Category Archives: Let’s Talk About

Let’s Talk About: The State of Lincoln?

by Donna Phillips

We in Eastern Washington were almost in the state of Lincoln. A Spokane proposal in 1907 called for a new state, Lincoln, to be created from eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and Northern Idaho. Are we sad or glad this apparently never happened???

The good folks of Eastern Oregon were frustrated with being coupled with Portland. The citizens of north Idaho felt they had nothing in common with their capitol, Boise, or the entire southern half of the state. And many of those in Eastern Washington know themselves to be Republicans but Washington always seems to fall to the Democrats in elections due to the “Cascade Divide” of our state. 

How come this didn’t happen nor likely never will? Wikipedia gives the answer: “Multiple senators at the time objected to naming a territory after a single man, acknowledging Washington Territory (named in 1853 for George Washington) as the sole exception.” 

Put this factoid in your trivia folder for when you get invited to be a contestant on Jeopardy. 

Let’s Talk About: Butchart Gardens

by Donna Phillips

In early June, when I was house/dog sitting for my kiddos in Port Angeles, I took the Coho ferry across the Strait to Victoria and then the shuttle bus to the world famous Butchart Gardens. (Took advantage of a package offered by the Blackball Ferry; was about $100 for the ferry both ways, shuttle both ways and garden admission.) Been there? You must plan to go……. especially if you’re a fan of gardens and flowers.

Butchart Gardens covers more than 55 acres of the large estate of Jennie and Robert Butchart. It was Jennie’s genius to convert a worked-out limestone quarry into the Sunken Garden we go to see today. By the 1920s, more than 50,000 people visited each year. Today the gardens boast over 265,000 annuals of 900 varieties, 280 different roses, 40 different geraniums, 100 varieties of dahlias and 191 different tulips! As I wandered the paths, there was not a weed in sight, nor a dead leaf. The garden is super well tended. 

The information center offers the garden guide in 25 different languages! That was impressive, I thought. And a Q&A booth which told me that the Blue Poppy would likely not be happy in Spokane. 

My favorite flower, and what Butchart is famous for, is the Himalayan Blue Poppy. The gift shop sells seeds for the adventurous.

Let’s Talk About: 1917 Cooking Lessons

by Donna Phillips


EWGS member Richard Sola is, for many of us, Mr. Spokane History. His encyclopedic knowledge of everything and everybody in the 1910 period is amazing….. and just as amazing, he eagerly shares his knowledge in an animated style.

I was recently on the Southside Community Center’s tour bus with Richard to learn more about the “movers and shakers” of Spokane in 1910. Scribbled way too many notes to include here but this one tidbit might interest you. One stop that day was at the Spokane’s Women’s Club. The prominent women of Spokane (think May Arkwright Hutton) founded the club in 1907. In 1910 the current building became headquarters to address the needs of Spokane’s women by providing education, schools, child care and cooking classes. And the organization thrived! Collectively these women helped forge national policy (1910 women’s suffrage!)

In the downstairs of the club building sits a real antique. In 1917, a local business donated this stove to the club in order to teach cooking to women………. “how to cook with rationed food and food restrictions during the World War I years,” Richard quipped. . 

Let’s Talk About: Unusual Collections

by Donna Phillips

Tony Birch and his late wife, Janette, were the EWGS meeting greeters when the group met at the Central Library downtown. Cindy Hval, The Spokesman columnist, did a story on 5 June 2025 about Tony and his unusual collection of once-candy-filled-glass-toys.

A favorite gift in the late 1800s, glass containers filled with candy were a favorite for decades. In the 1950s, glass was replaced by plastic. Tony and Janette would haunt garage sales for these treasures and amassed quite a diverse collection:

Quoting from Hval’s story: “I think the trains are my favorites,” Birch said. “My father gave me my first one when I was about six,” he recalled. “The best part is after the candy is eaten, you still have a toy,” Tony shared. 
Thanks, Tony, for sharing your story!


What about YOUR ancestors’ hobbies? What did they collect? What do you collect (and treasure) that you hope one of your kiddos will want and love? 

Let’s Talk About: Clallam County Genealogical Society

by Donna Phillips

The Clallam County Genealogical Society is really looking up! I visited their huge collection in May when I was in Port Angeles house/dog sitting for my kiddos.

A good part of the reasons why interest and membership is up are these:

·         They applied and got a grant for 7 brand new computer stations and 3 laptops.

·         A generous member donated a much-needed new roof.

·         Their library is a FamilySearch affiliate; in the library you can freely use Ancestry, FindMyPast, GenealogyBank, Newspaper.com, Fold3 and American Ancestors.

·         New members are stepping up to accept Board positions.

·         The society offers regular classes and great workshops.

·         They do have a Facebook page too.

Ginny (Virginia) Majewski is once again the president but no surprise; she’s such a mover and shaker in the group that they keep reelecting her.

The coolest big news from the group is that their building (which has lots of space for the library and meeting rooms) is getting an update. Port Angeles is known for its murals on buildings and the Board received another gift to paint a mural on their building! (Used to be the State Patrol office and was a rather dull-looking squatty building.) Won’t this be fantastic! There are easily 100 reasons to visit PA and the Olympic Peninsula but for genealogists, a visit to this library is a must!

Bible Rescue

by Charles Hansen

My name is Joseph Kerry and I’m reaching out on behalf of Bible Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing family Bibles—Bibles that contain handwritten genealogical records, personal notes, or family history.

These Bibles are more than religious texts—they are irreplaceable historical artifacts that tell the story of generations. Unfortunately, many are lost through estate sales, discarded in downsizing, or left in storage. Our mission is to recover these Bibles, preserve the records inside, and reconnect them with living descendants or provide them with a new, respectful home.

We’re currently inviting organizations like yours to partner with us in this effort. If you come across family Bibles—or if your members have any they’d like to donate—we would be honored to receive them. We can often reimburse shipping costs (especially via USPS Media Mail), and we make every effort to preserve both the physical book and the stories within. We will also let you know when the family Bible has found a new home.

You can learn more about us and search our growing online database at biblerescue.org

Please feel free to share this opportunity with your members, staff, or community. If you have any questions please let me know.

Thank you for the important work you do in preserving history. We’d love to partner with you to ensure that these family treasures are not lost to time.

Warm regards,
Joseph Kerry
Bible Rescue
M 610.329.1244
E   joe@biblerescue.org
W biblerescue.org

Let’s Talk About: Flower Symbolism

by Donna Phillips

Since time immemorial, flower symbolism has been used to private correspondence and expressing unspoken feelings. People became especially fascinated by flower symbolism during the Victorian Era and books explaining “flower language” were nearly as common as the Bible in Victorian homes. Here are some common meanings of flowers:

        Daisy – new beginnings

        Sunflower – adoration, loyalty

        Iris – faith, trust, wisdom, hope

        Zinnia – thoughts of absent friends

        Rose – joy, happiness, love

        Poppy – remembrance of fallen soldiers

How about our Washington lilac?

For a complete list, go to Wikipedia, “list of plants with symbolism.” 

Let’s Talk About: 4th of July Trivia

by Donna Phillips

Were you awake in your high school history class? How much do you know about the celebratory founding day of our country?? Test your memory:

1. Where was the first celebration of Independence Day held?

2. Every Independence Day, how many times does the Liberty Bell ring?

3. What was the U.S. population on July 4th, 1776?

4. The 4th of July commemorates which document?

5. What is the proper way to fold the American flag?

6. Which American president was born on July 4th?

7. Which U.S. president was the first to host a 4th of July celebration at the White House?

8. How many stars and stripes does the U.S. flag have?

9. How many men signed the Declaration of Independence?

10. What food is most commonly consumed on the 4th of July?

11. What is the name of our national anthem?

12. Who gave the Statue of Liberty to the U.S.?

1. Philadephia, 1777

2. 13 times

3. 2.5 million people

4. The Declaration of Independence

5. In a triangular shape with specific ritual and etiquette.

6. Calvin Coolidge, born on July 4, 1872

7. Thomas Jefferson in 1801.

8. 50 stars and 13 stripes (and what do they represent??) 

9. 56

10. Hot dogs!

11. The Star-Spangled Banner

12. The people of France. 

Let’s Talk About: American Ice Cream!

by Donna Phillips

What’s more American than ice cream?? “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” right?

According to an article in The Saturday Evening Post, July-August 2024, “… at any given moment, 87% of Americans have a tub of ice cream in the freezers, pushing the value of the U.S. ice cream market alone to more than $19 billion in 2024. 

Ice cream was what most people ate on Independence Day almost since the very first one; it forms the sweet, sticky bedrock of our childhood nostalgia. (What is YOUR favorite flavor???) 

According to Google ice cream ingredients typical include mild, cream, sugar and flavorings. Some recipes include eggs. Thomas Jefferson was the first U.S. president to serve ice cream to his guests. Here is his original, handwritten, recipe and transcription:

Let’s Talk About: Surprising Military Facts

by Donna Phillips

(SSBN-617 Alexander Hamilton; on which my husband served during Cold War)Surely somebody in your family, or yourself, served America in a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The scope and power of this group is truly fascinating. Consider:

1. The scope of our military is spread between six branches (Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard) and employs nearly 3,000,000 people with an annual budget of $700 billion. (All of this to keep you and me safe in our beds; do not forget.)


2. The Army is older than the country itself. George Washington led the first Continental Army in June of 1775.
3. The Department of Defense is the world’s biggest employer with about 2.91 million employees; the Army with its branches is the biggest employer.
4. The Department of Defense owns over 30,000,000 acres of land (bases, testing, training).
5. The Army is responsible for mapping the entire United States. The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery were an army unit and traveled 4900 miles over two years, mapping the way.
6. There have been only five 5-Star generals; the rank didn’t exist until 1944. It was retired in 1981 when Omar Bradley, the final recipient, died.
7. The Air Force used to be part of the Army. The U.S. Army Air Corps, formed in 1907, remained such for forty years until WWII and the need for an independent force was needed.
8. The Army is responsible for creating Ray-Ban sunglasses. In order to help Air Force pilots block the sun’s rays to reduce nausea and headaches while flying, Lt. General John MacCready asked Bausch & Lomb to create special glasses for them to wear.
9. The military used submarines as early as the Revolutionary War. Most people think of submarines as fairly modern inventions; however, the world’s first use of a submarine in warfare took place in 1776 when the American vessel The Turtle attempted to attach a time bomb to the bottom of the British ship Eagle in New York harbor. It was hand powered with only one person aboard; unfortunately the mission failed and the bomb blew up far away from its intended target.