Enumclaw Historical Society Honors Local Family

The spotlight shone on the Ulman family of Enumclaw Saturday night during the Enumclaw Plateau Historical Society's annual History Awards Dinner and Dessert Auction at the Masonic Hall.

About 30 people took part in honoring Jane Jones, Julia Level, Janet Ulman and their brother John, who was not in attendance -- the four are the grandchildren of Dr. Frederick and Elsa Ulman who first moved to Enumclaw in 1909.

Ron Tyler, present of the Historical Society presented the sisters with awards recognizing their contributions of family memorabilia, artifacts and more to the . Among some of the items on display Saturday were Dr. Ulman's World War I uniform, children's shoes, a yell book from Enumclaw High School and an antique doll and doll bed. 

All of the contributions help to paint a vivid picture of what life was like in Enumclaw in the early 20th century. "For this, the museum is most grateful for their kindness," said Tyler.

Dr. Ulman and his wife lived in a home they built that was right across the street from where the current Historical Museum is located in town, sister Jane Jones said. Though a fire damaged the structure in 1927, from then until present day, only two families have lived at that property, she said.

"My grandparents saved everything," Jones said. "Everything was so well cared for but they were just sitting in trunks stored away. We thought it would be better if everyone could have the chance to see some of these things."

Jones' father, John W. Ulman, had passed away in 2008 but had already begun to donated family items to the museum, she said. After he died, "we kept finding more and more things," she said.

The family started to share some of the children's shoes, and the donations continued since then, she said.

The evening's festivities continued with a magic show, courtesy of magician Rick Swaney who delighted the crowd with both illusion and humor; and the night was capped off by a rousing dessert auction in which 21 desserts donated by attendees were auctioned off -- all proceeds going to help pay for operational costs at the museum.

In all, the auction netted more than $300 to that end.

Tyler also took the opportunity to recognize and thank the members of the Historical Society's Board of Directors:

• Vice President Patty Shepard
• Recording Secretary Sue Smith
• Treasurer Robert Stygar
• Lawton Case
• Peter Malsch
• Nollen Smith
• David Strous
• Daryl McCauley

The Board next meets on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Museum. The Historical Society also hosts a general meeting next on Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. where there will be a presentation on North American and Northwestern native artifacts. Both meetings are open to the public.