1890

• First strawberries commercially grown on Vashon
• H.G. Sickles Post, No. 57 Grand Army of the Republic organized 1/14/90 sixteen Civil War veterans as charter members
• W.H. Clarke and Jason Wylie opened store at Burton - new Quartermaster Post Office was in the store with Wylie as postmaster
  1st store at what would be Vashon Town - F.W. Gorsuch
  Pt. Robinson 25-foot platform built for the light
• Harrington Brothers Clinton and H-- started a greenhouse business Clinton soon left but H built it into a very successful business - joined with the Beall's in 1902
• Alfred J. Stuckey came to Dockton and built an extensive dry dock business there - born in Bristol England in 1852 - apprenticed as a shipbuilder there - came to Dockton from San Francisco as a journeyman ships carpenter - superintendent of yard until 1909 - they opened his own yard which he operated until 1928
• Tacoma YC built at Manzanita - bankrupt in 1894 (93 depression)
• Frank Bibbins (came to Vashon 1884) began the first regular daily service to Quartermaster Harbor with the steamer "Sophia" - 42 ft long - two daily trips - stops at Yacht Club Boat House (Manzanita), Dry Dock (Dockton), Burrow's Landing? Bleeker's Brickyard (Burton Governor’s Row), Hatch's Saw Mill (Assembly Point Burton Peninsula) "The brickyards and mill made considerable business for the little steamer..."
• Bibbins served the Harbor for 18 years - with the "Sophia" 1890-1899 and then the "Norwood"
• Corp of Engineers institute permit process for docks
• May 4 - Quartermaster/Burton Post Office opens (becomes a sub-station in 1973)
• June 5 - Lisabeula School Distorict # 84 formed - 6th school district on Vashon-
  Maury - one-room school built west of Paradise Valley
• Thomas and Etta McNair House built - Queen Anne Style - Burton - King County Landmark Building

1891

• Oliver Van Olinda arrives on Vashon - landed at Langill's Landing on Colvos Passage from the steamer Iola and walked up to Center
• September 30 - Drydock built in Port Hadlock for use in Port Townshed - economic difficulties force sale to Hatch partnership - M.F. Hatch forms Puget Sound Drydock Co. - Nov the floating drydock was towed to Dockton although not completely finished - 102 feet wide by 325 feet long - first used March 1892 and by June over 80 employees -
• Dockton named by Puget Sound Dry Dock
• J. Therkelsen opened blacksmith shop just west of Center
• First telephone on island - - mile long line
• First section of what would become Westside Highway constructed

1892

• Vashon Horticultural Society organized - the first in the State
• Vashon Cornet band organized - fourteen members
• 52 Brick Makers on Vashon-Maury
• First publication “The Island Home” issued monthly by VanOlindas
• Vashon College opens in Burton - Trustees M.F. Hatch, C.A. Barton, Thomas McNair, L.R. Carpenter - Old Main constructed
• Nels Petersen opened first exclusive meat market at Burton in 1892 -
• Miles Hatch began clearing land on Maury for what would become Melita Farm - his dairy operation - Hatch built store at Burton, opened general merchandise store and the post office was moved from Quartermaster to Burton - still the main store in Burton Harbor Mercantile - Post office moved to Burton from Sherman house at QM
• Dr. W.T. Lovering built house and office just south of Vashon - first
  Physician
• Company organized within the Chautauqua Association- - raised $10,000 to build a new dock and hotel - dock finished in August 1892
• Harrington Family House built- - Queen Anne Style - King County Landmark Building

February -

• Dockton Hotel built - a 40 by 60 foot hotel built in Dockton, burns in 1922 (interesting about the same size as the old S'Homamish longhouses)

March -

• Drydock starts operation at Dockton - 325’ long by 102’ wide - first vessel repaired was the steamer Flyer then the Wetmore and City of Everett sister ship whaleback steamers built on Lake Superior - in October the British warship Hyacinth repaired - The steamer Laurel took workman back and forth to Tacoma -operated until 1909- when moved to Seattle

June -

• Lisabeula Post Office opens June 1 - John Brink first postmaster - closes February 23, 1931 - -- story about naming - John Brink applied for post office and became the first post master - in his application he named the new post office Hopville, which was not accepted by the Post Office Department, so Brink told the Department any name would do -- "the official who investigated the application ... glanced up from the paper, caught sight of two girls working in the office, one of whose name was Eliza, the other Beulah, and wrote in the name 'Lisabeula.'"

 

November -

• Aquarium Post Office opens November 30 - Henry P. Fish first postmaster - closes 1908 - moved south 1 mile and renamed Glen Acres in 1914

back to top

1893

• Great Northern Railroad to Seattle
• Major forest fire burns from Center to Ellisport
• Financial collapse, island population drops - June financial panic began on the east coast - after a decade of rapid growth depression severely hit the Puget Sound - affected business on island as well - 14 Tacoma Banks failed - unknown numbers of unemployed because no one kept statistics - prices dropped, particularly for agricultural goods
  Fire - in August 1893 a fire began in the logged off area near the present high school where the first saw mill was located.- The fire rages for two days and nights, "nearly a hundred" volunteers "fought desperately against apparently hopeless odds, with shovels and hoes and rakes, to save the new Baptist Church and the Presbyterian Church at Center, and the Fuller store across the street.- With the flames within two hundred yards of Center, the wind shifted to the north on the evening of the second day, allowing fire fighters finally gain control of the fire.
• Jams Gammell opens livery stable at Burton

1894

• The Commercial Building constructed at Vashon College
  Miles Hatch builds Burton Dock

1895

• First weekly newspaper “Vashon Island Press.” Oliver S. Van Olinda editor
  Bag of 80 tins of opium found on Vashon beach by J.E. Mace -
  Strike against Puget Sound Dry Dock by workers protesting hiring of locals to work
• Vashon farmers produced 6,595 crates of strawberries, 1,787 crates of raspberries, 324 crates of currant, 17,800 pounds of gooseberries, 300 pounds of cherries

1896

• Interurban Electric railroad opens from Seattle to Renton - expanded to Tacoma during next decade - makes Vashon agriculture less competitive
• Vashon Island Band organized - Oliver Van Olinda President, Lester Blackburn VP, Charles Jacob Sec/Tres.
• Three greenhouse firms on Island - W.J. Gordon, Covey Brothers, H. Harrington
• April - J.C. Gorsuch grows 6,120 lbs of strawberries on each of 3 acres, avg. price $140/crate of 24 lbs - $357/acre return

1897

• Yukon Gold Rush revives economy
  Group of dry dock workers sent to Portage to fill causeway for water level road to Dockton
• “Vashon Island Press” ends publication
• Six greenhouse firms on Vashon - W.J. Gordon, P.C. Nye, H.O. Fuller, C. Griswold, Covey Brothers, H. Harrington.
• 1400 residents according to Vashon Island Press

1898

• Regular eastside ferry service by MacDowell Steamship Company
• Beall Family Home built - King County Landmark Building
• February - Vashon College - 2 buildings - Old Main and Commercial Hall - rooms for 150 students - for past five years enrolled 350 students, averaged seven professors per year

1899

• Carnation milk plant opens in Kent - encourages dairy development
• Miles Hatch donates Burton Dock to King County when the County assumes responsibility for all docks

1900

• King County constructs wharf at Portage.
• January 19, 1900 - Fruit growers of Vashon organize Vashon Horticultural Society - John T. Blackburn President, EE. Van Olinda VP
• May - Miles Hatch buys Excelsior’s bull- Duke 5327 from Chilliwack, B.C. winner of Royal Agriculture Show at New Westminster B.C. to improve his herd

1901

• Present southern boundary of King County finalized, election annexed Browns and Dash Points to Pierce County
• 15,000 crates of berries shipped off island.
• Armory/Gymnasium constructed at Vashon College (largest in the State)
• First Vashon Fair - John T. Blackburn manager

May -

• Vashon Knights Templars attend district session at Puyallup

September -

• New school for Vashon District - $800 raised by private subscription

November -

• Vashon Horticultural Society holds first exhibit

1902

• Harrington-Beall Greenhouse Co. formed with $18,000 capital stock - “business was all in lettuce, tomatoes, and hothouse vegetables for Tacoma and Seattle.” - Harrington-Beall greenhouse built

May -

• Vashon landing wharf may be lost - Harrington purchased tidelands on which wharf is located - demands rent from King County for use of tidelands

June -

• Charles “Charlie” Olmsted will establish a grocery store at Burton on Vashon island - Pullman resident for 20 years

July -

• Petition for RFD on Vashon sent to U.S. Post Office Department

1903

• C. F. VanOlinda builds store and post office at Portage.

February -

• Dockton Store opens February 9 - Dockton Post Office also opened - Albert Nilsen first postmaster - Post Office closed in 1987
• Dockton Store owners ----
  • 1903-1919 - Lawrence Turnbull
  • 1919-1948 - Theo Berry
  • 1948-1951 - Harold (Bud) and Betty Klapstein
  • 1951-1955 - William Bell
    1959-1962 - Kenneth and Ruth Capps
  • 1962-1968 - Donald and Mary Johnson
  • 1968-1970 - Mike and Arlene Parks
  • 1970-1977 - Donald and Mary Johnson
  • 1977-1980 - Robert and Mary Morris
  • 1980-1983 - Jerry, Betty, and Marcie Plancich
• Dockton Postmasters - --
• Albert Nielsen 1903-1914
• Lawrence Turnbull 1914-1920
• Theo Berry 1920-1948
• Betty Klapstein 1948-1951
• William Bell 1951-1955
• Ruth Capps 1955-1959
• Leon Lewis 1959-1962
• Mary Johnson 1962-1976
• Arlene Parks 1976-1979 (Postal Officer)
• Postal Contract Station 1980-1983

May -

• Portage Post Office opened May 18 - C. F. VanOlinda first postmaster - Post Office closed in 1968

July -

• Residents of south half of Vashon petition King County Commissioners to annex south half to Pierce County - -Commissioners agree if 2/3 of residents agree - vote to be held

September -

• Southern part of Vashon vote and reject annexation to Pierce County

1904

• Farmers Mutual install first telephones on island
• “Great Steamboat War” between Frank Bibbins and Chauncey Wimen.
• YMCA builds facility on Main Street north of Presbyterian Church

 

March -

• Cove Post Office opens March 26 - John Rindal first postmaster - Post Office closed September 30, 1956.

May -

• Seattle Chamber of Commerce visits island “to see what is necessary for Seattle to do in order to hold the trade of the island.”

June -

• Vashon telephones connected to Seattle

July -

• Miss Lillie Cross sues 70 year old L.A. Lander for assault while she is his housekeeper - trying to forcer her into marriage - he claims robbed him - he claimed to be part of Jesse James Gang
• Proposed telephone line from Tacoma to Vashon
• Tacoma boy accidentally shot in the head on Vashon during 4th of July celebrations

August -

• Vashon College changes hands - Professor A.C. Jones sells interest to Reverend J.M. Foster - new 56 page catalog released - printed by Commercial Bindery and Printing Co. Tacoma
• Rev. E.H. Jones lectures on “Japan and the War” at Vashon College
• Miss Norma Hoyt disappears from summer camp on Vashon - boarded steamer to home in Tacoma - not seen since
• Forest Fires raging on Vashon smoke hovers over island and bay like dense fog
• October -
  Annual Fair of Vashon Horticultural Society held at Center

1905

• Dockton Drydock sold to John T. Heffernan who owned Heffernan Engine Works in Seattle - intends to move drydock

May -

• Vashon growers refuse to hire Japanese laborers - will endeavor to take “only white workers, the preference being given to families.”
• Mystery coffin found on beach north of Aquarium

June -

• Vashon Island strawberries unusually early this year
• First Rural Free Deliver (RFD) on Vashon from Portage Post Office - Fred Kingsbury first carrier - June 15 -
• Hon. William H. Clark elected Vashon member of Washington House of -Representatives

July -

• Escaped convicts tracked on Vashon - rob house at Burton - steal boat and head to Seattle

October -

• Seattle High School plays Vashon College in football

1906

• Marjesira Inn Built - Magnolia Beach - Lodging, post office and store - King County Landmark Building
• Charles F. Van Olinda store at Portage moved north and new 2-story store built

April -

• County Commissioners open bids May 3 for construction of wharf Cross Road to deep water

June -

• Vashon Sand and Gravel noted in Seattle Star
• Irving J. Cross sues Vashon College $582 for lost salary when employment ended

September -

• Seattle High School to play Vashon College in football September 22

1907

• First automobile on island - 12 hp Franklin owned by L.C. Beall.- H. Steen had ordered auto first, but delivery was delayed
• Helmar Steen builds logging railroad along what is now Cove Road - Johnny Johnson engineer - crashed and rebuilt by T.A. Tjomsland - -mill employs 5 operators in mill, 3 loggers in forest - moves mill to Ellisport in 1924 and closes in 1932
• Pike Place Public Market opens - Island farmers sell produce
• Vashon Island News began publication - John and Phillip Harmeling
• Vashon State Bank opens in Masonic Hall - T. Hansen
• Emmick and Keentz establish large saw mill north of Vashon Landing
• Raeco Products Co. produces “Raecolith” floor covering on Maury Island - closed in 1911
• Vashon farmers produced 75,000 crates of strawberries

March -

• Vashon Evangelical Lutheran Church incorporated

July -

• Vashon Island Fruit Growers plan operating scows from Island to Seattle carrying refrigerator cars loaded with fruit

July -

• Northwest Bible Association holds 2nd Annual session at Burton

September -

• Vashon headquarters for opium smuggles operating from Vancouver BC
• Vashon Island Day at Pike Place Market
• Vashon Fruit Growers Association boycott Western Ave. commission men

October -

• Vashon Horticultural Society Fair
• Vashon Island Fair - October 12

1908

• 75,000 crates of berries shipped off-island
• McIntyre Road established
• Vashon Island Telegraph Co. organized
• Dockton General Store and Post Office built - King County Landmark Building
• Dockton Drydock moved to Seattle -
• Mock (Burton) Hotel built
• Ellsworth Ranch built on Vashon Highway north of town (ultimately becomes the location of Vashon Community Care Center
• Tom & Lucy Gurand bought land from Kingsbury& Mentzer on Maury Island; didn’t farm or develop; bought for pride of ownership (NW - of NW - of NE - of 21-22-3)

February -

• Vashon Electric Railroad Company formed to build electric railroad from north to south end of the island - 40 year franchise -
  estimated cost $350,000 - $50,000 pledged by island farmers -
  Will be built to Burton within 2 years, to Sounthend within 5 years -
  stations to be established, lights at crossing, children - price
• Farmer Mutual Telephone Co. protested - 80 of 125 subscribers sign petition to quite service until cable to mainland is established as promised.
• Vashon Islanders win at Seattle Poultry Show, E.J. Rickert, Buff Leghorn; Linder and Lowen, Barred Plymouth Rock

May -

• 1 - mile gravel road developed by King County “midway of the island.”
• Another high school to be established on Vashon Island (Burton H.S in addition to Vashon Academy)

August -

• F.M. Sherman millman - advocates law permitting counties or districts to bond themselves for land clearing
• F.M. Sherman claims power manufacturer on Vashon forced to close by Power Trust - power sold for 7 cents per pound - now sells for 18-20 cents per pound
• Vashon Land Co. accused of burning after permission denied - Fires burn- Aug 8-9 - threaten homes

September -

• Letter to “The Ranch” (Seattle) from William Scales, Vashon - signed “Yours for justice so that charity will have no place in the United States”

October -

• Seattle Day at Vashon Island Fair

November -

• “Half-Breed” terrorizing children run off island by Burton “vigilance committee”
• 40th District Anti-Saloon league confident of winning Vashon
• Vashon Island Commercial Club votes to support a Vashon-Maury Legislator
• Vashon Island Fair very successful - S.J. Hameling, general; J.A. Linverstad, fruits; C. Peterson, vegetables; Mrs. J. Blackburn, ladies department; Dr. Rachert, poultry; J.W. King, Secretary

December -

• Photo in The Ranch (Seattle) Figgis, a Vashon Jersey cow produced 19 lbs of butter in 7 Days

1909

• Vashon Island King Creamery Co. wins Gold medal for strawberry preserves
  Terkel Hansen opens Vashon State bank with $10,000 capital

January -

• Riel Nims of Vashon threatens to blow up State capitol if Cushing Jones elected to U.S. Senate

February -

• William Carey establishes fruit drier on Vashon - can dry 4 tons every 24 hours
• Leroy Lander, 82 years old searches for “childwife” and 18-month old baby and $3000 in gold coins
• High winds storm hits Vashon

April -

• Islanders protest granting telephone franchise to Island Empire Telephone and Telegraph Co.

May -

• Tacoma YMCA “Winged T’s” beat Vashon College 28-25 in Basketball

August -

• Magnolia Carnival - Steamer Vashon leaves Northern Pacific Dock in Tacoma at 12:12, 1:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 PM

September -

• Vashon Day at Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exhibition - 900 attend -delegations from Vashon, Burton, Lisabeula, Cove, Portage, Chautauqua, Vashon Heights, Aquarium, and Maury Center.- John H. James President of Vashon Commercial Club gives speech.

October -

• Tacoma Day at Vashon Fair Oct. 8 - T. Haun wins prize for best- display of fruit, Charles Brebne wins second, John Smart third
• Annual Magnolia Beach Water Carnival - magnolia Cup races for rowboats and powerboats, swimming competitions
• Vashon wins community prize at Puyallup Fair - best exhibit in fruit department
• Field Day between Puyallup and Vashon island October 6

November -

• Vashon wins “Best Community exhibit of Fruit”
• Vashon strawberries win First Place at Valley Fair
• Vashon Island King Creamery Co. wins Gold medal for strawberry preserves

 

1910

• Northwest Canning Company opened cannery at Vashon Landing. Operated until 1918.
• Seattle-Everett Interurban developed - makes Vashon produce more expensive
• Washington State gives women the right to vote
• Captain Nelse “Nels” Christensen and John Holm formed the “West Pass
  Transportation Company” and purchased their own boat to serve westside. Purchased the Virginia Merrill, a 54-foot (16 m) long
  gasoline-powered tug. She was renamed simply the “Virginia” and
  converted for use as a small ferry.
• Charles E. Taylor shipyard at Dockton built ferry for Tacoma-Quartermaster run
• King County builds Portage Dock
• Vashon farmers produced 165,000 crates of strawberries

April -

• Ellensburg State Normal School will hold summer session at Burton inVashon College buildings

May -

• Tony Bush “king of the Berry Growers” dies leaving widow and 2 children
• Fire destroys Seattle industrial asphalt plant and bunker of Vashon Sand and Gravel May 20

July -

• Jim Chin, Chinese man run amock with axe - former inmate at Stilacoom
• John Zoete of Vashon robbed of $80

September -

• Forest fires sweep across island threaten Magnolia Beach

October -

• Last week of October - Vashon Island Fair “one of the best little fairs of the state.” “Vashon Fair is a Hummer” - Miss Gladys Jenkins wins First Prize $10 packed two boxes of apples in 20 minutes - Tacoma Day Oct 12 - Seattle Day Oct 13

Dec -

• Vashon College Main Building burns - 15 students escape injury- - dormitory and gymnasium saved - December 19 - college later closes.
• 1910-1915 - Puget Mill Company logs 10 sections (10 square miles) of Vashon-Maury Island’s 33 square miles.

1911

• Vashon College building used for Chinese student school
• Hilmar and Selma Steen House built - Craftsman Style - King County Landmark Building
• Eight women in Burton start “”Two to Four Club” to read and discuss books.-
  Begin planning for a library in 1914.
• Second Lisabeula School built - a two-room school near corner of Wax Orchard Road and 220th

March -

• Vashon Island News March 15 - quoted in Lieutenant Maury’s Island and the Quartermaster’s Harbor, Howard Lynn “There was a public meeting with Senator Lile of the US Senate who assure the gathering that work was progressing on their plan to cut a sea level channel through the portage.

May -

• Letter from attorney J. Roberts to H. A. Stanley - May 3 - Roberts reports
  that he was contacted by a Vashon citizen who told him of the benefits to the Island of cutting a canal through the portage. An improvement district could be formed to fund it, with an estimated cost of $27,000.

September -

• First King County Directory that includes Vashon published
• Explosion on Vashon - 7 hurt - 12 sticks of dynamite placed in stove to dry exploded - Wyatt family

October -

• Vashon Island Fair 11-13th, showings of fruit, berries, stock, and chickens
• Seattle Republican “ Vashon Island is the greatest strawberry growing section of the State of Washington.”
• Seattle Day October 12, Tacoma Day October 13 at Vashon Island Fair

November -

• People of Vashon considering buying old Vashon College buildings and 10 acre site to form a consolidated school
• Vashon Island shippers sue Commission Merchant Goodwin for $35,000 he defrauded them

December -

• Vashon strawberry growers to cooperate with Bay Island Fruit Growers - 60 cents per crate on 1910

1912

• Vashon petitions State Legislature to secede from King County and become a separate county.- Vashon County Bill passes State Senate 38 aye, 9 no, 3 absent.- Not voted on in State House and bill dies.
• Vashon College last use of facility - closes permanently.
• Smith-Baldwin House designed by Harlan Thomas Seattle architect - known as “The Rose Cottage” - designed for Elizabeth Smith -built in Georgina Revival Style - Dr. Belle Baldwin (Elizabeth’s daughter), one of first women MD’s in Washington, lived in house until 1942
• First Vashon Strawberry Festival - Vashon-Maury Federation of Clubs
• Odd Fellows Hall built - (now VAA Blue Heron Arts Center) - King County Landmark Building
• West Pass Transportation Company replaced Virginia with the Virginia II, a 77-foot (23 m) long ship propelled by a 110 hp (82 kW) Corliss gasoline engine.

February-

• Vashon Chautauqua renamed Ellisport February 27
• Vashon and Maury Island getting ready to cut loose from King County - business meeting at Dockton on Feb 15 to discuss the matter

March -

• Vashon and Bay Island Improvement Leagues meet to eliminate the middleman to get produce directly to the consumer

May -

• Estimates that Vashon will ship 100 railroad cars of strawberries

June -

• Vashon-Maury seek to combine into a new county - Some prefer to be part of Pierce County
• “Eat 20 Miles of Strawberries” - record 1,800 Seattle and Tacoma visitors to visit strawberry farms - June 20

July -

• The American Women’s Republic growing out of the American Women’s League meets for a two-day session at Chautauqua on Vashon

September -

• Vashon Community Exhibit at King County Fair September 9-14

December -

• King County Attorney brings suit against seven produce wholesalers for fixing prices - Vashon farmers lost over $1,000 in Seattle and shifted to Tacoma
• Vashon Fruit owner brings suit against J.W. Gordon and Co. for $45,000 for collection of money on strawberry crop last year - trail set for March 3
• Body of Sallie Ann Grant, an Indian woman, found on beach near Vashon - 43 years old - December 23 -

1913

• Vashon High School opens
• Burton Union J High School opens

February -

• Washington State Senate votes 31 to 8 to create a new county of Bowen (Vashon Island) - Name switched from Vashon County to Bowen County to reward Senator Bowen who led the fight - Feb 26

March -

• Washington State Senate unanimously passes bill to create new county for Vashon Island named Bowen instead of Vashon named after Senator Bowen from King County for his strong fight for the new county
• J.E. Brockway, Road Supervisor of Vashon Island charged with padding his account - turned in timesheet while in Olympia lobbying

May -

• Jones bill seeks to allow Vashon Island squatters to get title to land they occupy

June -

• Strawberry Festival at Ellisport
• Steamer Atalanta chartered to take Tacomans to Ellisport for Strawberry Festival
• Proposal to build wagon ferry Point Defiance to Vashon. Maury, and Gig Harbor
• Vashon and Maury Islands may join Pierce County - legislature drops formation of new Vashon County - Tacoma businessmen urge annexation of Vashon and Maury to Pierce County

November -

• Friday Nov 28, gale wrecks four docks in Quartermaster Harbor, Magnolia, Manzanita, Indian Point, Monte Vista.- Burton and Quartermaster docks damaged - 18.36 foot high tide at Tacoma
• Port of Seattle Commissioners consider building ferry to run from Vashon to mainland

 

1914

• World War I increases demand for Vashon products - contract with Danish government for construction of four 4-masted barks -
• “Vashon Island News” purchased by Ira Case from John Reid, moves printing plant to Burton
• Quartermaster Drive completed from Monument to Portage
• Lawrence Turnbull Postmaster at Dockton 1914-1920
• West Pass Transportation Company purchased the 92-foot (28 m) steam ship Typhoon and renamed her Virginia III.

January -

• Loren Grinstad of Seattle claims Japanese are running white farmers off Vashon Island - State responds by opening 80acre plat to farmers

February -

• Berry growers of Vashon organize a selling association under Mr. Olinger

March -

• The Vashon-Maury Producers Union organized - 5 directors George St.John, Burton; L.E. Buchenbaugh, Portage; Pete Erickson, Center; George Sheffield, Southern Heights; A.S. Rendall, Vashon - General Office at Ellisport - 100 members - 500 acres of fruit
• S.J. Harmeling elected President of Western Washington Horticultural Society

April -

• J.E. Brockway, Vashon Island Road Supervisor arrested fro grafting $33

May -

• J.E. Brockway fined $100 for misconduct - sold horse and promised job to Thomas Humphries on Vashon
• Vashon Electric Co. awarded franchise to construct steam electric plant on Vashon
• In honor of new service to Vashon Island, Virginia II will give excursions up West Passage

October -

• Aquarium Post Office renamed Glen Acres - October 19

1915

• “Vashon Island Record” newspapers started by Robert Jones
• Pankratz Saw Mill at Dockton

January -

• Portage-Des Moines route wins vote on Vashon 630 to 468 - largest vote recorded to that time

May -

• Vashon Transportation Co. to cut Northilla service - conflict with Eli P. Norton who built and platted the community - citizens of Northilla appeal to Public Services Commission - Vashon Navigation refuses to pay $50 annual fee for use of dock
• First electrical generator on Vashon at Ellisport - G.A. Collins built steam electric generating plant - goes into operation in August - dedicated in November - power lines extended to Dockton in 1917

June -

• Vashon Strawberry Festival at Burton
• Tacoma merchants attend June 19 Burton Strawberry Festival to “cement Vashon Island to Tacoma.”
• 135 lb cougar shot on Vashon by Daniel Landers of Burto
• Aeroplane flies Tacoma policeman to Lisabuela from Tacoma to be with sick wife

July -

• Vashon plays Ollala in Baseball

 

August -

• Ira Case, President of Vashon-Maury Island Commercial Club urges Tacoma to establish ferry route to Burton.
• Big cougar hunt on Vashon to wipe out the animal on the island

November -

• New electric light system inaugurated on Vashon November 24 - Governor Listert presses button - generator at Ellisport - power lines extended to Dockton in 1917

December -

• Tacoma Yacht Club cruise race around Vashon Island - 16 fast cruisers
• December 28 - three girls swim for 20 minutes at Newport Dock - Suzanne Coraban, Lillian Haverty, A. Hale

1916

• First auto ferry to island.- M.V. Vashon Island launched near Georgetown, cost $35,000.- Begins first auto ferry service to the island with Des Monies to Portage run June 28, 1916 - first cross-sound automobile ferry first cross-sound automobile ferry
• 200 telephone - 2 companies Pacific Telephone and Telegraph at Vashon West Coast Company at Burton -
• Washington Coast Utilities purchase both phone companies and Vashon Power and Light - becomes island monopoly
• Steam electrical generating plat at Ellisport - First lights turned on for Festival - 15 cents per kilowatt hour -
• State of Washington bans sale of alcoholic beverages - illegal still formed on Vashon
• First lending library formed at Burton
• Cedarhurst dock built
• Boy Scouts of America troop organized
• Martinolich Hotel built to house workers
• King County abandons Portage Dock built in 1910

 

January -

• Vashon Island vote on ferry terminal Vashon Heights vs Portage-Des Moines

June -

• “Vashon Island” first cross-sound automobile ferry - Portage to Des Monies begins June 28, 1916
• Tacoma Commercial Club examines possibility of Point defiance to Vashon ferry

October -

• Pierce County votes $30,000 to build ferry to Vashon and Gig Harbor
• Tacoma Day at the 13th Annual Vashon-Maury Island Fair October 5
• Canning plat at Vashon landing handled 45,000 pounds of Bartlett Pears.- $13,000 in wages paid out that year by the cannery

November -

• Proposal to incorporate Town of Burton

December -

• Louis Lofgren’s Burton home dynamited - island man suspected

1917

• Fruit cannery at Vashon landing - 250% increase over 1916
• Camulos Club formed
• King County ferry route from Harper, Vashon Heights, and Seattle (Marion Street Dock)
• Vashon-Maury Island Association formed - 20 growers sign agreement with N.W. Canning Co.
• WW I - paper places American Flag below editorials, adds slogan “Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable.”
• King County Commissioners tour Vashon
• Mather Barn built near Westside Hwy and 220th SW
• Vashon-Des Moines Auto Freight Co. organized
• B.D. Mukai begins barreling strawberries
• Sheffield Dahlia Farm selling dahlias
• Bennett and Fisher store at Glen Acres burns - post office closed

February -

• Mrs. Henry Hofemeister assaulted in her home by stranger - irate farmers comb the island armed with rifles and shotguns

April -

• Hearing on moving ferry from Des Moines-Portage to Vashon Heights - Kent, Des Moines, and South Vashon residents oppose change

July -

• Burton Annual Strawberry Festival to honor ferry service between Vashon and mainland

September -

• Conflict at Tacoma Park Board about ferry landing at Point Defiance vs. Tacoma waterfront

1918

• Mass meeting about ferries - recommend keeping Portage-Des Moines ferry and adding ferries at north and south ends - Portage ferry “the wrong” place,” “long drive to Seattle.
• Plan to purchase old Vashon School - 200 shares @ $25 each - create place for public meetings, turn grounds into park (beginnings of idea for public facility, results in Vashon Park District 70 years later)
• Pierce County builds dock at Pt. Defiance for ferry to Vashon - King County Commissioners promise dock and road to south end within one year.
• 100 men employed at Dockton shipyards - proposal for “water level” road to Dockton.
• National Canning Co. (a Libby affiliate) purchases cannery at Vashon Landing from Northwest Canning Co, which opened the plant in 1910
• Camulos Club reactivated at Odd Fellows Hall (link with VAA of 1970s)
• Home Guard organized to support war effort
• West Pass transportation Company purchased the 98-foot (30 m) steam ship Tyrus, and in 1920 they renamed her Virginia IV and put her on the West Pass route.
• Theo Berry purchases Dockton Store from Lawrence Turnbull- sells in 1977
• C. Middling “Auto Service - Jitney for Hire, Go Anywhere.”
• MacMillan Brothers Fast Freight and Passenger Service organized
• Furbush Co. of Ellisport express and light hauling organized

June -

• Vashon Strawberry Festival

 

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1919 -

• Shipyard workers strike.
• North end ferry opens - Harper, Vashon, Seattle (Marion St.) Vashon High School gymnasium built’
• Seattle General Strike

May -

• Jules Dahlager, P. Monroe Smock, Noyes and -purchases interest in “Vashon Island Record”- from John Reied - May 6

August -

• Vashon Heights-Fauntleroy ferry service begins - Ferry Washington - August 16,1919 -

December -

• Ira Case sells “Vashon Island News” to Robert Jones who consolidates it with “Vashon Island Record” to become “ Vashon- Island News-Record” - P. Monroe Smock editor - December 8
• Coldest on record 7 degrees F - December 12