Welcome to KirklandHistory.org
Matt and I are very pleased to share our research and writing with you on a number of Kirkland historical topics. We are launching the site with one major feature — the Lake Washington Belt Line in Kirkland, 1905-2009 — plus a few smaller articles.
There is much more to come over time. Please visit regularly and tell your friends. 🙂 You can also subscribe to blog updates using the widget in the sidebar. We will create a new blog post for each new article.
We welcome your feedback. You can contact us using the form on the Connect page or you can leave comments on any blog post. Perhaps we will also see you in person at one of our upcoming talks, which are listed on the Home page.
Speaking of feedback, our information about industries served by the Lake Washington Belt Line after 1975 is spotty, so please do get in touch if you have information and / or photos to contribute. Thanks!
2023-06-18 @ 7:53 PM
I have just found your site. As a child, I lived in Kirkland from 1949-1951 and attended the grades 1 and 2 school there.
I am searching for an old map, trying to find my “neighborhood”. My address was 950 5th Avenue. I remember walking up Central past the Park on the right. At 6th Street there was a jog, I think, and 5th Avenue began. It was a single lane dirt road. Our house was the last (2nd) on the left with the Entwhistles across the street and the Smiths near 6th street. A path continued up the hill to 2 abandoned cabins, where I played Cowboys. After that was the railroad track, where I watched the steam trains when I could. Our phone number was 2431, then 22-2431 when they put in dial phones.
I remember the Central Theater on the right side heading into town. I saw “Wizard of Oz” there, alone, scared to death of the green witch. Also the Sprouse-Reitz store at the end of Central, which burned in 1950(?). I rode the ferry to Seattle and I believe I still have a couple of ferry pictures taken by my grandparents, in case you’re interested. Jetboat races on the Lake… names like Miss Pepsi and Slo-Mo4.
Pardon the rambling.
Kirk Taylor
kirktaylor2021@outlook.com