Taylor, George B (1857-1938). Historically Interesting Letter Written by an Early Sawmill Worker from Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, and Addressed to “Friend Charley,” Talking about the Best Flavor and the Immense Size of Crops, the “Trees Breaking Down with Loads of Fruit,” the Abundance of Timber, Farm & Wild Lands (With the Indication of Prices), and Glorious Climate; Also, Inviting the Addressee Over to Experience a Life Akin to “Kings.” Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington: 20 July 1884.

Octavo Bifolium (ca. 20x13 cm or 8x5 in). 4 pp. Brown ink on lined yellow laid paper. Fold marks, but overall a vey good letter written in a legible hand.

Original autograph manuscript letter illustrating the bountiful agricultural wealth of Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington, as seen through the eyes of a pioneer sawmill worker.

Bellingham was established in the late 19th century and named after Sir William Bellingham, a British naval officer who explored the area in the 1790s. In 1903, Bellingham consolidated with the neighboring community of Fairhaven, solidifying its status as a prominent center of commerce and agriculture in the region.

George B. Taylor (1857-1938), the letter's author, was born in 1857 in Grand Rapids, Itasca County, Minnesota. Together with his wife, Nellie R. Taylor (1865-1941), they moved to Washington in the late 1870s-early 1880s. The couple settled in Bellingham, spending the remainder of their lives in Washington.

In the letter, dated 20 July 1884 and addressed to "Friend Charley, " the author enthusiastically describes his work at a local sawmill, the "best climate in the world, " and the immense size & exceptional flavor of local crops (strawberries, cherries, currents, gooseberries). George also talks about his and "Maltby's " recent trip along the Nooksack River on their sailboat, portraying the trees "breaking down with loads of fruit " and the abundance of timber, farming, and wild lands (with the indication of prices) in the visited area. Near the close, the author contrasts the dynamic nature of Eastern farmers with the "lasy, shiftless " people in the West, writes about his plans of building a sawmill, and encourages Charley to come over to experience a life akin to "kings. " Overall, a historically interesting original autograph letter from the early days of Bellingham, Washington.

The text of the letter:

“Friend Charley, I received your kind letter a long time ago and have put off answering from time to time, waiting for some news to write. I am working in the sawmill here cutting from 50 to 5000 feet per day. Maltby and I are still keeping house and live like kings. This is a glorious climate we have not had a frost since the 31 of March, have tornadoes nor thunderstorms, have had just rain enough the hollest day has been 76 in the shade taking everything togather it is the best climate in the world I think, no much for the climate now about the crops first comes strawberries they do finely here immense yield and nice flavor. Then comes cherries currants and gooseberries They all do well Cherries were raised here that actually measured 3 ¼ in in circumference and – best flavor of any cherries I ever saw. The gooseberries were nearly as large and the best I ever saw. On July 2nd Maltby and I left here in our boat and crossed the bay (8 miles) then went up the Nooksack River 20 miles, all along here we saw farms and the crop of all kinds of fruit was immense Peach Plumb Apple and Pear trees were just breaking down with loads of fruit some Peach trees were propped up but the limbs would over the props, hay goes from 3 to 4 tons per acre Oats 50 to 100 – per acre, potatoes 400 to 600 – acre wheat 40 to – corn does not do very well although they do raise some but the nights are too cool for it to ripen. We saw all of these crops and they look splendid but the yield we have to take the farmers word for as for the People they are a good natured freehearted lasy shiftless set a dosen of them don’t do as much work in a season as one eastern farmer atleast ½ of the men here are Old Bachlors there is plenty of timber land to be had here at $2.50 per acre and will go from 1 to 3000000 feet per 180 farming land improved bought for $100 per acre there is some – land (wild) that can be had for $10 per acre. Maltby is going to put in a sawmill on the nooksack and then we will both buy some land. I like it so well here that I have about made up my mind to stay. I wish you were out here for a week. I think you would settle here where it is almost perpetual summer, we have built us the best sail boat on the bay and if you will just come out here we will give you a jolly good ride. Maltby is asleep now but when he wakes I guess he will write you a few lives.

This is all please write soon

Yours Truly

Geo B. Taylor

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. July 20th 1884 "