Newcastle, WA

Just east of Seattle, across Lake Washington, nestled in the hills next to Cougar Mountain, south of Bellevue, west of Issaquah, and north of Renton, is the small City of Newcastle, Washington. It’s truly a beautiful area and one of my favorite neighborhoods.

Newcastle incorporated in 1994, but its history goes back 140 years. In the 1870’s it was a thriving coal mining community and soon boasted a population larger than Seattle for a time. My family has roots here.

My grandparents were immigrants. My grandfather George Fabre arrived here in 1912 from France, and Pauline Longville, my grandmother came with her widowed mother and brother Emile from Belgium in 1906. They met in Black Diamond, another coal town about 30 miles due south in the newly formed King County.

One of my favorite family stories about George and Pauline was how they met. Great Grandmother Celine Boulanger (Longville) came to Black Diamond and setup a boarding house for the miners. Celine, true to her namesake was also a fabulous baker. She built a huge adobe oven and became a local legend, known for her baked breads and pastries. Pauline helped her mom run the place (and I can testify to the fact that she too, was an absolutely fantastic cook and baker in her own right). Besides being very attractive, I have no doubt why George fell for Pauline!

As newly weds they moved to Newcastle and lived in the company owned town. My Uncle George was born there in 1919 and later my dad in 1921, in the company owned town. I confess that my knowledge of our family history is somewhat weak. My Grandparents I think wanted to forget the hard life of coal mining and never talked about it, so I don’t know very much about this time.

	The data used in this report is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Ticor Title cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. © 2004-2009 Ticor Title Renton WA 98057

I got on Ancestory.com and found the 1920 census. There you’ll find George Sr., Pauline, and George Jr. Dad wasn’t there yet, but there are a lot of relatives and names of people I knew growing up; the Baima’s, Delauranti’s, Thirion’s, Rubattino’s, and the Banchero’s to name a few.

I also found the 1930 census and the Fabre’s and family have all moved to Renton. I thought it was interesting that all the relatives and almost all of the neighbors had stayed so close together through the years and the whole clan in Newcastle picked up and moved to Renton, many of them within the same neighborhood. My Grandpa George became a contractor, and so did my Grandmothers older brother Emil (whom we always knew as Nono). Both of them, as independents, built an amazing number of nice homes in Renton through the 1930’s and 1940’s.

	The data used in this report is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Ticor Title cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. © 2004-2009 Ticor Title Renton WA 98057

Newcastle has grown, like most rural areas around here with a close proximity to Seattle. Yet it still maintains a rural flavor with a population of about 10,000 residents. Because of the Cougar Mountain Reserve, several huge ravines, a few rural corridors, trail parks, and a lot of hills, much of it still seems (almost) like the country I remember as a kid.

Some of the areas most stunning views are looking west over Lake Washington and Mercer Island right into downtown Seattle with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop. You won’t find any humble immigrant coal miner’s anymore. Newcastle, especially the east half in zip code 98059 is now mostly very high end homes, with a lot of very well to doers in residence.

more about... René Fabre ... Ticor Title

René is the VP/IT Marketing Director for Ticor Title ~ Region 2 (Pacific Northwest). As creative director and implementer of marketing programs and web strategies he frequently gives a series of popular workshops for real estate professionals that include: Enhancing your Internet Presence, Lead Generation, Find A Buyer (how will they find you?), and Internet Marketing 101.

Posted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, Regional - West, News & Media, Local Events Calendar, Regional News, Newcastle

A resident and business favorite, Newcastle Days is a celebration of the culture and spirit of our community. Entering its 14th year, the festival continues to grow into a showcase of art, service, community and business. Newcastle Days is a living experience of the treasures to be found right under your nose. Admission is FREE! Sponsorship opportunites are still available! Contact Jules Maas at julesm@ci.newcastle.wa.us, or visit the City's Website at http://www.ci.newcastle.wa.us/ch_cds_pw_petr_se_newcastledays.asp for more information.

David Edwards
REALTOR
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 425-890-8045
Fax: 425-902-1899
E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com
Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com
Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp
Mobile Site: http://davidjedwards.mofuse.mobi
Community Reports: http://www.topmarketer.net/CSR/CSReport.aspx?CV4GU5KAYOEF

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers.

Newcastle City Hall
6:00 - 8:00 PM
September 15th, 2008

Join us for Newcastle's Sports Park Facility at our third Open House. Come see the preferred site design alternative and provide input towards the development.

Ed MacLeod, Landscape Architect of MacLeod Reckord will be present to give a brief presentation pertaining to the details of the preferred alternative.

For additional information contact Michael Holly, Parks Program Manager at 425-649-4444 X 142 or e-mail michaelh@ci.newcastle.wa.us

David Edwards
REALTOR
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 425-890-8045
Fax: 425-902-1899
E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com
Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com
Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp
Mobile Site: http://davidjedwards.mofuse.mobi
Community Reports: http://www.topmarketer.net/CSR/CSReport.aspx?CV4GU5KAYOEF

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers.

As summer approaches I prepare for the sound of music! My home is fairly close to Lake Boren Park, and each year I get to sit in the back yard and enjoy the sound of live music. Every summer is interesting here in Newcastle's Olympus neighborhood; from the community garage sale, moonlight movie nights, to the Arts & Crafts show.

The 23-acre Lake Boren Park at the base of Olympus is a major asset to the neighborhood and a gathering place for many Newcastle residents. With a large play area, sand volleyball court, tennis courts, walking trails and a fishing dock, it's a very popular destination. The homeowners association, which meets monthly, hosts an annual neighborhood garage sale and Easter egg hunt.

"The upscale Olympus neighborhood in Newcastle lives up to the grandeur its name implies, with sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, Lake Washington and Mount Rainier, along with well-kept yards and homes," writes Jolene Gensheimer in a special to The Seattle Times Real Estate section on Sunday, October 14th, 2007.

Olympus is served by two school districts: Issaquah and Renton. Both elementary schools have new buildings, with Issaquah's Newcastle Elementary, which opened in 2004, and Renton's Hazelwood Elementary, which opened in 2005. The neighborhood also has wide streets, making it a good place for walkers and bicyclists, as well as walking trails and a large greenbelt.

The well-maintained yards and homes are a trademark of Olympus and are enforced by neighborhood covenants. For example, residents need to submit a paint sample before painting their home, and there are codes requiring residents to keep their yards maintained (believe me, I've been warned before)!

Olympus is also a short walk from the Coal Creek Park Trails; the park trails serve the city as a refuge from the urban sprawl with a trail through a narrow creek ravine leading to two waterfalls and several excellent historical sites. The trail through Coal Creek Park is one of the most fascinating hikes anywhere around Puget Sound.

It features several waterfalls, a small canyon, and an environment typical of the Cascade foothills, the park stretches the boundary between the suburbs of Bellevue and the natural areas of the Issaquah Alps, a green belt pointing from the foot of Cougar Mountain through the rows of houses along Lake Washington's eastern shore.

What makes Coal Creek Park so unique is that in the late 1800s, when forest still reached all the way to the shores of Elliot Bay and today's Eastside was mostly untracked wilderness, the park was the site of the Newcastle coal mine. As you hike the trail, you may get glimps's of remaining vestiges of the mining days, clues to the story of Newcastle coal; hence the name Coal Creek.

So anyone in need of a special place to spend a hot summer day, pack the family into the car and head to Newcastle and visit our park, our trails, and maybe even grab a round of golf at the club. The music is great each Wednesday in June through August, and the BBQ pits are going full blast. We hope to see you there, tell them Mike sent you!

Event Calendar 2008

Concerts in the Park Wednesdays, June 25 - August 20

4th of July at Lake Boren Park Friday, July 4

Moonlight Movies Fridays, August 8, 15 & 22

Newcastle Days Saturday & Sunday, September 6 & 7

Volunteers Needed for Ivy Removal in Newcastle

Posted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, Regional - West, Local Events Calendar, Regional News, Washington

Location: Newcastle Historical Cemetery

When:

Saturday, February 16th 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Sunday, February 17th. 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.

"Weed Warriors" of Newcastle is a new volunteer group forming to assist the City of Newcastle in removing weeds of concern, like ivy, or other invasive species that degrade our public areas.

The cemetery is located northeast of Lake Boren Park. Parking is available at the park within a short walking distance via the access road found at the northeast corner of the park. Limited parking is available on 129th Ave. N.E. at the cemetery site.

Light work includes clipping the vines from the trees. More strenuous work, for those willing, includes root removal. The city of Newcastle will provide some of the tools, like clippers and tarps, and handle the disposal of the vines.

Please bring your own gloves and dress for the weather.

For more information, contact:
Peggy E. Price
Secretary/Treasurer
Newcastle Trails
PeggyP@NewcastleTrails.org
(425) 829-2196