You will visit 5 (or more if you want, see below) building sites, each marked with a 12 by 24 inch black granite marker. The route is about 2.5-3 miles long, but there is easy parking at each stop. At each marker you will gather numbers to use for the final.
First stop (listed co-ords)
This school was the first school building in King County. The school was located at the base of Earlington Hill on Christian Clymer's Homestead. The school was a small shack, 14 by 16 feet, built of rough lumber and cedar shakes. It stood a short distance west of the Black River. A crude mud and stone fireplace at one end of the building provided heat and rough board desks served the few children. Mats of cattails, made by the Indians, lined the walls to help keep out the wind. To attend school, some children had to cross the river via the fish traps set by the Indians or by using a rowboat pulled back and forth on a cable.
The year the school opened: xAxB
Second stop N 47° 28.611 W 122° 12.805
One of Renton’s original homesteaders, Erasmus Smithers, gave a portion of his property to the Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad with the stipulation that the railroad would construct a tunnel to allow his dairy cows to get from one area of his farm to the other. Unsure of the size needed for the tunnel, he instructed the railroad company to make the tunnel [number] cows wide.
The date the tunnel was constructed: xxxC
Half again as many cows wide: D
As the marker was removed during construction of the new bridge, and not replaced, here's new ways to get the numbers:
C = Clearance feet minus 1
D = Speed plus 1
Third stop N 47° 28.603 W 122° 12.266
By the 1890s, the school population had outgrown the one-room school built in 1871 (No, this isn’t the answer to the first stop) on the NE corner of South 4th and Main Street. An elegant two-story, seven-room building with a concrete foundation and a bell tower was built on 5th Avenue between Wells Avenue and Main Street. Many citizens thought the school was far too large and would never be used. Despite their predictions, 110 students attended the first year. The school's first principal was George Conklin whose salary in 1899 was $80 a month. He taught the school's first high school classes, and the first high school class graduated in 1904.
The date the school was built: xxxE
The marker number: Fx
Fourth stop N 47° 28.961 W 122° 12.068
Neva Bostwick moved to the Earlington neighborhood of Renton soon after it was platted in 1906. She was a serious student who had made extensive use of the Seattle Library. After moving to Renton, she discovered the town only had a small lending library. Residents did not think it was possible to build a library in a small coal mining town of fewer than 4,000 people. Miss Bostwick, however, wrote to the Carnegie Foundation for information, found out how to get a grant, and received the necessary forms. A committee of interested citizens was formed and, after much research and consultation, a $10,000 grant was received. The Carnegie Library was built on land donated by Rafael Sartori near the existing downtown library built in 1966.
Date library was built: xxGx
The marker number: xH
Fifth stop N 47° 28.771 W 122° 12.149
Reverend George Whitworth was called the father of Presbyterianism in Washington. He founded at least 20 churches, including Renton's first. The First Presbyterian Church was organized in the home of David Parker on December 13, xxxx. Churchgoers later built the original church structure, a white frame building with a steeple and bell that overlooked the town. As the city grew and the building became inadequate, a brick church was built in 1924, and an even larger church was constructed in 1960.
Year church started: xxxI
Number of words in marker title (everything above the date) = J
Final Cache
47 EA.DIH
122 FG.CBJ
The approach to the final can be muddy & wet. Pick your path carefully and you can avoid any real problems.* Cache is a medium size Lock and Lock. No need to move anything but leaves.
* So many seem to pick wrong, here's some more help: Stay on the flat until you're 2-300' from the final. From the fence corner aim pretty straight towards the final. During the wet season (some claim that's from July to June) there is a small stream and a pond forms. Stay right of the pond and up a short bank to the flat where the cache is.
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Here are some other markers in the tour related to buildings. None are very far from the route, but were too close to other caches to be used. Listed by year.
Black River Bridge N47 28.781 W122 13.036
The Black River Bridge was built in 1860 to improve the postal route. It was also used by cattlemen east of the mountains to drive their herds to slaughterhouses in Seattle, and it eliminated the need for ferries across the river. The original bridge has been gone for a long time; however, the existing Black River Bridge, just north of West 7th on SW Monster Road, spans what remains of the original Black River.
Alki Saloon N47 28.781 W122 12.260
Built in 1881, the Alki Saloon was typical of the saloons in early Renton. Generally saloons were the domain of working men who worked all week at mines, mills, and logging camps. On Saturday nights they would head to town for fun at the saloon.
Renton City Hall N47 28.825 W122 12.336
Renton was incorporated as a fourth class town on September 6, 1901. Renton's first Mayor was Dr. Abijah Ives Beach. The first town offices were opened in Tonkin's merchandise and grocery store, and remained there until the town purchased property on Wells Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets in 1908. City government functioned there for 50 years until all city offices, including the police department, were moved in 1968 to the building next to the Renton Public Library on Mill Avenue adjacent to the Cedar River. In 2000 City Hall moved to its present location at 1055 South Grady Way.
Doctor Bronson’s Hospital N47 28.871 W122 12.243
Dr. Adolph Bronson graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in San Francisco, California, in 1904. After working for a year as an intern, he came to Renton in 1905. Accidents in coal mines and logging camps were common at the time and his practice grew rapidly. By 1911 he needed more room and had a two-story hospital building constructed. Dr. Bronson's Hospital originally had 15 rooms and an operating room. It was enlarged to include a larger waiting room and a brick front in 1927. Dr. Bronson practiced for 30 years and owned the only General Hospital until the government-sponsored Renton General Hospital opened in 1943.
Grand Theatre N47 28.825 W122 12.316
The property on which the Grand Theatre was built was purchased by Frank Connelly. The theatre opened in 1916. Frank's wife, Marie, got the show underway promptly at 7:00 p.m. every Saturday night. She would walk down the aisle clothed in a silk dress and a fur coat, smile and wave to her friends, and began to play the piano until the main event started. In the years between 1916 and 1925, all the popular movies of the era were shown at the Grand.
Rutherford’s Triple XXX Barrel N47 28.808 W122 13.045
The Renton Triple XXX was the first drive-in on the West Coast and its popularity soon spread throughout the region. Archie Rutherford and his two sons, Joel and Jerry, expanded the Renton Triple XXX success into a chain of restaurants throughout the Pacific Northwest. In the 1930's and 40's, the Triple XXX was "the" place to be in the area for many of the teens with cars. Hamburgers and fries were also available with the special root beer that was produced at the A. H. Rutherford and Sons Triple XXX plant. Root beer was 10 cents and a baby mug was free. Three generations of the Rutherford family worked at The Triple XXX drive-in. The remaining Triple XXX in Issaquah is designated as a historical landmark.
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