HISTORY OF EVERETT
Reprinted from The History of Snohomish County (page 433)
Pioneer Historical Company, 1926

[Continuation of the “History of the Port of Everett,” written for the History of Snohomish County by Marvin W. SMITH, secretary to the Port of Everett]

Continued from Volume 23, Issue 1

           About this time [1922] the commission began to devote attention to the encouragement and building up of ferry connections between Everett Port district and Whidby Island. Through the efforts of the commission and its cooperation with Manager A. A. SCOTT of the Crown Lumber Company, a seventy-foot strip of land east of the lighthouse in the Town of Mukilteo, and running from Front Street into deep water, became the sole property of the Everett Port district, and there were constructed thereon landing facilities, and landing facilities were also installed and maintained on the Everett water front for ferry and small boat service.

          In December, 1923, Homer T. FOWLER became a member of the commission, taking the place of Lloyd L. BLACK, while Fred C. SCHOCH became president of the commission. Fred G. TEGTMEIER was again reelected commissioner in 1924. This period of port history saw the continued encouragement of Whidby Island development through attention to the ferry connections between Everett Port district [page 434] and the island ports. A comprehensive plan was worked out and adopted for improving the jetty wall and taking care of the river current so as to make a permanent inner harbor, as well as provide manufacturing sites by means of these proposed improvements.

        In December, 1925, Nels WEBORG was elected to the commission, which as now organized consists of its president, F. G. TEGTMEIER, and Commissioners Homer T. FOWLER and Nels WEBORG.

             The principal work of the Port of Everett organization has consisted in working out a plan under which the Everett Harbor facilities may be coordinated and harmoniously developed with the purpose of best protecting the operation of its mills, while at the same time bringing into being, as the need requires, a protected inner harbor, together with manufacturing sites as required by the city’s growth.

            Along with these general plans, the energies of the port officials have been more particularly centered on developing the commercial resources of Whidby Island, lying to the westward of Snohomish County and the City of Everett. This has been brought about with a very small financial outlay. Small ferries have been encouraged by the maintenance of the landings in Everett and at Mukilteo, with the result that the settlement of the island has been greatly accelerated through the low ferry rates.

           Much produce for our canneries, as a result of easy accessibility, is grown on Whidby Island, which island ranks as an area best adapted to the production of loganberries of any in the Northwest. The Marshall strawberry grows at its best on this island, and since 93 per cent of all strawberries consumed by the public are processed in barrels, and inasmuch as the Marshall strawberry absorbs more sugar than any other berry, having also a wonderful flavor and brightest syrup color, this especially makes the development of transportation facilities of this island of far-reaching consequences to Everett.

Continued in next issue