This was originally posted to: Guemes Island Historical Society

GIHS - Minutes, March 2017

GUEMES ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

March 13, 2017

 

Present: Carol Deach, Tom Deach, Janice Veal, Win Anderson, Barbara Ohms, Shirley Margeson, Dave Margeson, Bob Anderson, Sue O’Donnell (sec)

 

SHOW & TELL:  Win brought a small tool he has wondered about . . . found a picture of it in Sloan’s Museum of Tools book.  Sez Win: “This 19th century "router-scriber" auger bit discovered by accident in my "stash of unknowns".   Sometimes it pays to hesitate before cleaning up too well.”

Win also had 2 news clippings from Feb/March of long ago – 1967, “no Aluminum plant, afterall – YAY”

- 1907, an obituary of “Sport Schmidt” written by Charlie Gant for the Anacortes American.

 

Cypress Island – Tom knew elevation of the island – 1,478 ft. – the minute the subject came up!!!  Quick discussion of trails to the top.

 

Guemes Mountain (elev. 550 or 639?) – Win proposes someone come up with a more interesting name for it . . .

 

Sue brought obituary from Skagit Valley Herald of Eugene N. Kozloff (1920-2017); interesting because of his research in Puget Sound and the book he wrote in 1973 – SEASHORE LIFE.  This is the story of the edges of Guemes Island.

 

PROGRAM:  Carol presented a book titled, “Lance Burdon – A Photographic Journey” written by Burdon’s granddaughter Nancy Werner Mathews and the Anacortes Museum Foundation.  Burdon’s subjects include canneries, salmon fishermen, early Anacortes street scenes, a school on March’s Point, and early farm practices at the family farm, “Broadacres” on Fidalgo Island where they grew grain, hay and hops.  Lance Burdon also documented the laying of cable for the telegraph system up through Canada to the Yukon during the Alaskan Gold Rush.

Burdon’s father William was a road builder.  Burdon (1868-1916) and wife Carrie Wilson had one daughter, Jane (1916- ?).  Jane married Hallie Werner (1915-2008) and had 3 daughters. 

Lance Burdon’s Guemes connection is fact that his cousin was boat-builder, Harry Rickaby.  Rickaby built the ferries Elk and the Elk ll and ran the first ferry service – 1912 - to Guemes Island. 

This interesting book is available at the Anacortes Museum and local bookstore, Watermark. 

Treasurers Report (attached):  Janice reports that our treasury has doubled (February 2016 – February 2017) in one year! 

Previous balance - February: $24,241.97 plus our 2 CDs (around $2,200 each) at Washington Federal.    Current balance: $24,243.83 + the 2 CDs. 

 

The Estate of Jeff Gent made a donation to Society of $2000.  Janice has written a note of gratitude to Jeff’s estate, represented by his brother.

 

Special Request:  Win has been asked by the Linnemann family (current owners of Anderson’s Store) to research the history of stores on the island.  Win searched the “surviving editions of the Guemes Island Tillikum and Beachcomber published by Charlie Gant”, the Anacortes American and the Guemes Island Evening Star.  Attached is the list Win has compiled, so far. 

Over the years, there have been 2 different “ferry landings” on the south shore of Guemes, west of the current ferry dock: Mangan Landing & Blackinton Landing.  From 1877 until the 1940s (when Charlie & Alice Townsend opened a store on North Beach at their resort) the 15 or so stores were located at the landings.  Win’s list includes 3 other more recent stores plus Anderson’s Store which opened in 1998.

It will be fun to find out how the Linnemanns present this information! 

 

Storage:  Guemes Island Community Church is generous to allow storage of historical documents, books, pictures, news papers, etc. in a room off the Fellowship Hall.  Church has made it clear that no property other than church items are insured.  Bob A. suggests we look into getting a rider on the church insurance policy to cover our property.  Bob will do some research on this and take the request to church Council. 

Discussion about preserving the history electronically.  Tom moves we purchase a ‘hard drive’ to hold copies of our information off site.  Seconded by Janice.  Passed.


Museum Report:  Barbara Ohms, representative from Guemes Island Community Club Association [GICCA], attended the meeting.  As Tom explained, a sub-committee - The "Next Hundred Year Vision Committee" – has been proposed to explore expansion of the Center.  Made up of 5 reps (Library, C.E.R.T., GICCA, Historical Society and an “at large” rep.) this sub-committee proposal will be presented to the GICCA board to be voted on, Thursday March 16.   However, the Stage Project is the most pressing priority for the group.  If the Vision Committee is approved, Tom has agreed to be the rep from Hist. Soc.  THANK YOU Tom! 

Coming Events: 

Strawberry Social – on Father’s Day, June 18.  Hist. Soc. has been asked to set up a display for the event. 

Growing Up Guemes – Tom would like to identify participants who lived and grew up on Guemes during the 40s. 

Luminary Parade – April 22 event will be to celebrate Earth Day.  Loalynda Bird will have workshops to teach folks how to make luminaries.

Recent losses:  Megan Palmer (1970? – 2017),  Tom Lindsey (1944-2017) 

 

Possible programs to come:

Children of Madge Welch

The LaVeque/Gould families   

Sue Stapp O’Donnell, secretary                     3-13-2017

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