AT POULSBO BAY
The rippling bells are ringing,
The druid woods are singing,
And mellow throats hang on the air
Pouring their hearts into music rare.
Ever ringing,
Ever singing,
At Poulsbo Bay.
Nature's soul in rapture smiling,
Hillocks green the sunbeams climbing;
When morning bursts on pearl-set wing,
The vocal harps of the forest sing,
Sweet freedom's air,
In sunshine fair,
At Poulsbo Bay.
Jingle, jingle, ever chiming,
Sea and land together rhyming,
Sweet poets untaught singing,
Nature's God to me is ringing.
Rapture chiming,
Grandeur smiling,
At Poulsbo Bay.
On a sunny slope slowly rising from the merry sheet of golden water,
stands the town of Poulsbo, in Kitsap county, about twenty-five miles
northwest from Seattle. A smiling tongue of the Sound is rippling into
the land, and here and there a green nose is pushing itself into the
brine as trying to contest with the elements of the deep. Sweet melodies
spring from the laughing ripples, and sail on the wings of lazy zephyrs
to cheer the ears of the village. This musical bay is a natural abode
for Scandinavians who are wont to the songs of happy fjords. As early as
1875, Ole Stubb stranded his skiff on the shore of this vocal stretch
for permanent nestling. He was born in Norway, and has witnessed days of
divers struggles, interlaced with days of sunshine.
A year later Fred Landstone pinned his lot to a piece of land about ten
miles east of Poulsbo, and in 1883 Jorgen Eliason was attracted to the
bay, and has ever since been instrumental in shaping the affairs of the
community. He is a native of Norway, landed in Michigan, 1870, and
has proved himself a man of honor and intellectual capacity, a true
representative of Norse simplicity and manhood. I. B. Moe arrived
simultaneously and has been a potent factor in a multitude of
enterprises.
[Illustration: JORGEN ELIASON'S RANCH.]
Torge Jensen, a prominent citizen of Poulsbo, a man of integrity and
intelligence, was a member of the early brigade of pioneers. He was born
in Norway and came to Poulsbo from South Dakota. He has been one of the
foremost men to look after the interest of the place, educationally and
otherwise.
Nils Olson, also of Norse birth, merits a footing among the first
settlers and deserves the encomium due a man of honesty and noble aims.
Among the business men of Poulsbo, Adolph Hostmark carries the honor of
being the first merchant. He erected a store fifteen years ago, and
conducted a general merchandise establishment until his death. Some
years subsequent Lars Christensen engaged in mercantile business and his
career has been an uninterrupted success, characteristic of industry and
uprightness.
[Illustration: LARS CHRISTENSEN AND WIFE.]
Lars Christensen was born in Thisted, Denmark, 1844, received a common
school education, spent years on a large plantation as foreman and
assistant manager. In 1872 he emigrated to America, selecting Marquette,
Michigan, as his favorable place for dwelling. He worked on the docks
and at other manual labor until 1875, when he migrated to Brookings
county, South Dakota, where he engaged in farming. After twelve years of
varied experiences on the Dakota prairies he turned his attention to the
Pacific, arriving in Poulsbo, 1887, where he embarked in clearing
land and ranching. A beautiful place in the heart of the smiling villa
bespeaks his pluck and industry. In 1893 he launched into general
merchandise, which he later converted into a dry goods store. Mr.
Christensen has always been a prominent member of the Lutheran church
and a true republican in politics, and in every walk of life a loyal
citizen, honest, intelligent and respected. He was married to an
estimable lady in Denmark. They have one son, C. P. Christensen, who
was born in Denmark, 1868, and came to America with his parents. He has
inherited the traits of a noble father and mother and ranks among the
best of men, endowed with a fine intellect and moral integrity.
Poulsbo has achieved what no other community on the coast has ventured
to do. While the villa was in its early embryo a knot of pioneers
organized and incorporated the Poulsbo Wharf and Storage Company, and
built a substantial dock and warehouse, accessible by any steamer.
The first steamer that cleaved the bosom of the deep between Poulsbo and
Seattle was the Quickstep, owned by John J. Hansen, who later built
Hattie Hansen. But to burst the chains of monopolized transportation,
and to usher pecuniary relief to the toiling farmers, a sprinkling of
valorous hearts, headed by Thomas Hegdahl and Nils Olson, perfected the
organization of the Poulsbo-Colby Transportation Company, and built
the beautiful steamer--Advance--which plies daily between Poulsbo and
Seattle.
[Illustration: STEAMER ADVANCE.]
The following are officers of the Poulsbo-Colby Transportation Company;
J. A. McPherson, President; Peter Erlandson, Vice-president; C. P.
Christensen, Secretary; L. Christensen, Treasurer; J. W. Russell,
Manager.
Poulsbo has had its religious upheavals but aside from these fanatical
revolutions it has scattered seeds of Christian principles. A fine
Lutheran church tops a pleasant hillock as evidence of this statement.
Rev. I. Tollefsen was summoned to the bay as the first gospel expounder
who unveiled the gems of the Old Book according to Augsburgian theology.
Into his footsteps dropped Rev. H. Langeland who is yet a beloved
representative of the Supreme Being in the charming town of Poulsbo.
Many of the trance reports which have taken speedy wings for other
climes have not been absolutely true. In justice to Rev. H. Langeland
my pen cannot evade the declaration that he is a gentleman and a true
Christian.
The Orphans' Home, organized eight years ago, looms magnificently on a
nicely trimmed knoll, overlooking a wizard landscape. Rev. Tollefsen is
the father of the institution, but the people in general have given to
it their unreserved support.
[Illustration: ORPHANS' HOME AT POULSBO.]
During recent years, Poulsbo has made quick strides forward, no less
than four stores and two hotels combine to signalize its progress.
Langeland and Eliason are thrifty grocers; Alf Hostmark conducts an
establishment of similar nature; Thos. Hegdahl is a prosperous furniture
dealer and L. Christensen a dry goods merchant. The farmers around
Poulsbo have tendered ready hands to any project tending to advance the
interest of their villa. Steiner Thoreson and T. Paulson have been
active exponents in the divers avenues of melioration, and A. V.
Paulson, an ex-teacher of the public schools, has never been lagging
when a new enterprise was to be rooted. Ole Thompson, A. Talakson, A. O.
Hagan, Chris. Williams and Ole Nelson figure among the early settlers.
They are thrifty farmers and have contributed their time and energy for
the good of the community. Nils Atleson, though recent colonist, has
shared the burden of pushing the place to the front. He is the leader of
the United Lutheran church, and a man of intelligence and pluck. K. G.
Steen and others have also proved worthy factors where skill and energy
shine pre-eminently.
The country surrounding Poulsbo is mostly peopled with Scandinavians.
Pearson, across the bay, is a thriving community, principally settled
with intelligent Swedes, who have spared no time to make their terra
firma attractive.
Breidablik, the home of the Paulson family, is an inviting place. As we
recede further from Poulsbo we come to Seabold where many Scandinavians
breathe happiness and prosperity. A short distance from this village
lives C. Sanders, who was born in Sweden and came to Port Madison
thirty-five years ago. There are also other old settlers as A. M.
Anderson and Chas. Olson. Across a pleasant elevation of land slowly
falling to the sea we find the flower-besprinkled Rollingbay, where some
early pioneers contend happily with the wild billows of the world.
Martin Sunnes, Dona Falk, Andrew Sornsen, Nils Peterson, Peter Bye, T.
Siverson, Mrs. Hanna Johnson and C. Johnson were the first adventurers.
There are other scattered Scandinavian settlements, but let it suffice,
for this volume, by taking a step to Shelton, Mason county. Here we
find the well-known Professor G. B. Gunderson and other prominent
Scandinavians. Prof. Gunderson has served the people of his county
as superintendent of the public schools and as representative in the
legislation, with marked ability and success.