LYNNWOOD — Gary and Jean Rogers spent May 14 in Lynnwood near two things that bring them fond memories: the now historical Interurban Trolley 55 and the Wickers Building.
As children, the two rode their horses at different times to the Wickers store and rode the trolley from Everett to Seattle.
“It’s kind of karma they’re all together now,” said Jean Rogers who is the only child of the last Interurban motorman Walter Shannon. Shannon worked at the Interurban in some way from 1926 to 1939, she said.
The two, along with a couple of hundred other folks, gathered at Lynnwood’s new Heritage Park at 19921 Poplar Way for its dedication ceremony May 14.
Along with the trolley and Wickers building, which now houses the county’s tourism bureau’s visitor center, other Lynnwood historical buildings renovated for the park were also celebrated.
They include the Alderwood Manor Heritage Cottage, which served as the superintendent’s cottage at the area’s old demonstration farm. There is also ongoing renovation of the water tower from the demonstration farm and the site’s original residence, the Humble House.
The Humble House will be the new home of the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society and the water tower will support future planned demonstration gardens and heritage agricultural activities at the park.
This month the trolley turns 94 years old.
Shannon, who died this past November at 93, knew all about the renovation of the trolley and its final resting place at Heritage Park and was excited for it, Jean Rogers said. Shannon even was able to be part of the Trolley’s last trip.
The Rogers got him up and out at 5 a.m. last year so he could watch professionals tow the trolley from its storage area to it final resting place at Heritage Park across town.
Jean Rogers said her Dad told her while driving right behind the trolley, “I’d never thought I’d ever see the Interurban going through Lynnwood again.” She added, “and he didn’t care that it was just the (trolley) body.”
At the dedication ceremony, Lynnwood Mayor Mike McKinnon introduced the many elected officials in the crowd and talked with others who also were part of the “heritage” of the park.
Jean Rogers told the crowd May 14 that the new park was “so beautiful that we’d like to show it to the world and I think we’re on the right foot.”
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