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Innkeeper of the Month
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Shaylynn welcomes our guests with warmth and enthusiam. Here she is sharing a personal moment with Mona, the Island's beloved dromedary. We don't recommend that you try this when you visit! Shay is quite a pastry chef and all of our guests at the Inns and Coho enjoy her handmade goodies!
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| Friday Harbor Dining
Fresh Homemade Everything!
2 blocks from the Inns
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120 Nichols St.
360.378.6330
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Nominated
for Evening Magazine's "Best of the Northwest" Competition.
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3rd Edition  |
244 of your favorite recipes from San Juan Island. Order here. Spring Special $5.00 off
$24.95 Regular Price
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Guest Photo of the Month
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Thanks to Richard & Bridgett of Bothell, Washington for sharing one of their vacation pictures. Gizmo really enjoyed one of the Inn's handmade 'love biscuits'. Your photo could be seen here next!
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| Harrison House Suites & Tucker House Inn Newsletter |
Dear Anna Maria,
Greetings from Friday Harbor! We are all enjoying the first signs of spring - the return of the Orca Whales, the first flowering bulbs of the season and longer hours of daylight. We are putting the final touches on our winter renovation projects in preparation for your arrival. Check out our blog for photo updates. We hope that our newsletter will keep you informed of happenings on the Island, provide helpful travel tips, coupons, recipes and local articles.
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The Circle of Life
Scientists who study the Islands have the opportunity to view the serendipitous events of nature as they unfold. Wildlife viewing around the Islands, whether you are birding or on a wildlife charter has the same sense of exploration. Some are fortunate to view the kill of a skate by a sea lion, like those this week, or a new Orca calf born last month.
Ken Balcom from the Center for Whale Research announced February 6th the birth of two Orca whales born last month. Baby Orca whales are about 8 feet long and weigh 400 pounds. These two new calves bring the Southern Resident count to 85. The Southern Residents are a large extended family of 'killer whales' comprised of three pods: J, K, and L. Scientists' recent encounters with Orca in the waters around the Salish Seas are extraordinary this time of year. For the past seven years, the Southern Residents have summered in the waters around the San Juan Islands and spent winters off Monterey, California.
While Scientists are celebrating these early sightings and the birth of 2 new animals, researchers are concerned about 2 missing whales - J2 & L-57. J-2, known by her nickname Granny, is believed to be the oldest female of the southern residents. She plays a very active role as a babysitter for many of the young calves. Granny is also one of the Orcas who was featured in the "Free Willy" movies. L-57, Faith, is a large 31 year old male. Ken Balcomb says he will hold out hope until spring that these two animals might be spotted. Scientists identify the whales by their distinctive dorsal fin and saddle patch - the area behind the dorsal fin.
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A Bit of Friday Harbor History
In 1890, Friday Harbor was a typical small port town on Washington's rural coast. It was sustained by farming, fishing, logging and other enterprises such as groceries and hotels. Four years later, Friday Harbor underwent a huge economic boom, when the Island Packing Company began operating on the site of the Cannery Landing. In its first summer of operation 20,000 cases of salmon were produced.
Despite the Cannery's early success, Friday Harbor was threatened by rising insurance costs as it had no police or fire protection. Water was drawn from private wells and a spring that ran under the namesake main street and sewage was held by privy and cesspool.
The Town was at a cross roads and prominent leaders viewed incorporation as the solution. February 9, 1909 marks the Town's official incorporation. Seven prominent businessmen were elected to the first council including Clarence M. Tucker, a bank vice president and owner of the historic 1898 Tucker House. While the new council passed some ordinances regulating the sale of liquor and curbed the operating hours of local saloons, their just-in-time incorporation was able to quickly address an outbreak of typhoid fever caused from polluted wells. By 1909, the Cannery was processing 40,000 fish each day and by 1940 100,000 fish.
This 1917 picture is looking up Spring Street from Friday Harbor. Notice the new stone bulk head. The round stones outline Memorial Park dedicated in 1921 to commemorate the 9 serviceman from San Juan Island who were lost in World War I. |
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We hope you enjoyed our newsletter. We will publish from September to May and offer a special summer edition in June.
If you would like to contribute an article or photograph, have an idea of something we should include in our next edition, please let us know. You can also follow our regular news on our blogs at:
Don't forget to check out our specials. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
With warm regards from your innkeepers,
Anna Maria, Dave, Shay, Erin & Mollie
Harrison House Suites & Tucker House Inn
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