Last but not least, those log booms are the first thing I look for when the clouds start turning gray. To this day, they still anchor past my parents sailboat should a storm come rolling through, and I’ve taught both children to look for them and why they are there. Thank you for sharing the memories, and I’ll run your name past Jack and Kathy when I see them again (which is soon, because one of their sons is coming home for the holidays, and he’d be all sorts of upset with me if I didn’t put in at least one guest appearance to say hello…heh)

The monument has fascinated me for years along with other maritime treasures. The ‘Equator’, made famous by Robert Louis Stenenson lies mouldering nearby. Its restoration one of my failed pursuits. Oh well!

Enjoyed your article very much.

Thomas

I grew up on Banner Road in South Colby from 1952 until 1963 when we moved to Southworth. We were the McTaggart Family – Bob,Doris,Kaye, Barry, Joan, Tom, Janis & Mary Ann.

We were all thrilled to attend the brand new South Colby School in 1958. Only 5 classrooms! No cafeteria or gym. Students I remember are Eddie Breitenstein, Dennis Budd, Brian Barker, Susan Swan, Linda Rosendahl, Dewey Steadman, Pudge Wiley.

The old South Colby Grange hall was used for
dances and other community events.
In high school I played keyboards in a Rock and Roll Band “The Fanatics”. Remember “Louie Louie” “Night Train” “House of the Rising Sun”? Ron Burley of Southworth was our lead singer. The Grange Hall dances were attended by all ages and were very fun. The hall was also used by the Cub Scouts for their ceremonies and potlucks.

South Colby Store & Post Office was a magnet for us kids. We would ride our bikes to the store and buy penny candy from the glass case. Mr & Mrs._____were always very patient with us as we took our time deciding whether we wanted a coconut rainbow, piece of licorice,red wax lips,sunflower seeds or bubblegum.

At that time the Harper Dock was the operating ferry
dock and if a storm was coming in you’d see log booms anchored in the South Colby harbor.

The McTaggart kids have many stories to tell – We had so much fun with the Jeanette & Bob Fox, Peterson’s, and Kathy & Jack Anderson waterskiing in the bay and motorboating to the San Juan Islands in the summer on our infamous camping trips.
In 1963 we moved from Banner Road to our beach house on Nokomis Road in Southworth. Rosie Atkinson was our neighbor. Her nickname was “Biscuit Burner” and she had hung on her kitchen wall proof of that! A
Pan of Burnt Biscuits lovingly nailed to the wall!
Rowing to Blake Island in our “whale boat”, the $1,000,000 fishing derby, the rescue of Rex, our
German Shepherd, the dolphin in our bathtub – all
stories that we’ll never forget growing up in that
wonderful place on Puget Sound.

We hope to have a get-together along the beachfront this summer — perhaps a Fourth of July picnic — when we can all sit around and swap stories about the area’s history.

RN

I know that Herdmans dock to the right of me used to be one of the stops for the Mosquito fleet, or at least that’s what we were told as kids. The dock in its current state doesn’t stretch out too far. However, there’s pilings out in the harbor that could support this theory.

Those pilings, when I was little, used to be where Mr Totten (who lived down the road) would hang crabpots and get crab each spring/summer.

I don’t know if she still lives here or not, but my old neighbor used to be Marbeth Powell, who was related to General John Sedgwick, who the junior high was named after, and I’m assuming the actual road as well.

She was a great person to talk to and learn about history of this area from. My neighbor and I (who also grew up here in South Colby, my parents bought their land a long time ago from her parents…the land to the left of my parents was bought by the current owners from her
grandparents as she tells the story) remember much of the old neighborhood of South Colby, and some of the people who were absolutely amazing.

I came across your site, in an attempt to learn more about the South Colby grange. It’s been sitting at the top of Harvey for many years, unattended and I wanted to learn more history about it…more than just the little tidbits we passed back and forth as kids, or just the insane fear it had ghosts because it had been boarded up for so many years.

I don’t have any ancient pictures of the area, from pioneer times and such. I can just tell you memories that I know as a 38 year old who grew up in the area. However, I do admittedly share your passion in telling the history of this area to whomever will listen, because it’s quite interesting for sure. I know, even for me growing up here, I was
so lucky to live in the area I did/currently do.

My parents’ sailboat is still moored right out here in the harbor, and I’m so lucky to watch over it daily.

I love research, and digging for information and pictures and history. If there’s something I can do to help, please do let me know. I’d love to help out where I can.