While no popcorn was served, a generous portion of nostalgia was offered to Kenney residents who recently viewed a screening of the new documentary, "The Fauntleroy Story: 100 Years of Community."

The century-long journey is condensed into a 34-minute film. It refers to the 1907 annexation of West Seattle and the trolley that sliced through it to the Fauntleroy "Endoline" station, the "end of the line." One year after that on July 25, Fauntleroy Church was built in a day. Founders John Adams, Dr. Edward Kilbourne, and James Murray Coleman helped form the basis of the community and its promise. Less than a decade later the YMCA was built adjoining the church, followed by Fauntleroy School.

Surviving family members of Fauntleroy founders, neighborhood advocates, and other content area residents were interviewed.

Featured are the film's project coordinator Judy Pickens, Fauntleroy Church senior minister, The Rev. David Kratz, pioneer James Coleman's great-grandson, Dr. Jack (John) Pierce, and Seattle neighborhood guru Jim Diers, author of "Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way." Some historic information was borrowed from Pickens' book, "Guided by the Light: Fauntleroy Church at the Centennial Milepost."

While the film uses old photos and new video footage to paint a canvas of Fauntleroy, the documentary contains black-and-white footage from 1933 of children frolicking in the water around the "Osprey" boat at Camp Coleman, located in Horsehead Bay beyond Gig Harbor.

"They'd ride the 'Osprey' from Fauntleroy across to Horsehead Bay until roads were built in the '50s. Then they took the bus," said Pickens, known for championing the salmon-bearing restoration of Fauntleroy Creek. She was a "Cox Conserves Heroes" award finalist in October.

The Colman family invited YMCA campers to the family's summer home where the camp was established. Cabins were built. Originally newsboys and other working-class children were rewarded with a weekend at camp if they achieved perfect Sunday school attendance. Its administration was turned over to the Fauntleroy YMCA in the 1920s. The YMCA continued to operate it on the family's property until 1965.

"Neighborhoods in Seattle became defined by topography," says Diers in the film. "Community is all about bumping. The more you bump into the same person over again the more you build relationships."

The film's narrator, KING television reporter Glenn Farley, says of Fauntleroy, "The neighborhood is not immune to the city's growing pains, and is poorly equipped to handle ferry dock traffic." The film points out that while neighbors find the ferry dock picturesque, its use will almost double in 25 years with no room to expand.

Kratz presented the screening at the Kenney and initiated a question and answer period after the film's conclusion.

"After 9/11 people here were frightened, locking themselves behind doors rather than getting together as neighbors and supporting each other," said Kratz, a 27-year Fauntleroy resident. "We were concerned and wanted to create a sense of community. That is why we created 'Fall Fest.'

"Our purpose (for making the film) was to tell the story so that new people can sense they're not just living on a piece of property but are part of a neighborhood. We're worried about great storytellers who are dying or have already passed away. I'm proud of the documentary, and proud of living in Fauntleroy."

"We love knowing where we are living and what it's all about," said Alice Thornton, who moved into the Kenney with husband Bob almost three years ago from Florida. They gave the film two thumbs-up.

"There's a whole lot more history than they gave here," said 102-year-old Kenney resident Beth Morse as a gentle complaint following the film. That's easy for her to say considering the young-spirited Morse is two years older than Fauntleroy.

Seated in front of Morse was Marjorie Christiansen, 89. The documentary pushed her nostalgic buttons quite strongly.

"My husband Norm and I joined Fauntleroy Church in 1949," said Christiansen, who also worked in the adjoining YMCA and volunteered seven years as a cook at Camp Coleman. "I lost my husband a month ago. He was 97. He was the man walking into church at the end of the movie."

At the end of the film Norm walks up the church steps, stops, turns toward the camera and smiles. And when the film concluded Marjorie smiled too.

DVD's of "The Fauntleroy Story: 100 Years of Community" can be purchased for a suggested $10 donation at the Fauntleroy Church office, the Original Bakery, and the Log House Museum gift shop.

Steve Shay may be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com