The West Parcel: Owners, Owners, and Yet More Owners

In a previous post about the West Parcel, I wondered if George Loggie was the party who sold the land to J.H. Jenkins (who appeared in a 1929 map of Lake Samish). Well, further research at the Washington State Archives has revealed that three other owners followed Loggie before the property came into the possession of Jenkins -- and that it was a William Jenkins, not a J.H., that bought it.

First, it helps to know that the original homestead claim by Thomas McTighe was divided into three lots by the time George Loggie owned it. Its legal description was "Lots 1, 2, and 3 and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter (or SE4 of the SE4) of Section 35, Township 37, North, Range 3 East, W.M."

What is now The Point is at the top end of Lot 3 and the SE4 of the SE4.

George Loggie to Ernest W. Purdy

In August 1917, Loggie sold all three lots (1, 2, and 3) and the SE4 of the SE4 to E.W. Purdy "for one dollar and other valuable considerations," as shown in the entries from the deed book depicted below:

Page 1 of the deed transferring the property from George Loggie to E.W. Purdy in 1917 (Washington State Archives)

Page 2 of the Loggie to Purdy deed (Washington State Archives)

Interestingly, the deed (see page 2) is subject to "that certain agreement of sale...between the Grantors herein" (i.e., Loggie) and "George E. Griffith and Harriette B. Griffith, his wife, bearing date the 21st day of July, 1917." The deed then clearly gives Purdy all of Loggie's rights to the proceeds of this future sale to Griffith should it go through. In other words, it appears Purdy was no more than a middleman for what was actually an intended sale to George and Harriette Griffith.

This makes more sense once we find out that Ernest W. Purdy was president of the First National Bank of Bellingham, as described in his biography (scroll down the linked page for Purdy's entry). Purdy was also president of the Bay Improvement Company and the Bellingham Securities Syndicate, and he and Loggie likely moved in the same business and social circles in Bellingham.

Ernest W. Purdy to George E. and Harriett Griffith to John Griffith

In 1921, Purdy did indeed sell Loggie's former land to George E. and Harriett B. Griffith, but in two separate deeds. In January, he sold Lot 3 and the SE4 of the SE4 (i.e., the section that includes part of The Point) to the Griffiths. Less than two weeks later, George and Harriett sold it to their son, John.

Deed transferring Lot 3 (which includes what is now the West Parcel of The Point) from E.W. Purdy to George E. and Harriett B. Griffith in January 1921 (Washington State Archives)

Deed for Lot 3 from George and Harriett Griffith to John Griffith in January 1921 (Washington State Archives)

In July 1921, George and Harriett Griffith also purchased Lots 1 and 2 from Ernest Purdy. Whether they had the intention of platting Lots 1 and 2, but not Lot 3, before or after this sale is not known, but in 1925, they, their son John and daughter-in-law Lillian, and Frank and Lillian Lowyles did indeed plat Lots 1 and 2 into "El Reposa Place."

Incidentally, George and John Griffith, along with John's father-in-law, Joseph Houghton, also were the developers behind Rainbow Beach on the north shore of Lake Samish, which opened in 1928. A clipping from the Bellingham Herald on May 5 read:

"New Lake Samish Pavilion Opens: Representing an expenditure of $7,000, the new Rainbow Beach dance pavilion at Lake Samish erected by G.E. Griffith, John G. Griffith, and Joseph S. Houghton will be opened tonight. Features of the hall include a dance floor 60 x 100 feet, a cafeteria capable of seating sixty persons, a soda fountain, a specially constructed stage for the orchestra with shell sounding board, retiring rooms and special lighting effects."

John and Lillian Griffith to William and Ida Jenkins

In May 1924, as shown in the deed below, John and Lillian Griffith sold Lot 3 and the SE4 of the SE4 to William and Ida Jenkins -- and again the recorded purchase price is vague: "one dollar and other good and valuable consideration."  

Deed of sale from John and Lillian Griffith to William and Ida Jenkins, May 1924 (Washington State Archives)

William Jenkins was a drygoods salesman originally from Cornwall, England. Ida was born in Nebraska, and at the time they purchased Lot 3 from John and Lillian Griffith, the Jenkins had a young daughter named Margaret. (William's father was named Joseph Jenkins, so perhaps this is the source of the error in the 1929 map. The owner of Lot 3 in the 1935 map below has been corrected to Wm. Jenkins.)

1935 map of south end of Lake Samish (Metsker's Atlas of Whatcom County)

The Jenkins's official residence in Bellingham city directories of the time indicate that they lived in town, so perhaps their intent for Lake Samish property was recreational. Or perhaps they were speculating, like others seem to have done before them, that this property was a good investment.

Indeed, in September 1930, the Jenkins executed a lease granting oil and gas mining and production rights on Lot 3 and the SE4 of the SE4 to H.F. Alexander.

Oil and gas lease on Lot 3 to H.F. Alexander, 1930 (Washington State Archives)

And in March 1931, they granted the Puget Sound Power & Light Company the right to "construct, erect, alter, improve, repair, operate and maintain an electric transmission and distribution line" through Lot 3, "except one (1) acre in the Easterly part thereof."

Deed from Jenkins to Puget Sound Power & Light Company to erect and operate a power line through Lot 3, March 1931 (Washington State Archives)

Their partners in both of these transactions were Milton and E. Agnes McMillin. And in July 1935, the McMillins purchased Lot 3 and the SE4 of the SE4 from the Jenkinses. The next post will pick up from here.