The history of Mercer Island is as fascinating as the state it resides in (did you know that Washington state first granted women the right to vote in 1883, and in 1910 included women’s suffrage in its constitution – a full ten years ahead of the nation?). Believe it or not, if you look around Mercer Island, you can see some genuine historical landmarks. Take for example the Lakeview (Sunnybeam) School. Here’s an excerpt from the Mercer Island Historical Society’s website:

In 1918, King County School District No. 191, which included Mercer Island, voted to issue local improvement bonds to build Lakeview School, replacing the original south end building (which seated only nine students, according to county superintendent records). The new school featured well-lighted classrooms, a projecting portico, and an ample school yard. To attract teachers to the remote location, the district also built a small teachers' cottage on the grounds. Lakeview School is one of the few in the state to have retained the original teacher's cottage. Similar structures once numbered in the hundreds, reflecting a progressive reform advocated during the tenure (1913-1928) of State School Superintendent Josephine Preston, who made Washington a national leader in the construction of rural teacher's cottages.