Thursday, September 30, 2021

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Elise Marion Farrel McWhirter



When Elise Marion Farrell was born on September 22, 1879, in Ansonia, Connecticut, her father, Franklin, was 51, and her mother, Lillian, was 26. She married George Augustus Goss on October 10, 1906, in Ansonia, Connecticut. She then married Earl Jackson E.J. McWhirter on May 14, 1919, in Seattle, Washington. She died on September 21, 1971, in King, Washington, at the age of 91.

1828 - Franklin Farrel, Elise's dad, was born.


FRANKLIN FARREL, manufacturer, achieved signal success in varied lines of industrial enterprise and was entitled to a prominent place in the ranks of successful men. He was born Feb. 17, 1828, in Waterbury, Conn. After earning the reputation of being one of the most expert founders and machinists in the country, and establishing several of the largest firms in Connecticut on a successful basis, Mr. Farrel turned his attention in other directions. He embarked in the sugar business in 1879, and from a small beginning has achieved notabls success. He selected capable and energetic associates, and wise co-operation and concerted effort have brought about fine results. The sugar estates are located in Cuba and Santo Domingo, and some idea of their proportions may be conveyed when it is said that three of these estates require in their operation over twenty-five miles of fixed railroad and furnish employment to over three thousand men. Another industry to which Mr. Farrel has directed his attention, and which has prospered under his direction, has been the manufacture of copper. He became identified with The Parrot Silver & Copper Co., of Butte City, Mont., and the first mine was worked in 1877. See Less


1848 - Farrel Foundry established in Ansonia, Connecticut by Almon Farrel.  During the Civil War, they produced bayonets and cannon barrels.

Farrel Corporation - Wikipedia


1879 -Elise Marion Farrell was born on September 22, 1879, in Ansonia, Connecticut, to Lillian Corke Clarke, age 26, and Franklin I Farrell, age 51.


Ogontz School

In the 1893/1894 school year, Elise's older sisters Estelle and Lilian attended the Ogontz School, per references in the Ogontz Mosaic. pg 012 - Ogontz Mosaic - Penn State University Libraries' Digital Collections (psu.edu)

In June 1894, Elise performed a musical number titled, "Wegenlied" as part of a school musicale.  pg 016 - Ogontz Mosaic - Penn State University Libraries' Digital Collections (psu.edu)

1894 - In the fall, when she was 15, Elise started attending the Ogontz School for Young Ladies.
https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/digitool%3A61618




1897 - In the fall of 1897, Elise was voted as the Treasurer for her senior class.  In addition, she was named one of the Business Managers for the Ogontz Mosaic, the monthly newsletter for the school.  (pg 008 - Ogontz Mosaic - Penn State University Libraries' Digital Collections (psu.edu)). 



Every fall, the senior girls hosted a dance to help the new girls "vanquish homesickness."  Elise was on the dance committee, along with friends Rust, Woodbury, Bateman, Holloway, and Granger.  The first week of school, while the new girls studied in ther parlor, the dance committee decorated the gymnasium with "college flags, bright colored pillows, divans constructed in the corners, and palms brought from Mr. Cooke's green-house."  They also created two seats of honor for Miss Bennett and Miss Eastman, decorated in Ogontz colors.

Later in the week, after the school dance, Elise was named a Class Captain, along with Bateman and Granger.



1898 - Elise graduated from the Ogontz School for Young Ladies.  Her senior yearbook is online at Item 12 of 33 - The Ogontz School for Young Ladies Yearbooks 1898-1950 - Penn State University Libraries' Digital Collections (psu.edu).  
The school was one of the first in the country to introduce military drills to ladies Military Drill | Penn State University Libraries (psu.edu).

Page 12 of her yearbook says, "Now great was the anxiety thereof as to whom should be given charge of the money-bags, and it was finally given to Elise Farrel, on account of her great persuasive powers."

Page 16 of her yearbook says, "But look! who is this creature coming?  Turning handsprings, vaulting fences, leaping, dashing, jumping, and landing at last?  'Tis Elise.  Your fate, oh child of nature, is to be happy, merry and gay."

Page 20 of her yearbook says, "Shall we ever forget the eloquent questions of Young, "pricking her foxy ears," or the eloquent voice of our Law echoing through the vast halls, the vain attempts of Farrel, a near relation of Sandow's, by the way, to conquer the piano, though Van Gelder said her diligent practice must surely show vast improvement in time.""

Page 27 of the yearbook features a poem written by Elise.

The Flag, by Elise Farrel
Patriotism is a virtue that neither Genung nor James nor any of the other highly cultivated men that we have been studying have given any definition or ethical effect of.  But my intuition, with which I came into the world, seems to tell me that it is in some way connected with a flag.  Now for Jevons and Hill:
Patriotism is connected with a flag,
War is connected with patriotism,
War is connected with the flag,
War is raging, so three cheers for the American Flag.

Her Classmates of Class of '98:
  • (fair haired) Laura Esther Barney to Mr. Henry Miller Watts. (Daughter of Laura Elmina Cooke (1849–1919) & Mr. CHarles D. Barney and granddaughter of benefactor Mr. Jay Cooke.  Class VP. Charles Dennis Barney (July 9, 1844 – October 24, 1945) was an American stockbroker and founder of Charles D. Barney & Co., one of the predecessors of the brokerage and securities firm Smith Barney. Charles was a Director of the Union League of Pennsylvania and supported Lincoln. He was friends with John D. Rockafeller.)  
  • Jessie Myrtle Buell to Mr. Seldon L. Cole
  • Margaret Culbertson
  • Edna Davidge (from Brooklyn. Got chicken pox and left for 2 months.Lean)
  • Florence R. Dwight (muscular)
  • Eliza "Lidie) L. Edwards (talkative & got chicken pox) Home in Hawaii? Lean.
  • Elise Marion Farrel (Class Treasurer, "near relation of Sandow's, played piano)
  • Edna Granger to Mr. William D. Schultz (class president)
  • Geraldine D. Harrison (sisters with Edith Peters, Madge Nice, and Katherine Thompson)
  • ZoĆ« Harrison
  • Blanche P. Hay
  • Caroline G. Holladay
  • Louise E. Jenkinson
  • Maria "Virginia" Law to Mr. John. H. Hodge (very shy, eloquent)
  • Margaret McDougall (class Secretary)
  • Madge G. Nice
  • Edith Peters
  • Clara L. Rust (lean)
  • Katherine (Daisy) Thompson
  • Rachel F. Wheeler (lean)
  • Lucy J Wood (got measles, plump)
  • Matalea Woolfolk to Mr. William H. Mouricy (got 4 wisdom teeth, giggly)
  • Clara H. Young
Laurey Barney, Geraldine Harridon, Edith Peters, Madge Nice, and Katehrine Thompson - "Now these five did first behold great Ogontz, and thus did the Class of '98 first have its birth.  And years moved on, until twenty-three were chosen and endowed with the name, "Seniors."
The Ogontz School was located in 

In 1883 the school rented the Elkins Park estate of Civil War financier Jay Cooke, named “Ogontz” for Cooke’s boyhood mentor and role model—a Sandusky Indian chief. With the move, the school assumed the name of the estate and became The Ogontz School for Young Ladies. By then misses Bonney and Dillaye had selected two associate principals from the school’s faculty, Miss Frances Bennett and Miss Sylvia Eastman. At the new location the four principals shared responsibility for a brief time, with Bennett and Eastman gradually taking over entirely. Sylvia Eastman became sole principal after Bennett’s retirement in 1900. For thirty-four years the school thrived in the Jay Cooke mansion, with a student body of about a hundred privileged young girls.

1896 - 
The first Episcopal church to be established in the part of Derby that would become Ansonia was completed in 1746. Originally located at the site of the old graveyard on Elm Street, the parish moved to a new building on Derby Avenue around 1799. The name of the parish was changed at that time from the original Christ Church to St. James. The next move was across the river to Birmingham, another section of Derby, but several families were allowed, in 1843, to continue worship at the old Derby Avenue location under the name of Christ Church. A new parish, known as Trinity, was organized in the growing section of Derby called Ansonia 1849. Trinity Church was built the following year at the corner of Main and Tremont Streets. In 1851, Christ Church and Trinity Church merged, taking the name of Christ Parish, Ansonia. By the 1890s, the parish had grown too large for the church on Main StreetFranklin Farrel, a prominent Ansonia industrialist, made a gift of land on South Cliff Street for the construction of the current Christ Episcopal Church, which was designed by Henry M. Congdon & Sons of New York. The church was built of Ansonia granite, quarried at Potter’s Quarry, and New Jersey graystone. The cornerstone was laid in December, 1896 and the church was dedicated in January, 1900.
1898 - In December, 21 year-old Florence Adele Farrel married George Clarke Bryant of Ansonia.  They were married at Christ Church, Ansonia by 44 year-old Reverend Charles E. Woodcock, a rector of the church.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_E._Woodcock#/media/File:The_Rt._Rev._Charles_Edward_Woodcock.jpg 
A special car brought a large number of guests from New Haven and New York.  Elise was maid of honor and the bridesmaids were Lillian Clark Farrel of Ansonia, the bride's cousin, and seven of her classmates: Miss Priscilla Taylor of Erie, PA, Miss FLorence Conant, Miss Alice Eaton, and Miss Florence Eaton of Boston, and Miss Emily Barney, Miss Laura Barney, and Miss Virgina SHoemaker of Ogontz, PA.  In addition to the train of bridesmaids, the bride's little sister, Lilian Estelle, walked in process as floral girl, attended by a small page, Master Thomas Wallace, who was dressed in white satin and silver.
Francis Downing was the best man.  The ushers were six clasmates, Yale men. '96 Benjamin Spock, Samuel Fayerweather Beardsley, Roger Sherman Baldwin, George Gurney, Harry Taylor, and Michel Gavin, and the brid's brother, Franklin Farrel Jr, and Almon Farrel Bowen.
The church was handsomely decorated and Leander of New York had charge of the music.
Miss Farrel's gown was of heavy white satin.  The decollete, short sleeved bodice, as well as the skirt, was half veiled in rare valenciennes lace.  The same lace edged the long tulle veil. 
Following the ceremony was a brilliant reception at the bride's home.  The wedding gifts comprised of a superb collection of rolled silver, jewels, pictures and the like.  After a trip to last until Christmas the young people will return to Ansonia and will live at Tower Hall.



1899-  Elise trained to take on a position at her father's company.

1900 - Elise joined her father's company.  Elise Marion Farrell lived in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1900.  



1903 - Franklin Farrel Jr. graduated from Yale and was elected the best dressed man of 1903.  In the summer of 1903, Franklin Farrel Jr. and Elise took an automobile trip.

On the night of Christmas Eve 1903, a fire broke out at the Farrel family estate when a candle ignited curtains in a servant's room. Instead of waiting for firemen to arrive, Elise climbed to a ladder as part of the fire brigade. Although she received burns and blisters, she went on to make a full recovery.


1904 - In June it was announced that Elise would leave her father's business because she was engaged to David Huyler Gaines.  He graduated from Yale in 1896 and played on the football team.  In the first week of June, shortly after their engagement, Elise and David went to Coney Island, New York.  There, they rode the "Shoot the Chute" ride.  While a boat was pulled up a large slope with a cable, the couple took an elevator to the top.  There, they got into the boat along with other passengers and a crew member.  Once the cable was released, the boat shot down the ramp and off of a slight curved jump at the bottom.  The boat skipped along the water until it came to a stop.  Unfortunately, their ride encountered a problem and both fell out of the boat and into the water.


Photos: The 1890s "Shoot The Chute" Ride In Coney Island - Gothamist

Shoot the Chute - Wikipedia

The wedding was to be on June 22, 1904.  After breaking off her engagement, she traveled to Palm Beach, Florida.  She then traveled to Europe.  She booked a steamer to Southampton, England and called off the wedding.  Gaines followed her to Europe, and a reconciliation happend.


1905- Elise may have reconciled and become engaged for a second time to David Gaines in 1904 or 1905.  Gaines broke off their 2nd engagement and eloped with her friend, steamship heiress Florence Steuber.  Gaines and Steuber married in June 1905 in New York


1905 - On January 11, 1905, cousin Lilian Clark Farrel married Dr. Benjamin Austin Cheney of New Haven.  


1906- In June 1906, the engagement of Elise & George was announced.  Elise Marion Farrell married George Augustus Goss in Ansonia, Connecticut, on October 10, 1906, when she was 27 years old.
Goss graduated from Yale in 1895, with her former fiancĆ© Gaines.  Goss also played on the Yale football team with Gaines.

At the time of the wedding, Elise's mother was ill, so the number of guests was limited to 50 relatives and intimate friends.  The wedding happened at Tower Hall, the Farrel home and was performed by Bishop Woodcock, of Louisville, Kentucky, formerly of the Connecticut diocese. 


The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a princess robe of Irish lace over a satin chiffon slip, and a large white lace hat ornamented with white plumes.  She carried a white prayer book instead of the conventional bouquet.  Her sister, Mrs. George C. Clarke Bryant (Adelle), who was her only attendant, wore a white lace picture hat.  Franklin Farrel Jr. a brother of the bride, and classmate of Goss and Gaines in Yale, was the best man.


After their wedding, the couple travelled to Japan for their honeymoon


1907 - In January 0f 1907, Elise and George returned from their honeymoon and took up residence at 117 Pine Street, Waterbury, Connecticut at an attractive home.




1908 - 1909 - 2 years after she married George, she organized an "automobile" tour to Reno and stayed there until she obtained a divorce from him.

1910 - Elise Marion Farrell lived in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1910.

1912 - Her father Franklin I passed away on January 10, 1912, in Ansonia, Connecticut, at the age of 83.

His estate was worth about $2,000,000.  1/3 left to widow, 2/3rd to his 4 children: Mrs. florence Adelle Bryant of Meriden or Ansonia CT, Mrs. Elise Goss of Waterbury CT, Franklin Farrel Jr of New Haven, CT, and Lilian Estelle Farrel who lived at home.


1917 - Brother Franklin Farrel Jr. enlisted with the United States Navy.  He remained on the East Coast during the war. He worked with ordinance.

1919 -  

Elise Marion Farrell married Earl Jackson E.J. McWhirter in Seattle, Washington, on May 14, 1919, when she was 39 years old.  They were married by Edward W. Erickson, a Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of Haven M. E. Church (likely methodist episcopal.)

History - First Church Seattle






On 16 August 1920, Elise and Earl Jack arrived in the Port of Victoria/Vancouver BC after a 19 day voyage from Hong Kong aboard the "S. S. Empress of Asia."
Washington, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1965 - Ancestry.com





1930 - Elise Marion Farrell lived in Seattle, Washington

1931 - Elise lived in Seattle.

1932 - Her mother Lillian Corke passed away on May 5, 1932, in Ansonia, Connecticut, at the age of 79.  Her nephew, Franklin Farrel III competed on the United States Ice Hockey Team at the 1932 Olympics in Germany.  He played all 6 rounds as a goalkeeper and the team won a Silver Medal.

1966 - Her husband Earl Jackson E.J. passed away on February 23, 1966, in King, Washington, at the age of 74. They had been married 46 years.

1971 - Elise Marion Farrell died on September 21, 1971, in King, Washington, when she was 91 years old.

2009 - Estelle & George Goss's children sold the Goss land to Gilford, CT.
Guilford closes $11.4M land deal (nhregister.com)


Elise & EJ's initials are in concrete steps at the barn at the Park

Family moved from Seattle to Redmond to make 300 Residence in Redmond so Redmond could actually be listed asa town.  The are was originally called Melrose, then McRedmond.  Inearly 1900s they dropped the Mc, now Redmond.

When a fire broke out in the huge family mansion, Elise climbed a ladder to the roof to be the "point man" in the bucket line

19 Jun 1904, 44 - The San Francisco Examiner at Newspapers.com
Sources
Fort Schuyler Fort Schuyler History | SUNY Maritime College
The 1777 Siege of Fort Schuyler - Fort Stanwix National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)




Miss Ruth Schuyler from Pana, Illinois, joined the Ogontz Mosaic in 1894/5. Her father was Henry N. Schuyler, born in February 1844 in New York and was a banker in 1900 census.


Obituary for Franklin Farrel
Obituary Franklin Farrel Following the illness which lasted hardly twelve hours , Franklin Farrel , Ansonia's pioneer manufacturer , and one of her oldest and most highly esteemed citizens , passed away on the evening of January 10 at his home , Tower Hall , on North Cliff street , Ansonia , Conn . Death came suddenly and wholly unexpectedly . Mr. Farrel until the day of his death seemed as vigorous as usual . Shortly after breakfast , however , he suffered what seemed like a slight attack of indigestion . During the day he seemed to re spond to treatment , and toward evening had apparently improved . While in the act of taking his pulse , however , the family physician Mr. Farrel was also actively engaged in mining operations and sugar plantations in Cuba , and at his death was president of the H. A. Mathews Manufacturing Company , of Seymour , a director of the Ansonia National Bank , the Colonial Trust Company , of Waterbury , and the Seymour Trust Company . Apart from his many business activities he was a member of the Engineers ' Club , the Union League Club and the American Institute of Mining Engineers of New York City ; the Quinnipiac and Country clubs of New Haven , and the Ansonia and Manufacturers Club , of Ansonia . He was by nature a philanthropist , and his church and charity Lenefactions will always be remembered . Mr. Farrel was twice married , his first wife being Miss Julia L. Smith , of Derby , whom he wed in 1850 , and who died in Sep tember , 1874 . On December 12 , 1876 , he married Miss Lillian Clarke , daughter of Wilson Clarke , of New Haven , who survives . He leaves by her four daughters and one son .  For Protection ( FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT . ] Boston , Mass . , January 23 , 1912. — The Home Market Club , at a meeting at the Parker House last Friday , voted to start a vigorous educational campaign for the protection to paper manu facturers by means of the tariff . William B. H. Dowse , president of the club , in his review of the situation , said : " The tariff is a prominent topic of discussion , and around it much of our political activities revolve . Upon it the voters of the country have divided at our national elections , and they will continue to do so . " We heartily approve President Taft's refusal to grant to foreign nations the privilege of free admission to our market of wood pulp and paper , and the reference of the case to the Customis Court for adjudication . We believe that the best interests of the manufacturers of paper and the purchasers of paper demand such protection for the industry as will enable us to continue the manufacture of paper on the fair basis of profit to capital and a fair reward to labor . " It was a difficult task which was assigned to the Tariff Board , but it was undertaken in a spirit of eminent fairness . The in vestigations have been prosecuted with efficiency . The report has corrected many popular misunderstandings , removed unwar ranted prejudices and unfounded suspicions , and the conclusions THE LATE FRANKLIN FARREL . reached merit the careful consideration of the people . " A. A. T. detected that the heart action had suddenly stopped and almost immediately Mr. Farrel peacefully passed away . Short Measure Possibilities Franklin Farrel was born at Waterbury , Conn . , February 17 , 1828 . ( FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT . ) His father , Almon Farrel ( born October 12 , 1800 ) , was famous Boston , Mass . , January 23 , 1912. – Additional evidence of the throughout the Naugatuck Valley as a millwright , engineer and possibilities of the enforcenient of the present weights and meas builder , and was noted for the strength and permanency of his ures law of this State is to be found in the action of sealer of work . weights and measures , William E. Dunn , of Malden , Mass . , who Mr. Farrel spent the early years of his life on the farm where on last Wednesday caused a surprise when he took up the matter he was born , and was educated in the country school . When only of shortage in envelopes and other printing matter put up in that fourteen years of age he went to work for his father , learning city . He claims this work comes under his jurisdiction and he the trade of a millwright . One of the first mills he aided in intends to see that the purchaser of printed matter gets full value erecting was a paper mill at Westville , Conn . Such work as this for money paid . kept him industriously engaged for several years , and in December , He stated last evening that envelopes , for instance , when ordered 1844 , he went to Ansonia , then Derby . by the 100 , 500 , etc. , come in packages or boxes and are done up In 1849 Mr. Farrel became associated in the foundry and machine in bundles of twenty - five . He claims that when ordered in large business with the firm of Farrel & Johnson . Later the concern was lots perhaps between forty or sixty of them will be spoiled and reorganized under the name of the Farrel Foundry and Machine rather than break the packages and replace the spoiled ones , they Company , and Almon Farrel became its president , an office which he are allowed to go through and the purchaser loses these envelopes held until he died in 1857. Franklin Farrel then succeeded to the or whatever the printing matter may be . A. A. T. presidency of this company , an office which he held until his death . This company started with a capital of $ 15,000 . Today the The Louisville Paper Company , of Louisville , Ky . , has issued capital stock of the company is $ 1,200,000 . to the printing trade a wholesale net price list for 1912 .

----
(fair haired) Laura Esther Barney to Mr. Henry Miller Watts. (Daughter of Laura Elmina Cooke (1849–1919) & Mr. CHarles D. Barney and granddaughter of benefactor Mr. Jay Cooke.  Class VP. Charles Dennis Barney (July 9, 1844 – October 24, 1945) was an American stockbroker and founder of Charles D. Barney & Co., one of the predecessors of the brokerage and securities firm Smith Barney.)
Jessie Myrtle Buell to Mr. Seldon L. Cole
Margaret Culbertson
Edna Davidge (from Brooklyn. Got chicken pox and left for 2 months.Lean)
Florence R. Dwight (muscular)
Eliza "Lidie) L. Edwards (talkative & got chicken pox) Home in Hawaii? Lean.
Elise Marion Farrel (Class Treasurer, "near relation of Sandow's, played piano)
Edna Granger to Mr. William D. Schultz (class president)
Geraldine D. Harrison (sisters with Edith Peters, Madge Nice, and Katherine Thompson)
Zoƫ Harrison
Blanche P. Hay
Caroline G. Holladay
Louise E. Jenkinson
Maria "Virginia" Law to Mr. John. H. Hodge (very shy, eloquent)
Margaret McDougall (class Secretary)
Madge G. Nice
Edith Peters
Clara L. Rust (lean)
Katherine (Daisy) Thompson
Rachel F. Wheeler (lean)
Lucy J Wood (got measles, plump)
Matalea Woolfolk to Mr. William H. Mouricy (got 4 wisdom teeth, giggly)
Clara H. Young

Laurey Barney, Geraldine Harridon, Edith Peters, Madge Nice, and Katehrine Thompson - "Now these five did first behold great Ogontz, and thus did the Class of '98 first have its birth.  And years moved on, until twenty-three were chosen and endowed with the name, "Seniors."


FRANKLIN FARREL, manufacturer, achieved signal success in varied lines of industrial enterprise and was entitled to a prominent place in the ranks of successful men. He was born Feb. 17, 1828, in Waterbury, Conn. After earning the reputation of being one of the most expert founders and machinists in the country, and establishing several of the largest firms in Connecticut on a successful basis, Mr. Farrel turned his attention in other directions. He embarked in the sugar business in 1879, and from a small beginning has achieved notabls success. He selected capable and energetic associates, and wise co-operation and concerted effort have brought about fine results. The sugar estates are located in Cuba and Santo Domingo, and some idea of their proportions may be conveyed when it is said that three of these estates require in their operation over twenty-five miles of fixed railroad and furnish employment to over three thousand men. Another industry to which Mr. Farrel has directed his attention, and which has prospered under his direction, has been the manufacture of copper. He became identified with The Parrot Silver & Copper Co., of Butte City, Mont., and the first mine was worked in 1877. See Less
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Friday, June 25, 2021

Keeping Cool around Seattle


As a record-breaking heatwave hits the Greater Seattle Area, many cities, counties, and businesses are opening doors and providing opportunities for family to seek relief.  Below is an interactive map with ideas for finding shelter or water fun.  Indoor locations have red pins and water activities have blue pins.  Click on a pin for address, website, and details.

 To maximize the map for a better view, click the 4 corners icon in the upper right corner of the map below.

Uncheck "All Cooling Locations" and then you can filter by these categories:

  • Splash Pads & Pools
  • Libraries
  • Other Indoor Cooling Locations
  • Beaches that should have lifeguards on staff this weekend



Heat Exhaustion versus Heat Stroke



Related links: 


Friday, June 11, 2021

Adventure Ideas & Boredom Busters around Western Washington

King County Parks celebrates the park system as being part of "Your Big Backyard" and I love that! Across Western Washington, we have amazing access to parks, playgrounds, farms, hiking areas, swimming, and even wintertime sledding.  

Instead of putting together an unwieldly long list, I tried creating my first custom Google Map with ideas for families to explore.  Some notes:
1. Most of these areas are free, although I included a couple of special destinations with entrance fees, like the Woodland Park Zoo or Northwest Trek.  
2. Places within State Parks will need a Discover Pass and places on National Forest Land will need a Northwest Forest Recreation Pass for parking.  I've noted the pass requirements on the map entries.  Details on how to get a pass is below the map.
3. To maximize the map for a better view, click the 4 corners icon in the upper right corner of the map below:



Parking Pass Information
  • Discover Pass
  • Northwest Forest Service Pass
  • Winter Sno Park Pass
Municipality Park Information
Redmond Parks & Recreation: Parks & Recreation | Redmond, WA

Sunday, April 18, 2021

I-5 Roadtrip Ideas

 If you're thinking of a family road trip up or down I-5, check out some of these ideas.  As a Seattle area native who attended college in Bellingham, WA and has family in the San Francisco Bay area, I've driven the stretch between Canada and San Francisco several times.  Now that we have little kids, I like to plan stops along the way.  Sometimes it's for bathroom breaks, and other times it's to give the kids some space from each other, since road tripping with a sibling can be rough.  For everyone in the car.

Some pro tips for the car setup:

  • Have a tote or backpack with access to easy non-fast food snacks and drinks.
  • Have another tote or bag for garbage.
  • Have window shades for back windows.  If the kids have less glare on their screens, they can enjoy more screen time, which may mean less arguing.  Sometimes, the nice window screens don't totally cover the window, and sun can glare through.  On our last trip, I had packed a roll of black garbage bags, and we ended up rolling the windows down an inch, sticking an inch or so of black garbage bag out of the top of the windows, and then rolling them back up.  It was not a fancy solution, but it kept sun out of the kids' eyes and glare off of their screens.
  • If you plan to spend several days at a destination, but only one day in a hotel going up or down I-5, I highly recommend packing a single suitcase or bag for the entire family for that one travel night.  You can re-organize bags once you reach your destination.  On our way down to California, I had to lug everyone's suitcase up to the room for one night, along with our grocery tote.  On the way back, I made sure to pack so that I only needed to bring up one bag, plus the grocery tote, and it made getting on the road in the morning that much easier.
  • If you plan on staying at a hotel with a pool, call the hotel before booking to find out what their COVID policy is.  As of spring 2021, some hotels still have their pools entirely closed for COVID.  Others require pool reservations and may be booked for your travel day.  If playing in a pool is part of the fun, find out what their policy is before booking so that no one is disappointed.
  • When you head south on I-5, the milepost markers in Washington and Oregon tell you how many miles until the next state.  If you replace those miles with minutes, it can be a quick way to estimate how far away you are from the Oregon or California border.

When we travel up and down I-5, I plan to stop about every 3 hours or so, for bathroom and/or stretch breaks.  These time estimates are rough estimates, as traffic and construction can add to the times.  Below, I'll break out pit stop ideas by these segments:

  • Canadian Border - Seattle: 111 miles (about 2 hours)
  • Seattle - Portland: 174 miles (about 2 1/2 hours)
  • Portland - Grants Pass 245 miles (about 4 hours)
  • Grant's Pass - Redding, CA 178 miles (about 3 hours)
  • Redding, CA - Walnut Creek, CA  200 miles (about 3 hours)

Here are some ideas for rest stop or activities for road tripping down I-5.  This list is not remotely complete, but it has some favorite ideas for our family.
 
Canadian Border (Exit 276) to Seattle (Exit 169)

Around Seattle (Exits 169 - 158)

Seattle (Exit 158) to Vancouver (Exit 1)

Around Portland (Exits 308 to 294)

Portland (Exit 294) to Grants Pass (Exit 58)
245 miles (about 4 hours)
Exit 283: Family Fun Center https://www.fun-center.com/wilsonville
Grant's Pass - Redding, CA 178 miles (about 3 hours)
Redding, CA - Walnut Creek, CA  200 miles (about 3 hours)



Friday, October 16, 2020

Gold Creek Pond - October 2020

 

Today, the boys and I returned to one of my favorite easy "hikes."  I use quotes because it is just a flat and mostly paved walk around a pond.  However, when you're looking for an easy adventure outside with beautiful scenery, easy space for social distancing 2020 style, and less than an hour from Seattle, Gold Creek Pond is nearly perfect.

Gold Creek Pond is beautiful year round. It's hard to believe that this pond was part of the staging ground for I-90 construction, as the site has been restored beautifully.  Because it is only a 1 mile loop on mostly paved or crushed gravel trail, this is very accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, making it a wonderful family hike.

A couple of past trip reports to Gold Creek Pond, although we've been more times than I can remember:

When we left Redmond today, the weather was overcast with some sun breaks.  Although the boys didn't want coats, much less gloves, I insisted on bringing them, because weather in the Pacific Northwest can change quickly.

One new aspect to adventuring in 2020 is we always bring masks, even when we hope to be far away from anyone else, just in case.  Today, Tyler wanted to be a kitty.


As we drove up I-90 towards Snoqualmie Pass, the clouds got darker, and past North Bend it started raining.  Since we haven't adventured very much during quarantine, I worried that the rain could make the boys miserable.  However, I didn't convey any worry and hoped that snacks and gloves would take care of things.

When we pulled into the parking lot, it was pouring down rain, but thankfully the boys didn't seem to care. We put on coats, hats, and gloves, and they wanted to start racing as soon as the car doors closed.  I was so thankful that their PNW roots are strong!  

From the parking lot, we turned left on to the trail.  


At the first fork in the road, we turned left again, because I think it's fun to start out with a view of the pond.  

Before we got to the picnic area, we came across the little bridge over the little stream.  I remembered that Jake and I brought Nanna here a couple of years ago, to see the autumn salmon run, so we took a peek at the stream.  The boys were excited to see it absolutely full of fish!  Tyler is a big Octonauts fan, so any aquatic animals are especially exciting for him.



When Jake and I used to go on adventures when he was little, he always loved caves, tunnels, and culverts.  We used to spend a bunch of time, just the two of us, at this particular culvert at Gold Creek Pond, so we had to check it out.  It was pouring down rain, but we didn't mind at all.  It felt great to be outside!





After they had their fun scrambling on the rocks and watching the salmon, we continued on our way.  The next stop: the bank of Gold Creek Pond!  To me, the field just south of Gold Creek Pond has to be one of the most perfect picnic areas anywhere.  The boys ran around and goofed around. Surprising, I know!




Eventually, we started on the trail to head clockwise around the pond.  Under the trees, we could barely feel the rain, so the boys wanted to stop and jump around.  There was a little slope downhill from the right side of the trail, so Jake wanted to take a crazy jumping picture, where it looks like he's falling, but really he was in control.  It was unprompted, and I still don't know why, other than Jake loves to be silly and have fun.  So, we stopped for a mini photo shoot to get the right picture.  

Next, Tyler wanted to be filmed.  He wanted to hold a toy and run towards the camera while yelling, "Action."  I don't know why, but I was happy to oblige.

By stopping for a few minutes to take the pictures, the cold set in.  Because both boys were wearing jeans instead of water-repellant pants, they wanted to turn around and head home.  My bad.  Although we didn't do the loop today, we had a bunch of fun running around together in the rain, so I call today a win!

I'm pretty much always up for a trip to Gold Creek Pond.  If you're ever interested in meeting up, let me know!  If you want to check it out on your own, here are some tips:

BEFORE YOU GO
1. Go to the Washington Trails Association's site https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/gold-creek-pond and check out the latest field reports to get an idea about conditions.
2. Since it's on National Forest Land with "restroom" facilities, a NW Forest Recreation Pass is required.  The Discover Pass doesn't count. You can get a one day pass for $5 or an annual pass for $30.  
The online store is here: https://www.discovernw.org/recreation-passes.html. You can even print out a day pass at home and put it on your dashboard when you park. If you can't print it out at home and don't want to have it mailed from the online store, stop by North Bend on your way up.  If you take exit 31 from I-90, any of the gas stations in town will have a NW Forest Recreation Pass for sale.  
3. Dress in layers.  In the mountain passes, weather can change. Have kids wear long underwear, water repellant pants (like microfleece or rain paints), hats or coats with hoods, and gloves.
4. When heading out with kids, always pack drinks and snacks.
5. While there is a sani-can type of pit toilet in the parking lot, it is closed during winter, and not ideal in summer for that matter.  I recommend stopping in North Bend at exit 31 and use a restroom at one of the fast food places there.  If you have a Discover Pass, you can also head over to the Hyak Sledding hill parking lot, near the Snoqualmie Tunnel.  It is just across I-90 from Gold Creek Pond and has a heated restroom with running water year round.  
6.  Because it is just off of I-90, you can generally count on cell service, at least until you reach exit 54.  However, because you never know, it's best to take a screenshot of the driving map and trail map so that you have it on your phone.
7. If you plan to take pictures of salmon or the water, bring a camera with a polarizing lens, as that reduces glare.



GETTING THERE
1. Driving map: https://goo.gl/maps/nZZfY1TRVqrmdwNo7
2. From I-90, take Hyak exit 54.  From Seattle, take a left at the end of the off-ramp and head east under I-90.
3. After you go under I-90, the first right takes you back on to I-90. Don't take that.  Just past the onramp is the offramp, which kind of looks like a right turn.  Don't take that either.

4. At the yield sign, next to the "Gold Creek Sno Park" sign that looks like a little house, turn right and drive down the road.



4. In about a mile, you'll see a sign for "Gold Creek Pond" on Huckleberry Peak Road.  Turn left here. 

5. The parking lot for Gold Creek Pond is up the road .3 miles.  

6. From the parking lot, find the trail in the NW corner of the lot.  
7. At the "Y" in the road take a left.
 

TRAIL MAP
1. From the parking lot, if you look at the signs and the pit toilet, the trail starts to the left.
2. Within a minute, there will be a fork in the road.  Either way starts or ends the loop.  I prefer to veer left here so that the group starts off with the best view of the water. It's an exciting place to start!
3. Once you start, there may be some side trails that lead to private cabins or a difficult hike.  Stay on the path with the water in view and you'll end up where you started.
4. Make sure to stop at the picnic area for pictures. If kids have a ton of energy, its a safe, flat area for them to run around.  
5. At the north end of the water, there is a little loop that veers off the main trail toward the water.  There's a little bench here, so it's a fantastic place to sit, give the kids snacks, and enjoy the view.