- Sequim and the Sequim-Dungeness Valley — Thumbnail History (historylink.org)
The thriving town of Sequim, the nearly deserted village of Dungeness, and the valley between them, located in Clallam County, are linked historically, culturally and economically. Sequim’s present (2008) population is 5,330, or some 15,000 counting the surrounding valley. Before Sequim became a town, there was Dungeness, about five miles to the north, on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. One of the earliest Puget Sound ports, it made possible the development of inland Sequim. Long before either town existed, however, this narrow stretch of forest and prairie between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca was the domain of the Klallam (S’Klallam) Tribe. Klallam is said to mean “strong people” (Carter, 34). The name Sequim (pronounced Skwim) comes from a rather poor approximation of the Klallam word for “hunting ground,” although several published sources mistakenly claim that it is either the Indians’ word for “quiet waters” or the traditional name for a local wild onion that supplemented their diet of clams, crabs and salmon. All that remains of the busy little shipping port of Dungeness (originally named New Dungeness) are a few buildings and a line of pilings from its long pier. Most of the dairy farms of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley have given way to the new homes of a massive influx of retirees drawn by the climate and scenery. Local agriculture has reinvented itself as the lavender capital of North America.
- I was obliged to discharge the guide I had obtained at New York [Alki], as I had found him gambling in the Suqualmish camp and he had shown himself worthless in other respects. An Indian loitered about our camp for two days, offering to inform against the murderer of [Judah] Church, if he were paid for it. I put him off, and on the evening of the 29th, Hancock came over from Port Townsend and told me that the Indians had told him that one Sla-kai, a Skagit Indian, had killed Church. The next day [May 30, 1853] a man named Martin Tafster agreed to get the Indian if the matter were kept quiet. So I decided to visit Dungeness and return on the east side of Whidby island through Deception passage, where it was said that the Indian could be found.
- After bidding my friends goodbye, I sailed away for Dungeness. Soon after rounding Protection point the wind went down, and we had hard work to reach Protection island, where we camped. There is no water on the island, but fortunately we had two buckets full, which we had brought with us. There are no inhabitants, except some hogs, which seem to thrive very well. The island is composed of sandbanks, which recede from the water’s edge and form a little valley in the center. On the east side is a strip of fir timber and sufficient soil to produce a coat of grass interspersed with fern.
- I met but few whites, as they did not seem to have settled in that vicinity. Mr. Garish introduced me to his partner, a Mr. Powell, who had been away “log-raising” for a new house at Squim bay.20 Powell was a man of adventure. He has been ship-wrecked on Vancouver’s island and had been captured by the Indians, so that his conversation was very interesting. Capt. Moore, a settler at Dungeness, impressed me favorably as an honest man. He corrected some of the erroneous impressions I had received from Garish, and showed himself very anxious to supress the contraband trade with the Indians.
- Dungeness Valley Pioneers (olypen.com)
This list comes from the Port Angeles Daily News issue of May 7, 1968 which was the Sequim Festival Edition. It was made from information gathered for that special edition and by the then present Pioneer Committee.
And anone he called them. And they leeft their father zebede in the shippe with his hyred servauntes and went their waye after him.
Mark 1:20 TYN