Doe Bay Postcard 1945

Here's a wonderful postcard of a cabin at Doe Bay, on Orcas Island. It's addressed to my great grandma, from her friend Francel. The back reads, "Wed. a.m. Dear Adah, We are having such a nice time, just the four of us. Wish you could come and spend the day with us. The men caught a nice silver this morning, so we are going to have fried salmon for Peg and Al's anniversary today. It is so pretty here, and so much activity on the water all day. We are just enjoying ourselves reading and doing a little cross stitch. Wish I had a sweater started tho. See you soon after we get home. Isn't our cabin cute? Love, Francel." The card is postmarked August 1st, 1945...67 years ago, today.

English Camp 1960s

Here are six photos from the 1960s, of English Camp, on San Juan Island. Notice that the Barracks and the Blockhouse were in much need of repair, which occurred in 1970.

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.

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

Lopez School

Here's a great photo of Lopez School, in 1940!

San Juan Co. Deputy Sheriff Badge

One of the many interesting items we found, when searching through my family belongings, was this deputy sheriff's badge. It reads, "Deputy Sheriff San Juan Co. WASH." on the front, and "CD Reese 57 Warren St. NY" on the back. I brought it in to be photographed for the San Juan Island Heritage Project, and this is the image they took.  If you haven't visited the San Juan Island Heritage site, do check it out; it's fascinating!
SJI Heritage site

"Deputy sheriff badge::San Juan Island Heritage." Washington Rural Heritage. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May

2012.<http://www.washingtonruralheritage.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/sanjuan/id/914/rec/19>.

Addie Boice

A lovely image of Addie Boice (Boyce), that she gave to my great grandma. The back reads, "Addie Boice of Friday Harbor Wash. To Ada Armstrong."

Eastsound Postcard

I love this postcard, which was sent in 1915, to my great-great grandfather on San Juan Island, from his daughter on Orcas Island. It reads, "Fishing is always good here at East Sound." Looks like it!

Orcas Island Salvation Army Band

A different kind of gathering...this is a picture of the Salvation Army Band, on Orcas Island, from 1939. I worked with a genealogist I know on this, and we believe that there are members of the Bull, Iotte, and LaPlante families in this picture. My great-great-grandfather's oldest daughter, Mary Emma Chambers Conkle, married into the Iotte family, so it would make sense that this photo ended up with my great-great-grandfather, after she died. The picture itself is not in very good shape, so I digitally cleaned it up a bit, to make the faces more visible.

Ferry Landings

A ferry's gotta land, right? Whenever we leave or arrive at a landing, I love thinking about how they have changed over the years. At my age, and with how I am used to seeing the docks, it's hard for me to imagine it being like this; how close the cars are to the landing, and the casual attitudes of those walking, and visiting, on the ramp. I don't think the WSDOT ferry employees would be too thrilled about someone sitting on the ramp, like the man in the image below!