This view is of Bellevue Way at Northeast 18th Street looking west. Trees surround the field, which was, as were most local farm fields, hewn from the forest.

Slashed and fallen trees were typical of woodlands after logging. It was the farmer’s burden to clear up this debris, remove stumps and plow up roots before the fields were suitable for clearing. This was very difficult work.

Since many farmers typically leased for five years, by the time they had the land cleared, they were forced to move to a new location and start clearing all over again.

Happily, the owners of this property, the Clarkes, had better luck. The Clarkes were long-time residents of Bellevue and operated one of the many local vineyards during the 1930s.

This article makes use of photographs and text from Lake Washington: The East Side (Arcadia Publishing, 2006).

Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. Material is provided by the Eastside Heritage Center. For more information call 425-450-1049.