Legends of Vashon By Marc J. Elzenbeck Navy submarines are designed to not be seen, so the recent upswing in surface sightings off West Seattle is noteworthy. In 2025 alone, West Seattle Blog readers reported at least four submarine sightings off Alki, and reports have continued in 2026. These may be shakedown cruises, mild test runs from…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck There are good reasons to bury treasure. Fear of discovery and theft is well-founded, transport risk is real, and it is wise to avoid temptable natures. Love isn’t known to top the list, but it might be the oldest reason and the best. A love story is why Vashon has been…
By O.S. Van Olinda One afternoon in early September 1895, Mr. Lehmann started out from Seattle in his little sloop, having with him his pretty little three-year-old daughter. He intended sailing over to Vashon Landing, tying his boat up there and walking across to visit his brother John, who at that time owned the farm…
Legends of Vashon By Tripper Harrison No one was safe in the summer of ’68, and few were above suspicion. Only the scorcher of 1941 was hotter, when it was said you could bake biscuits on your barn roof. It was Vashon’s thin topsoil and intermittent humidity, however, that were particularly ideal for the fan-leafed…
Legends of Vashon By Cynthia Sadurni Every time I board a ferry, I always scan the horizon, enjoying the sea breeze and the salty, clean smell of the water. I never tire of the natural beauty that surrounds us. No matter how many times I sail the waters of Puget Sound, wonders abound. There is…
Legends of Vashon By O.S. Van Olinda This account of a day’s shopping in 1878 is from the diary of a fifteen-year-old boy, whom I shall call Bill Jones. His real name is John Smith, but he might not wish that his identity be disclosed. Bill’s father was among the first settlers on Vashon Island,…
By Tripper Harrison We’re pretty safe from Bigfoot sightings here. Some Islanders have reported experiences around Western Washington, but I don’t know of an example on Vashon. If anybody saw a Bigfoot here, one of the first comments would be, “Did it take the North End or South End ferry? You know they can cut…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck As with many great ideas, it started with a Ford Bronco and a keg of beer. On a Friday night before the Strawberry Festival, several earth-movers and excavators were gathered around a job site after knocking off work. They happened to be parked near an old peat bog pond west of town,…
By Orin Edwards Growing up, my family kept chickens. Most everybody did in those days, it was considered normal. Just part of being here. Of course, you could also get store-bought eggs from up at the grocery. White for Easter, for dyeing and decorating. Mother could make them look like jewels. We kept our flock to…
By Tioga Webb Ever since I’ve been out on my own, most of my housing has been “informal.” There’s lots more places than you might think to bed down for the night. It isn’t always dry and comfy, but the price is right. And sometimes you see things. I wrote about my time down near…