Where my research has led me to...

My grandfather George was born in Skykomish, King, Washington on 15 Sept. 1906. He always said that he remembered that the road was in front of the house, and that the river and mountains were behind the house. This description, stuck with him his whole life. I think he was about 4 or 5 when he left Skykomish and moved to Cozad, Nebraska.

I remember my dad and I trying to find the place on a map. Couldn't find it. For a time, we thought it might have been Snowhomish or Skyhomish, but I remember finding it on a map one day and being so very excited.

In a way, it has been such an incredible blessing that we have been able to live in Oregon and be so close to Skykomish. I have made three separate trips, and each have been so memorable. Through contacting the Puget Regional Archives, King County Archives, State of Washington, and local libraries, I have been able to add so much to my knowledge of Hugh and of the town. This last trip to Skykomish, hooking up with the Skykomish Historical Society has been a big blessing. We found a lumber picture with Hugh and an envelope from a music company in Seattle addressed to H.J. McIntosh dated 1905.

In 2007, I did my BFA for Multimedia design on Hugh. I think it was a bold move, most people don't understand why I did it, but I felt that this person had a story to tell, and if I wasn't going to tell it, who would? Eventually, my BFA accumulated in a book about Hugh and a gallery showing featuring pictures of Hugh on the wall, with a table, light, and a chair to set and look at the book. Also, I had recorded Hugh's daughter and his grandchildren talking about him, so I felt that really added to the showing.

I am currently still doing more research, as it is an ongoing process and working on refining the book so that it can be made into a hardbound edition.