TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

Told by the Pioneers
GEORGE A. JENKINS
"\Vhatcom County
By August of 1882 it was said that "the building boom at Bellingham
is seriously interfering with the streets of the city. The old roads
and trails ran at right angles, cross lots, and in every conceivable direction,
ana recent purchasers of city lots are utilizing the clearings
made by the roads for building sites, thus obstructing the highway.
The owners are within their rights and the roads must be made to
conform to the regularly laid out streets. In the absence of a city
government, this duty falls upon the road supervisor."
Whatcom was rapidly outgrowing its original boundaries. A new
street, Broadway, was being cleared, and it was said that the new
towllsite would soon be cleared also, but the old wagon bridge above
the falls (Squallicum) needed repairs, two new bridges were demanded
on the road to the mill, and a new school house had been proposed.
Mr. P. B. Cornwall offered ground for the new school house its location
was on the line between Sehome and Whatcom so both communities
had an equal interest in the project.
J.T. ALEXANDER
Lewis Countv •
The river was the main thoroughfare in early days, as often the
roads were impassable. Hungry travelers were welcomed into every
home they passed, and it was customary to feed them. It was not unusual
for settlers, returning to their homes, to find that visitors had
come anel gone, helped themselves to food and lodging perhaps, but
custom decreed that the dishes be washed and the unused food replaced
as found.
Our furniture was all hand-made. I have my father's chair and
dining table. The table is four feet by eight feet, made from one solid
cedar board. I also have my mother's spinning wheel. My first lesson
in school was when I went in and sat down on the end of a split
cedar log. When another boy came in and wanted to sit down, instead
of getting up and moving over, I just slid over for him. I never forgot
to be polite after that, and not to try sliding about on a rough
bench seat.
The men wore buckskin pants a great deal in those days. Some of
these pants were fine, with fringes on the side seams. When they got
wet they would stretch and get to be much too long. Sometimes men
who did not understand would take a knife or shears and cut them off.
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