tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755593200920587152.post7545349361191634699..comments2024-03-20T01:04:25.596-07:00Comments on Harbor History Museum Blog: FarawayHarbor History Museumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05352321858738657105noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755593200920587152.post-63527605186762414482017-04-16T08:55:51.884-07:002017-04-16T08:55:51.884-07:00Thank you so much for writing about our new home, ...Thank you so much for writing about our new home, Historic Faraway.<br /> <br />First, a bit about why I added Historic to the name. "Faraway" alone is already taken on every social media site I use, so I decided it would be easier to find on Instagram, Facebook and to secure a domain name if I added another word and the adjective "historic" is in my mind, perfect. <br />Note: The website is still a landing page - I am usually busy decluttering, cleaning or gardening and it's difficult to find enough time to work on the website. It's a goal for 2017 though.<br /><br />My husband, Kim Stephens, and I had been searching for years for a property within 100 miles of Seattle, where we have our primary home. <br />I have horses and knew I wanted to recreated my idyllic rural childhood in Wenatchee...spending days riding horses, gardening, raising chickens and rabbits again and growing fruit and vegetables I could preserve. We looked at many farm properties over the years, but the tough part was finding everything we wanted ON THE WATER. <br /><br />When we found "Far-A-Way" we knew immediately it had a certain magical quality. You can feel Faraway's rich history the moment you drive through the 100+ year old iron gates and see Puget Sound. Winding your way down the long driveway you see several outbuildings, all with their own unique personality. The first time we saw Faraway we were not surprised it hadn't found a buyer because it needed (and still needs) an immense amount of work, to both the gardens and the structures. <br /><br />Faraway was not only run-down, but all of the buildings were dirty inside & out, full of cast-off furniture and in some cases, garbage. Gutters are falling off, roofs need to be repaired and replaced and windows are broken. The gardens hadn't been cared for either, rotten trees were falling over and the seawall was falling into the bay. We repair or replace something every single day.<br /><br />Historic Faraway is definitely a labor of love for us. You need big dreams, a lot of imagination, attention to detail and a hard work ethic to take on a project of this magnitude. I try to take a lot of "before" photos, in hopes that I will be able to share plenty of "after" photos, but my husband tells me that I should label most of them "during renovation" because many of the "after" photos might be years in the making. <br /><br />That's where social media comes in. You can follow our journey on Facebook, Instagram or soon, on our website. All are simply named "Historic Faraway".<br /><br />What has kept us going when we are dirty, exhausted or momentarily discouraged is the sheer beauty of the setting, the incredible architecture of some of the buildings. I think the many different types of doors found throughout the structures are worthy of their own coffee table book! <br /><br />One other motivator to keep working "full steam ahead" has been the countless heartwarming conversations I have had with many people who have known and loved Faraway over the years. Some people haven't been to Faraway for decades, but they tell me their time spent at Faraway, whether they lived there in the 50s or 60s, or worked there in the 70s, or attended an event there in the 80s...they all speak so fondly and share so many fun details. It's truly a memorable place. <br />Have a story to share? <br />You can email me at HistoricFaraway@gmail.com.<br />Thank you for your interest,<br />Brook Hurst StephensBrook Hurst Stephensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755593200920587152.post-21288749585357894582017-04-15T12:43:24.401-07:002017-04-15T12:43:24.401-07:00No mention of the Seattle Archdiocese appeared in ...No mention of the Seattle Archdiocese appeared in the research for the blog. However after receiving your comment, a yelp review, and discussing with new owners I can add the following. The Seattle Archdiocese stated in the history on the yelp review, that in 2002 they established Faraway as a retreat house serving religious and nonprofit communities. The present owners purchased the entire property from the Seattle Archdiocese, and after much needed repairs, will live at Faraway full-time. Thank you.Harbor History Museumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05352321858738657105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755593200920587152.post-64740000162184615602017-04-15T12:38:36.568-07:002017-04-15T12:38:36.568-07:00Littleton W. Sturgis did come from Texas. He marr... Littleton W. Sturgis did come from Texas. He married Adele Miller in Colorado (some places say Tacoma, but that's not right) in 1890, and moved to Tacoma by 1892. He was an insurance agent and real estate salesman. He and Adele had two sons. She died in 1896 and in 1898 he married Emma Miller (I don't know if she was related to his first wife, Adele Miller), and they lived in Tacoma for most of their lives, but also spent time in California in their later years (they show up in both places in the 1930 census). You can find him in the Tacoma City Directory many times from 1892 to 1930 or so. He died in California in 1935 at the age of 60, she in Tacoma in 1936 at the age of 74.<br /><br /> No mention of Far-A-Way being bought by the Seattle Archdiocese?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com