Ronald Pl. N., History under your feet (or tires)

Have you ever noticed the little curvy piece of road that connects Highway 99 with N. 175th St? It's more or less between Aurora Rents and TOP Food and Drug, just east of the intersection of Highway 99 and N 175th. Well, a brochure I got at the Shoreline Historical Museum has this to say about that:

"The last remaining exposed piece of the North Trunk Road curves in an arch across 175th, connecting with Aurora Ave. N. (Highway 99) on both ends. The original road was brick-paved in 1913. The road was straightened and widened in 1928, in preparation for the new national highway, and paved shortly thereafter. The remaining curve was left in place, a reminder that Judge Ronald dug that section of the road with his own hands."

Wow! Judge Ronald must have been exceedingly industrious. No wonder so many things around here are named after him (including this blog, since it's named after Ronald Bog, which is also named after Judge Ronald).

According to the Shoreline Historical Museum's website: "The Ronald School (which is where the museum is housed), established in 1906, was named after Judge James T. Ronald, a prominent area attorney, Mayor of Seattle in 1892 and 1893, and King County Superior Court Judge from 1909 to 1949. Many places in Shoreline came to be named after him, such as: Ronald Methodist Church, Ronald Voting Precinct, Ronald Place (the brick road), Ronald Sewer District, Ronald Bog, Ronald Station, Ronald Neighborhood, and Ronald Room at the Shoreline Center."

By the way, I think that brochure must have been printed before the Walgreen's was put in, because Ronald Pl. N. no longer seems to connect to Highway 99 on both ends. It seems to be just that one little bit that's left now.








Link to: more information about Ronald Pl. N.