Lynnwood & Alderwood Manor

Most people know Lynnwood as a shopping destination or a place to pass through on the way to somewhere else. But beneath today's busy streets lies one of the Pacific Northwest's most fascinating stories of innovation, agriculture, transportation, and community.In our Season 7 premiere episode of Invisible Histories, we visit Heritage Park in Lynnwood with special guest Devon from the Ouija Broads podcast and discover how a chance stop turned into an unforgettable history lesson. Guided by local historian Cheri Ryan, we explore the remarkable history of Alderwood Manor—a planned farming community created after the forests were logged, where city families were encouraged to settle on five-acre parcels, raise chickens, and commute to Seattle aboard the Interurban Railway.Along the way we learn how the Puget Mill Company transformed thousands of logged acres into one of the nation's largest egg-producing communities, shipping eggs across the country while pioneering an early version of suburban living. We also explore the role of the Interurban trolley, the restoration of Heritage Park's historic buildings, and why preserving these stories matters for future generations.From candy memories at Wicker's Mercantile to restored trolley cars and demonstration farms, this episode reminds us that extraordinary history often hides in places we drive past every day.Show Notes:Tickets for Lost Potter's Field TourOuija Broads podcastDevon's book, Cryptids of the Pacific Northwest, comes out September, 2026.Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage AssociationIn Days Gone By: The Hatching of Alderwood ManorBetty Lou GaengLooking Back: South Snohomish locationsKeeler's Corner historyLynnwood: Thumbnail HistoryDuncan Hunter files a homestead claim in the future Lynnwood 1889Racial Restrictive Covenants Project - Washington StateRedlining and Racial Restrictive CovenantsRacial Covenants and Segregation, Yesterday and TodaySubscribe, share, and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Support our work through Ko-fi.com.Credits:Episode recorded in Edmonds, WAEdited by Elke HautalaMusic: Uppbeat.io music Airstream - "Me You"Sound FX - Freesound.org Craig SmithCover art design by Cari SimsonCari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.comCari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy</a