Yearly Archives: 2011

Historic Preservation Commissions need you!

Hi All,
Please read and/or forward the information below from the website of the Snohomish County Historic Preservation Commission.  I’d like to encourage volunteers to apply to become Commissioners.  It is a way to add your voice to the dialog of how important it is to preserve the County’s historic places that still have decades of productive use as historic buildings, community, business and residential spaces.  This includes public works as well – bridges and roadway and agricultural landscapes.   There are many places, buildings and structures that can be re-purposed with thoughtful and creative thinking, preserving their historical character, without building out into our farmlands and creating more costly infrastructure.

Oso Elementary School

Oso Elementary School

The Commission serves as the public voice to the County Council and must take a proactive role.  It helps landowners and historic structure owners recognize the value of their historic properties and now also decides on the application of the Community Heritage Program – recipients of County grants that fund heritage programs throughout the County.  Recent examples include the Granite Falls Historical Mapping Project and the Western Heritage Center. If you live in a City that has its own Commission – support their work as well – (Edmonds, Snohomish, Everett)

Please consider adding your voice to this group and contact Wendy Becker (see the information below.)
Karen Prasse
League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations

Historic Preservation Commission

Snohomish County values its historic buildings, sites, structures and objects.  Through the Historic Preservation Commission, Snohomish County seeks to identify, preserve and protect significant historic and archaeological properties that celebrates the rich history of Snohomish County. The Historic Preservation Commission offers a number of services to support preservation efforts of these irreplaceable county assets:

  • A local register of historic places
  • Special Valuation Tax incentives for historic building rehabilitation
  • Educational resources and contacts
  • A guide to the three-tiered register system:

For more information, please contact:

Wendy Becker, Economic and Cultural Development Officer

3000 Rockefeller  MS 411
Everett, WA 98201
425.388.3186

Meeting times and details:
The Historic Preservation Commission meets at 7p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. The meetings are open to the public.

6th Floor Conference Room 6A02
Snohomish County Administration Building East
3000 Rockefeller Ave.  Downtown Everett
Directions to the Meeting

Recruiting members to represent Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The Commission is now accepting applications for new members.  Please contact Wendy Becker (425) 388-3186 for additional information.

Recipients of the 2010 Malstrom Award and Commendations

For details on the projects, see the web page describing each nominee —-  https://snocoheritage.org/2010/12/malstrom-award-nominations-2010/

The Malstrom Award winner for 2010 -  Snohomish County Digital Map Overlay Project [Digital Mapping Project] Sponsor: Granite Falls Historical Society.  Fred Cruger, Project Director.  Carolyn Davisson, President

From The Malstrom Award Judging Committee —- The Snohomish County Digital Map Overlay Project was exceptionally executed by the grass roots effort of an all volunteer organization.  The commendable collaboration between numerous Snohomish County heritage organizations and the United States Forest Service strengthened the impact and broadened the project’s scope county wide, acting as a shared resource among multiple organizations. Beyond Snohomish County, the presentation at AASLH provides a valuable model for heritage organizations nation wide. This is a phenomenal, technological, multi-layered research resource that aids Snohomish County with the preservation and accessibility of valuable information embedded in vintage maps.  It also stands as an impressive model for heritage organizations throughout the nation.

Publications Commendation
The winner of the Publications Commendation is “Etched In Stone – Dedicated to the Young Men of Edmonds School District 15 Who Lost Their Lives to War”, Betty Lou Gaeng, Sno-Isle Genealogical Society.

From The Malstrom Award Judging Committee – This publication is a history of the memorial monument located at the front entrance to the Edmonds Historical Museum as well as a history of the young men whose names are engraved in the monument.  This is a unique historical and genealogical project and a fitting tribute of respect and remembrance for the young men of WWI and WWII, neighbors, classmates, friends and family.  The publication is a valuable historical and genealogical tool and adds layers of understanding to the granite monument by honoring and helping us to remember the sacrifices of the men who should never be forgotten.

Projects Commendation

Stillaguamish Valley Welcome Center

Stillaguamish Valley Welcome Center located at the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum

The winner of the Projects Commendation is the Welcome Center featuring the Stillaguamish Valley Watershed 1910, Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Association.

From The Malstrom Award Judging Committee —  The project is an outdoor exhibit that showcases the Stillaguamish River Valley Watershed.  It consists of a hand-carved, hand painted, multidimensional map and includes a carved log open building specifically built to house the glass covered map, making it continually accessible to the public.  The multidimensional map depicts cultural and natural features as they existed at the time of the 1910 census, spanning from the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains, and aids in the interpretation of regional history, honoring both Native Americans and the migrating early pioneers.  This stands as a commendable project by a local heritage, grass-roots organization, and a project for other heritage organizations to aspire to.