Gleanings From
In Christian Fellowship
By Shirley Lindahl
Edited by Jerry Rutherford
Christmas Program Listed in 1925 East Side Journal
A new music teacher came to the high school in 1925 and soon formed a community chorus. Many church members participated in the cantata put on by the chorus. Florence Polson, the teacher, stayed on in Kirkland and became Mrs. Elton Gildow. She served as choir director and organist for the church for many years. She also served as music director and assisted Esther Tye in the mid-40's as choir director/organist. Florence later served when Esther left to become Mrs. Leighton Smith. Florence then resumed her choir directing in 1952 for several more years. Many recognize Florence and Esther as having set the high standards for music that we have always maintained in our church.
The children's Christmas program of the Community Church made the front page of the East Side Journal in 1925. Santa was quoted as saying; "I am too busy to stop and talk to any of the kiddies on Christmas Eve so I will say hello to all of them at the church the evening before." A pageant, "The Pathway of the Star" was under the direction of Mrs. Charles Wilcox, and Mrs. H. B. Crow. Speaking parts were done by Frances Turner, Marion Todd, Erma Reese, Lillian Robinson and Dorothy Viehmann.
Other stories in the East Side Journal stated that gifts advertised were an 89 cent ivory manicure set or a $660 Ford Fordor Sedan. Most of the men on the church board conducted a fund drive for the needy to provide food.
The top news story was the announcement that Seattle's Madison Street hill was to get a new road with an easier grade. This was welcome news for ferry riders from Kirkland for they would no longer have to back their Ford cars up that hill. Ferry traffic was expected to increase as this was the shortest route to the center of Seattle.
Dinner was 35 cents a plate or four plates for $1.00 at the annual meeting in 1926. The occasion was a special event for the ladies for it was the first time they cooked at the church on an electric stove. It had cost the Ladies Aid $156.25 plus $6.10 for the current and $18.32 to have it installed. But the many years of frustration with the old wood stove that had to have the oven door propped shut were now at an end. "No longer would the women have to go out with a lantern to get more wood" for the church suppers to be prepared!!!
The Sunday School Christmas program was always of wide community interest and in 1926 Clarence Halvorson, owner of the Rexall Drug Store, gave a pail of hard candy for the children.
The executive board meetings for the church had been held in the offices of Burke and Farrar until 1927 when the site was changed to the realty office of Collins and Harlow. The letterhead of the two church members read "Poultry, Dairy Ranches, Water Front, City Property. We handle Exchanges and General Insurance."
Other church members in business at that time were the owners of the First National Bank of Kirkland, Clayton Shinstrom, O. S. Penney, J. P. Wester, F. M. & F. W. Roberts. Charlie Younger started a candy business making the Younger Mints.
A new road to Redmond opened that year replacing the State Aid Road (N.E. 70th St). It was further north (N. E. 85th/Redmond Way) and now is known at Highway 908.
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