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Living the Crescent Bar dream
On an average day, you can find Jon (pronounced “yone”) Bergman climbing the hill of Crescent Bar for exercise, which is impressive considering his 70-plus years of age. “Most people know me as “Bergie. They always see me walking the hill,” he said.
Bergman grew up in Renton and married his late wife, Barbara, after graduating from Renton High School. While Bergman worked in construction for the Stoneway Company, his wife worked for Boeing. Eventually, he changed careers and ran Bergie’s Bar and Grill on Airport Way in Renton for over 25 years. They had animals on their property, including a Holstein cow that yielded up to 10 gallons of milk a day. In fact, they had so much extra milk that they often sold it and gave it away to friends and family.
Although Bergman grew up and raised family over in the Renton area, he is proud to say that he has spent as much time in Central Washington between Ellensburg and Crescent Bar. Nearly 30 years ago, Bergman and his wife, Barbara fell in love with the area when they started the Barbara Bergman Golf Tournament, which benefits Children’s Hospital in Seattle. It is held the third Saturday of September. “We usually make at least $1,000 said Bergman. Twelve years ago, Bergman came to the oasis of Crescent Bar to build his dream home. Shortly after, his spouse passed away, but he remains in the area.
Lately, he claims that his dream is being threatened by the construction of a trail that comes up to the edge of his property. He also commented that there is no need for new boat launches that are set to go in. He would like to see Getty’s Cove reopened and improved for people to use instead. “I don’t know why the PUD spends millions of dollars on things like this that just don’t make sense,” said Bergman. He is disappointed that control of Crescent Bar is being taken out of the hands of its residents. He was told that before people lived on the island, there was a lot of drinking, fighting and vandalism taking place, but after people moved in residents and volunteers worked to beautify the park down there. “I don’t want to imagine what it will be like with no one there again. I am afraid that it will be harder on police to secure the area once the people are gone,” he added.
He is passionate about his home and the Quincy Valley. He enjoys playing golf, fishing, hunting and walking. His pride and joy are his three sons and eight grandchildren. He has adopted Crescent Bar as his home. If you ask him, he is just as much a “509” resident as he is a “206” or “425.” One day he overheard someone commenting about people from the other side of the mountains. He established that even though he came back and forth between the two areas, he had in fact spent more total time living over here than the other person and loved the area just as much. “In the end, people over in Seattle pay more taxes that pay for roads and improvements that are made over here,” said Bergman.
Dick S commented, on November 15, 2011 at 10:19 a.m.:
Bergie
Good grief, now your famous!
I'm reminded of our trips to Cresent Bar, courtesy of our son's condo up on the hill. It's a great place to live.
We are mostly west siders, who avoid much of the rain and the chill of winter here by escaping to our condo in the California desert town of Cathedral City. In the fall we get a dose of good weather at our time share condo on Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.
Mary Black and friends organize mini-reunions up at Jack's Bar and Grill in the Renton highlands from time to time. That provides an opportunity to connect with a few of the Class of 56, although I missed that last event.
About us West Siders subsidizing your roads; YOUR WELCOME!
I support your efforts to perserve the Cresent Bar area, for the benefit of the residents and land owners.
Best regards,
Saunders
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