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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Gig Harbor, A Century Ago



Millville, at left across the waterfront,amed after the west side’s Gig Harbor Mill, Sam Jerisich, Joseph Dorotich and John and Josephine Novak platted the community of Millville June 28, 1888.  Novak family son-in-law Andrew Gilich, pioneer fisherman, invested his money in real estate.  He built the large wooden buildings around 1900.  This facility, known as the Silver Glide, had an excellent floors for roller skating as well as dancing. Roller skating was a popular pastime as the new century unfolded and skating rinks were appearing around Puget Sound.

Dances were regularly held at the Silver Glide, with Reuben Berkheimer’s six-piece orchestra playing.  (He owned the local hardware store.) Most of the talk of the town concerned the rowdiness that would come about with the lifting of Prohibition in 1920 due to drinking and carousing all night.  Young ladies were warned that they shouldn’t leave and then reappear during the evening, as it would signal a “bad reputation.” 

By 1925, the county banned dances there, and the fun moved out to Horseshoe Lake on Key Peninsula.  After their Golden Wedding Anniversary party in early 1932, the Gilich family dismantled the hall, salvaging some of the boards to build their netshed.  Located just out of this photo at the base of Clay Hill, it is still a working netshed owned by Andy Blair and Dick Moller.

At the head of the bay, in the original town of Gig Harbor, three figures walk along Front Street (now North Harborview). Dr. Alfred M Burnham with his wife Rachel platted the town two months before Millville on April 19, 1888.  Burnham was quite a multi-talented man. He was a physician, who had served in the Civil War, owned a newspaper in Minnesota, cut and sold ties for the railroad, and worked cattle before bringing his wife Rachel to Gig Harbor. 

Burnham bought land from the three original fishermen, Sam Jerisich, John Farrague and Peter Goldsmith and filed the plat for Gig Harbor, knowing this was a great place to live.  He opened his store, with the long dock, and published his own newspaper promoting elixirs and good health.  By 1910, the building was known as Bay View Hall.  The white trimmed building next door was WP Kendall’s store, later housing IA Rust’s Tinker Shop.  These buildings had disappeared by the 1930s.

The logs piled on the waterfront probably date back to the Prentice Shingle Mill, whose heyday was the 1890s.  Equipment from the mill was sold to CO Austin when he opened his mill in 1909.  The road where the three boys walk leads around the corner to today’s Harbor History Museum.  




© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Emmett Hunt's Diary Wednesday, May 30, 1883

Nice day, but breezy.  Wooded & water Baby & put her in trim for another sail tomorrow.  Get to bed late.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Vaughn, Washington


Museum Week Northwest has been celebrated this week and tomorrow is the last day.  But in conjunction with Museum Week Northwest I thought it would be interesting to explore one of our local areas and their historical society.  Hopefully it will encourage you to check of Vaughn, and other areas on the Key Peninsula.

The 1880s saw many prominent families arriving on the Gig Harbor peninsula to make their new homes.  Many of the families came from agricultural communities in the midwest of America although some came from the Old Country.  A few were were veterans of the Civil War or the Indian Wars.  Several stopped in the greater Gig Harbor area, but a few continued to travel further west on the freight ships or steamships to the Key Peninsula settling in Vaughn or it’s surrounding communities.  

Vaughn was named after William D. Vaughn who made his land claim at Vaughn Bay in 1852.  But like many multi-taskers, he didn’t spend the full consecutive years living on the land and lost it.  But the settlement retained his name.  Steilacoom however profited in many ways from Vaughn’s residency in their community and honored him in many ways.

1908 Sandspit at entrance to Vaughn Bay Puget Sound

These recently arrived settlers and their families soon discovered that this new country wasn’t exactly the farmland they had expected.  They began to understand that the land was better suited for logging.  This was something that the men really weren’t prepared for, and had not learned in the midwest.  They needed someone to teach them how to log and how to transport or move the logs so they could sell them; they needed new types of equipment for this new way of life.  But they were fortunate in that logging was a big industry in western Washington and there were loggers ready to teach them.
1915 Log dump and rafts at Vaughn

Alfred Van Slyke was just one of these new settlers, and he traveled from Yates Center, Kansas arrived with his family in 1887; their son Finch was born a month after their arrival in Vaughn.  Their very good friends, the Coblentz family followed them out west two years later.  

The first priorities for the new settlers however was to cut the timber for their own homes.  Once their homes were built then the men would be able to concentrate of business of logging.  This was made easier when, after the Coblentz family arrived, Alfred and Henry Coblentz established a store and a sawmill in Vaughn.  (In 1889, Alfred became the second postmaster in Vaughn.)  Shortly after starting these two enterprises, it was decided that Alfred would run the sawmill and Henry the store.  
1918 Residences and store leading to Vaughn Dock

As with all the communities across the US, the Fourth of July celebrations were lively affairs and attended by most everyone living in or around the community.  So it is not surprising that in 1889 Alfred gave the young neighborhood men permission to build a dance floor in a grove of trees behind his house.  Once the floor was completed and rafters were in place, the local boys covered the rafters with cedar and fir boughs for a roof.  The named the new dance structure “Bowery Dance Floor”.

The depression of 1891-93 severely hurt Vaughn’s economy as the price for timber dropped to an all time low.  Mills throughout the area closed down operations.  Farms weren’t yet fully productive but what they did have they made last by drying fruits, smoking salmon and hams, and canning.

Least you think it was only the men that kept things going, I should bring up what the women were doing besides all their normal activities.  These women decided to organize the Vaughn Bay Public Library Association in 1892.  They held meetings to raise money to buy books and other materials for the library.  At first they used part of the post office to house the books; by 1894 they had catalogued 417 books.  Although the women first held their meetings in various homes, it soon became necessary to look for larger quarters.  Well, remember the Bowery Dance Floor?  It was located on property originally donated by Alfred Van Slyke but now part of Henry Coblentz’s homestead.  So the Coblentz family donated it and the land to the Library Association.  As typical the other residents donated labor, materials and time to build walls and add a solid roof to the dance floor turning it into a complete building.  Not only did it house the library, but it also acted as a community meeting place.  The Vaughn Bay Public Library Association occupied this building from 1894 until 1958, at which time Pierce County Library system opened a library in the then new Civic Center.  The old hall, which had served the community well, was sold for $500 for the benefit of the new library operating fund.
Vaughn Library Hall

As the nation began to recover from the 1891-93 depression, logging and timber sales started to recover as well.  This meant the Van Slyke sawmill was back in operation providing milled lumber for homes, businesses and docks.  But Van Slyke’s business still suffered from financial difficulties and closed the mill.  But a newly arrived settler with big dreamers and a recent inheritance wanted to buy the mill.  So it was sold to Rev. Leigh W. Applegate in 1897.  Applegate upgraded the equipment in the mill from the original one-engine, completed one of his projects, the construction of Vaughn Bay Community Church AKA The Chapel by the Sea.  Then disaster struck - the mill was destroyed by fire, liens filed for failure to pay back wages, and bankruptcy.  Applegate did the only thing he could, he sold the land back to Van Slyke, and he sold the church to the Calvary Presbyterian Church of Tacoma. and left town.

There is so much more to the history of Vaughn, the families and other communities on the Key Peninsula, that to do it justice I would definitely suggest at trip to the Key Peninsula Historical Society in Vaughn.  Their hours are 1 - 4 Thursday and Saturday with free admission although donations are always accepted.  They are located at 17010 South Vaughn Road, KPN, Vaughn WA 98394.  Membership is $10/per person; $25/per family.  You can contact either Judy Mills at (253)884-2511 or Colleen Slater at (253) 884-5403 for additional information.  The museum has a delightful guide “An Automobile Tour through Key Peninsula History” by Simon Priest, PhD, Key Peninsula Trails Committee, Key Peninsula Historical Society that provides great ideas for exploration of the area. 

Note:  References used include:
The Key Peninsula by Colleen A. Slater
Early Days of the Key Peninsula by R. T. Arledge 





© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Emmett Hunt's Diary Wednesday, May 23, 1883

High S wind but moderately pleasant.  Feel old, but work at wood a little, scrape one side of Baby put some paint on the little boat & build & fire a brush heap.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

2039 Gig Harbor Lighthouse Time Capsules



Have you purchased your new time capsule for the opening in 2039?

As you will recall we recently experienced the opening of the first Gig Harbor Lighthouse time capsules celebrating the 25th anniversary of the lighthouse itself.  The sale of all those numerous time capsules benefited the Gig Harbor Harbor History Museum and the Gig Harbor BoatShop, both of which are non-profit organizations benefiting the community of Gig Harbor, Washington.

Well, the students of the Midway School, District No. 79, have purchased their capsule and have been as busy as bees accumulating items to tuck away in their 4-inch diameter, 18-inch length capsule.  There will be a collection of materials and items from the many students attending classes at the Midway School.  And it’s not just the students, the schoolmarms and schoolmasters will also contribute items.

Some of the Midway School 2014 Year “Pioneer School Experience Time Capsule” items will include:
  • Statement and background information from Headmistress Abigail Bennett AKA Leann O’Neill
  • Statement from former Curator, Victoria Blackwell including photos 
  • Statement of program volunteers
  • Statements from participating teachers, parent chaperones and students
  • List of participating schools and their teachers
  • Exhibit cards for “Going to the Chapel” and “Water’s Extreme Journey” since these are the only exhibits that the 2014 program participants will be commenting on
  • Memorabilla from the Midway Schoolhouse 120th Birthday Party including a schoolhouse cookie cutter
  • Mini slate writing tablet
  • Mini souvenir book about the schoolhouse
  • Sell sheet about Midway in History and book copy
  • Program brochure
  • Museum rack card
  • Example of rubbing done by students from the main gallery in the museum
  • Mini copybook example
  • Mini covers for Teacher, Schoolmarm/Master, and Volunteer packets
  • Photos and bios of schoolhouse educators and their alter egos
  • Photos of the school groups at the musem
  • Photos of program volunteers
  • Copy of “Museum Manners” poster
  • Donkey Creek Interpretive Walk information
  • CD or videos
  • Newspaper articles 

All these items to be discovered when the various students, many accompanied by children of their own, attend the 2039 Time Capsule Opening Anniversary.  There will be much laughter, smiles and comments floating through the air as the families gather and discover how much has changed and how much has remained the same.

Hopefully the schoolchildren and the teachers at Midway School have given you some ideas as to what to put in your own time capsule despite the fact that their items relate to a school experience in 2014 when they were imagining and acting out roles of what school might have been like had they attended Midway School during its active life in 1901.

If you need some additional ideas, you might consider some of the following suggestions:
  • Newspaper clippings of things you, your family, your business or school 
  • Photos of family, business, club, community
  • History of any or all of the above
  • Copies of poetry or manuscripts; your own or something that has special meaning to you
  • Newspaper ads including prices of current businesses 
  • Membership roster of your club including minutes of one of the meetings
  • Predictions of what you think 2039 will be like
  • Favorite family recipes or history
  • Letters written from current generation to a future generation
  • Pictures of current styles
  • Bottle of wine or beer, wrapped in cloth, to age
  • Old cell phone with manual
  • CD containing message to future family members (hopefully the 2039 technology will be able to play)
  • Mixed tape of favorite popular music and means to play
  • Sport cap or t-shirt from favorite sports team or player

Basically whatever you want and think would be fun and interesting to future generations to discover/

But the most important thing is to support your local non-profit Harbor History Museum and Gig Harbor BoatShop through the purchase of a time capsule.  You can purchase a time capsule any time through and including June 8, 2014.  Check out Gig Harbor Lighthouse Association on Facebook to stay current.  Stop by the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce booth at the Maritime Gig and pick up a capsule.


Thanks, and see you at the 50th Gig Harbor Lighthouse Anniversary in 2039!

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Emmett Hunt's Diary Wednesday, May 16, 1883

Windy and rainy.  Improved the time painting the little boat fixing rowlocks on "dinky" & so forth.  Such is life.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

World War I Scuttled WarshipsBeached



What do you do with white elephants?  Lots of people have garage sales to get rid of them, and others donate them to someone else.  But if those white elephants were warships, what would you do?  And if they were wooden warships?

One of the first questions is probably why would warships be built out of wood?  During World War I The Foundation Company was formed to provide ships to transport food to Britain and primarily to France because German was doing everything in their power to destroy the shipping industry and vessels of those two countries.  The Germans were hoping to isolate and starve the populations into surrender.  

Franklin Remington, a member of the Remington firearms company and the founder of the Remington typewriter business decided to assist Great Britain and France.  His war effort was focused on building wooden warships in Savannah, GA, Brunswick, GA, Kerny/Newark, NJ, New Orleans, LA, Portland, OR and Tacoma, WA. that could transport the needed food. I believe these vessels would be better described as wooden cargo transport steamships rather than warships.  However the two words, “warship” and cargo steamship” are used interchangeably in the documents.  Unfortunately when the war ended in November 1918 many of those warships remained incomplete.  

Beached and burned, Minter WA

Tacoma and Seattle shipyards had 36 of those “white elephant” warships; probably the last of their kind ever built.  Bot all were built by Foundation Company.   But what were they to do with them now?  Throughout 1919 and early 1920 many were towed to Lake Washington Canal and anchored in Lake Union.  There they remained.  Finally the Navy decided on a solution - Scuttle them!  

According to The Sunday News Tribune, Sports, Sunday Dec. 23, 1956, It looked so easy in triplicate.  But where and when?  Minter Creek beach at the lower end of Henderson was selected.  It was lonely and off any major ship lane.”
Tethered Wooden Cargo Transport Ships before the fire, Minter, WA

So in June, 1926, the the tug-towed ships passed up Henderson Bay, and Alva McKinley, a local resident was there too.  Alva had a day off from his steel work job and decided to row over to a friend’s home and this is where we will pick up his recounting of the story.
Burning Vessel, Minter, WA

Then the fun - if you can call ships afire fun - began. …I was launching my boat when about half of the towed ships burst into flames.  … I followed - as fast as I could - the rest of the 35-ship flotilla, nut counting the tug.  They stopped near Minter Creek.  You know that’s near the lower end of Henderson (Bay).”  The ships were tethered together on shore before being set on fire.  As Alva began to understand that these ships were to be sunk he became quite curious.  How?

Burning Vessel, Minter, WA

The job of burning lasted over several months and as Alva’s home was about 8 miles away on shore, he could watch the burning.  The ships only burned to the waterline, leaving the bottoms to float away. “The sea plugs were pulled.  The result was obvious.  Some ships drifted for miles and disappeared.  About five to seven craft hit where they were aimed and went under.  To this day at low tide you can see the skeletons if you are near the spot at low or near low tide.”   All the iron used in the construction of the ships was picked up and taken back to Seattle.  
Still tethered but burning, Minter, WA

Alva McKinley was born in Ringgold County, Iowa in 1880, moved to Tacoma in 1903 and then to Henderson Bay where he lived until his death in 1968.    He is buried in the Rosedale Cemetery.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Emmett Hunt's Diary Wednesday, May 9, 1883

Beautiful day.  Had an immense time last night and as a consequence feel sleepy so sleep & loaf.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Gig Harbor's Fortnightly Club



Saturday at the 25th Anniversary of Gig Harbor's Lighthouse, the current president of the Fortnightly Club stopped by to pick up their time capsule from 1989.  The current president was visibly upset, and was explaining the difficulties that the club was going through at this time in their history.

The club was originally established in December 1907 as a social club with a focus on community service.  They are the oldest active women's club on the Gig Harbor Peninsula.
1907 Original Members

However they have been forced, due to declining membership, to give up their affiliation with the Federation of Women's Clubs, as well as other relationships that they have enjoyed since their founding.  At the present time, the club holds their meetings at the retirement community where the majority of their membership now resides.

Perhaps if more people were aware of the of the history of this club it would be possible to attract young more active members.  I could, and will, list the influential community members who have been past members but more importantly is who will fill the shoes of those women?  

- Mrs. Franklin Secor
- Miss Lucy Goodman
- Bessie Green
- Lenna Patrick
- Mrs. Alex Uddenberg
- Mrs. Ed Patrick
- Mrs. Ernest Magoon
- Dora McKee
- Elise Jacobs
- Amanda Carlson
-Mrs Brittany
- Mrs. Kenneth Forbush
- Mrs Donald Reardon

In 1962 they sold their club house which they had owned for 25 years for $6,500 and that property is currently owned and occupied by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club.  They has received this property for the payment of the outstanding mortgage in 1937.  However by 1962 they felt that the property and the upkeep expense put to better use for the community.
Clubhouse sold to GH Yacht Club

So what type of community service were these women involved in?  They help families suffering from unforeseen economic crisis both in their own life but also worldwide crisis.  They provided loans for students to continue their education beyond high school.  They worked very hard on behalf of the community during both WWI and WWII.  They present the then president of the Gig Harbor Library Board, Ruth Bogue, with a check for $3,000.  Many of their contributions to the community were not made public.

You can read more about this value organization in previous blogs which have appeared on the Gig Harbor Harbor History Museum site  http://harborhistorymuseum.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-fortnightly-club-oldest-club-in-gig.html.  


I am trying to find out how you or your friends can contact the club directly to help save it.  It has been such a valuable resource the the residents of this community in the past.  With some new, younger members it will be able to continue to service the greater Gig Harbor community.

As soon as I can obtain additional information on how to contact the club I will post as a comment on this blog.  Please check back for the information.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.