Join us to hear Bainbridge Island educator Roberta Newland and her co-author (and son) John Newland-Thompson discuss their book The Cle Elum Fire of 1918 from Images of America series. On June 25, 1918, a hot, windy day fire tore through the small town of Cle Elum. Caused by a spark of unknown origin in the center of town, the fire destroyed the majority of the town to the east and left 1,800 people homeless--nearly the equivalent of today's population. The authors, whose ancestor's barbershop was lost in the blaze, will describe this town of immigrants before the fire, the fire itself, and the rebuilding process. Roberta Newland is a Bainbridge Island educator who has researched many historic preservation projects. Her co-author, John Newland-Thompson, is a writer and editor. They published The Cle Elum Fire of 1918 on the fire's centennial in 2018. Presented in partnership with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. This event is at the Southwest branch library. Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required. Space is limited at library events. Please come early to make sure you get a seat. Due to the fire code, we can’t exceed the maximum capacity for our rooms.

Chief Seattle wrote nothing down during his life, yet his words—both real and imagined—are known throughout the world. The result is a man made up of both historical and fictional aspects, from which conflicting messages can be gleaned. David M. Buerge, a biographer and a historian to the Duwamish Tribe, Seattle’s mother’s people, spent more than 20 years exploring the man from a variety of sources to reveal a leader of epic character. He was a warrior, an orator, a benefactor, and a visionary who helped found the city that bears his name, Seattle, the largest city in the world named after a Native American. Chief Seattle’s vision was ambitious: a prosperous, multiracial city. But toward the end of Seattle’s life, he saw that vision become a tragedy. In the current century, is Seattle the city edging any closer to the vision of Seattle the man? Buerge explores this complex figure to uncover how one man’s story still shapes the identity of the city. Buerge, a historian, teacher, and writer, has been researching the pre- and early history of the City of Seattle since the mid-1970s. He has published fourteen books of history and biography. Buerge’s latest book, Chief Seattle and the Town that Took His Name, is the first biography of Chief Seattle intended for adults. This program is part of the Words, Writers & West Seattle author series which features writers connected to the Duwamish Peninsula. Programs are held monthly on the second Thursday evenings. Presented in partnership with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. This event is at the Southwest branch library. Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required. Space is limited at library events. Please come early to make sure you get a seat. Due to the fire code, we can’t exceed the maximum capacity for our rooms.

Join us to hear Kurt Armbruster discuss his newest railway history, Pacific Coast, Seattle's Own Railroad. In 1870, Seattle had high hopes that the transcontinental Northern Pacific Railroad would make the city its western terminus. Instead, the railroad chose Tacoma. Seattle panicked and then rolled up its sleeves and built its own railroad. The Pacific Coast Railroad and its predecessors were key to assuring Seattle's rise to become the Pacific Northwest's greatest city. Kurt Armbruster is a Seattle native, historian, author and musician/songwriter. He has written numerous articles for historical journals and books including Orphan Road, The Railroad Comes to Seattle, 1853-1911, Before Seattle Rocked, A City and Its Music, and Playing for Change, Burton and Florence James and the Struggle for American Theater. This program is part of the Words, Writers & West Seattle author series which features writers connected to the Duwamish Peninsula. Programs are held monthly on the second Thursday evenings. Presented in partnership with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. This event is at the Southwest branch library. Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required. Space is limited at library events. Please come early to make sure you get a seat. Due to the fire code, we can’t exceed the maximum capacity for our rooms.