You're Invited to Enumclaw's 100th Birthday Dinner

On Sunday, Jan. 27, a farmhouse dinner reminiscent of the early days of Enumclaw will take place at the Expo Center Fieldhouse.

Diners will sit at long tables. The menu will be simple - chicken is the main course - because that was what was available locally at this time of year, 100 years ago.

And the one thing organizers don't want you to do is simply sit there and eat because again, that's not what they did 100 years ago.

"People back then used to gather - at the store or the barbershop - when they came to town," Mayor Liz Reynolds, who over is also overseeing the evening's program, said. "They didn't move about the way they do now. They planned their week. Travel was difficult way back then, so when they came into town, they shared stories."

These days, Enumclaw sits on a treasure trove of stories that reside in the hearts and memories of its cherished elders. The dinner, themed "An Evening of Stories," is a way to celebrate them, Reynolds said. "Let's take it back to try to replicate how it used to be," she said. "Let's pull out the stories these people hold dear in their hearts."

To help conjure those memories, the evening's program will also feature a number of highlights for guests including:

• A performance by members of the Muckleshoot Tribe welcoming guests
• An oral history video project by Enumclaw High School students led by teacher Doug Wolff in which local seniors were interviewed about growing up in Enumclaw.
• An assortment of front page images from The Courier-Herald as place mats and conversation starters.
• Decor provided by local businesses Porter Antiques, The Quiet Nest and C.C.'s Collectibles on Cole.
• An opportunity to hear from Louise Poppleton, author of There's Only One Enumclaw
• An opportunity to meet Charles Berg, Plateau historian and preservationist

"I simply could not let this year pass by quietly," Reynolds said. "It’s important that our youth of our community understand the value of retaining and passing forward these stories."

You can be a part of history too when you sign a long ream of paper declaring you were present at the city's centennial celebration which will be stored at the Historical Society.

King County Executive Dow Constantine is also a part of the program as is an opportunity to hear from some of the youngest Enumclaw residents talking about their visions for the future.

And before the night is over, learn more about the ongoing legacy project in which you can help tell the city's history through its geography in a new and modern way.

Catering is provided by Enumclaw's . The event is made possible by the Centennial Committee and a generous co-sponsorship by Helac Corporation.

"The town is going to dinner," Reynolds said. "Come and share your story."

The "An Evening of Stories" Centennial Dinner & Program takes place Sunday, Jan. 27 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Expo Center Field House. Tickets are $25 per person and are pre-sale only. There will be no tickets sold at the door.

Tickets must be purchased by Friday, Jan. 18. To purchase your tickets, visit the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 1421 Cole Street or call 360-825-7666. You can also purchase tickets online at www.enumclawchamber.com.