Harstine Island Feature

The Island Remembers compiles local pioneer histories detailing the settlement of Harstine Island, a heavily forested, tide-swept landmass situated deep within the sheltered marine waterways of South Puget Sound in Washington State. The narratives emphasize the profound physical isolation of this remote enclave—bordered by the deepwater channels of Pickering Passage and Case Inlet—where early residents relied entirely on local ferries and mosquito fleet steamers to navigate to the nearby mainland hubs of Shelton and Olympia. Contributors vividly recount the arduous labor required to clear dense stands of old-growth timber, slowly transforming the island's secluded, stump-ridden acreage into viable orchards and homestead farms. By grounding these personal anecdotes in specific remote coves, historic ferry landings, and isolated logging camps, the book preserves a deeply localized geographic record of early island life prior to the modern bridge construction that eventually linked this rugged community to the mainland.

160 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm