Overview

(Indexed edition) After decades of believing her mother's tale that Danish immigrant Hans Pederson left them penniless, author Paula Pederson uncovers the truth abouther father's wealth and prolific contributions to Seattle, Washington. Paula discovers her mysterious father's boom to bust life in the early 1900s, as she grapples with family secrets and heartbreaking deception in this very personal memoir. Her coming-ofage journey begins in Seattle then travels to Singapore, Shanghai, Honolulu, New York, New Jersey, Maine and finally to North Carolina. (Indexed) Pederson's discoveries about her father Hans have filled an important gap in regional architectural history. Larry Kreisman, Historic Seattle ...like a long, newsy letter from a friend...precisely what makes this book so charming and exceptional, and such an addictive read. Laurie Bogart Morrow, author The Hardscrabble Chronicles

Full Product Details

9781943478019

Table of Contents

Reviews

Paula Pederson's discoveries about her father Hans have filled an important gap in regional architectural history knowledge by revealing her father's many accomplishments in the Pacific Northwest. The publication provides a partial list of a remarkable range and variety of buildings and infrastructure projects that he undertook during a long and successful career--commerce and institutions, hotels, theaters, apartments, schools, bridges and piers. Many of them are still standing, and that reflects on the knowledge and management skills of this prolific contractor.LARRY KREISMAN, Program Director, Historic Seattle_____________________________________.. .like a long, newsy letter from a friend...precisely what makes this book so charming and exceptional, and such an addictive read. Paula Pederson recounts her exhaustive search for the father she never knew in a winding, evocative first-person narrative told in the moment as her journey unfolds before the reader with the turn of each page. Dismissed by her mother as a struggling young architect who was killed in a car accident and left us penniless in the middle of the Great Depression, Domka Huculak kept the identity of the man who fathered her daughter a secret for 60 years until, at the age of 92, she finally disclosed the truth. This incredible, emotional revelation catapulted Paula into the past on an incredible quest that not only would change her life, but change how she would come to see herself.He was Hans Pederson, one of the leading architects, contractors and builders in the American Northwest, whose far-reaching vision left a distinctive imprint on his adopted Seattle. Pederson helped define the personality of what has become the 18th largest city in the United States today.But it is the author who we get to know best in a story that begins in Shanghai and ends in Maine. And it is the manner in which Paula tells her story that makes this book read like a long, newsy letter from a friend rather than a biography or more to the point, her autobiography. And this is precisely what makes this book so charming, and exceptional, and such an addictive read.LAURIE BOGART MORROW, author, The Hardscrabble Chronicles_____________________________________ A fascinating glimpse behind the skyline of Seattle. HUMAYUN MIRZA, authorFrom Plassey to Pakistan: the Family History of Iskander Mirza, the First President of Pakistan 2014_____________________________________Paula has a most interesting and engaging book.I very much like the way she has combined the general interest in Hans as prominent Seattle builder with the intense personal meaning that he has for her. Paula's depictions of her mother and others is nuanced and complex; she allows the reader, who grows indignant toward their behavior, to also understand and sympathize with them. Finally, the larger story of immigrants reads familiar with so many of us: in my own case, Swedes to Nebraska and then California, Germans to Nebraska and then Spokane. For my wife: Irish to Wisconsin, then Montana. There is no end to these particular stories, and now I can add Ukrainians to Alberta and Danes to Washington.CRAIG DIETRICH, author, People's China: A Brief Histor

Paula Pederson's discoveries about her father Hans have filled an important gap in regional architectural history knowledge by revealing her father's many accomplishments in the Pacific Northwest. The publication provides a partial list of a remarkable range and variety of buildings and infrastructure projects that he undertook during a long and successful career--commerce and institutions, hotels, theaters, apartments, schools, bridges and piers. Many of them are still standing, and that reflects on the knowledge and management skills of this prolific contractor. LARRY KREISMAN, Program Director, Historic Seattle _____________________________________ .. .like a long, newsy letter from a friend...precisely what makes this book so charming and exceptional, and such an addictive read. Paula Pederson recounts her exhaustive search for the father she never knew in a winding, evocative first-person narrative told in the moment as her journey unfolds before the reader with the turn of each page. Dismissed by her mother as a struggling young architect who was killed in a car accident and left us penniless in the middle of the Great Depression, Domka Huculak kept the identity of the man who fathered her daughter a secret for 60 years until, at the age of 92, she finally disclosed the truth. This incredible, emotional revelation catapulted Paula into the past on an incredible quest that not only would change her life, but change how she would come to see herself. He was Hans Pederson, one of the leading architects, contractors and builders in the American Northwest, whose far-reaching vision left a distinctive imprint on his adopted Seattle. Pederson helped define the personality of what has become the 18th largest city in the United States today. But it is the author who we get to know best in a story that begins in Shanghai and ends in Maine. And it is the manner in which Paula tells her story that makes this book read like a long, newsy letter from a friend rather than a biography or more to the point, her autobiography. And this is precisely what makes this book so charming, and exceptional, and such an addictive read. LAURIE BOGART MORROW, author, The Hardscrabble Chronicles _____________________________________ A fascinating glimpse behind the skyline of Seattle. HUMAYUN MIRZA, author From Plassey to Pakistan: the Family History of Iskander Mirza, the First President of Pakistan 2014 _____________________________________ Paula has a most interesting and engaging book. I very much like the way she has combined the general interest in Hans as prominent Seattle builder with the intense personal meaning that he has for her. Paula's depictions of her mother and others is nuanced and complex; she allows the reader, who grows indignant toward their behavior, to also understand and sympathize with them. Finally, the larger story of immigrants reads familiar with so many of us: in my own case, Swedes to Nebraska and then California, Germans to Nebraska and then Spokane. For my wife: Irish to Wisconsin, then Montana. There is no end to these particular stories, and now I can add Ukrainians to Alberta and Danes to Washington. CRAIG DIETRICH, author, People's China: A Brief Histor

Paula Pederson's discoveries about her father Hans have filled an important gap in regional architectural history knowledge by revealing her father's many accomplishments in the Pacific Northwest. The publication provides a partial list of a remarkable range and variety of buildings and infrastructure projects that he undertook during a long and successful career--commerce and institutions, hotels, theaters, apartments, schools, bridges and piers. Many of them are still standing, and that reflects on the knowledge and management skills of this prolific contractor. LARRY KREISMAN, Program Director, Historic Seattle _____________________________________ ...like a long, newsy letter from a friend...precisely what makes this book so charming and exceptional, and such an addictive read. Paula Pederson recounts her exhaustive search for the father she never knew in a winding, evocative first-person narrative told in the moment as her journey unfolds before the reader with the turn of each page. Dismissed by her mother as a struggling young architect who was killed in a car accident and left us penniless in the middle of the Great Depression, Domka Huculak kept the identity of the man who fathered her daughter a secret for 60 years until, at the age of 92, she finally disclosed the truth. This incredible, emotional revelation catapulted Paula into the past on an incredible quest that not only would change her life, but change how she would come to see herself. He was Hans Pederson, one of the leading architects, contractors and builders in the American Northwest, whose far-reaching vision left a distinctive imprint on his adopted Seattle. Pederson helped define the personality of what has become the 18th largest city in the United States today. But it is the author who we get to know best in a story that begins in Shanghai and ends in Maine. And it is the manner in which Paula tells her story that makes this book read like a long, newsy letter from a friend rather than a biography or more to the point, her autobiography. And this is precisely what makes this book so charming, and exceptional, and such an addictive read. LAURIE BOGART MORROW, author, The Hardscrabble Chronicles _____________________________________ A fascinating glimpse behind the skyline of Seattle. HUMAYUN MIRZA, author From Plassey to Pakistan: the Family History of Iskander Mirza, the First President of Pakistan 2014 _____________________________________ Paula has a most interesting and engaging book. I very much like the way she has combined the general interest in Hans as prominent Seattle builder with the intense personal meaning that he has for her. Paula's depictions of her mother and others is nuanced and complex; she allows the reader, who grows indignant toward their behavior, to also understand and sympathize with them. Finally, the larger story of immigrants reads familiar with so many of us: in my own case, Swedes to Nebraska and then California, Germans to Nebraska and then Spokane. For my wife: Irish to Wisconsin, then Montana. There is no end to these particular stories, and now I can add Ukrainians to Alberta and Danes to Washington. CRAIG DIETRICH, author, People's China: A Brief Histor

Author Information

Paula Pederson started her life journey in Seattle, Washington, but has lived in Singapore, Shanghai, Honolulu, New York, New Jersey, Maine and North Carolina. Educated abroad and on the east coast, Pederson's elite schooling taught her much about the nuances of social echelons and how that affects one's life choices. Her greatest challenge and reward has come from being the mother of five and grandmother of five. Parenting enlightened her insight into her own complicated relationship with her mother and fueled her desire to find out about her father Hans Pederson. Armed with this accumulated life experience and consumed with curiosity, Pederson's quest to find her father in spite of her mother's reticence became a passion later in life. Her fiction and nonfiction writing includes two unpublished novels, this memoir and a weekly blog. She formerly enjoyed technical writing and editing posts pertaining to medical, environmental, and engineering issues. Earlier years included development work for schools and handicapped children. She graduated from Smith College with a degree in English Literature and spent one glorious summer as a seaside gardener in a resort on the coast of Maine. Pederson writes about immigrants and pioneers who came by train to Northwestern North America, expatriates to the Far East, and her love for Maine. She believes fragments of the past help us to understand who we are. Hunting for her father's legacy and writing The Mysterious Builder Of Seattle Landmarks: The Search for My Father, has shown her the timeless imprint family leaves on husbands, wives, daughters, sons, and grandchildren. Wendy Wiley (Publishing Editor) began her career in publishing at Harper & Row Publishers in New York back when all books were printed. Fortunately she loves technology and embraces the online world of publishing and marketing. Her experience in marketing, public relations and IT risk management augments publishing expertise for well-rounded oversight of the entire publishing process, making ideas into publications. She most enjoys bringing books to life for writers. As a seasoned writer, editor, photographer, classically trained actor, director and producer, Wendy's media penetration skills are uniquely suited to new media strategies. Her IT background combined with branding prowess make her a valued Creative Director with emphasis on emerging media, social media and Web penetration marketing/PR.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available