Archives for August 2012

SPD warns of increase in street robberies

 We just received a newsletter warning of increases street robberies around the south precinct. 

We have noted an increase in strong armed robberies in the South Precinct area in the past several weeks. These robberies have been in the form of necklaces being grabbed from around the victims’ neck, purse snatches, and cell phones being snatched out of victims’ hands.
In most incidents, the crime victims describe a lone male suspect, however we have incidents involving two or more male suspects and another involving one male and one female as the robbers. Based on the witness and victim descriptions, there may be several different suspects committing these robberies. The robberies have occurred most often in the afternoon-evening hours. In most cases, the robbery victim was alone or had appeared to be alone.
The victims of these crimes have noted that the suspects had either been following them or had been observing them for a short time before committing the robbery. One victim noted a suspect following her in and out of several stores. She got nervous and left one store, which is when the robber struck. Other witnesses have noted that the suspects appeared to be waiting and watching for potential victims.

You can read the Seattle Police Department community newsletter here, which includes safety tips.

Check out our new design

We just moved Beach Drive Blog to WordPress. I am still in the process of fine tuning the site with our new move.  If you see anything wonky – please let us know!

Did you ever see “Spot Run” on Beach Drive?

If you lived around Beach Drive SW in the 50’s & 60’s, one of these children’s book characters may have been modeled after you!

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As it turns out, a famous author named Elizabeth Rider Montgomery lived in this home located in the 4800 block of Beach Drive SW. 

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The address has changed around a  little but this is where Elizabeth wrote/collaborated on many of her books.

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Moved onto Beach Drive with her husband Norman in 1/8/49

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Moved out with second husband on 12/14/1972 (ok, my title insurance background is rearing it’s head again) 

Among many other publications to her name, Elizabeth co-authored on several of the iconic Dick and Jane book series. The first coming in 1940… 

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Ms Montgomery landed a staff writer position with the Scott Foresman Company and published 14 more books as well as a series entitled Heath for All between 1940-1965.

A more complete bio of the author and her life’s work can be found at this site published by Western Washington University where she enrolled in 1925 when it was then called Washington Normal School.  The West Seattle Herald also published an excellent story about her in December of 1969.

She passed in 1985 and is buried next to her husband in Poulsbo’s city cemetery.

It just goes to show you, it’s good to know…

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Book #4 of her Health for All series 

Special Note: The long time current resident of this home informed me that she purchased the home back 1987 from the, at the time, manager of  famous Seattle area rock group Queensryche! He also played a key role (founder) in opening Easy Street Records at the “Junction”. 

Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog

“Then and Now”

Found these pictures while cruising through the Seattle Municipal Archive Photo Collection and had to share…

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Lincoln Park Swimming Pool 1925

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Lincoln Park Swimming Pool (Colman Pool) 2012

Must have been a great place for Beach Drive residents to pack up their new Model T’s and have a picnic!

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Beach Drive 1926

… or head up the hill to take the trolley to Endolyne and hike down to the pool.

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Note the sign “Endolyne” on the covered seating shack. Circa 1934 during the Great Depression.

Scupper for Beach Drive Blog

This Italian beauty has mahogany skin, classic lines and just turned 50!

So there I was sitting out on the deck minding my own business when I hear this beautiful thunder just off the shore of Beach Drive. As I spun my head around, there she was, flying in the water with the classic rooster-tail and rumble that prompted my childhood buddies and I to drag boat shaped wooden blocks behind our stingray bikes!

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Her name is Sentimental Hayes and has a proud new owner, Pat Price. Pat tells me she's a Cantieri "Celli" that was originally crafted in 1961, 20 feet in length and may be one of only three imported into the states. 

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The I.D. plate reads Cantieri Navali Celli Venezia

From what I can squeeze out of google, the boat builder may have been located on Sant'Elena Island near Venice.

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Pat recently purchased this gem where it has sat in Lake Tapps back in the days before they cut down the trees! Here's some more pics as it sits on it's trailer for some fine tuning…

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The 390ci Ford motor has been hopped-up to breath like a champ! 

 

Scupper reporting for Beach Drive Blog

 

 

Hammerheads, Humbolt Squid and now this… Opah!

A very unusual fish was recently caught of the coast of Washington – Hawaiian Opah!

Opah is normally caught in warm Pacific Ocean waters near Hawaii.
But, this one was caught by Lou Javet while line fishing on his 42' Troller 32 miles off the Washington coast when he hooked into a sight that he had never seen before fishing here in the Pacific Northwest.  

Lou, a professional fisherman, works with Jon Daniels, owner of West Seattle's own Seattle Fish Company.   Lou is known for bringing in high quality Salmon and other local fish that Jon is interested in selling in his Fish Market, but as Jon says "After 20 years in this business, this one takes the cake!".

 

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The Hawaiian Opah Lou caught is pictured with Darren Wilkerson, a long time West Seattle resident who works at Seattle Fish Company, located at 4435 California Ave S.W.

 

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Seattle Fish Company has recently opened a grill for dining, but "locally caught" Hawaiian Opah has never been on the menu before – at least not until today.

 

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But, if you want to try it – you'd better hurry !!!
Photos and article courtesy of one of our esteemed Beach Drive Blog Correspondents, Friend of Scupper

 

Garage Sale Tomorrow

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Tell them you saw at on Beach Drive Blog!

Mystery of a well-stocked trout pond in Mee-Kwa-Mooks park

I've read about the trout pond once located on the old Schmitz estate (formally named Sans Souci), but have never been able to pinpoint exactly where it sat.  A cool sketch of San Souci's grounds as depicted by the great niece of the West Seattle pioneers Emma and Ferdinand shows a number of landmarks but no specific mention of the "trout pond" 

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Note a "small pond" drawn in on the right. The trout pond?

It was time to leash up the dog and sniff this thing out. The Blue Spruce tree was the first landmark we found…

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Love the early century concrete work!

Then it was off to find where the waterfall was located. Figured that the trout pond could be somewhere down slope from it.

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Appears to be original stone-work for the water feature.  

My guess is that the well stocked pond was located further down the hill near Beach Drive itself. The Parks Department just cleared out some diseased trees and brush (in effort to help the recent restoration project ) and may have uncovered the location.

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On a hot August day, you can almost smell the fish!

There's even a concrete pad that once was a site for a bench of some sorts.

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The bench site looks somewhat new but the Schmitz estate didn't come down 'til the late 60's.

This aerial photo from 1968 clearly shows where the 1907 circa 17 room mansion was excavated as well as the extensive gardens. But no sign of the famous trout pond.

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All the gardens were said to be watered naturally from "Spring Hill"

Here's an archived pic named Sans Souci that shows standing water near whats looks to be the shoreline. Is it the pond?

  787 - Sans Souci Alki Point

Alan Schmitz, grandson of Emma and Ferdinand, holding a photo of the historic mansion that once occupied the hillside of what is now Mee-Kwa-Mooks park.

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Again, no clue as to the whereabouts of the trout pond.

So that's the end of my quest to find the ghost fishing hole of Mee-Kwa-Mooks. If anyone out there actually knows where it existed, please share!

Scupper Sr. for Beach Drive Blog