Stories of Friday Harbor and San Juan Island in Washington State

The Hunters and The Locals ~ San Juan Island's Own Tea Party Wishing Stones, Kelp Instruments, and Button Charm Necklaces ~ The Submarine Races ~ Spotting Rabbits, An Old Island Sport
The Hunters and The Locals (a local anecdote)
Many years ago San Juan Island was a popular place for "mainlanders" to come to hunt rabbits. Often these "weekend warriors" would take the last ferry after work on Friday nights. It was not uncommon for them to tip a few beers, and then a few more, until they were quite jolly and minus most of their inhibitions. During one of these ferry trips, a few local men were returning home to "The Rock" (an affectionate term used by locals to describe San Juan Island). A group of "happy" hunters asked if there was a local house of ill repute where they might find some action. One of the locals got a gleam in his eye and winked at his buddies - it was obvious to them (but not the hunters) that some sort of mischief was about to unfold. The local man told the hunters that if they got off the ferry at Shaw Island, they could have a night they'd never forget. The other local men picked up the thread and proceeded to embellish the adventures awaiting the hunters on Shaw. The hunters were thrilled and eagerly left the ferry at the Shaw Island dock to start their night of debauchery. The local men stood on the upper ferry deck, watching the hunters drive off onto the Shaw dock, laughing so hard that tears were running down their faces. They were very well aware that (in those days) the only single women on Shaw were the good nuns living at Our Lady of the Rock monastery. They also knew Shaw Island had no bars, restaurants or motels. Local legend has it that these hunters did arrive in Friday Harbor the next day after sleeping in their car, more than a little miffed, and eager to find the local men that gave them the inaccurate information. They did "link up" with the same men at the local bar, but with the offer of a few beers, and directions for a good place to hunt, all was forgiven and everyone had a good laugh. Top of Page
San Juan Island's Own Tea Party by Sonya Sonya provides small, personalized tours of San Juan Island with history, myths, and legends of this vibrant place. You can email or call her (360-378-2942).
The events and stories of San Juan Island are fashioned with multi-colored threads. When woven together, they make an unusual tapestry. This rich tapestry tells the story of San Juan Island. Unlike many tapestries, this one continues to grow adding depth and color to the past, as well as to the present. San Juan Islander's are known for their fierce independence, sense of justice, and demand for self-determination. The early stories date back to 1859 when Lyman Cutler and the other 24 Americans on the Island took issue with the powerful Hudson Bay Company. When the Hudson Bay Company, in the form of John Charles Clifford, threatened Cutler with arrest by the British government, these 25 Americans, the only ones on the Island, took pen to paper and requested help from the U.S. Government. That help came in the form of Captain George E. Pickett and a "rag tag band" of 64 soldiers. The majority of these soldiers were new recruits and did not know how to fire the provided rifles, much less how to hit a target. The British Government responded to the American Army's arrival by sending three warships holding several hundred British Royal Marines. Royal Navy Captain Geoffrey Phipps Hornby demanded that Pickett and his men leave the Island. Outnumbered at least three to one, Pickett refused. Hornby did not push the issue, but continued to try to intimidate the Americans into leaving by adding an addition two warships to the fleet. Undaunted, the Americans held fast. Thus the opening scenes of the famous Pig War. Not much has changed since then. Islanders still hold fast for what they believe in and will not tolerate disrespect for who they are. A few years ago, a noted Washington State newspaper wrote an article depicting San Juan Island and its elected officials in an unsavory light. The Islanders were furious. This disrespect by a mainlander for the Islanders' life style was intolerable. Long debates occurred in the coffee shops, on street corners, and at city council meetings, on how this offense should be handled. Some expressed it should be ignored, while others pushed for action. It was decided to write a letter to the newspaper demanding an apology and retraction. A letter was thoughtfully composed and sent by certified mail. Days, weeks, months passed with no reply. Islanders became further incensed that not only had their integrity been attacked but they were being completely dismissed. The Islanders decided to take matters into their own hands. One Sunday morning the drug store owner, who arose early and picked up the newspapers off the ferry, was called and told the ferry would be an hour late. He was grateful for the call and the chance to catch some extra "zzz's". But the ferry was not late. When the ferry arrived, it was greeted with many townspeople dressed in Native American headdress, war paint, and costume. They rushed the ferry with large cries, picked up the newspapers in question and heaved them overboard. Thus, removing a "peculiar order". Well, it just so happened that the rival newspaper had a reporter and photographer on board to capture these events. Also the Islanders did not have to go without Sunday papers, as by coincidence, the rival papers had added extra papers to its Sunday's shipment. Thus, San Juan Island had its own Tea Party. The island, town, and elected officials received their apology. Top of Page
Wishing Stones, Kelp Instruments, and Button Charm Necklaces by Sonya Sonya provides small, personalized tours of San Juan Island with history, myths, and legends of this vibrant place. You can email or call her (360-378-2942).
Stories of San Juan Island are filled with the events of the war, smugglers, hardships, saloons and raucous encounters in the waterfront towns of Old San Juan and Friday Harbor. But there was also another side of this development, a softer side. There were the women and the children. Early on, mothers learned how to find ways to keep their children busy and joyful. During the settlement of American Camp in the 1860's, mothers developed a wonderful tradition. They would take their children to South Beach to hunt for "wishing stones". A wishing stone is just not an ordinary stone, it is special. A wishing stone must be completely encircled by a ring, usually white. The ring must not be broken or the wish will not come true. Children would search for hours to find the stones, which are not easy to find, particularly at South Beach. When they would find the stones, they would make a wish and cast their stone back into the sea. Children and adults today find great delight in combing the beach for these magical stones. There is a special beach on the island where the stones are more plentiful and varied in color and shape. Come look for your magical stone, make your wish, return the stone to the sea so you may one day return to visit us again. Children in the 1860's also learned how to make musical instruments out of kelp. Yes, out of kelp! They would cut the kelp a few feet way from the bulbous end. Then they would blow through it. If you blow through it "just right" you can create a deep, harmonious, resonating sound. Given several instruments, you can form a band. "Dueling kites" are not new. The children in the 1870's found that the Redoubt, with its varied wind currents, made a special place to fly kites. It still holds true today. In the 1880's, children began to develop another pastime. They began to collect brightly colored buttons from their friends, family, relatives, and even from strangers who chanced to pass through. They would carry their buttons in leather pouches until they had enough to string together to make button charm necklaces. Boys and girls alike entered into this hobby. Mary tells of her mother, Ann Marie, who sat in her rocker by the fire as this story unfolded. Ann Marie had grown old and her eye sight was fading. The ribbon holding her button charms was worn and faded. As Ann Marie fondly fingered each button, she would recount stories of the person who the button belonged to. This button charm necklace had become a precious memory necklace for Ann Marie. Not only had it brought her much pleasure as a child, but it prompted memories of times gone past. Top of Page
Spotting Rabbits, An Old Island Sport
Back in the "olden days" you could hardly drive down an island road without running over a rabbit - there were hundreds of them! Everyone had "rabbit car" (or truck), or had a cousin that had one. This was an old beater that had an attached, movable spotlight, a net, and usually a cage in the back. If you shine a bright light into the eyes of rabbits, they freeze. Then you leap out with net, scoop them up, and put them into a cage in back. A cardboard box with a top would do if you didn't have a cage. Spotting rabbits was a local sport that all island kids indulged in during the summer. They'd often take "tourist kids" along and new friendships were forged. I have wonderful memories of hot summer nights, a carload of friends, and hours of chatter and laughter as we spotted rabbits. There were very few pastures that we couldn't enter (as long as we closed the gates and didn't bother the stock), and we could travel all over The Rock, racing over bumps and valleys in the fields, in search of the multitudes of bunnies. At the end of the evening we turned the rabbits loose (later I found out that some ended up in the freezer) and we'd head home with fresh gossip about whom had kissed whom, or who was a bad driver, the worst or best netter, and who we wanted to invite next time. Top of Page
The Submarine Races (By a woman who is a local now, that refused to have her name mentioned.)
As a youngster I had relatives that lived on the island, so I'd visit them on weekends and during the summer months. As I got older, I'd often bring a few girlfriends and we'd flirt with the good looking "island boys". We were considered "city girls" because we lived off-island, but we were actually from a very small town north of Seattle. When I was about 14 (roughly 34 years ago), some of the local boys asked if we'd like to go to the Submarine Races that night. We didn't think much about the event, but the boys were cute and much older (all of about 16 or so), and we eagerly agreed. They picked us up later and told my grandparents we'd be home by 10 P.M. and that we were going to the Submarine Races. I thought it was odd that my grandparents laughed at that, but off we went. Back in those days, everyone on the island knew everyone else, so my grandparents had probably known these boys since they were born. The island roads were gravel and no one much worried about young kids (even those too young to have a drivers license) taking one of the family "island cars" to drive around The Rock. We arrived at South Beach and snuggled into blankets, looking out at the water. Believe it or not, I was actually looking for submarines. I knew they usually traveled underwater, but I'd seen movies of their periscopes sticking up above the surface and that's what I was watching for. In the meantime the boys were flirting away, and evidentially thought we were the kind of city girls that were more experienced, but we were still pretty naive back then. Eventually I got tired of "fending off" my date, who seemed to have at least as many arms as the local octopi, and I asked where the submarines were. All the boys laughed like crazy, and only then did my girlfriends and I "get" the joke and understand why were lured to the beach. I'll admit we did drink a forbidden beer and share a kiss or two, but we were home by 10, a little wiser and with a story about those "slick, older, island boys" to tell our friends back home. Top of Page
Advance Reservations are suggested for all activities and lodging.
Home\| Reservation Request \| Travel Directions\| Local Events\| 100 Things To Do\| History\| Photos\| Sitemap Site Design: w3solutions © 2008 All Rights Reserved * Email: Webmaster