The town of Redmond has come a long way since the 1880s, from the challenge of felling giant trees to the town's first economic boom as a result of loggers pouring in. Along with the hardworking loggers, steamboats transporting goods and services and the introduction of John Peterson's sawmill, the Chittenden locks, and the coming of Washington State, the town of 300 people solidified its legacy as a hub for the timber industry and is now examples of resilience and strength navigating adversity.
The Introduction of John Peterson's Sawmill
The early settlers of Redmond faced a daunting task in the form of felling the giants of the towering trees. However, this challenge soon led to the town's first economic boom when loggers started to pour into the valley in the 1880s. The introduction of John Peterson's sawmill east of Lake Sammamish in 1890 was a huge milestone and further solidified Redmond as a hub for lumber and shingle operations. The success of these businesses resulted in substantial payrolls and a demand for products and services that made Redmond a thriving community.
However, the town's success was not only due to the hard work of the loggers - transportation through steamboats on the Sammamish River and Lake Washington played a major role in Redmond's success. These flat-bottomed boats carried goods and passengers until 1916 when the Chittenden Locks opened, lowering local lakes and waterways by nine feet. The Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway arrived in 1888, just before Washington became a state, and with it, the legacy of Redmond’s timber industry was sealed.
The town of 300 people would become a fourth-class town in 1912, with the incorporation allowing for taxes to finance a modern waterworks and protect against the devastating fires that were so common in wooden buildings. Redmond’s resilience in the face of adversity is an example of their tenacity and fortitude.
Prohibition in Redmond
Redmond was transformed under the leadership of its first mayor, Frederick A. Reil. Automobiles were a common sight on Main Street, now Leary Way, and Downtown saw an influx of new buildings. Washington State adopted Prohibition four years ahead of the nation in 1916, leading to bootlegging operations in town and liquor stills in the surrounding woods. Despite the decline of the timber industry in the 1920s due to aggressive logging, Redmond's economy pivoted to agriculture. Farmers worked hard to clear stumps and built structures for chickens, mink, and dairy cattle. They also planted acres of berries in the hills and valleys which had once been home to deer, bear, and bobcats. Unfortunately, the population did not grow much during this time as many young adults left in search of employment during the Depression.
Proud History of Logging and Agriculture
Redmond is a city with a proud and independent history of logging and agriculture. In 1940, when the first Lake Washington floating bridge opened, the town was home to only 503 residents. This changed quickly, however, with the completion of the Evergreen Point floating bridge in 1963, which sparked rapid residential growth and demand for local goods and services. By the turn of the millennium, Redmond had developed into a bustling hub of high-tech industry, boasting an impressive population of 43,610. Infrastructure has been key to this success, driving economic and cultural growth since the days of steamboats and horse-drawn stages. Today, Redmond stands as a testament to its citizens' collective pride, participation, and resourcefulness, poised to embrace the future with optimism.
The small town of Redmond grew from a group of loggers into a proud community with a resilient spirit that has proven its ability to survive challenges for generations. The economy boomed when loggers moved in and sawmills were built, enabling transportation through steamboats and trains that lit the path for future industries and businesses. Despite devastating fires associated with wooden buildings, Redmond faced its struggles with the persistence one would expect from such dedicated villagers. A century later Redmond proclaims the legacy of its founders that helped create an enduring community of grit and generosity.
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