Muddy Cherry Street in Sumas, WA - Circa 1906

Picture 1

Photo credited to the Whatcom Museum, Photo archives, Bellingham, WA

Looking north up Cherry Street towards Canadian border.

 

This photograph is shown on page 257 of the book, Boundary Town written by Roy Franklin Jones.  This is considered to be the definitive book regarding Sumas history.  The book is currently out of print but is available in the Whatcom County Library system.

 

The description of the photograph given by the archives at the Whatcom Museum is as follows:

 

"Cherry Street scene in Sumas in 1906; horse team and wagon, wooden sidewalks on each side of muddy road.  Lambert & VanValkenburg Law Office on first building at right, followed by Sumas News in next building at right along with Real Estate Office. Sign on building at left for Barlow's Bakery, Confectionery and Ice Cream Parlor, including Coca Cola advertisement. In the distance is hardware facing the cross street."

 

What is not mentioned is that the aforementioned hardware store is facing Garfield Avenue on the northwest corner of Garfield and Cherry Street. The building with the three gabled windows on the left was the Mount Baker Hotel across the street from the hardware store.  The trees at the end of the street mark  the Canadian border.

 

The old photographs of Sumas give us a true to picture of the changes that has occurred over the years. 

 

Watch for some more exciting snapshots of our town's past!

 



 



North end of town in Early Sumas

Picture 1

 Posted with permission from Mr. Linn's collection

 

 

A snowy picture of early Sumas, Washington looking east towards the mountains.  We are looking  up Harrison Street near the vicinity of the Canadian boundary line.  In the foreground is the Milwaukee/ BBBC Railroads Depot.   Mr. John Linn pointed out that there is a plank trail leading into the swamps west of the depot. He said it was used into the 1950s and was known as the "Depot Trail".

Looking to the left notice the U.S. Saloon, The Canadian boundary runs to the left of the Saloon and can be seen scarring the mountains.  Also notice to the right side of Harrison Avenue, Gillie's Mill office.  

This is an older photograph which is estimated to be from 1905.
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picture 2

Posted with permission from the Gannaway Collection

 

 

This picture is obviously taken without the snow, but is a continuation of picture 1, looking north east.  There is an overlap where you can see the U.S Saloon in both pictures.  Behind the U.S. Saloon is the U.S. Hotel facing the border.  The large barn across the street from the hotel I believe is in Canada.  The border runs in the middle of the street and between the train stations.  The town of    Huntington is still early in development and is mostly just cleared land.

 

 

Picture 3

 

Close up details of Picture 2 with areas identified by John Linn

 

Thanks to the sharp eyes of Mr. John Linn, we can see the faint lines of Sumas Lake in the background of picture 2.  Mr. John Linn enlarged the area under Vedder Mountain and identified the localities.

 

This is a fascination early look at Sumas. This reminds us that the wilderness and lumber was still surrounding the town site at this time.

 



Thank you for visiting and look for new postings soon!

Service Stations of Sumas Part 1 - Central Gas Station

Remember when service stations actually gave their customer's service.  Not the self- serve mini-marts where people buy energy drinks and potato chips, but old fashion service.  Where the young men would actually fill up the gas tank for you and checked your oil.  They would often clean your window and put air in your tires. You left feeling you were given your money worth.

picture 1

Posted with permission from the Sumas Library's collection

The picturesque little Central Gas Station was on the northeast corner of Cherry and 2nd Street.  Be certain to notice the station provided clean rest room ( a major selling point) behind the station.  The Sumas Methodist Church was behind the Service Station.  The date of the photograph is unknown.

 picture 2

 Posted with permission from the Sumas Library's collection

Date of photograph is unknown (perhaps early 1950s?)

Picture 3



Posted with permission from the Sumas Library's Collection

Proprietor Bill Edwards proudly standing next to the pumps at Central Service Station advertising the Fire Chief Texaco fuel.  Bill Edwards later closed the gas station after opening the NAPA Auto Parts house and mechanic shop in Cherry Street and Third Street.  His son is currently still operating the Parts House and Mechanic shop in Sumas.

Cherry Street , Sumas, Washington - Circa 1950

 

Picture 1



Posted with permission from the Gannaway family collection.

 

This charming photograph shows the  intersection of First and Cherry Street looking northwards towards the Canadian Border, circa 1950. On the right is the I.O.O.F. building with Linn's Hardware Store and the Grand Hotel behind it. The Caribou Tavern occupied space on the ground floor of the Grand Hotel. On the left side of the street is the ivy covered Town Hall.

 

According to correspondence with Mr. Linn, The businesses in the pictures were as followed:

 

On the left, first block:

    City Hall, Jim Bromley's Barber Shop, Wee Drop Inn Restaurant, Bill Hesselgrave's   Sumas Garage.  

 

On the left, 2nd block:

   Post/West Grocery, Nyland's Sumas Mercantile.

 

Directly at the end of Cherry Street:

  Canadian Customs/Immigration Building

 

On the right, first block:

  Linn's Hardware Store, Grand Hotel (In the bottom of the Grand Hotel: International Drug Store,    Caribou Tavern, Handerson' s  Restaurant).

 

On the right, 2nd block:

   On the bottom floor of the Eneix Building, Al Piro's Drug Store, Washington  State Liquor Store, Bishop's Meat Shop.

 

 

 

Picture 2

Photograph taken by Deborah Morgan, March 6, 2015

 

Looking north at the same intersection shown in Picture 1 from the same spot.   The I.O.O.F. building is long gone as well as the Grand Hotel.  There is a small mostly vacant strip mall with a liquor store and its parking lot where Linn's Hardware store once stood.  Where the Grand Hotel used to be there  is a parking lot and an empty restaurant building. The city hall is in the same location minus the ivy with  modern siding on it. It almost doesn't look like the same town.

 

Thank you for visiting Nooksack Valley Nostalgia!  See you next time....