RENTON THEN AND NOW
RENTON
THEN and NOW
www.rentonreporter.com
INSIDE CHARLES DIVELBISS/ COLLECTOR PAGE 7 JAY COVINGTON/RENTON CAO PAGE 8 CAROLYN PARNELL/ ADVOCATE PAGE 10 R.D . ROBINSON/ SCULPTOR PAGE 13 LINDBERGH SOCCER/ALMOST PAGE 14 RENTON HIGH HOMECOMING PAGE 17
ABOUT THEN AND NOW Renton Then and Now is part history and part ‘where are they now.’ What’s fun about this ‘history’ is that there’s a good chance you may have been in town for the original story. We hope you enjoy this year’s section. Dean A. Radford, editor
Contact and submissions: Dean A. Radford dradford@rentonreporter.com or 425.255.3484, ext. 5050
September 24, 2010
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CHARLES G. DIVELBISS: ST. CHARLES PLACE ANTIQUES
History passes through his shop BY DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
Charles G. Divelbiss is an antique collector, like his father Charles L. It’s important to use those middle initials, because each man in his distinct way has had a profound effect on Renton and added to the city’s cultural lore. The two Charles played Monopoly when Charles G. was a kid. It became a given that if they ever started a business, they would call it St. Charles Place, one of the Monopoly properties. “Plus I’ve always wanted to be a saint,” said Charles G. Sainthood may still await Charles, but more than three decades ago he and his father started St. Charles Place Antiques and Restoration on Wells Avenue. Charles G. has gone on to a long career in the antiques business. His father was one of Renton’s most prominent doctors and is retired, dividing his time between Whidbey Island and Arizona. The senior Divelbiss had collected for years, which provided the initial antiques for the shop. Charles has collected for nearly 40 years. “I’ve accumulated a lot of stuff,” he said. There’s no junk, just antiques, some going back 200 and even 300 years. There are pricey pieces, including a 14-piece dining room set (circa 1900) going for $32,000. It’s the most expensive item in Divelbiss’ extensive collection, housed either in the shop’s three floors or in three warehouses. There’s a Louis XVI inlaid queensize bed for $2,650. Hanging from it is a hula skirt and coconut bra for just $35. There’s an answer to the question whether Renton ever had a strip club or at least a somewhat bawdy past. It’s tucked away in a locked cabinet covered in glass. Charles spends a couple minutes going through a huge ring filled with keys to find the right one to open it. Yes, Renton had a go-go club, probably in the 1960s, based on the hairdos of the not-particularlyscantily-dressed women. It was the Town House Restaurant and Go Go Club at 209 Williams Ave. For sale at $35 (at least until a few days ago) was a brochure and menu, with black and white photos of the
Charles G. Divelbiss has donated this Town House Restaurant and Go Go Club brochure to the Renton History Museum for its auction. DEAN A. RADFORD, Renton Reporter
Charles G. Divelbiss is at top right in this photo of his store employees taken in the 1970s. DEAN A. RADFORD, Renton Reporter
Charles G. Divelbiss’ antiques collection is in his St. Charles Place Antiques and Restoration on Wells Avenue and in three warehouses. DEAN A. RADFORD, Renton Reporter women on one side and information about the Town House on the back. It WAS for sale because Divelbiss has donated it to the Renton History Museum for its auction Oct. 6. Bits of Renton’s history hang on one wall – photographs Divelbiss acquired from Barei’s tavern, now the home of Stix -n- Stones Restaurant and Lounge. But Divelbiss’ collection goes far beyond Renton, both in place and time. He gets numerous calls daily
from people who have something they think is of value. It’s hard to make decisions about that value over the phone. He’ll regularly go to estate sales. He found a mid-17th century Charles Andre Boulle chest of drawers in Magnolia. It wasn’t in good shape. “The only thing good about it was its age,” he said. Still, it came to the attention of a man in Europe, who flew in on the Concord supersonic jet about 15
years ago to take a look. “I knew what it was,” said Divelbiss. And so did the buyer, who bought the piece for $75,000, Divelbiss’ largest sale ever. The buyer spent tens of thousands of dollars in an extensive restoration and eventually sold the chest for $750,000. Divelbiss won’t divulge how much he paid for the chest of drawers. Divelbiss himself has become a master restorer, although he won’t restore porcelain. He doesn’t have a kiln, necessary to refire the repaired piece. The item’s age doesn’t matter. “If it’s old, I can probably fix it,” he said. “If it really looks ugly, I can make it look pretty.” Son Justin has brought St. Charles Place into the Internet age, with a stylish website, scpantiques.com. About 30 percent of the online sales come from overseas, he said. Divelbiss has acquired a large collection of books that help guide him in his purchases and restoration. A yearly inventory of his collection takes days. “It’s a nightmare,” he said. Does he cater to a particular taste? Not really. “I have a little bit of everything,” he said.
Renton Historical Society benefit to honor Renton High The Renton Historical Society’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction is Wednesday, Oct. 6. This year’s theme is
“Homecoming,” in honor of the 100th anniversary of Renton High School. John Keister is the emcee. Reservations are $40 per
person or $300 for a table of eight. For reservations contact the museum at 425-255-2330, or by email at estewart@rentonwa.gov.