Evergreen Paranormals Series of
Investigations at Historic Port Gamble
Special Thanks to our own Paranormal Advisor, Henry Bailey,
for sending this Unique Series of Investigations our way.
Evergreen Paranormal had the opportunity to be Exclusively invited to investigate one of Washington
States oldest Communities. A gracious Thank You to Port Gambles' Manager Shana Smith, and
the new friends we've made in this community of Port Gambles' current, as well as their past residents.
Our ongoing investigations of this Historic Community will no doubt, teach us that one doesn't need to
remain as a ghost to stay behind in this much Loved Community. Evergreen Paranormals' Invitation to
Exclusively Investigate Historic Port Gamble is such an honor. We recommend that people preserve
the Community by not trespassing onto private properties bothering residents, or going into cemeteries.
But Please do visit the Historic Museum and the General Store.
Port Gambles' History
Formerly "Teekalet", and Native American word meaning "Brightness of the noon-day sun" Port Gamble was
formerly named after Lt. Robert Gamble who was wounded in the War of 1812. Late in 1853 Andrew Pope and
William Talbot of the Pope and Talbot Co. of San Francisco (both men were formerly from Machais, ME) were
exploring the NW looking for a site for a sawmill to supply the lumber needs of California.
One of these settlers, Captain Josiah P. Keller, arrived in Port Gamble with his family and the necessary
machinery to start the Puget Sound Mill Company in 1853. Keller was part of a San Francisco firm consisting
of W.C. Talbot, A.J. Pope, and Charles Foster. Keller found Port Gamble to be the ideal location for the mill
site, with its "large bay, deep water and excellent timber handy to the water’s edge" (Bremerton Sun 1957:3).
On October 6, 1853, Keller filed a Donation Land Claim for three sections of land including the Point Julia
area, the current town of Port Gamble, and the spit at Teekalet Bluff (on the Northwest side of Port Gamble).
The Point No Point Treaty was signed by representatives of the S’Klallam, Skokomish, and Chemakum tribes on
January 26, 1855. Issac Stevens signed the treaty on behalf of the United States. The S'Klallam, Skokomish,
and Chemakum ceded or surrendered approximately 750,000 acres of land to the federal government under the
treaty, but reserved their aboriginal right to fish, hunt, and gather. The federal government promised the
services of a physician, blacksmith, carpenter, and farmer to teach necessary skills, and a school was also
to be provided.
All in all, they eventually came to Port Gamble where the evergreen forests reached all the way to the waters edge
and were easy to cut. The first caucasian woman arrived in the area later in the fall, the wife of Capt.
Keller. Capt. Keller brought saw-mill machinery from Machais, ME via Cape Horn. Mrs. Keller was said to
have brought the first dandelion seeds to the area (many a gardener wishes she'd left them home!). Within
a few weeks the Gamble Mill was producing 2000 board feet of lumber a day. Other mills starting up at the
same time include: Yesler's Mill, Apple Tree Cove (near Kingston), and Discovery Bay.
In 1853 John McGilvra arrived. As the first United States District Attorney he wished to establish law and
order. Noticing the timber was "being stolen" he hauled all mill owners into court and fined them for
pilfering trees from land they didn't own. The fine was one day in jail, which actually became a social
occasion for the mill owners, attorney, Marshal and Judge. This minimal fine did establish a precedent, as
pilfering trees has never stopped. By 1855 the lumber trade at Port Gamble had grown to include Victoria
and local needs besides California. Ships were built and refitted for this growing trade.
In 1858 Port Gamble was surveyed to lay out individual family homes and in 1860 the first school was built,
as well as buildings for "public worship, social enjoyment and fraternal communions". By 1861 the Puget
Mill Company did purchase the land it was harvesting from the University of Washington for $1.50 an acre.
The first purchase was 15,260 acres. President Hayes visited Port Gamble in 1880, the mill was turning out
36 million board feet of lumber annually.
In June of 1889 Downtown Seattle was almost burned to the ground. After sending men to help, lumber from
the area was used in rebuilding Seattle. In the 1890's a period of national economic depression slowed mill
production. Production was increased in 1897 with the start of the Klondike Gold Rush. The San Francisco
Earthquake in 1906 increased lumber production for the rebuilding in that city. World War I aircraft were
built with spruce processed at Port Gamble and Port Ludlow. Passenger ferry service was available to Seattle
from Port Ludlow, and by 1925 an auto ferry arrived.
Cash flow problems and strikes finally closed the Port Ludlow mill in 1935. Pope and Talbot owned the mortgage
on the Port Ludlow Mill, and reacquired in at a sheriff's auction. In 1963 plans were begun to create a
high class resort, conference center and homes in the natural beauty of the Port Ludlow area. Pope and Talbot
began restoration of the New England style company town in the 1960's preserving this small part of history
for future generations.
When the mill closed in 1995, it was the oldest continuously operating sawmill in the United States. But Port
Gambles legacy lives on and the community thrives knowing its history has been preserved. The modern machinery
was sold to other mills. In 2003, the property is used as a log storage yard and will serve as a ferry landing
while the nearby Hood Canal Bridge is repaired. Many out laying areas in Western Washington such as Monroe and
the Sky Valley area, sent their logs down stream to Puget Sound, and across the bay to Port Gambles mills.
Many rural communities share a valid piece of history with Port Gamble today.Port Gamble is Washington's oldest
surviving company town.
Continue to the drop down box for Evergreen Paranormals Series of Investigations at Historic Port Gamble.
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