Hometown Pride... by nongo

Photography • Historical • posted on Oct 27, 2008

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Description

some facts about the town I live in... Dutch colonists arrive at Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, on March 17, 1894. On March 17, 1894, 18 Dutch colonists, including a cheesemaker, arrive at Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. The Northern Pacific Railroad reached Puget Sound in 1887 and the Great Northern Railway pushed through in 1893. The railroads opened the floodgates of migration spurred by land speculators selling logged-off land and the railroads selling tickets and their own lands. The Northern Pacific acquired public land through grants from the U.S. government or by purchase at $1.25 an acre. The railroad sold off large tracts to land companies, which embarked on various schemes to attract farmers too late for free homesteads. In 1894, John "R.E." Werkman acquired the right to market land around Oak Harbor for one of the land companies and he visited Holland, Michigan. He placed newspaper ads in Dutch to attract buyers and he displayed foot-long potatoes to impress farmers. This resulted in the arrival of the steamer Idaho at San de Fuca on Penn’s Cove on March 17, 1895, with 18 Hollanders plus an expert cheese maker direct from the Netherlands. More colonists stepped off the boat the following November. Within two years a community of 200 Hollanders had made their homes at the north end of Whidbey Island. Many settled in Clover Valley to the north of Oak Harbor, along Crescent Harbor, in Swantown, in San de Fuca on Penn's Cove, and they quickly earned recognition for their thrift and industry. The influx of these energetic citizens helped the area recover from the Panic of 1893, the worst economic downturn in U.S. history before the Great Depression. More Dutch settlers followed during the 1890s, and to this day Oak Harbor has a Dutch ambiance, and celebrates "Holland Happening Festival" each April.

Comments (30)

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Apophis906

11:26PM | Mon, 27 October 2008

thats a very lovely shot.

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RobyHermida

11:29PM | Mon, 27 October 2008

Fantastic photo.

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ledwolorz

11:38PM | Mon, 27 October 2008

Beautiful place and Fantastic photo.

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kayleenmichelle

11:50PM | Mon, 27 October 2008

yowza! excellent colors and clarity... your images are always so vibrant!! love the clouds, nice job!

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keeneye

11:50PM | Mon, 27 October 2008

Oh what a beautiful day this is Akemi!!!!!! excellent image! thanks for the info too, fascinating...

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Punaguy

12:07AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Very kewl Akemi-san...I've never seen one of these for real. Thanks for the nice history of your hometown along with this lovely image..I would expect it to be a little chilly this time of year. Aloha to you~

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silisto

12:38AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Beautiful shot! I foot long potatoes? WOW..

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auntietk

12:44AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Wonderful capture, and fascinating history!

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gunsan

1:46AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Wonderful shot and story. Could be in Holland. All is so neat and clean looking, such an idyll!

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babuci

3:53AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Great info and a wonderful charming capture, sure it would be my fav place.

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kgb224

3:54AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Excellent capture.

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Garlor

4:42AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Neat background info, you have confirmed that for many Europe was better left behind. perfect light and composition.

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flora-crassella

5:01AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

how nice! Wonderful photo!

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sharky_

5:16AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Its a treat to see one of these. Excellent shot. Aloha

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bmac62

7:13AM | Tue, 28 October 2008

Love the subject and both your photographic treatment and written tribute to the Dutch settlers. I've spent time in Washington State but have never been to Oak Harbor...next time I'll go with camera in hand. Bill

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