You may find this hard to believe but during World War II an elaborate camouflage was crafted on the roof of Seattle’s Boeing Plant 2, turning the factory’s appearance into a serene suburban landscape. Why? To deceive potential aerial attackers. 

Boeing’s Plant 2 was a pivotal production facility during World War II, primarily responsible for the manufacture of the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress bombers and components. Recognizing its strategic importance, this elaborate camouflage was engineered to cover the entire plant site.   

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with Hollywood set designers, artists and painters, took on the mammoth task of making the vast Boeing factory invisible from the air. The solution they arrived at was remarkable: transform the factory’s 26-acre roof into a serene public landscape. 

This “town” on top of Plant 2 was not just a patchwork of colors and patters; it was a detailed and convincing three-dimensional illusion. Trees, some 300 houses, lawns, roads and even cars were crafted. They weren’t real trees or cars but artistic representations that, when viewed from a height, blended seamlessly with the surrounding terrain. Fake houses, grass and bushes were added to make it look as real as possible. The buildings were constructed of wood; the ground was canvas fabrics and netting; the trees were made of chicken wire, coated in tar and then dipped in chicken feathers. 

The object was to make any enemy pilot question their coordinates or believe they were looking at an innocuous suburb, thereby diverting any potential threats. 

Boeing’s Plant 2 was never directly attacked during the war, allowing it to produce thousands of aircraft that significantly impacted the Allies’ aerial campaigns. Also, the psychological impact on the workers below, knowing that there were measures in place to protect them and their work, was significant. 

In 2010, Boeing decided to close Plant 2. Recognizing its historical significance, Boeing preserved certain artifacts and elements for posterity. 

Source:  PlaneHistoria.com,   “Boeing Plant 2, the Factory Disguised as a Town.”

Ivar Haglund operated his famous restaurant on Seattle’s Pier 54 beginning in 1938. Haglund, born in 1905 of Swedish and Norwegian immigrant parents, was a graduate of the University of Washington in 1928. He did well for himself, buying the Smith Tower in 1976. Ivar died in 1985, leaving no heirs and leaving his estate to the U. of WA School of Business to support their Restaurant Program. 

Who hasn’t enjoyed a bowl of Ivar’s famous clam chowder? Would you like the real recipe? First I want to tell you about the Seattle Channel on YouTube. This free series on YouTube features a series of stories of the history of Seattle, each about 60 minutes long. They’re really interesting and well done.

Here’s the recipe:  2 (6 1/2 oz) cans minced clams;  1 c finely chopped onion;  1 cup finely diced celery;  2 cups finely diced potatoes;  3/4 cup butter;  3/4 cup flour;  4 cups half-and-half, warmed;  1 tsp salt or to taste;  1 dash pepper; 1/2 tsp sugar. 

In saucepan, combine drained clam juice with the vegetables. Add water to cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. In small saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the flour and then slowly whisk in the warmed half-and-half. Whisk and cook until smooth, about five minutes. If you want a thinner chowder, add 1/2 to 3/4 cup water or clam broth. Add the vegetables with their cooking liquid, clams, salt, pepper and sugar to the pan. Stir well and adjust the seasonings if necessary.

My note: This burns easily! Heat very slowly and carefully!!

Does anybody remember Ivar’s famous Super Bowl advertisement? The Running of the Clams?

Tip: Findagrave.com has a nice photo and short bio of him.

How could anybody out walking (in England) come upon this face and not recognize her? Well, according to a cute story I found said it happened in 2005 and I share it with you for your reading pleasure:

Richard Griffin, a former royal protection officer, shared this anecdote about a time when he and Queen Elizabeth met two American hikers who did not recognize her while walking near the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.  The Queen was dressed in typical off-duty attire and was not immediately recognized.

One of the hikers spoke with the Queen, sharing their travel plans. When asked where she lived, the Queen mentioned living in London but having a holiday home “just the other side of the hills.”

Upon learning that she had been visiting the area for over 80 years, the hiker asked if she had ever met the Queen. She responded that she hadn’t, but that “Dick here meets her regularly.” 

The tourist then asked Griffin what the Queen was like and Griffin jokingly described her.

The hiker asked the Queen to take a photo of him with Griffin. After she did, they switched and Griffin took a photo of the tourists with the Queen.

As they parted ways, the Queen reportedly expressed her amusement at the thought of the hikers discovering her identity later.

Can you imagine the hikers’ astonishment when they showed off their photos to friends??

Question of the day: Why do so many Americans have such great interest in British royalty? 

 “Although the famous Yakama chief, Kamiakin (1800-1877) was born near Starbuck, in Columbia County, and lived the largest part of his adult life in the Yakima Valley, he spent his last 17 years in the Palouse. In fact, he is one of Whitman County’s most famous residents, if not THE most famous. Washington schools, streets, parks, a butte and a creek bear his name. Sadly, the desecration of his gravesite near Rock Lake and the theft of his skull are an appalling episode in the final chapter of Kamiakin’s life.” 

So began an article in a 2019 edition of the Bunchgrass Historian, publication of the Whitman County Historical Society in Colfax. The rest of the article, the rest of the story, is a grizzly one.

In the 1870’s, fossil and relic hunters plagued the midwest seeking museum specimens to sell. In 1878, some of these rascals were in Eastern Washington and  learned that Chief Kamiakin had been buried nearby the previous year. One of these men were later quoted as having said, “the old chief’s head would look good in the Smithsonian.” 

“Shortly later, a group of Kamiakin’s relatives discovered that the chief’s grave had been desecrated and that the head and shoulders were missing. His enraged family reburied his remains in a secret location, reportedly on the other side of Rock Lake.”

“For 70 years the culprits’ identities were unknown. In 1948 a son of one of those culprits came forward with details of the crime. Under cover of darkness, the men had ……. unearthed Kamiakin’s body. One then removed the head and placed  it in a burlap sack, saying that he needed to ‘make certain measurements.’ It was never seen again, at least not by anyone willing to disclose its whereabouts.”

“In all probability, the skull of Chief Kamiakin will never be found. Meanwhile, the theft of his skull and the desecration of his grave continue to provoke justifiable outrage, particularly among Kamiakin’s descendants and among members of the Colville and Yakama Confederated Tribes.” 

How did this story make you feel? 

I’d be willing to bet that I’m not the only one who loves poking around old abandoned homesites, barns and even thrift shops looking for “treasurers.” I say that in quotes because we are looking for interesting things, not necessarily valuable things. How many of you are with me here?

Recently I found a jar just like this one. Embossed on the bottom were these words:  H.J. Heinz Co. 381. WELL! Knowing Grandma Google can find most anything, I asked her about this jar……and here’s what I learned.

“Vintage H.J. Heinz Co. glass jars, often embossed with identification numbers on the base like 305, 381, or others, are collectible condiment containers from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. These jars typically held relish, mustard or pickles, featuring early clear glass to showcase product quality.”

That’s late 1800s to mid-1900s, so perhaps I have a very old jar! What am I going to do with it? Fill it will marbles and set it on a shelf to be admired. 

My point with this post is this: when you’re poking around old abandoned homesites, barns, thrift stores and even boxes of “old family things” in your basement or garage, don’t just toss some rather plebian items (like a pickle jar) for it just might have been held by your ancestors’ hands. 

Depending on where you live, you may or may not have been able to attend the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar on April 4th, but here are some tips you can still use.

While EWGS furnished to registrants two 4-page handouts from American Ancestors on Researching Patriot Roots and Researching Loyalist Roots, these are/were FREE handouts from the americanancestors.com website for free. (As of March 2026 they were.)

The aim of the day was to discover the stories of our Patriot ancestors in the American Revolution….those who fought for independence, freedom and unity. We learned the remarkable stories of Loyalists …… ancestors who upheld allegiance to the Crown amid turmoil and change. These handouts, offered by American Ancestors (formerly The New England Historic Genealogical Society), will be your printed roadmap to success.

Today’s Priceless Tip:  Click to www.revolutionaryroots.AmericanAncestors.org. There you will find a long list of free handouts for researching the various aspects of research in this period of history.