Werner Janssen writes about the intriguing life of Harriet Bullitt

When I retired as manager of Holden Village after 20 years of being involved in the development of the facility and community, our family moved to Leavenworth, which had become an unofficial next-step community for numerous individuals and families leaving Holden after serving as employees or volunteers.

- WERNER JANSSEN

As a result of Holden contacts, I was invited to meet with Harriet Bullitt in 1993 to discuss the possibility of joining Harriet — who was the new owner of what was known as Camp Field — and Reed Carlson, a former Holden volunteer, as a member of the Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat Development and Construction team. This began a 10-year association with Harriet as an employee.

Working with Harriet is a community or almost family experience rather than a job.

It is an opportunity for many conversations that have nothing to do with the project or job performance. It had more to do with enjoying conversations over a meal or enjoying a glass of wine.

Conversations are a good time for ideas to develop and flow as stories are shared about the challenges of life.

It was during these conversations that I became intrigued with the interesting life Harriet had lived and the challenges she had experienced working through her education.

The more I worked with Harriet the more I wondered why her life story had not be documented.

After I retired as general manger of Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat in 2003, I approached Harriet about writing a book about her life. She graciously agreed.

Harriet grew up in the exclusive Seattle Highlands where her grandparents lived alongside William Boeing, founder of The Boeing Company, the Nordstrom family, Harriet’s grandparents, the Stimson family of lumber fame and fortune as well as Harriet’s mother, who developed the KING Broadcasting company.