Earl “Bud” Baunsgard had a unique job in the Bellevue Parks Department of the 1960s and ’70s – he was responsible for the signage. Baunsgard had a small shop at the Bellefields Nature Park (now Mercer Slough Park), where he produced dozens of wooden signs. Park rules (“Do Not Swim Past Line”) were fairly simple stenciled affairs.

Entry and exit signs were a little more elaborate; he carved those with a router and painted over the letters in yellow or white.

But what happened to his creations, and where are they now? The signs and carvings at Bellefields Nature Park tended to attract vandals. Some were defaced and damaged, others disappeared entirely. However, some were still in place in the early 1980s. If any readers know what became of the Baunsgard signs, we would love to know.

Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. To learn more about Bellevue and Eastside history contact the Eastside Heritage Center at 425-450-1049 or visit EastsideHeritageCenter.org.