Bellingham in Whatcom County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Fairhaven

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 21, 2021

1. Fairhaven Marker (lower panel)

Inscription. One of the original four communities founded along the shore of Bellingham Bay, Fairhaven's colorful history derives much of its hue from its founder, 'Dirty' Dan Harris, noted for his plug hat, shabby frock coat over red undershirt, Indian socks and unlaced cowhide boots. Sailor, trader, rum runner and zealous promoter of Fairhaven, Harris was a rough-hewn and raggedly dressed frontiersman who first etched the unbroken forested shore with a cabin he and fellow adventurer John Thomas built at Padden Creek in 1853.

After sickness and death claimed his partner, Harris secured the claim, lived by his wits, and by 1883 parlayed the sale of lots of the future community into a tidy sum of $32,000 in gold coin. He plowed his money back into the soil with the construction of the first Hotel Fairhaven a few hundred feet from this site and Fairhaven's first dock.

In 1888, Harris sold his townsite to railroad contractor and millionaire Nelson Bennett for $70,000. With a consortium of investors under the Fairhaven Land Co. the town was resurveyed, platted, an ocean shipping dock built on this site,

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and the development of the community undertaken with fervor.

The largest and most grand brick building visible at the heart of the remaining historic buildings in Fairhaven is the Mason Block, built in 1889.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 48° 43.32′ N, 122° 30.747′ W. Marker is in Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom County. It can be reached from Harris Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham WA 98225, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Early Bellingham Bay (a few steps from this marker);

Fairhaven Marker <i>(upper panel)</i> image. Click for full size.

1919

2. Fairhaven Marker (upper panel)

"After the launching of a vessel at the Commercial Point Shipyard in 1919, Fairhaven residents stroll back up towards town on Harris Avenue."

Original Inhabitants of the Area (within shouting distance of this marker); Pacific American Fisheries (within shouting distance of this marker); Northwest Shipbuilding Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Schooner Zodiac (within shouting distance of this marker); Commercial Point Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1909 Fairhaven Empress Tree (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Puget Sound Sawmills and Shingle Company (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellingham.

More about this marker. This marker is the first of nine related markers surrounding the perimeter of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Fairhaven Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 21, 2021

3. Fairhaven Marker - wide view

The Fairhaven marker is the rightmost of the two visible markers, with the Bellingham Bay Today marker visible on the left.

Marker inset: Fairhaven Hotel image. Click for full size.

4. Marker inset: Fairhaven Hotel

The grand Fairhaven Hotel was the crowning architectural feature of Fairhaven when it was built in 1890. It was ultimately razed in 1956.

Marker inset: "Dirty" Dan Harris image. Click for full size.

1885

5. Marker inset: "Dirty" Dan Harris

"Dirty” Dan Harris, founder of Fairhaven, surveys the undeveloped waterfront in 1885 near the site of the current Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 951 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 25, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.