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There's Something for Everyone
By Joe Hagen
Marching (nearly) at Mount Baker's Day in the Park celebration last year. |
The Mt. Baker neighborhood has something for everyone. The thriving locale is as much a community as any area in the city. Parades, dances, and children's events bring the diverse members of this area together on a regular basis. Much of this is because of the oldest continuously active community club in the United States, the Mount Baker Community Club.
The Club was founded in 1909 as the Mount Baker Park Improvement Club. As its original name suggests, it primarily served the purpose of bettering the community's roads, lighting, and parks. The Mount Baker Community Clubhouse was built in 1914 on Rainier Drive South, where it still stands today. From the beginning, the clubhouse was used for social gatherings and activities.
In most ways, the Club still stands for the same ideals today. "Although smaller priorities change, the goals the Club have stayed generally consistent over the past century," notes Club Manager Joe Morrow. Along with working for humanitarian causes and maintaining the area, providing entertainment is still a significant function. The Pied Piper Children's Series, held once a month, features comedians, dance companies, storytellers and magicians. The Day in the Park includes a parade and other entertainment. A Spring Dance is held in April, the Newcomers' Potluck welcomes new residents to the neighborhood, and the Children's Garden Spring Planting lets kids raise their own plants near Mt. Baker beach.
Other functions of the club include a monthly newsletter, an extensive Web site, and several charitable causes. Among the largest commitments is the Martin Luther King scholarship program. A fundraising drive in December and January each year typically earns contributions from well over 200 Mt. Baker residents. Last year, $2500 was awarded to 22 outstanding high school seniors for assistance with their first year of college.
Charitable groups who provide services in the area are eligible for subsidies from the Club, and are allowed to use the clubhouse for a nominal fee. The Children's Alliance, Health Care for the Homeless, the Refugee Women's Alliance, and the HIV/AIDS Planning Council are just a few groups who benefit from the Club's assistance.
The Community Clubhouse itself is rented out on a regular basis for all types of social events, from weddings, to dances, to city council meetings. However, the building was not typically used for rental projects until 1992. That year, a fire devastated the Clubhouse, destroying most of the roof and one entire side, and causing great internal damage. The renovated version that emerged after repairs was much improved. The two large, high-ceilinged meeting rooms had acoustic tile added, and the kitchen and bathroom facilities were modernized.
The organization is run by four part-time employees, two event supervisors, and dozens of volunteers. The Club relies on donations, as well as rental income, to fund its operations.
Morrow has managed the club for just over two years. The most rewarding aspect he has experienced is how such a diverse neighborhood can work and play together and interact so well. "Part of our goal is to bring everyone together," he says. "There are a lot of great people in the neighborhood."
Mt. Baker, on the west shore of Lake Washington from Genesee Street on the south to Norman Street on the north, indeed includes a wide array of people and cultures. It is estimated that 40 to 50 languages are spoken in Mt. Baker.
The next big event in the neighborhood is the "Day in the Park" on Saturday, September 21. The parade opens the day, starting at Franklin High School at 10:30 AM, and is followed by performances by a Tae kwon do group, a dance group, a magician, and a drumming group. Games and fun activities will be available for children. The festivities are free, and open to the public.
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