Richmond Beach School - Now a Park

A long flight of steps leads up the hill to the site of Richmond Beach School
photo credits-Janet Way

The Richmond Beach School Was the First School in Shoreline. 

Richmond Beach Elementary School
circa 1909-10
courtesy of Shoreline Historical Museum

But what is on that site now?  

Of course the Richmond Beach Library and Park occupy much of the site and are popular with the community.  But a recent visit on a spectacularly sunny fall day reveals an area that many may have overlooked.

 An amazing grove of trees surrounds the west and north sides of the park.  Here is a photo essay celebrating those remarkable trees. 

As you drive down Richmond Beach Road, you may or may not
notice the spectacular trees that are sentinels of the park
photo credits-Janet Way

Half-way up the steps, turn round and
see the spectacular view framed by the
foliage
photo credit-Janet Way

Now an enormous Madrone trunk holds court

at the crest of the hill nearby the location of

the old school. Wonderful texture

of the bark is a testimony to the many decades

this trees has watched over this place.

photo credits-Janet Way

Halfway up the steps you enter the Madrone Grove that engulfs the corner
photo credits-Janet Way

Crowning the top of this hill is a huge and magnificent Madrone
photo credits-Janet Way

Late afternoon shadows fall across the site of the old school
overlooking Puget Sound

Go for a Visit today and send me some photos (especially in the snow!). 


Many things worth saving in Shoreline need watchdogs and stewards. Will you be one?

Inside and Outside of Ronald School

Did you know that the plans for Shorewood rebuild include "gutting" the interior of the century old Ronald School? 


The plans include removing the third floor, but these plans seem to change frequently. 

Interior staircase of Ronald School and arched window.

It also is likely to include destroying the unique "stand alone" nature of the building because, the plans include "encasing" the entire rear wall. The Ronald School is a Landmarked Historic building in Shoreline that has housed the Shoreline Historical Museum since 1976.

The rear of the building was traditionally used by students, as a playground, gathering place and where they "lined up" to go back in the building after recess, lunch or at the beginning or end of the day.

The exterior grounds of the building are "landmarked" along with the building itself.

Rear of Ronald School
SSD/Basetti plans to encase and block this side
of the Landmarked Building
with the new structure. The Windows will be blacked out.

The Shoreline/KC Landmarks Commission Hearing on Certificate of Appropriateness for these plans is scheduled for next Wednesday, Nov. 17th, 7pm at the Richmond Masonic Temple, 

N185th and Linden Ave N.

YOU are invited to attend and testify in this ONLY public hearing to be held on the matter of

the proposed alterations to this historic Landmarked Building.

Patterns of History - The Bricks

Shoreline's Unique Historical Asset -
The Red Brick Road - Built in 1909

"Aluminum Specialties" now called Skyline Windows
is located on Ronald Place

Images of things that matter in Shoreline. The Red Brick Road (aka Ronald Place or North Trunk Road)

has the messages of time written all over it.

The Unique Patterns of Shoreline's Red Brick Road have carried 

automobile traffic for over 90 years.

This section is just south of N175th St and has been nominated 

and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places

because of its unique relationship to the commercial district surrounding it.

It is also listed by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation as "most endangered".

Skyline Windows has a shared history with Ronald Place
It is a Family business that honors the road along with their own history.

Judge JT Ronald was a major advocate for building Highway 99. He owned the property now in the center of Aurora at N175th and had a summer cottage there. He sold the property where Ronald Place now curves away from the Aurora Ave N in order to encourage the development of the highway. 

Judge Ronald also donated the land where the Ronald School now exists and is home to the Shoreline Historical Museum, because he believed in education. He served as a KC Superior Court Judge until 1949 and had also served as Mayor of Seattle 1892 and 1893. Want to read more about Judge Ronald? Interesting article about how his Seattle House was preserved in Seattle Times,

Old memories, new friendship guide restoration of 1880s Leschi house.

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040919&slug=homeoldhouse19

We wonder where the Red Brick Road will lead in the 21st Century with all the changes taking place in Shoreline?