Redmond Derby Days;
The nation's oldest bicycle race
By Jayme Jonas, Redmond Planning Department
Redmond Derby Days, the nation’s oldest bicycle race, began in 1939 with a 25-mile race around Lake Sammamish. That first year, race spectators bought raffle tickets to guess what the winning racer’s time would be. The ticket holder with the closest guess won a $25 prize, and the rest of the money went towards purchasing Town Christmas decorations and jerseys for the Redmond High School football team. In 1940, Betty Anderson (nee Buckley) was crowned the first Derby Queen.
During the war years (1942 – 1945), no Derby was held. The annual event resumed in 1946, bigger than ever, with the first annual downtown parade. Raffle tickets were sold once again, but this time the prize was a 1947 Plymouth donated by Kirkland Chevrolet dealer Lee Johnson. The raffle also determined who would be crowned queen: local service groups each nominated a candidate for queen and then sold raffle tickets. The candidate whose group sold the most tickets won! Read the full story
All photos courtesy of the Redmond Historical Society
Old Redmond Downtown Historical Walking Tour
If you live in Redmond, you probably drive along Leary Way daily. But do you know the histories of our oldest buildings? Like, which one was both an undertaker's premises and a bordello?
Tom Hitzroth will educate and entertain folks with walking tours that explore those and other histories.
The remaining dates this year are June 20 and September 19. Tours run from 1 to 2:30pm, and walkers meet on the front steps of the Justice White House, 7730 Leary Way. A tour will not be held if it rains.
An $8 fee helps fund Society research. Pre-registration is required.
To register: 425-885-2919 or info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org
Receive the monthly newsletter! Call the Society office at:
425-885-2919 or email us to info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org.
Redmond
Historical Society
Books, note cards, free historic walking tour brochures, and the book, “Redmond Reflections”, are available in our office, which is open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30am to 4:30pm and by appointment.
Visit our website: www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org
RHS Office Hours:
Mon, Wed & Thu
9:30am - 4:30pm
Or by appointment www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org.