Before TVs, smart phones, computers and video games!

Before TVs, smart phones, computers and video games!

   What did young people do with their time before TVs, smart phones, computers, video games and other devices were available?    Former resident Dick Bryant shared the following account he wrote about growing up on South Whidbey. We very much appreciate such...

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The Marina 1911 and 1913.

The Marina 1911 and 1913.

   We love it when people share or donate photos to our Museum. Special thanks to Bob Pearce who recently donated these photos found in a building at the marina he was renovating years ago.    They were taken between 1911 and 1913 and are signed on the back by Jake...

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The Jensen Family

The Jensen Family

      Our last post focused on some photos originally belonging to Jake Jensen, of views of the Langley Dock that the Jensen family owned. We thought you might like to know more about the Jensen family and how they helped shape early Langley.      Hans Peter (H.P.)...

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November 14, 1913…

November 14, 1913…

      Under the category of 'everything old is new again' we found this mention in the 1913 Island County Times that could be construed as a Langley precursor to Uber or Lyft... or at least a local taxi service. November 14, 1913...      "Call or phone Ed Howard,...

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Old Ferries

Old Ferries

We enjoy when our FB followers share their memories of living on Whidbey Island. Here's a recent one by Dick Bryant with attached ferry photos... A COUPLE OF OLD FERRIES by Dick Bryant As a resident of South Whidbey for the first 20 years of my life, I became quite...

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Bayview Corner

Bayview Corner

Through the 30s, 40s, and 50s, Bayview Corner was a hub of life and activity on South Whidbey. With an elementary school, a community hall, a gas station, mercantile, feed store, auto garage, and even a tavern and hotel for a short window of time, Bayview had...

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Childhood memories of the Fair

Childhood memories of the Fair

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF THE FAIR... Sandy Peterson Nelson (left) and her sister Susie Peterson Blackstock stopped in at the Whidbey Island Fair today and found a photo of them as kids in the 1949 Kiddie Parade along with big sister Sharon Peterson Gould. They are on the...

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Log House Discovered

Log House Discovered

Patricia Guthrie's article about a log house discovered during an attempted demolition is in this morning's Whidbey News Times. In our next post we'll provide additional information on past owners of the property. Some south Whidbey residents may know the house as the...

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“Conductor of Fun”

“Conductor of Fun”

It's been nearly a year ago that we lost South Whidbey's 'Conductor of Fun' Jim Freeman. Jim emceed many, many events on South Whidbey over the decades and was known for his gentle humor, kindness, and for being an all-around great guy. There will be a memorial...

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Too many rabbits…

Too many rabbits…

This June 10, 1942 column in the Seattle Star by Chick Garrett reports on the rising rabbit population on the Island, especially with WWII hunting restrictions. We were curious about the South Whidbey person who brought rabbits to the Island and found a 1900 Island...

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The Will of Joseph Whidbey

The Will of Joseph Whidbey

Feliks Banel, resident historian of KIRO Radio, and podcaster of MyNorthwest.com interviewed Bill Haroldson (SWHS Board President) on KIRO Radio this morning about the recently discovered will of Joseph Whidbey. Thanks for the shout-out, Feliks!...

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John MacDonald

John MacDonald

  On the outskirts of the Langley area, to the southeast, on what is now Wilkinson Road, a Scottish man, John MacDonald, (sometimes spelled McDonald) and his wife, Mary, established their home.  John left Glasgow, Scotland in 1879 and Mary and their three children...

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A Sea Serpent in Holmes Harbor?

A Sea Serpent in Holmes Harbor? This is one of the more unusual articles we have come across concerning South Whidbey. This article was found in the Chilliwack Progress newspaper in British Columbia dated Aug. 13, 1891 and also in the Montana newspaper, The Anaconda...

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Tall Tales of Clams and Currents

Tall Tales of Clams and Currents

TALL TALES of CLAMS AND CURRENTS... BUT TRUE We thought this brief article from the May 24, 1889 Mason County Journal worth sharing... ---------------- When General Winfield Scott was on the Sound to quiet the San Juan disturbance in 1859 [the Pig War], Lieutenant R....

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Joseph Whidbey

Joseph Whidbey

Kudos to journalist Kira Erickson of the Whidbey News Times, and photographer David Welton, for the cover story on today's issue of the WNT about the will of island namesake Joseph Whidbey and how it made its way to the South Whidbey Historical Society. Click below to...

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Mid-1880s Langley

Mid-1880s Langley

By the mid-1880s the area that would become Langley had pretty much been clear-cut for cords of firewood to power the steamer ferries, and the brush was transported to Seattle to help fill in the dock areas. Tree stumps dotted the streets, and roads were muddy most of...

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AGUE

AGUE

Do you know what catarrh is? Ague? How about Dropsy? Apoplexy? Consumption? Scrofula? While doing research on South Whidbey residents prior to 1920, we have sometimes come across such terms in their obituaries or on their death certificates. We thought we would share...

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Grocers’ and Butchers’ Picnic

Grocers’ and Butchers’ Picnic

Langley was quite the destination for the Everett Grocer's and Butcher's Picnic on Wednesday, July 22, 1914. According to the advertisement, ferries ran from the City Dock every few minutes, with adult fares 35 cents and children 25 cents both roundtrip. And what to...

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Murder on South Whidbey…

Murder on South Whidbey…

Murder on South Whidbey... The year was 1872 and there were few white settlers on South Whidbey. As loggers cleared the forests within easy reach of the bays and inlets, men began to stake claims, build cabins and start farming. One such man was Daniel Dale of...

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