Everett Archives: Cruising Through Everett’s Waterfront History
We recently climbed aboard the Jetty Island Ferry to enjoy a tour of Everett’s waterfront history. Our tour guides, Jack O’Donnell of Historic Everett and Sarah Sherbert from the Port of Everett, packed loads of information into the 75-minute tour. Here are just a few tidbits of Everett’s history they shared along the way.
The Port of Everett was formed in 1918. What once was known as the “City of Smokestacks” does not have a single one left.
O’Donnell delved into the roots of Everett’s history. He shared about Everett’s very first mill, “The Nord Mill,” and when in the early 1890s, the Rucker Brothers arrived, helping to set in motion Everett’s incorporation into a city.
At one point, there were plans to put mills where Jetty Island is, and there was even early planning for putting an airport at Priest Point.
Neither idea came to be.
Many, many mills were constructed and thrived in Everett, serving as the main economic driver for much of Everett’s early decades.
O’Donnell quipped of the Weyerhaeuser Office Building that now stands prominently located at Boxcar Park, “it has more mileage than a new car.” The large historic building has been moved multiple times.
Where Naval Station Everett now sits, there used to be cabins and a beach for swimming (which is tough to imagine now!).
O’Donnell shared some perspectives on Everett’s history. Everett is home to the largest building in the world (Boeing) and Everett's Mill B was the largest lumber mill in the world when it was built. Not to mention Everett's other renowned mills. "We can be proud of our industrial history," shared O'Donnell.
And as with all history, it makes way for the future. And the future looks bright at the Port of Everett. Sherbert shared about Woods Coffee and other new businesses in the works at the Port's evolving Waterfront Place development, including restaurants, wineries and breweries.
For more tasty Everett history, you can find more upcoming history tours on Historic Everett’s Website.
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay up to date with community news and real estate tips.
You can head back to the main Lamoureux Real Estate website here.
