Comments on: Early history of the area around 65th and Latona in east Green Lake

By: mygreenlake

mygreenlake — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:43:46 +0000

Thank you, Russ, for taking the time to address the concerns of the commenters above. Russ is correct, the photo of Elisabeth Jane Brownfield was not submitted by him, but was rather taken from the Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection.

All perceived gender bias in the article is mine alone, and should not be attributed to Russ Hanbey, who has been incredibly generous in sharing his knowledge with the neighborhood. Thank you Russ.

Here at My Green Lake, we are dedicated to promoting all voices in the neighborhood, including the voices of diverse residents from earlier days. If any historians or genealogists out there have information that they would like to share about Green Lake's original woman homesteaders (or any topic at all), please send it our way at tips@mygreenlake.com.

In the meantime, here's a bit of local women's history: http://www.mygreenlake.com/2009/11/green-lake-i... The reminiscences of Dorothea Nordstrand are a vital part of the narrative of our neighborhood's past and I recommend that anyone interested in the history of Green Lake read her many contributions on HistoryLink: http://www.historylink.org/?keyword=Dorothea+No...

By: mygreenlake

mygreenlake — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:43:46 +0000

By: Russ Hanbey

Russ Hanbey — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:59:27 +0000

You're inaccurate in your observation. If you're going to hold my feet to the fire, you have an obligation to make sure you know what you're talking about.

The woman pictured is actually Robert Weedin's wife (Elisabeth Jane Brownfield) and was NOT mentioned in the original article, nor was Robert Weedin. Her photo appeared as part of this blog. 'Two Grandfather's, both of whom were shot and killed (not their wives), has barely been written and you are making projections about it's content.

I believe I treated Ichibe Suehiro, the Japanese immigrant who shot my great grand father, with fairness. I did not vilify him and tried to project his role in the incident from his point of view. The same will occur with all of the potential characters in Two Grandfathers, many of who are strong and significant women.

By: Balance

Balance — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:37:31 +0000

Funny how the 'wife' was the one pictured doing the work, but wasn't worth naming in the article, and wasn't the one who is credited with homesteading? I agree with my neighbor; it's disturbing that history leaves women so invisible. I wonder if Two Grandfathers tells more of a complete family story, although by the title alone, I'm not sure? It's fun to read about the early days of Seattle though.

By: Russ Hanbey

Russ Hanbey — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:32:00 +0000

Amy,
Thanks for presenting more information on the Weedin family (male AND female) in your blog. One correction – Glenn has not written a book entitled 'Two Grandfathers'. That is the current title of my DRAFT of a forthcoming book. Glenn has collected a wealth of information on Robert and WL Weedin and their families and is a great resource for my research.

Russ

By: Your Neighbor

Your Neighbor — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:48:17 +0000

Sounds like the men brought their wives to Green Lake in boxes and kept them in there while they did all kinds of wonderful and heroic deeds. Guess that's why history books leave me bored and why they seem so unreal; women are invisible and inconsequential. In reality, we're pretty interesting and influential.