— from Sandy Strehlou —
Lawrence Kelly, smuggler. Courtesy of the Orcas Island Historical Museum.
Every May the Town of Friday Harbor, the Islands’ historical museums, organizations and local businesses pull out the stops to celebrate local history. This year the month-long calendar of events kicks off with some great events you won’t want to miss!
- Experience early island life through a one-act play about the Boede family, and other one-act plays, Friday-Sunday, May 6, 7, and 8 at the Grange on Orcas Island.
- Broaden your culinary knowledge of early island foods with a field talk about ancient island agriculture lead by Kwiaht on Lopez Island, Sunday, May 8, email for times kwiaht@gmail.com.
- Journey back to a time when mariners relied on charts to navigate the waters of the San Juans with Mike Vouri’s “Coast Survey” history talk at the San Juan Island Library, Wednesday, May 11, 7pm.
- Get to know the historic buildings of the Friday Harbor Labs on a self-guided tour of the grounds, and talk to the Lab’s researchers and students during the spring Open House, 11am-4pm, Saturday, May 14.
- Bring your party hat to the Orcas Island Museum’s 60th birthday party and community picnic, Saturday, May 14, 11am.
- Discover the history of smuggling in the San Juans and explore smuggler’s haunts on a cruise sponsored by the Orcas Museum and Eclipse Charters. $99+tax includes lunch, cruise and history talk. Sunday, May 15, 12:30-5:30pm. Space is limited.
For event information and a complete calendar, go to www.historicfridayharbor.org or www.visitsanjuans.com/history-lives-here.
My mistake! Thank you Orcas Island Historical Museum for correcting my error: Lawrence Kelly never did go by the nickname “Red”. My apologies to Lawrence and all other astute local history buffs who caught this mistake.