Newcastle railroads — Here yesterday, gone today
September 30, 2015
NEW — 3:05 p.m. Sept. 30, 2015
There is not a single foot of railroad track in Newcastle today, but the railroads played a big part in the development of the coal fields and eventually the city.
Parts of Coal Creek Parkway, the May Creek Trail, Coal Creek Park, Southeast 60th Street and 112th Avenue Southeast are on top of original track beds.
Transporting the coal from the mines to the port in Seattle was a daunting task when production began in 1863. At first, the coal was moved via tramways, wagons, canoes and barges to docks at King and Pike streets, where it was loaded onto ships bound for San Francisco and, later, to Hawaii and Australia.
Coal Miners Cemetery — Part 3
August 12, 2015
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 12, 2015
This is the third history feature installment about the historic Coal Miner’s Cemetery, on 129th Avenue Southeast, south of the Newcastle Library.
Every cemetery has many stories to tell. Some are sad, some are heartwarming and some help us remember how we have grown as a people.
At the time of the first burial in 1878, it was unheard of for whites and blacks to be buried in the same cemetery. Chinese would also be excluded. The Newcastle Miner’s Cemetery has both ethnic groups, though there is a distinction.
Groundbreaking times two
August 7, 2015
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 7, 2015
Aegis Gardens, Atlas bring one-of-a-kind communities
History is one of Newcastle’s greatest assets.
The Eastside suburb’s story dates back more than 150 years, when it was the second largest town in King County. During that time, coal was king, and Newcastle had plenty of it.
By Greg Farrar
Breaking ground on Aegis Gardens July 30 are (from left) Newcastle Mayor Steve Buri; Aegis Living founder and CEO Dwayne Clark; former U.S. ambassador to China, Washington state governor and King County Executive Gary Locke; and current King County Executive Dow Constantine.
That history was at the forefront of attendees’ minds July 30, when nearly 300 people gathered in Newcastle to celebrate the groundbreaking of a unique Aegis Living retirement community. Read more
Aegis breaks ground on region’s only Chinese-focused retirement community
July 30, 2015
NEW — 9:12 p.m. July 30, 2015
History is one of Newcastle’s greatest assets.
The Eastside suburb’s story dates back more than 150 years, when it was the second largest town in King County. During that time, coal was king, and Newcastle had plenty of it.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Newcastle Mayor Steve Buri, Aegis Living founder Dwayne Clark, former Gov. Gary Locke and King County Executive Dow Constantine break ground on Aegis Gardens, the region’s first senior living community built for Chinese-American retirees.
That history was at the forefront of attendees’ minds July 30, when nearly 300 people gathered in Newcastle to celebrate the groundbreaking of a unique Aegis Living retirement community. Read more
Coal Miners Cemetery — Part 1
June 4, 2015
Did you know there is a cemetery in the city of Newcastle?
File
Newcastle’s Historic Coal Miners Cemetery was established in 1878.
Hazen’s Graham Manson takes second at 5K
April 30, 2015
Contributed
Newcastle resident Graham Manson runs at a recent Hazen High School track meet.
Newcastle runner Graham Manson posted a career finish at the Mercer Island 5K on March 22.
Manson, a 16-year-old Hazen High School junior, earned second place overall. He outran 833 competitors and was first in his age group, finishing the race in 18 minutes, 57 seconds. Read more
The origins of the China Creek name
April 2, 2015
Within Newcastle we have the China Creek and China Falls neighborhoods, China Creek Golf Course, and of course, China Creek itself. Did you ever wonder how those names came to be?
When the original mining town of Old Newcastle was established in 1863, the primary source of drinking water was a little creek to the south that began up on Cougar Mountain and emptied into what is now Lake Boren.
It was normally a gentle flow of water, but during heavy rains the creek would overflow and created a large flood plain to the north of the current lake. The lake was bigger and deeper than it is today, and also was swampy on the Eastside.
Chinese workers came into the area in the early 1870s, primarily to work on the railroads, but some came to Newcastle and worked for the mining company. Read more
Newcastle receives $255,000 Lake Boren grant
October 3, 2014
The city of Newcastle received a $255,000 King County Flood Control District grant that will help ease flooding at Lake Boren.
The district’s executive committee recommended Aug. 18 that Newcastle receive a portion of $2.6 million in grants available from a newly created program aimed at reducing the impact of local flooding. That recommendation was approved Sept. 29.
“This grant funding will allow the city of Newcastle to address longstanding flooding issues dating back prior to the city’s incorporation,” Reagan Dunn, King County Councilman representing Newcastle and chairman of the King County Flood Control District, said in a news release.
The city of Newcastle’s Lake Boren flooding mitigation project will receive $255,000 to improve the outlet channel by clearing and removing any overflow blockages at Boren Creek. Read more
Newcastle in line for Lake Boren grant
August 29, 2014
The city of Newcastle is in line to receive a $225,000 King County Flood Control District grant that will help ease flooding at Lake Boren.
The district’s executive committee recommended Aug. 18 that Newcastle receive a portion of $2.6 million in grants available from a newly created program aimed at reducing the impact of local flooding.
“This grant funding will allow the city of Newcastle to address longstanding flooding issues dating back prior to the city’s incorporation,” Reagan Dunn, King County Councilman representing Newcastle and chairman of the King County Flood Control District, said in a news release.
The city of Newcastle’s Lake Boren flooding mitigation project will receive $255,000 to improve the outlet channel by clearing and removing any overflow blockages at Boren Creek. Read more
Newcastle Trails hosts work party
July 2, 2014
The Newcastle Trails organization will host a work party July 26 to continue construction on the city’s CrossTown Trail.
The trail will connect Coal Creek Parkway across from Lake Boren to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. The group is essentially building the trail from scratch, so work will include clearing, culling the soil of organics and contouring the trail bed.
