Did you know
Georgetown is a place of firsts
First Airplane Flight of King County happened in 1910, when famous aeronaut Charles Hamilton delighted hundreds of thrill-seekers at the Meadows Race Track with four exhibition flights in his Curtiss bi-plane.
On one of his flights, the wheel of his plane struck the surface of the pond in the middle of the track and flipped the plane over. Hamilton was unhurt, but his plane needed repairs.
Undeterred, he returned the following day for several more flights.
Our Crew
We have an awesome team of volunteers and board members.
Our team meets every other month via zoom to discuss history, art, preservation and to tell ghost stories.
Rosario Medina
Executive Director
executivedirector@foghi.org
Rosario comes from the Barron family of barbers and community activists. She joined FOGHI in 2016 and served as the board President from 2017 to 2021. Her accomplishments include being awarded funding for youth and BIPOC community members and Native storytellers, givinga a platform with FOGHI and compensation for their time. She has worked on other projects in the Duwamish Valley for open and green space, housing, community and cultural events, and business stability and support.
Medina and her life partner have 2 children.
Allan Phillips
President/Chair
President@foghi.org
Allan moved to Georgetown in the late 1990's and was very instrumental in the restoration of the Hat n' Boots. He is very well read in land use and is a great storyteller.
Andy Bookwalter
Vice-Chair
vice@foghi.org
Andy has lived in Georgetown with his family for 25 years, in a 120-year-old house that has survived fire, gentrification, a move to make room for Boeing Field, and Andy's questionable carpentry skills. He's a writer, amateur historian, and 4 time cast member of the Haunted History Tour.
Ahsha Miranda
Treasurer
books@foghi.org
Ahsha moved to Portland but Georgetown is still in her heart and soul. She played a vital role in incorporating our non-profit in 2016.
Brian Edwards
Board Member
board@foghi.org
From a circuitous journey including but not limited to time spent training in NASA's 21st Century Moon Shot astronaut program, a stint as a long distance endurance sports car driver, a period studying with the late Professor Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University and several tours of duty with the French Foreign Legion I am pleased to report that I have gained the most satisfaction from my FOGHI board member at large position.
Brian Edwards lives with a sweet pit bull named Bella and enjoys programming film events in the Seattle area.
Ilays Aden
Board Member
board@foghi.org
Ilays Aden lives in South King County and was able to connect with FoGHI through her work at the Port of Seattle, supporting environmental engagement in Georgetown. She currently works at Rainier Beach Action Coalition and advises numerous organizations and businesses in creating anti-racist policies that combat institutional and environmental racism. In her fundraising work, she focuses on community building around innovative housing solutions and urban planning. She is passionate about bringing people to the table to share a meal and engage in storytelling, which is why she is excited to be a FoGHi board member to keep Georgetown's history alive!
Karen Paola Carpenter
Board Member
board@foghi.org
Karen grew up in so-called Federal Way, never knowing that a major river runs through what’s now called Seattle, between Georgetown and South Park. Learning about the Duwamish River, its original stewards, its straightening and the current superfund site was a revelation. Karen has since advocated for a just and complete cleanup of the river and is excited to continue learning and sharing the history of the place she calls home as a FOGHI board member.
La Dele Sines
Founder
ladele@foghi.org
La Dele has stepped back from producing the annual Haunted History Tour to do research and other fun things!
The Haunted History Players
The Friends of Georgetown History is a non profit 501(c)3 comprised of friendly and talented neighbors dedicated to celebrating the neighborhood of Georgetown's many contributions to Seattle's early years.
These goals have included: saving and restoring the Hat n' Boots to Oxbow Park, producing the Georgetown Haunted History Tour and researching and curating collections of photos and documents for future generations.