Seattle-Everett Interurban Trolley Online Videos

Seattle-Everett Interurban Trolley

The Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage Association in a partnership with the City of Lynnwood’s History and Heritage Board have created six videos highlighting the history of the Seattle-Everett Interurban Trolley that ran between Seattle and Everett from 1910 and 1939. Videos include the construction of the line, the purchase of six trolley cars and the stops along the way. Also included is the restoration of Car No. 55 and the history of Puget Mill’s Demonstration Farm in Alderwood Manor. Funding for the project was received through a Snohomish County Historic Preservation grant.

 

Today the restored Niles Car No. 55 Trolley can be seen at Heritage Park in Lynnwood during special events and by appointments for group tours.

The videos can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/@lynnwoodalderwoodmanorheri6296


Betty Lou Gaeng wrote about history

Betty Lou Gaeng had a passion for researching and writing historical articles for many Snohomish County publications. Several of her articles included her first-hand knowledge. She often said, “I don’t just write history, I am history.” Betty Lou Deebach was born in Yakima, Washington on January 27,1927. Her family moved west to Seattle and then in 1933 to a 10-acre chicken farm Alderwood Manor. She attended Alderwood Grade School until her family moved to Edmonds when she was in the 5th grade.

Her family lived through the Depression; a subject included in many of her writings. Betty Lou graduated from Edmonds High School in 1945, married and then became a single parent to four children. She credited her work as a legal secretary and assistant (paralegal) at a Seattle law firm to her skill of being a good researcher.

In her 40s Betty Lou remarried and for several years commercially fished in Southeast Alaska with her husband Fred Gaeng. She would eventually move to a retirement community in Lynnwood and began volunteering for the Lynnwood-Alderwood Many Heritage Association, the Edmonds Cemetery Board, the Edmonds Historical Museum, and the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society.

In 2019 Betty Lou moved to Anchorage, Alaska but still wrote about our local area. She passed away on April 17, 2023 at the age of 96. With her passing she has left her wonderful writings; this is her legacy. We have taken over 100 of her writings and had them digitized so they can be shared to those with an interest in any of her many written subjects. This project was made possible with a grant from the Snohomish County Preservation Commission.


Konikson, Sandra (Forsgren)

January 26, 2009; interviewed by Cheri (Stadler) Ryan

[Speech fillers, such as “um” and “uh,” have been omitted.]

Cheri Ryan, Alderwood Manor Heritage Association: It’s January 26th, 2009. I’m Cheri Ryan at the Alderwood Manor Heritage cottage in Lynnwood, Washington, and I’m doing an oral interview with—

Sandra Konikson: Sandra Forsgren Konikson.

CR: And I can call you Sandy?

SK: Yes, please.

CR: And Sandy, if you could give me your age and address.

SK: I am 69 and I live at [edited for web publication].

CR: And where—when were you born?

SK: 1939.

CR: And where?

SK: In Swedish Hospital in Seattle.

CR: And have you lived your whole life in Alderwood Manor?

SK: My whole life.

CR: And so, tell me about your family, about your parents. When did they come to Alderwood Manor? Continue reading


Lee, Gary & Hugh

December 2, 2009; interviewed by Cheri (Stadler) Ryan

Cheri Ryan (Alderwood Manor Heritage Association): It’s December 2nd, 2009, this is Cheri Ryan at the Alderwood Manor Heritage Association cottage in Lynnwood, Washington, and today I’m interviewing brothers Gary and Hugh Lee, and Gary, if you could introduce yourself first— Continue reading


Discover Lynnwood from anywhere in the world!

Have you discovered Lynnwood yet?

The City of Lynnwood, with help from the Snohomish County Community Heritage Program and the Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage Association, has created a new website — www.DiscoverLynnwood.com — that lets you explore the history of Lynnwood via the web, smartphone, tablet, or any other device. It’s a great way to learn about key historical locations of Alderwood Manor and Lynnwood, whether from your home or while wandering around town (but don’t use your device while you’re driving!).

Love art? DiscoverLynnwood.com also has an art section to discover public art in the city. There’s even art related to the history of Alderwood Manor!

What’s your favorite history or art site on DiscoverLynnwood? Was your favorite history or art site in the city missed? Let everyone know about either in our comments section below!

DiscoverLynnwood website


Volunteer Open House, April 1 (No Joke!)

Calling all community volunteers!

Want to get involved in your community? Want to meet fun new people? Want to use your time and talents to make a difference?

Then mark your calendars for Saturday, April 1, between 1 and 4 p.m. and plan to attend the Community Volunteer Open House at the Edmonds Historical Museum located at 118 Fifth Avenue in downtown Edmonds. There is no admission fee for this event.

There you’ll meet representatives from organizations who need YOU, including the Cascadia Art Museum; Clothes for Kids; Edmonds in Bloom; Edmonds Center for the Arts; Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission; Edmonds Floretum Garden Club, and Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage. Events managed by the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce; A Taste of Edmonds; An Edmonds Kind of 4th; Edmonds Classic Car Show; Edmonds Trick-or-Treat; Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony and Clam Chowder Cook-Off, will also be represented. Edmonds Historical Museum will feature: Museum Garden Market and Summer Farmers’ Market; 4th of July Carnegie Library Float; Heritage Days; Halloween Haunted Museum; Scarecrow Festival and Museum Plaza improvements.

 

Contact: Sandra Butterfield, Volunteer Coordinator, Edmonds-South Snohomish County Historical Society and Museum, volunteer@historicedmonds.org, 425-774-0900

For more info, http://edmonds.enterprise.localist.com/event/volunteer_open_house_2998#.WM22iv3au1t


Exciting News!

In the 25 years since Alderwood Manor Heritage Association began, a lot has changed. We’ve recovered the Demonstration Farm’s Superintendent’s cottage and opened it as our home base at Heritage Park, we’ve made new friends and welcomed back old ones, and we’ve grown to a thriving organization of over 200 members and a dedicated group of volunteers. And now it’s time for another change. Continue reading


Better Know a Volunteer: Sandy Konikson

“I’ll do the interview if we can go outside and sit in the sun,” Sandy insisted. Maybe it was because it was a gorgeous and warm April Saturday, or maybe it’s because Sandy loves nature. Either way, nature was a theme that kept coming up as we talked about her life in Alderwood Manor.

Sandy Forsgren Konikson

Sandy Forsgren Konikson and Babe Ruth

Sandra Forsgren Konikson was born in 1939 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, although her family lived in Alderwood Manor at the time. Her father, Harry Forsgren, emigrated from Sweden with his family when he was a boy, initially arriving at Ellis Island, then traveling through Canada, and eventually settling in Alderwood Manor, where the family bought land from Pope & Talbot. Continue reading


Better Know a Volunteer: Sharon Jungers

Were you in Pegasus Patrol? Do you know anyone who was? If not, you’re about to meet one.

Sharon Border was born in Seattle in 1943, and six weeks later, her family moved in to the house they’d built on 5.5 acres on Poplar Way. Sharon attended Alderwood Grade School, Lynnwood Junior High, and graduated from Edmonds High School in 1961. Shortly after graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Bill Jungers, whom she’d known since junior high. Continue reading