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"LetterHome"

CLICK ON THE ARROW to begin a 11 minute documentary about the letter Snohomish resident, Jeff Starr, left behind on his computer, which was intended for his girl friend if he should not return from his third deployment to Iraq.

“LetterHome” is the title Jeff used for the message found on his laptop computer several months after he was killed in action on May 30, 2005, while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. The short documentary tells the story of a love letter that evolved into a political football on the internet and eventually referenced in a speech by President Bush.

Over eight hours of interview footage captured in 2007 will be archived with the Snohomish Historical Society. The expenses for the project were donated by the production company PSTOO. Sharon Howard of Howard and Rosen Productions interviewed the Starr family members.

The movie will be screened on Sunday, May 31, 2009, 2p, at the Snohomish Library as part of a program hosted by Gold Star Parents.

Please follow this link for more details.

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Sunday Afternoons at the Blackman House

Frances Wood, Guest Speaker

Writer, naturalist and teacher Frances Wood spoke on Sunday, February 15, about her book “Down to Camp: A History of Summer Folk on Whidbey Island”. Frances is related to the Blackmans who lived in our historic home. Her great-grandmother was Nina Blackman, a cousin to Hycranus Blackman who hired her to teach school in Snohomish when he was serving on the school board in the 1880s. It was during this time that several families, including the Blackmans, began spending the month of August camping on a Whidbey Island beach — reached by boat going down river. This tradition continues to this day and France’s account of this unique summer culture through the years is informative and quite endearing.
Frances Wood Following a short Q & A, Frances read parts of the first chapter from her new book, which is a fictional account of Nina’s journey to the frontier town of Snohomish to teach school and her courtship with Charles Bakeman. It was a real treat and enjoyed by all .