Train travel and Kirkland's history

Feb 14, 2022 6:40 PM

Kent Sullivan & Matt McCauley of Kirkland History

Kent Sullivan and Matthew McCauley will present to the Rotary Club of Kirkland on the topic of train travel and Kirkland's history.

Kent Sullivan is a Kirkland-based consultant and passionate researcher into Kirkland’s railroad-based history. He's been a history enthusiast since he was a youngster in St. Paul, Indiana, a small farm town of 850 that was lucky to have several people who actively researched and wrote about local history. Kent has had “trains on the brain” since those early days as well. After moving to the Seattle area and having two boys, he again became interested in trains; this time the Northern Pacific, specifically the branch lines north and east of Seattle, one of which passes through Kirkland, where he lives. Kent has published numerous articles in the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association’s quarterly magazine. Kent regularly writes posts on Kirklandhistory.org.

Matthew McCauley is a true local, born in Ballard and raised in both Kirkland and Mercer Island. He’s an alumnus of Seattle University and Seattle University School of Law. Longtime locals may remember Matt’s well-publicized SCUBA diving adventures in Lake Washington during the 1980’s.

Matt was a founding member and past board member of the Kirkland Heritage Society and supports and volunteers with a variety of other historical organizations and projects, most notably the Newcastle Historical Society’s Seattle Coal & Transportation Company Research Project. He leads a popular annual pioneer tour of the historic Kirkland Cemetery and contributes regularly to Kirkland Lifestyle magazine. He is a prolific writer about local history and authored the book, “A Look to the Past: Kirkland.” Matt lives in Kirkland with his son, Cameron.