Posts Tagged ‘snoqualmie’
Isaakson’s Sawmill, Redmond, Washington
Isaakson’s Sawmill
Duane Isaakson, Isaakson’s Sawmill Owner-Operator
October 19th, 2013 – In unincorporated King County, eight miles east of Redmond, Washington, along State Route 202 (Redmond-Fall City Road) there exists a sawmill that has been in existence at this location since 1936. This sawmill was established by Henry Isaacson, a log truck driver, businessman, and opportunist. Isaakson’s mill is still in operation today, owned and operated by his son, Duane Isaakson. Duane lives on his father’s original estate above the mill with his wife Joanne. You can often see smoke coming out of the stacks at the mill when driving by on 202.
Duane Isaakson with Sawblade
Isaakson’s Sawmill was established in the 1930’s. It thrived during World War II as larger mills were tied up with the war effort. Commerce still went on for local people wanting to build homes so upon Isaakson’s Sawmill they relied for lumber. During this period locals burned sawdust from the mill as a substitute for oil and coal which were hard to obtain and very expensive if these commodities were even available.
Isaakson’s mill expanded after another area mill burned in a fire, and a planer was salvaged by Isaacson from the destroyed mill. This planer was one of the larger ones in the area. It gave them the capability to smooth and cut grooves into lumber thereby refining their lumber further for building quality.
Isaakson’ Sawmill Lumber Milling
This last weekend I, with several other members of a local church, toured Isaakson’s Sawmill with Duane Isaakson as host. Duane, in his 70’s, not only enriched us with his knowledge of area history and specific history about his now deceased fathers’ mill, but he surprised us by firing up the diesels and began milling logs during our tour. He cut a log into lumber and milled some of the lumber with the planer. It was exciting to hear the buzzing of the saws and to see the sawdust spewing out the backsides each of the two sheds that house the operations. Duane does not do this just for sport – he has customers, one who pulled in to pick up his order while we were there.
Isaakson’s Sawmill, Planer Building
Information Sources: The Sammamish Heritage Society and Duane Isaacson.
Almost Spring on the Snoqualmie River
Tolt-Snoqualmie Confluence
Mount Si
On the eastern end of the most heavily populated county of Washington State, prominent Mount Si (pronounced Mount “Sigh”) rises roughly 4,000 feet off the valley floor of the Snoqualmie River. Named for Josiah “Uncle Si” Merritt, an early settler, Mount Si marks the beginning of the Cascade Range as seen from Interstate 90 as you travel east into the range. Its prominence evokes your attention. (Click images for larger views)
Mount Si may have been the visual source of inspiration for the name “Twin Peaks”, a 30-episode television show that aired in the early 1990’s. Scenes from Twin Peaks and the expansive movie version, “Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me,” were filmed in a couple of small towns nearby Mount Si. Misty Snoqualmie Falls, the lodge above the falls, railroad cars at Snoqualmie, and a restaurant located in North Bend served as props in both shows. Indoor scenes were typically filmed inside a studio.
It is a fascinating mountain. What strikes most people about Mount Si is its abrupt rocky face. I especially like photographing it in the late in the afternoon when it is fully illuminated by sunlight. This mountain has many different looks. Mount Si takes on different appearances depending upon angle of sunlight, time of year, and weather. I began photographing Mount Si this only in the past three years, even though I have lived close by for more than 20 years, a testament to the abundance of subject matter the Pacific West Coast of America has to offer.
Mount Si’s own website
Mt. Si on Wikipedia
Mount Si Golf Course
Mount Si from Millpond
Twin Peaks poster (fan compiled – copyrighted)
Twin Peaks Fest
More mountains
Snoqualmie Falls with a Point and Shoot Digital Camera
You can get good pictures with inexpensive cameras. Before officially switching to digital SLR photography I had a Canon Powershot digital rangefinder camera which I used for family shots. I was very pleased with the shot I got of Snoqualmie Falls. This image was processed with Picture Cooler, a clean-up utility for digital images.
Mount Si – July 4th 2009
On the eastern end of the most heavily-populated county of Washington State, prominent Mount Si (pr. “Sigh”) rises roughly 4,000 feet off the valley floor of the Snoqualmie River. Named for Josiah “Uncle Si” Merritt, an early settler, Mount Si marks the beginning of the Cascade Range as seen from Interstate 90 as you travel east into the range. Its prominence evokes your attention.
Mount Si may have been the visual source of inspiration for the name Twin Peaks, a 30-episode television show that aired in the early 1990’s. Scenes from Twin Peaks and the expansive movie version, “Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me,” were filmed in a couple of small towns nearby Mount Si. Misty Snoqualmie Falls, the lodge above the falls, railroad cars at Snoqualmie, and a restaurant located in North Bend served as props in both shows. Indoor scenes were typically filmed inside a studio elsewhere.
It is a fascinating mountain. What strikes most people about Mount Si is its abrupt rocky face. I especially like photographing it in the late in the afternoon when it is fully illuminated by sunlight. This mountain has many different looks. Mount Si takes on different appearances depending upon angle of sunlight, time of year, and weather. I only began photographing Mount Si this past year or so, even though I have lived close by for more than 20 years, a testament to the abundance of subject matter the Pacific West Coast of America has to offer. Mount Si on Wikipedia. See more mountains!
Pacific Northwest | J R Hudson 