The first time I met Gertrude Finney she was on her hands and knees and they were all dirty. It was in the early fifties.

She and my wife were planting petunias or pansies in the middle of downtown White Center.

County Councilman Ed Munro had arranged to have his road crews place a number of large planters in the middle of 16th SW from Roxbury to 100th.

I stopped, met Gertrude and left quickly in case they needed someone to dig weeds.

I was to see her many, many times on the following years, as she was mother to our circulation manager Glenn Finney and patron saint at the local library. She is now 100 years old, lives in Bellevue in assisted living and is still busy creating beautiful handiwork for sale at the tenants bazaar.

In her honor we asked her to recall some of her amazing life she dedicated to her community.

She lived in the Highland Park Dumar district and went to Highline High School.

The following are excerpts from her personal diary, transcribed from her hand-written notes:

Diary 1

When I moved out to White Center in 1924 from Youngstown it had been settled for many years. These are some of the things I remember from that time.

Delridge Way was originally McKinnon Road, often impossible in winter at about Orchard St. where K Mart was later built - We had our own "skid road" there. Planking over spring-fed bog,

There was also a streetcar route. It traveled from Riverside, south on W. Marginal Way past Abrahamson's Brick Yard. Their 2 children were classmates of mine at Youngstown (Margery & Catton). Then the tracks spiraled up a steep grade to Dumar. There were 3 or 4 turnouts for passing. Power was supplied by a sub-station on 9th & Henderson. A car-barn was also there.

One paid a token (3 for 25 cents) when boarding downtown. Then another token was necessary when leaving at any stop after White Center. The streetcar continued to Burien & Seahurst was the end of the line. Carvella (100th), Glendale (102nd), Oak Park (106th), Mt. View (107th), Salmon Creek, Hazel Valley at 128th, to name a few.

Many times, coming home on the last streetcar from town after a dance, the motorman would place his hand over the fare box so we didn't need to pay the extra fare.

Sometimes he'd invite a bunch of kids, standing around watching it pass, to ride & keep him company to the end of the line & back.

One summer in the early 30's the caterpillar infestation was so bad on Dumar Hill that the tracks were covered with caterpillars - a streetcar ran away down the steep hillside, people onboard panicked but no one was seriously hurt. Winona LeBeau Antelen was a passenger. Her glasses were knocked off by someone & trampled & crushed - without her glasses she couldn't see but a good soul helped her.

In 1924 the streetcar station was where Chubby & Tubby was on 16th S.W. there was then Mannion's Dry Goods & McKinnon's Confectionery there situated on a knoll. Later the knoll was leveled & a Safeway was built there before Chuffy & Tubby took over when Safeway moved.

The Triangle building between 16th & Delridge Way was first meant to be a bank but never so used. Fairbanks Grocery was there in 1924 - then it became New Nick Tavern - Dr. Secker & Dr. Nichols had offices on upper story until retirement - now apts?

What is became the location of the White Center Drug Store was in '24 a Greek Restaurant operated by Angel & Nick Zefkeles & Bill Pappas. Next door was Shrigley's Theater, some stores, a pool hall & a bakery. The bakery was then owned by Branigan later sold to Omar Schau, a man who in later years did much for the community. Set back from 16th (over some swamp) was built a boxing arena which attracted sport fans from all over Seattle - Later it became a roller rink (Pop Brown). It had an addition built to street on 16th, which became shops & entry to doctor offices & apts above.

Bill Beyers Feed Store was last on block to 98th. A Real Estate office was also located in his building. The 1st fire truck (with volunteers as firemen) was housed there, also.

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