Black Diamond loop tour offers scenery, villages

Originally published in The Seattle Times, September 9, 1973

This is one of a series of Sunday articles of interest to bicycle enthusiasts in the Seattle area. The series provides information and maps on rides the cyclist may enjoy easily and includes tips on bicycling safety, equipment, and maintenance.

Black Diamond ride data
Location: South King County. Black Diamond starting point, south of Renton on Highway 169.
Terrain: Unusually level riding with little traffic. A few smooth, short hills and several small villages.
Time and length: About 18 miles as shown. Allow 1½ hours or more. Three hours gives time for a swim and picnic enroute. A longer tour may be linked to this ride by cycling south from the Bellevue area through Coalfield.
Features: The Green River with spectacular gorge area. Pleasant views of mountains and trees. Back roads through an unspoiled region of King County.

By Chuck Seward

Everyone can enjoy a fine bicycle ride covering an 18-mile loop along almost exclusively level back roads far from city traffic.

The tour begins at Black Diamond and passes through the villages of Cumberland, Palmer, Kanaskat, Georgetown, and Ravensdale.

Black Diamond itself is not large, but Seattle riders will have no trouble finding it along the Maple Valley Highway about 18 miles southeast of Renton. The Black Diamond Elementary School sits on the main road in the center of town and provides a good starting point, with space to leave cars and an opportunity for a cup of coffee from the little 24-hour restaurant across the street.

The Black Diamond Bakery probably is the town’s most famous landmark although coal, and not overdone bread, gave the town its name.

The bakery is open on weekends.

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Labor Day events again scheduled in Black Diamond

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, August 29, 1973

By Laura Lorenz

In 1973 the Citizen of the Year was Joe Androsko. The Labor Day Queen was Kari Sawyer and her princess was Kathy Storey. Sid Bergstrom was the Labor Day chairperson.

Swinging in Saturday night, Sept. 1, with a dance and ending Labor Day afternoon, Sept. 3, with a rough-and-tumble tug-of-war, the Black Diamond Labor Day Celebration is just about here again.

The annual event was born out of the coal mining days of the past when vigorous work was complemented with pleasure just as lively.

It has now grown into a diverse two-and-a-half-day program, offering activities for all ages, entertaining both the participant and the spectator.

And, as before, the entire Valley is welcome.

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For Black Diamond Citizen of the Year volunteering comes naturally

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, September 17, 2003

By Jessica Keller
The Courier-Herald

Black Diamond’s Citizen of the Year, Bob Kaye, has been involved in the community for more than 20 years. Photo by Jessica Keller

Black Diamond resident Bob Kaye had no idea when his wife took him to the Labor Day festival parade, it was he who was going to be honored as the 2003 Black Diamond Citizen of the Year.

“It was totally unexpected,” Kaye said. “I was totally astonished because typically it’s somebody whose been in the town and has lived there for 96 years.”

Kaye was nominated because of the numerous things he has done for the community since moving there from England in 1968.

Through the years, Kaye has worked on the Labor Day Committee and has helped arrange the sporting events. He was on the school board for a number of years and was instrumental in the plan for the Black Diamond school to be annexed into the Enumclaw School District.

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Labor Day Festival offering more this year

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, August 27, 2003

By Kevin Hanson
The Courier-Herald

The theme of the 2003 Labor Days button was “Bike, Trike & Hike.” The Citizen of the Year was Bob Kaye, city planning commissioner, and the Lifetime Commitment award went to Elaine Mead.

New attractions for kids, plus live entertainment, are being featured as Black Diamond gears for another in a long list of Labor Day festivals.

The end-of-summer celebration goes back more than a century, according to Leih Mulvihill, chairwoman of this year’s event.

But just because organizers looked for a few new things, folks shouldn’t worry about the past. Black Diamond will retain all the activities citizens have grown accustomed to over the years.

Looking to entertain the younger set, those in charge of the celebration are renting a variety of inflatable toys for kids to climb and jump on. They’ll be available at the Black Diamond Elementary School playground Sunday and Monday. There’s a fee attached: $2 per attraction or buy an all-day pass for $10.

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Town will discuss disincorporation

Originally published in The Seattle Times, July 27, 1973

BLACK DIAMOND – A public meeting to discuss disincorporation of this South King County town of 1,164 population will be at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in the elementary school auditorium, here.

Ralph Banchero, organizer of a petition campaign to put the issue to a vote, said he has invited County Councilmen Dave Mooney and John O’Brien to speak at the meeting. Mooney’s district includes Black Diamond.

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Black Diamond council race pits Sorci against Scherr

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, October 20, 1999

By Katie McCarthy
The Courier-Herald

Incumbent Mario Sorci thought he wasn’t going to run for Black Diamond City Council this year, but he decided he couldn’t leave the city in its growing stage.

The manager of Anesthesia Equipment Supply in Black Diamond has been a councilman for 10 years and is adamant about keeping the Black Diamond on its current track and maintaining its rural charm.

“You have to develop because of the city’s growth management,” Sorci said. “But you have to work through it and make it happen.”

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It’s back to school time!

Originally published in the BDHS newsletter, October 2021

By Sherrie Evans

As the students of our community headed back to school on September 1, it gave us thought to share information on the history of the Black Diamond School District, its consolidation with Enumclaw, and the various school buildings. In researching this information, we tip our hat to JoAnne Matsumura, historian, and former museum archivist, for the vast information she provided. We also thank Geri Garton, former principal at Black Diamond Elementary, for her assistance, and long-time volunteers Barney Carnino, Gomer Evans, Jr., and Howard and Dorothy Botts.

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Black Diamond oral history

Originally published by Black Diamond Elementary, June 11, 1990

By Alison Reykovich, Brandy Karpen, and Kim Carlson; edited by Karmin Tyack

Fourth-grade historians interview Ann Steiert

Ann and Carl Steiert, founders of the Black Diamond Historical Society and Museum

Ann Steiert, school volunteer, has dedicated her time every Tuesday to help the fourth-grade class. She is our fourth-grade grandmother. She also takes time for the Black Diamond Museum.

The history of Black Diamond the way Ann Steiert tells it

Ann Steiert lived on a ranch in Colorado. She used to go out in the fields and help her father with the animals. Many times, she would get in his way and get scolded, but she liked helping him.

Ann says she is most like her mother because her mother liked to cook and was a very good seamstress. Whenever Ann or her sisters wanted a dress, they would grab the Sears catalog and show their mother a dress they wanted, and their mother would make it for them.

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Happy 100th birthday, Barney

Originally published in the BDHS newsletter, June 2021

Barney Carnino birthday drive-by

On Saturday, March 13, the family of Barney Carnino hosted a “drive-by” to celebrate Barney’s 100th birthday of March 16. The Carnino family has a long history in Black Diamond.

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City will pay insurance for school’s gymnasium

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, December 12, 1990

The Black Diamond City Council agreed to pay the insurance on the elementary school gymnasium to help community center director Dorothy Botts buy time while she looks for grant money for its purchase.

Botts told the city council at its regular meeting Thursday night that the Enumclaw School District plans to surplus the gymnasium. She said the center board would like to purchase it, but does not have the available funding now.

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