John McNutt

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Image of the Coast Trader (submitted photo)

BACK WHEN: A day to remember: Pearl Harbor Day

TODAY IS A DAY of remembrance. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day set aside to honor and remember the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor… Continue reading

 

A bellwether is traditionally the leading sheep of a flock, which has a bell to lead the others.

BACK WHEN: Is Olympic Peninsula the bellwether?

HERE WE ARE. Just days away from another Presidential election. There is a certain level of weirdness that comes with presidential elections. Clallam County has… Continue reading

 

Courtesy of Janice Blazer Ida Barker Simmons.

BACK WHEN: The story of Ida Barker Simmons

LIFE CAN BE difficult for many people. In the 19th century, life could be hard on the Olympic Peninsula. Homesteading alone was hard. Add in… Continue reading

 

Eunice Lum, Sue and Mary’s eldest daughter. The image is from a 1922 girl’s sunday school class at the First Baptist Church. Eunice would be about 11 years old.

BACK WHEN: A story of early Chinese Peninsula settlers

WHEN I EXPLORE a cemetery, I often wonder about the lives of the people buried here. Does the name tell me anything? Do the dates… Continue reading

Eunice Lum, Sue and Mary’s eldest daughter. The image is from a 1922 girl’s sunday school class at the First Baptist Church. Eunice would be about 11 years old.
In Action circa 1930.jpg: A local fire with the fire truck in action. Courtesy of Port Angeles Fire Department.

BACK WHEN: The history of the Port Angeles fire truck

WE CAN BE so busy with life that we do not see treasures near us. I am reminded of that every time I drive by… Continue reading

In Action circa 1930.jpg: A local fire with the fire truck in action. Courtesy of Port Angeles Fire Department.
John McNutt

BACK WHEN: 100 years of automobile history on the Peninsula

SOMETIMES WE FORGET just how much things change. Our surroundings are always changing. Our lives are changing. Our cars are changing. Changes in cars seems… Continue reading

John McNutt
Headline from 1860s newspaper.

BACK WHEN: Olympic Peninsula history shows the danger of vigilantism

SOME PEOPLE ARE known by your local community to be the sources of recent crimes. What do you do? What would any reasonable community do?… Continue reading

Headline from 1860s newspaper.
the Hand-Book Almanac of the Pacific States

BACK WHEN: A guidebook to a Peninsula of days gone past

LET’S BEGIN WITH a Jeopardy question. “This book is filled with trivial information.” Answer, “What is the Hand-Book Almanac of the Pacific States”? I found… Continue reading

the Hand-Book Almanac of the Pacific States
Some of the evidence recovered when they were arrested.

BACK WHEN: Jail break on the Olympic Peninsula

THE STORIES OF life and crime can take many twists and turns. In 1922, a planned robbery at the recreation hall of Discovery Bay Logging… Continue reading

Some of the evidence recovered when they were arrested.
Tod Morgan

BACK WHEN: Olympic Peninsula’s own world boxing champion

IT IS EASY to be amazed with the athletes who participate in the fighting sports, such as MMA and boxing. The level of skill is… Continue reading

Tod Morgan
Submitted photo

BACK WHEN: The dangers of starting a new life in the pioneer age

LAST MONTH I wrote about Daniel Webster Pullen and his family. By 1870, Pullen had bought a trading post in La Push and was prospering.… Continue reading

Submitted photo
Daniel Pullen with his sons, Dan, Chester and Royal circa 1906. (Submitted photo)

BACK WHEN: Land disputes, lawsuits part of Peninsula history

FOR THE PIONEERS of Clallam County, life was hard. Living was difficult. Getting enough food was not easy. Traveling was treacherous. You most likely were… Continue reading

Daniel Pullen with his sons, Dan, Chester and Royal circa 1906. (Submitted photo)
The other image is a movie poster for “Going Up” which I reference in my article.

BACK WHEN: A look back at life on the Olympic Peninsula a century ago

DO YOU EVER ponder what it would be like to be living here 100 years ago? Were those simpler times? Everything was so inexpensive. Life… Continue reading

The other image is a movie poster for “Going Up” which I reference in my article.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Headline about the fatal shooting of Dr. Herrick from an 1893 newspaper.

BACK WHEN: Well-behaved people would make for boring history

WHY CAN’T PEOPLE work out their differences? Why do things turn towards hostility so easily? Wait! Were you thinking I was talking about the streets… Continue reading

SUBMITTED PHOTO Headline about the fatal shooting of Dr. Herrick from an 1893 newspaper.
Cover from the book “Sapho” by Alphone Daudet. (PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JOHN MCNUTT)

BACK WHEN: A rose by any name? The story of Washington place names

WHAT’S IN A name? We do live in an area with many interesting names. Some of those names have roots in indigenous language. Other names… Continue reading

Cover from the book “Sapho” by Alphone Daudet. (PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JOHN MCNUTT)
John McNutt

BACK WHEN: Washington couple responded to life’s calling

WHAT IS YOUR life’s calling? Whatever it may be, that calling makes your life meaningful. People who answer their life’s call do not care about… Continue reading

John McNutt
Headline of a newspaper from 1896 about the Washington murders. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN MCNUTT)

BACK WHEN: Love triangles, violence in the media are not new

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS the world has gone mad. The news is filled with stories of murder and mayhem. It seems to inundate every form of… Continue reading

Headline of a newspaper from 1896 about the Washington murders. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN MCNUTT)
Sam Kallas standing in front of 128 E. Front St., the Duck Inn in 1968. (Submitted by John McNutt)

BACK WHEN: Positive impact of Greek immigrants on the Peninsula

OUR AREA HAS been influenced by many people. Those people are not simply limited to the United States and Canada, but also Europe. Our local… Continue reading

Sam Kallas standing in front of 128 E. Front St., the Duck Inn in 1968. (Submitted by John McNutt)

BACK WHEN: The history of a strange profession — sin eaters

“AND NOW, FOR something completely different.” For those dork dads out there, you will remember that is a quote from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. This… Continue reading

Monty Mug Shot

BACK WHEN: Part 2: ‘Lady of the Lake’ murder mystery

LAST MONTH, I gave you Part 2 of the “Lady of the Lake” murder mystery. The mysterious body had been identified as Hallie Illingworth. Good… Continue reading

Monty Mug Shot