Fairhaven
by James Williamson
Title
Fairhaven
Artist
James Williamson
Medium
Painting - Pen And Ink Watercolor
Description
Fairhaven Washington
Pen and ink, watercolor painting by artist James Williamson.
Artist James Williamson, ASMA
Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists
Pacific American Fisheries, Fairhaven, Washington.
At the turn of the century Fairhaven was a bustling community nestled on the South edge of Bellingham Bay. Ships sailed and steamed out to sea, streetcars clanged, and the sounds of the mill whistles could be heard along several blocks of the thriving business district. Buildings were rapidly springing up as Fairhaven experienced the boom of the 1890s. The ornate Fairhaven Hotel was noted as the finest west of the Mississippi and north of San Francisco. Local businessmen and investors of the day eagerly awaited the arrival of the transcontinental railroad, which they believed would have its terminus in Fairhaven. However, when the western terminus was located 90 miles to the south, the boom in Fairhaven subsided, leaving many buildings vacant and some never completed.
Today the excitement and confidence of its forefathers has returned to Old Fairhaven. The ornate hotel is gone, but the remaining buildings are again coming to life and are gradually being restored to their original elegance (The preceding information was taken verbatim from the pamphlet Old Fairhaven printed by the Old Fairhaven Association 1983.)
Seen in the Fairhaven painting are parts of the following historical buildings: the Fairhaven Hotel (1890-1953), the Morgan Block (1890 rebuilt in 1976 still in existence), the Waldron Building (1890 rebuilt 2004 to 2009 still in existence), the Nelson Block (1900 still in existence), the 1410 Building, the Terminal Building (1888-still in existence), the Monahan Building (1890-still in existence), the Knights of Pythias Building (1891-still in existence), the Bellingham Bay Hotel (1901-still in existence).
Pacific American Fisheries was one of the greatest salmon canning operations in the world. The cannery was located in Fairhaven, Washington, in the heart of the richest fishing grounds. The cannery began operation in 1899 under the name PAF and was to grow and expand under the fine leadership and management of E. B. Deming and Frank Deming.
The Fairhaven painting illustrates the cannery buildings, warehouses and waterfront wharfs that covered over eighteen acres of land. The PAF cannery at Fairhaven, along with its sister cannery at Friday Harbor, Washington (on San Jaun Island), could can up to 10,000 cases of salmon per day in the short but busy fishing season. At one time, up to 14,000 people, many of them Chinese, were involved in the operation of these two canneries.
All of the aspects of salmon canning were covered by the PAF cannery in Fairhaven. From can and box making to labeling and packing of the finished product, the PAF was able to direct the manufacturing along profitable lines. The company also ran its own fishing fleet and had a boat building operation as well. But times were to change. Fishing declined on the Sound due to a variety of reasons and the market moved north to more lucrative fishing grounds in Alaska. Although it had been in operation for more than 66 years, in 1965 the Pacific American Fisheries cannery at Fairhaven closed its doors.
(Story developed from Galen Biery historical information with permission from Galen Biery. Galen worked at the PAF cannery.)
The mosquito fleet steamer Fairhaven is seen in the foreground. She was built in 1889 and the vessel worked for several companies as a passenger carrier and freight boat. Among her various owners were the La Conner Trading and Transportation Company and the Whidbey Island Transportation Company. In the Fairhaven painting she is depicted in the waters off Fairhaven, Washington, her namesake. She was hauled out of the water in 1918 and ended her career as a houseboat.
We wish to thank the following for their time and energy put into making this print possible: Galen Biery, local historian, for unfailing support, invaluable photographs, and use of historical reference books, i.e., Souvenir of Northwest Washington and Bellingham Bay Country; Jim Moore of the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies for assistance in procuring historical information; Dr. James W. Scott of Western Washington University for assistance and photographs; Miss Leone Moena of Express Printing for historical information about Fairhaven, encouragement and support. Original artwork by James Williamson created and published in 1984.
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November 27th, 2014
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