Debbie Harger
The tip of Semiahmoo Spit and the iconic water tower, which is a remnant of the world’s largest cannery that was operated by the Alaska Packers’ Association (APA) for more than 75 years.
Words by Deborah Harger
(Community and Tourism Development Coordinator, City of Blaine)
Blaine Harbor in Washington State is one of the most modern marinas and scenic harbors in the northwest and encompasses rich, maritime history.
Boats have been on the move in Blaine Harbor for centuries. Canoes carved from huge western red cedar logs carried First Nations people of the Salish Sea along these shores to their fishing grounds and villages. With few roads to travel by land, early settlers depended on boats for moving goods and people. In the late 19th century, a fleet of steam boats known as the Mosquito Fleet delivered mail and supplies to Blaine and other coastal communities.
The late 1880s were a time of tremendous growth for Blaine’s waterfront. The E Street Wharf was built in 1886 from logs cleared from the land around E Street. Today, this area is what we know as Blaine Harbor and E Street is now known as Marine Drive.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Blaine was the third busiest seaport in Washington State. Steam ships and schooners crowded the harbour, waiting to whisk goods to market. The lumber and shingle mills that would help rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake lined Blaine’s shore and the first salmon cannery in Whatcom County was across the mouth of the harbour at Semiahmoo Spit.
Enter Blaine Harbor today and to starboard – at the tip of Semiahmoo Spit – stands the iconic water tower, a remnant of the world’s largest cannery operated by the Alaska Packers’ Association (APA) for more than 75 years on the Spit. Now, the site is home to Semiahmoo Resort Golf and Spa, which has kept several of the original cannery buildings intact.
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Photo courtesy of the Uwing family
The original Plover that was built in 1944
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Drayton Harbor Maritime
The restored Plover Ferry.
Blaine Harbor remains an active fishing center. In summer, the commercial fleet swells to more than 100 boats, bringing in a bounty of fresh crab, salmon and oysters, which support several seafood companies along the waterfront. Drayton Harbor Oyster Company sells their local harvest Thursday through Sunday from their downtown store, which is a great place to meet up with friends or make new ones while savoring raw or grilled oysters, local ales and wine.
Drayton Harbor Maritime, a local non-profit organization, has a mission to keep local maritime history afloat. In 1995 this group of volunteers restored the historic Plover Ferry built in 1944 to carry cannery workers from Blaine Harbor to Semiahmoo Spit, but dry docked in 1981. Thanks to their efforts, she is still on the water today ferrying delighted passengers along her original route.
The group’s current project is the restoration of a Diamond NN 59 sailboat. The nine-metre (29.9 feet) boat fished for the Alaska Packers Diamond NN Cannery in Bristol Bay, AK, from 1906 to 1951. Only a handful of these boats remain from a fleet of the 8,000 that were active in the Bristol Bay fishery from 1884 until power boats appeared in 1951. Drayton Harbor Maritime is working closely with the Coast Guard on the restoration with the goal of having her sail worthy by July 2018.
Long term plans include using the boat to carry up to 12 passengers and for educational purposes. Drayton Harbor Maritime also operates the Alaska Packer’s Cannery (APA) Museum at Semiahmoo County Park. It features artifacts and a gallery of historic photos from Blaine’s booming cannery days and housed in one of the original APA cannery buildings. For more information, go to www.draytonharbormaritime.com.
To learn more about local maritime history and for a self-guided walking tour of Blaine, contact the Blaine Visitor Center at 1-800-624-3555 or go online at blainechamber.com
Deborah Harger
The cannery building at the Semiahmoo Spit today.
Connect with Blaine Chamber of Commerce on social media: facebook
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