CHAPTER 8
PRESERVATION of HISTORICAL
and
8.1 Introduction
Under the Growth Management Act, counties must identify and plan for Historic Preservation. This Illahee document is meant to provide a framework for what constitutes a comprehensive historic preservation plan that enhances and protects the value of this community within Kitsap County.
8.2 Historic
Preservation Planning
The Illahee Historic Preservation Plan provides Kitsap County a working
document to identify historic and cultural resources; to consider the issues,
problems, and opportunities associated with those resources; to explore the
possibility of county-wide and regional approaches to management of important
resources; and to develop goals, policies, and strategies for their appropriate
use, conservation, preservation, and protection that are consistent with those
established for other related comprehensive plan elements.
8.3 Illahee
Community
Illahee, rich in history, will begin to tell the story of its past that makes this community unique from other places. Identifying these physical reminders of the past creates a sense of place. Preserving these physical reminders instills civic pride and community spirit.
The following photographs are the beginning of depicting the rich history of the Illahee community.
Illahee
The community of Illahee is located approximately 6 miles north of Bremerton and 12 miles due west of Seattle, on a particularly charming Port Orchard Bay. It faces east, and the ground slopes gently to the waterÕs edge. Illahee, in Chinook Jargon, has been known as ÒEarthÓ or ÒGrassy Land,Ó and a more recent translation of ÒPlace of Rest.Ó
Hattie's Pond
The
exact location of HattieÕs Pond in Illahee shall remain a secret at the request
of the family. This beautiful, tranquil work of art is HattieÕs treasure. Hattie
Luella Elliott was born at Grand Island, Nebraska, October 18, 1910. She
married Erik Gottfrid Engstrom, born at Bredared, Sweden, February 21, 1892. He
had a heart attack and died November 21, 1965, on the same property he came to
in 1904. Hattie and Erik have one daughter. This original homestead containing
HattieÕs Pond remains an Illahee landmark.
The Homestead Inn - Palbitska
House
Located in the center of town, by the Illahee Community Dock, The Homestead Inn was in full operation in 1916. Ole Hanson and Son, 316 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington, began advertising Illahee in a pamphlet as the summer resort area akin to being in paradise. In describing the Inn, the pamphlet stated: ÒEat a meal cooked by Mrs. Earl Stark and you became a steady boarder. Charges were very reasonable. Parties desiring accommodations wrote to her for rates, etc., in care of Ole Hanson & Son.Ó
In 1916, Illahee was described as being designed by skilled landscape architects, tracts being arranged like theatre seats with Puget Sound as the stage. Almost every tract had an unobstructed view of the water and the mountains. It was here that boating, fishing, and bathing were centered. Eventually, The Homestead Inn was sold, and it became the residence of the Palbitska family in the early 1900s.
Oscar's Cabin
In
1937, the Fred Lind family brought a Swedish stonecutter (Oscar) to their
Illahee property and helped him get started in his new country. He lived there
as a caretaker for over 30 years. The property was sold to Ross who developed
it by including it in the Thunderbird Park area. OscarÕs cabin was then moved
to the new Lind property on Illahee Road near Third Street. It has been kept in
near original condition with walls decorated with old sheet music belonging to
Mrs. Fred Lind.
Illahee Community Dock
Built around 1916 to serve the Mosquito Fleet, and later used by the Navy to demagnetize steel ships through degaussing, this dock has become the mainstay and center of much activity in Illahee. The Port of Illahee maintains this dock for recreational activities. This is a very busy dock, and port commissioners through the years have always seen to it that this dock never falls into any disrepair.
At one time many years ago, this dock was also used to bring postal mail from Crystal Springs on Bainbridge Island to Illahee. It was at this time that Chinook Jargon was commonly spoken between newly-arrived homesteaders and local native peoples.
Illahee Rocks!
Legend
has it that this rock at the top of the hill on Illahee Road was deposited here
by glaciers over 5,000 years ago. It is the only one like this in these parts.
When the new Illahee Road was constructed in the 1930s, this rock completely covered what is now Illahee Road. It took a mighty blast to open up the main road through this community. Some of the early folks who enjoyed sitting on this rock were Tom McManamna and Kevin Schultz, grandsons of Orville and Virginia Schultz. Old-timers recall the rock as marking the end of a trail through the woods. Today it is seen along the paved Illahee Road.
Territorial Road 32l - Wagon Wheel Stopping Rock
This
large rock is said to have been the only thing to stop oneÕs slide as the
wagons moved down Road 32l. It could take more than a day to get to the livery
stable located in Old Town, Silverdale, as this woodsy path became the main
road to and from anywhere in Illahee. The Good Roads Association and, in
particular, Mr. John G. Fisher petitioned for a county road in 1924. This road,
now called Fir Drive, is reached by taking Trenton Avenue by the Illahee Fire
Station and bearing east onto NE Fir Drive. Stay on Fir Drive until the road
curves to the left. The rock is immediately on the right. Some of the markings
made from these historic covered wagonsÕ wheels can still be traced.
Illahee Preserve - Western White Pine
This
Kitsap Champion Western White Pine is estimated to be 300 years old. This site is
located on NE Sunset Avenue, next to the Rolling Hills Golf Course. The
community is fortunate to have this pine tree in the Old Growth Forest on the
Illahee Preserve, which is documented to have been a gathering place for Native
Americans.
Daniel Mathews notes in his book, Cascade-Olympic Natural History: A Trailside Reference, that the majority of all native American five-needle or ÒwhiteÓ pines have died out due to the accidental importation of French seedlings in 1906 that were contaminated with white pine blister rust. This centuries old survivor is a rare treasure.
Illahee State Park - Pacific Yew
This
Washington State Champion Pacific Yew is estimated to be 400 years old and is
located within the Illahee State Park. As described in Mr. MathewsÕ book, young
Swinomish men would rub a YewÕs limbs on their own in the belief that its
prized qualities of strength, elasticity, and hardness would rub off on them. Native
Americans used the tree to make spoons, bowls, hair combs, drum frames, fishnet
frames, canoe paddles, clam shovels, digging sticks, splitting wedges, war
clubs, sea lion clubs, deer trap springs, arrows, and bows (the Greek name for
yew is taxos Ð related to toxon, meaning bow). Many years ago, carved native canoes pulled up to what is now
Illahee State Park to gather fallen apples and other fruits from the many
orchards that lined the shoreline of Illahee. A medicine for the treatment of
cancer (paclitaxel) comes from the bark of this tree.
The LaMotte-Schutt House and Cedar Log Cabin
Located at the bottom of the Illahee Hill, this upland property was built by Dr. Henry LaMotte, Chief Surgeon in Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. Built in 1900, this home is a classic example of the Craftsman style of architecture. Built as a summer cabin for Dr. LaMotte, it was later owned by Dr. Ray Schutt and family. Schutt Clinic was one of the first medical clinics in Bremerton, and was located on Chester Street. Dr. Schutt would take a boat from his property, which he moored on the water side of Illahee Road, and he would go from house to house to deliver babies. In fact, many a neighbor here in Illahee was delivered by Dr. Ray Schutt. Dr. Schutt raised peacocks on this property, and they could be seen roaming the streets of Illahee. The trout pond on his property provided both amusement and fish to the community. Somewhere in the early l950s, this pond silted over, and the local stewardship group has received a grant to develop calming channels for salmon in the very place Dr. Schutt loved so much.
The Cedar Log Cabin
History has it that Dr. Ray Schutt cured an Alaskan native who had been very ill. After the Alaskan returned home, he floated cedar logs from Alaska to Bremerton and built this "cabin of thanks" to the "good doctor who made him well." Dr. Schutt's son lived in this cabin for a long time until his death in the 1950s. Standing tall, this well-built structure has stood the test of time.
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