« All Events

Saturday Speaker Series — Murder at Avondale: Joseph Cicero, August 21, 1895

April 11 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

On April 11th, join the Redmond Historical Society for a tale of “true crime” in Redmond–130 years later!

On August 21, 1895, Joseph Cicero was killed on Avondale Road just south of NE 116th Street. This event was discovered by historian Dean Jowers while researching the Society’s archives. Information was gathered from newspaper articles, court records, and property tax rolls. Working together with Tom Hitzroth, a story of the murder unfolded. Tom will recount how two once-friendly neighboring families became enemies. He will go into detail about the day of the killing. Following that, Tom will touch on the complexity of the trials and the ramifications of the death to both families. Dean will answer questions after the talk.

Doors open at 10:00 AM. This program is free to RHS members with a suggested donation of $5 for non-members. This program will be recorded.

Details

Venue

Related Events

Speaker bio

Tom Hitzroth contributes a local history column to The Redmond Recorder, the Redmond Historical Society newsletter. From 2003 to 2024, he led walking tours of Redmond’s historic district. For more than 30 years, Tom has been involved in local history and historic preservation initiatives. He has served on the boards of Marymoor Museum, Issaquah Historical Society (today Issaquah History Museums), Eastside Heritage Center, Kirkland Heritage Society, and Redmond Historical Society, and served 14 years as chair of the Redmond Landmark Commission. In November 2020, Tom received the John D. Spellman Award from King County in the Preservation Leadership category for exemplary achievement in chairing the King County Landmarks Commission and for serving as a key historian and forensic preservation investigator in East King County.

Photo: Cheryl Magnuson

Principal bio

Dean Jowers has been a volunteer at the Redmond Historical Society since 2016. He is a Lifetime Member and serves on the Collections Committee. He has researched and authored or co-authored several articles for the Society Newsletter and Blog, including articles about the King County Stockade, known to some as the “Lazy Husband Farm” or “Lazy Husbands Ranch.”

Photo: Halee Turner

About Redmond Historical Society

The Redmond Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Redmond, Washington. Through educational programs, events, and exhibits, the society engages the community in exploring and celebrating Redmond’s rich heritage.

The Saturday Speaker Series is presented by the Redmond Historical Society on the second Saturday of the month with three programs each in the fall and spring. Topics range from local, state, and Pacific Northwest historical interest. More info: www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org