Cows & Horses

Farm animals have, and continue to be, an integral part of island life. Looking through my family's collection of photos, I notice they appear in quite a few...sometimes with people, and other times by themselves. Here's a selection of the first kind. Enjoy! 

My grandma is the little girl on the wagon

 

My grandma's brother, Eldon, in 1945

My grandma, with her brother Eldon, and father Gunder

Here's my grandma, Marie Boe, years later...milking cows on her own farm!

Cub Scouts, Early 1950s

Here are six fun shots from my dad's Cub Scout Photograph Album, from the early 50s. Hey islanders, see who you recognize!

Group shot; my dad is on the left.

When on Mars, do as the locals do!

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Rourke/Lettie Carter House

Here are some wonderful images of island kids, with the beautiful Rourke/Lettie Carter house, on Argyle Avenue, in the background. The pictures are undated, but the house was built in 1912, and my grandma was born in 1919. She's just a young girl, so we can estimate it as being the early 1920s. I love the expressions on their faces!

My grandma is the girl in the bottom row, middle, reaching her hand in the other girl's pocket!

My grandma is holding the racket.  The kids were often riding this pony...

Notice the sidewalks!

House Moving, Island Style

We have a certain style to the way we do things around here, and moving houses is no exception. Take a look at this great photo...the details are what amaze me! Notice that this house is being moved up Spring Street, by tractors, on logs. Wow-what a way to move a house through town!

There's no labeling on the picture, but it must be from 1963, given the license plate on the car. Notice the businesses in the image, too; Herb's Tavern on the left, and on the right there's The Journal, Scribner's Market, and the Lumber & Building Supplies storefront. 

The kids in the front seem to be enjoying the whole scene, and you can see islanders on the street watching the move. One more thing; notice the guy on the top of the house...what a ride!

A little update; I had some help figuring out where this building ended up after the move, from Dave Meiland and Sandy Strehlou (Friday Harbor's Historic Preservation Coordinator). This is now the Boy Scout building located at the San Juan County Fairgrounds! Sandy said it was originally affiliated with the Fish Cannery on Front Street. Here's what it looks like today...

One last tidbit on this great old house; it was the home of Elias Harpst, who was Friday Harbor's undertaker and watchmaker. He worked in the building right next door to the house, when it was in its original location. You can see an image of it, taken between 1907 and 1910, in Images of America-Friday Harbor by Mike and Julia Vouri and the San Juan Historical Society and Museum.

Certificate of Award

One more school related item...this is what you got back in my great-grandmother's day, when you weren't absent or tardy from school! My great-grandmother had a great record; I have a stack of these that belonged to her!

Friday Harbor Class Photos 1939-1940

Sure school is out, but that doesn't mean we can't check out some old Friday Harbor class photos! Here are some from 1939-40...

First Grade 1939-40

Second Grade 1939-40

Third Grade 1939-40

Fourth Grade 1939-40

Fifth Grade 1939-40

Seventh Grade 1939-40

FH School Eighth Grade 1935

Here's the eighth grade class from Friday Harbor, in 1935. My grandma's brother Eldon is on the far right, top row.

Class of 1966

Thought I'd show another commencement program, this time from 1966. This one is especially important to me, as it's the year my dad graduated! He was the Class President, and had the role of presenting the "Declaration of Independence". Note that just 18 students graduated!

Front

Inside

Back

Class of 1934

I love this little gem; a program from the graduation of the Friday Harbor High School Class of 1934. It's interesting to note that the ceremony took place at the Masonic Hall, and that the class consisted of just 28 students. There were some very notable islanders that graduated, including Juanita Egeland, who later married and became Juanita Rouleau, and also became an island school teacher. Her mother, Etta Egeland, founded the San Juan Island Historical Society and Museum. This program is sort of a "who's who" of old island family names! Have a look...

Front of program

Inside of program

Back of program