A resident for more than 20 years, Russ Segner is passionate about preserving and sharing the history of Newcastle. He and his wife Susan serve on the Newcastle Historical Society board.
How long have you lived/worked in Newcastle and what brought you to live/work in Newcastle?
Susan and I moved to Newcastle in 2001 because we wanted a newer home with room for our hobbies when our son, Daniel, graduated from Newport High School. Susan is a knitter, and I am a model railroader. We live in China Creek and love the quiet community. The commercial area meets most of our needs and access to other areas is quite easy.
What are some of the ways you contribute to our community?
We both participate in the Newcastle Historical Society. I am the current President and Susan is our Treasurer. I have served on the Board of the Friends of the Library, on the Planning and Community Activities Commissions.
Tell us a Newcastle memory.
One of my happiest memories was my time with Milt Swanson. Milt and I shared interests in railroad history, especially as it involved Newcastle and mining history. He introduced me to the Historical Society which he helped establish. I have video recordings of Milt relating his experiences in the Navy and early Newcastle.
What do you hope for the future of Newcastle?
My hope for Newcastle is that we continue to develop an understanding of the history here and the ways in which the many ethnic communities have shared in its growth. The mining community included several European immigrant groupings, but photos also indicate substantial Black and Asian participants. They built the railroad which carried over eleven million tons of coal to Seattle for shipment to San Francisco. The Historical Society is working to enhance access to the historical cemetery on 129th and to preserve the Baima House in a future park in Newcastle’s original location.
What are some of your favorite places in Newcastle to visit?
Three of our favorite places in Newcastle include regular lunches at Yea’s Wok and the frequent public events like the Art Fair at the Commons and Newcastle Days at Lake Boren. We enjoy the small town feel with easy access to the larger amenities of the greater Seattle area.