Mukilteo celebrates its lighthouse
Published 11:16 pm Thursday, September 6, 2007
MUKILTEO — George and Opal McConnell weren’t born in Mukilteo, but they sure felt like pioneers.
George spent time as a volunteer firefighter and as a City Councilman. Opal wrote a book in 1977 documenting the small town’s history. After getting married in 1947, they raised three children at McConnell’s boathouse, where they lived and worked.
“We had a sink and running water, but there was no drain on the sink, so the water went into a bucket to be carried downstairs,” Opal McConnell said. “And the bathroom was one shared with customers on the other side of the building from our apartment.”
The McConnells will ride as the Mukilteo Historical Society’s 2007 Pioneers of the Year during the Lighthouse Festival Parade planned for 11 a.m. Saturday on the north end of Harbour Pointe Boulevard.
The 42nd annual Lighthouse Festival is today, Saturday and Sunday in Old Town Mukilteo, primarily at the Rosehill Community Center at 304 Lincoln Ave. and at Mukilteo Lighthouse Park next to the ferry terminal.
The festival is a chance to celebrate the city’s heritage, said Ann Collier of the Mukilteo Historical Society.
“The lighthouse is the icon of Mukilteo, so calling Mukilteo’s festival the Lighthouse Festival is appropriate,” Collier said. “This is really a celebration of Mukilteo in general.”
The free event is expected to feature food, arts, activities and crafts at Rosehill Community Center. Down at the lighthouse, volunteers plan to give guided tours, run the gift shop and show historical displays. Live music is planned for Saturday and Sunday on the lighthouse grounds.
The McConnells will receive their Pioneers of the Year honors in a ceremony set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the lighthouse.
Major renovations to Mukilteo Lighthouse Park are expected to begin in October. The city plans to spend about $3.5 million on landscaping, installing new playground equipment and building new restrooms and picnic shelters.
Also, the Hogland House a 100-year-old home in Mukilteo that is now a bed-and-breakfast plans to hold a centennial celebration from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. The Hogland House is at 917 Webster St.
The festival should have something for everyone, Collier said.
“There are great kids activities up at Rosehill, and there are special juried art exhibits as well as arts and crafts booths,” she said. “It’s a way for Mukilteo to celebrate.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
