HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-06-08 Jubilee AddressThe following address was given by the Honorable Charles 0.
baker, Mayor of the Town of Tukwila, at the Birthday Picnic,
held in Tukwila Park, climaxing the observance of the Golden
Jubilee Year of the Town of Tukwila.
Lois T. Newton
Clerk
June 8, 1958- Address given by Mayor Chas. 0. Baker
In opening our meeting today I will read portions of a message
from our past.
"TY ie Town is noted at home and abroad for its industrious, active
and progressive inhabitants It has no rich men and no poor
men. It shelters neither paupers nor criminals. It has no idle,
vicious or gambling population. Its people represent all political
parties and religious creeds but stand united on the platform hich
declares "Tukwila for Progress" and perfect harmony in all matters
pertaining to the upbuilding of the town of Tukwila.
The coming year will make important history for this town and the
surrounding country. It will be a year of wonderful advancement in
all that goes to make up prosperous communities. The Alaska- Yukon-
Pacific exposition will attract many thousands of tourists, investors
'and home seekers to Puget Sound. The building and operating of new
railroads will bring additional commerce to the gates of our city.
The agitation for deepening, widening and straightening the Duwamiish
river will result in the transfer of much property within our borders
and in the vicinity. Industrial activity will be apparent in all
directions. We must be ready to grasp whatever opportunities are
presented for the assistance of our people and the uplifting of the
rural home as the ideal of .American citizenship
There is wox'k for the Council in every corner of the town. Perform
your labor in the right manner and the people will appreciate your
services and reward you in co- operating in all things to make of
Tukwila the ideal city of homes in the famous land of perpetual green."
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The sections 1 have just read to you are taken from our first Mayor,
Joel Shoemaker's instructions to the new Council in December, 1903, just
six months after the Town was incorporated.
Mayor Shoemaker was right in so many of his statements; there really
was work in every corner of the Town. The streets as you see them today
did not exist. They were hewn through the forest as our town aeveloped.
The only way to build streets in those days was with men, horses and
dynamite. This was slow work and even as today the builders often found
themselves in trouble.
I am yhinking of one instance from those days in particular. While
blasting a large stump, as Main street was being cleared, something
went wrong and all the windows were broken out of a nearby home. After
considerable debate the home owner settled for thirty dollars. It is
a fact we don't have any stumps quite that large in town today, but
neither do we have a house that could have its windows replaced for thirty
dollars.
In many other ways the succeeding years were hard years for the Mayors,
the Council, the Town anti the people of the iown. There were several
times when the Town was torn between those who would disincorporate and
those who wanted it to remain as a town.
The life light of this tiny municipality at times flickered feebly
when only a few votes separated the two opposite groups and recounts
were demanded.
There were other troubles too. Running for office and elections were
hard fought events. Leetings were held in secret, candidates were
abused and feelings ran high.
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Through all of this the Town lived on and, in time, the people
became united. Their efforts for the betterment of the town came as
one great moving force and the community came forth as a very desirable
place in which to live.
Yes, there was work to be done and each succeeding Mayor and Council,
although working without pay, have continued to do it.
They have heard many rumors and have learned to detect them. They
have worked straightforward for the things they have wanted and in a
large measure they have succeeded.
The Town has grown and its boundaries have been extended. We have
studied and adopted a Master physical plan for our future development.
ThisWWs necessary for a number of reasons.
The location of Tukwila, midway between rapidly growing Seattle and
Tacoma points to an even greater development in the Tukwila area.
The only two National, Interstate and Defense highways in the State
of Washington are planned with their intersection and interchange
located within the corporate limits of Tukwila. These will provide fast
and efficient truck and automobile access to and from remote areas.
history has proven that major development occurs at crossings of major
routes of travel. Main line trunks serving the Northern Pacific, Great
Northern, Union Pacific and the Chicago, 2ilwaukee, Saint Paul and
Pacific railroads lie within and adjacent to Tukwila town limits.
Tukwila is within approximately five minutes travel time from either
the Seattle Tacoma International Airport or Boeing Field Airport.
The great increase in Air Transportation, Air Express and Air Freight
continues upward and the seven major Airlines serving the International
hirport combine to provide non -stop service to most of the major cities
in the United States.
The flat, bottom land within and adjacent to Tukwila is available
and suitable for Industrial development. We feel at long last this
Valley will now be develop.ed...
To those who have just discovered us in the past few months of
confusing publicity let me say that many Mayors and Uouncilmen have
worked throughout these many years for just such industrial development
as we are now about to experience within our community.
Let me now give credit to all who have served the Town, for their
many months and years of untiring effort in bringing these developments
a little nearer to a successful climax.
In passing it must be remembered that men alone could not have made
these things possible. In all of our great land there isn't another
place just like the land within our boundaries. We have here the scenic
hills to nestle the homes of our people. h valley and river ideally
located for industrial development. Beautiful scenery, a level valley,
good climate, an abundance of water and plenty of room for recreation.
It's all here in this, our City.
The following address was given by John
of the Tukwila Planning Commission at
Picnic, held in Tukwila Nark on June 3,
B. Strander, Chairman
the Golden Jubilee
1953.
Lois T. ifewton, Clerk
IHN B. STRANDER, 13310 INTERURBAN AVENUE SOUTH, SEATTLE 88, WASHINGTON
9 June 1958
PRESENTATION ADDRESS GIVEN BY JOBN B. STRANDER AT THE TUKWILA PARK,
8 JUNE 1958:
"Mr. Chairman, Honorable Charles 0. Baker, other Mayors, members
of the Tukwila Town Council, past Mayors, past Councilmen,
respected guests, and friends:
I don't know when I have been more pleased than when I was
asked to take a part in this wonderful Golden Jubilee Celebration.
It is not always that one can work for and with Charlie Baker,
who we think is the best Mayor in the State of Washington.
It is now my duty, and I do it with the utmost of civic pride,
to present to the Town of Tukwila, upon the occasion of her fiftieth
birthday anniversary, this young Oak tree. May our town continue
to stand for those qualities which we revere in the Oak: sturdiness,
longevity, beauty, and the ability to overcome lesser species in the
daily competition for a place in the sun.
Mr. Chairman, the Oak is loved throughout the world, and many
of the famous meeting places, and places for the signing of treaties
have been marked by Oak trees. This particular variety is called
'Scarlet Oak' and is native to the midwest and New England. It is
the variety which is largely responsible for the fiery autumn
color of that large area."
John B. Strander
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