminists.”
For videos on these and other speakers' presentations, check out "Events" at www.loghousemuseum.org. The new series is open to hosting any speaker addressing significant historical issues relating to the Puget Sound/Duwamish Peninsula. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by contacting Dora-Faye Hendricks Chair, 'Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories' by phone at 206-290-8315 or e-mailing Dora-Faye@comcast.net.
