Living history in Hansville

Published 1:00 pm Saturday, September 23, 2006

HANSVILLE — Members of the Hansville Neighbors group got a special surprise during their monthly luncheon from Seattle resident Bettie Russell, and it wasn’t a second helping of dessert.

Russell attended the presentation to represent her grandfather, Hans Zachariasen, for whom Hansville is named.

The visit was a part of a historical discussion led by Hansville residents Laurie Lewis and Joan Peter. Each luncheon includes a presentation about some aspect of Hansville, and Lewis decided that bringing Russell would give hers a realistic feel.

“We’re really excited to have her here today,” Lewis said, adding that Russell has many untold stories about Zachariasen and Hansville. “This is a special treat for us today.”

“I knew my grandfather somewhat,” Russell said. “He passed away in ‘46. I remember a few times coming to Hansville to visit him.”

Russell grew up in Seattle, where her mother, Anna, moved after growing up in Hansville. She still enjoys visiting the town, though, and seeing where her family roots started in America.

“Hans was originally from Norway,” Lewis said, adding that he was in the Norwegian army. Russell believes that’s how he met his wife, Patrina, before they moved to America.

In 1883, Zachariasen sailed to America, and his family followed three weeks later. Their youngest child at the time, Harold, died during the voyage, Lewis said.

The Zachariasens lived in Nebraska before traveling to Washington state, Russell said. They moved to the Hansville area in 1888, and because they moved before Washington became a state in 1889, Russell and her family are considered pioneers of the state.

“I registered the family last year,” she said, adding that the Zachariasens are now officially recognized as pioneers..

At the luncheon, the mystery of why Hansville was named “Hansville” was cleared up by Russell as well. Many residents believe that it was named so because Zachariasen’s unofficial motto was “Hans vill,” or Hans will with a Norwegian accent. Lewis and Peter demonstrated this misnomer during a skit they performed about the naming of the area.

“In reality, it was named Hansville because the freight captains who delivered to Point No Point and the area that would become Hansville always got the packages mixed up,” Russell said. “Hans was a well-known, well-liked person in the community, so to help lessen the confusion of the two areas, the captains began calling this area Hansville.”

“This was so amazing for her to come over here and share her family,” said Russell’s daughter, BJ Kays. “It meant a lot to her.”

“It’s great,” said Hansville resident Tiny Iler.

“We knew the story (Lewis and Peter) performed,” Curt Iler added. “But you always like to know how things really began.”

“This was so special for everyone,” Peter said, adding that she was thrilled to meet Russell and hear her stories. The only way to get the truth is directly from the people who heard it from Zachariasen himself, she said.