August's Photo Challenge Answer
Contributed by Mary Hammer, Digital Projects Archivist
Several folks weighed in on this month's challenge, and we had a few people nail it on the head! Evan Robb with
Washington Rural Heritage summed it up with "Why, it's
Cryptatropa!" And indeed, he is correct!
This building on the corner of 4th Ave E and Jefferson Street in Olympia has changed quite a bit since 1942. Originally an automobile service station, the building is now
Cryptatropa, a dark bar specializing in "potions and poisons, perils and passions." Cryptatropa's bar counter is rumored to have hosted
Frank Lloyd Wright, while installed in a Manhattan bar. That is the first of two mentions of the famous architect in this month's edition!
Thanks for playing, everyone!
Citation: 4th and Franklin, Olympia, 1942, by Vibert Jeffers, Susan Parish Photograph Collection, Washington State Archives.
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September Photo Challenge
Contributed by Ben Helle, Olympia Branch Archivist
In recognition of this year's
Archives Month theme, let's try this one on for size. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this concrete, through tied, ribbed, arch bridge was built in 1934. The 168-foot bridge consists of a 110-foot concrete arch and two concrete girder spans. It is 24 feet wide, curb to curb. It is one of five concrete tied arches within the state. It is not the longest of the five, but its rise is the greatest. Do you know where this is?
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October is Archives Month
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Archives Month 2015:
Bridging Washington
This year we pay tribute to the historic bridges of Washington as documented in the collections of the Archives, special collections, and libraries during October's Washington Archives Month, 2015.
All of our regional branches will be celebrating by offering special events throughout the month. Click
here for a schedule and to find an event near you! Or--contact your local branch for more information. (
Northwest,
Puget Sound,
Southwest,
Central,
Eastern)
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"It's been said that government doesn't create jobs, business does. For the most part, this is true. But government creates the environment in which businesses can excel and expand."
Find out
here!
The
same person also said,
"We may disagree on some things, but we can do so without being disagreeable."
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Central Regional Archives' Spotlight Collection
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How the Ellensburg Rodeo was born
Our regional branches hold some of the most unique treasures in the state, even if those records are only there on a temporary basis. Case in point, the Central Regional Branch temporarily holds the records of the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame until such time as it finds permanent storage.
Brigid Clift, Cen
tral's Regional Branch Archivist, sent this story about the history of the Ellensburg Rodeo, which includes some amazing photographs. Click here
to read more in this fascinating history contributed by Mike
Allen, Founder and Member of the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame Associ
ation.
And if it isn't enough that Brigid is something of an expert on the local rodeo there, take a look at this photograph of Secretary of State Kim Wyman with the Ellensburg Rodeo Royalty. The lovely young lady in purple is
Miss Spirit of the West Cora Clift, Brigid's daughter! Cora placed as the Steer Grand Champion at the fair earlier this month!
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Six Degrees Separation from Kurt Cobain
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Something Fun from the Southwest Branch
Contributed by Jewell Dunn, Southwest Regional Branch
Six Degrees of Separation is the theory that everyone is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can connect any two people in a maximum of six steps.
You may have heard of this in reference to a game involving Kevin Bacon...who just happened to show up in
an earlier edition of Out of the Archives. But what about someone famous who is a little more local?
This is what initially sparked me to wonder at my own Six Degrees of Separation from Kurt Cobain. Then I started thinking about the records we hold that might help make that search easier...
Click
here to see how Jewell is connected to Kurt. And find out how all of this is connected to the Washington State Archives!
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Issaquah
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More treasures from the Puget Sound Regional Archives
Contributed by Mike Saunders and Midori Okazaki
The Ray and Mimi Brandes residence, built in 1952, is one of three original Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Washington State and one of the best-preserved examples of Wright's Usonian house, Usonian homes, which were designed to create flow between nature, the home and exterior, were aimed at middle-class families. However, in this case, the plans proved too demanding and pricey for the Brandes family to complete in their entirety. (Ray Brandes was a contractor and built the house to be a showcase.) Many of the details were later added to the home by Ray Brandes' stepson, a later owner of the house.
Read more about the house in this article, and take a look at another view and a look-alike house on part of the same property here.
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Meet Janette Gomes, Branch Archivist for the Northwest Regional Archives in Bellingham
Contributed by Mike Saunders, Regional Archivist, Puget Sound Branch
Janette Gomes is our brand new Branch Archivist at Northwest. She started on August 3. She came to us from the King County Archives, where she had been an Assistant County Archivist since 2006. Prior to that she was the Assistant Branch Archivist at the Puget Sound Branch. Janette has a high level of professional expertise as an archivist and 16 years of experience working with local government agencies in Washington State. She is excited to be managing the Northwest Branch and is looking forward to building productive working relationships with the agencies in the Northwest Region.
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The Office of the Secretary of State routinely updates a blog entitled
"From Our Corner,"
in order to provide from-the-source information about important state news and public services. Often, stories of note from the Archives are included on this page.
Click here to check out past stories.
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Washington Remembers WWII project
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We hope you enjoyed this edition of "Out of the Archives!"
Banner Image: Dupont School, 1880, State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives.
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