Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-03-23
TO RECORD HISTORY
is WOMEN'S AIN
Club Starts Campaign to
Compile History Of
Vashon Island
(By Frances Scott Cliff

The Elllsport Woman club mas
seriously undertaken as its spec
iai work, the compilation of his
tory of the early days of Vashon
island and its pioneers, which all
loyal residents of our island will
be interested in seeing accomplish
ed as perfectly and accurately as
possible.
The collection of authentic data
for this purpose will not be an easy
task unless every one who can do
SO will help the committee that
has been appointed to do this
work.
Reliable information, stories,
and photographs are wanted, and
any one who can contribute them
will be doing his or her bit by
doing so, and will place the data
where it is hoped it will be last
ing tribute to those to whom so
much credit is due for the splen-
did work of the strong hearted
men and women who began to
clear the way for us to make our
homes in this garden spot of the
Puget Sound.
We of today do not sufficiently
realize the heart breaking toll
cheerful courage and strong char
acter it required, or the privations
and perils that were faced to gain
a foothold and a living on this
densely wooded island in those
days.
Let us pause moment now, be
fore it is forever too late, and give
credit and honor for the achieve
ments of the pioneers, to the few
who are still living, and a fitting
tribute to those who have silently
folded their toil-worn hands and
passed on, leaving to us beauti-
ful and precious heritage.
There are but few old landmarks
left, but let us preserve as far as
possible those we have, or at least
take photographs of them before
they are destroyed, and send a
duplicate to the Ellisport commit
tee or club.
Probably no one can realize
more fully than the writer the
difficulties iof gathering authen-
tic information ON this matter, be-
cause number of years ago she
began to collect data, stories and
photographs such as are wanted
now, with the intention of making
handsomely illustrated booklet
that would forever hold the his
tory of our pioneers.
For this reason the present ap-
peal is being made,
Tn those days the Mcdowell
boats We're running between the
main land and the island, afford
ing an excellent opportunity for
meeting many pioneers, and get
ting material for this work.
There were also pioneers living
at Chautauqua. who gladly con
tributed much interesting inform
alton for it. photographs of old
landmarks and of pioneers were
taken and their histories secured,
All of this took time and patience
but being a labor of love, it was a
constant delight, and the stories
were always interesting.
The results of this work was
swept away by fire.
Now, the old boats are gone and
we have nothing to replace them.
Many, yes, most of the pioneers of
those days are zone The old land
marks have nearly all been des-
troyed, and we must rely largely
upon the memories of the descend
ents of pioneers of Vashon, and
upon those who as children came
with their parents when the island
was a wilderness, and have helped
to make of it what it is.
No money has been appropriat-
ed as yet even to pay for postage
or auto hire, yet many letters must
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