Junius Rochester, whose family has shaped the city for many generations, is an award-winning Northwest historian and author of numerous books about Seattle and other places.
The Federal Writers’ Project provided over 10,000 jobs for Americans during the Depression. Those workers found, recorded and revitalized much American history.
Following outbreak of the Civil War this dream of a separate West Coast nation was revived. Newly arrived Southerners were among the enthusiastic supporters of this secessionist idea for starting over with a clean slate.
Captain Charles Wilkes, who led the scientific expedition in 1841, observed the bird-like shape of the Bainbridge Island harbor, giving it the name Eagle Harbor. He added Bill Point and Wing Point to complete the avian image.
“Green Lake and Lincoln Parks were developed entirely by [Umlauff],” a rare early notice observed. “Woodland, Volunteer, Seward, and lesser parks were transformed and improved vastly under his direction.”