Tom Welch, Orcas Island Historian, will share stories from island history.
Did you hear the one about the dance hall atop Mt. Constitution? No? Then perhaps you will want to listen as local historian Tom Welch pulls from our colorful island history and presents some fascinating stories about Olga and surrounds.
The Olga Strawberry Council is sponsoring two Olga history presentations on Saturday, July 9 and July 23 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Olga Energetics Building in “downtown Olga.” The public is invited, and donations accepted.
Until his high school graduation, Tom Welch commuted from Shaw to Orcas via mailboat. Following his graduation, he embarked for other shores. When he returned to Orcas in 2001, Tom discovered a fascination for island history, time to indulge it, and the desire to write a book; “Orcas Island” was written for the benefit of the Orcas Island Historical Museum.
Tom spends time as a volunteer on various island non-profit boards, and he has written a series of newspaper articles on Orcas Island history. Tom and his wife Jenny live in Olga, near Buck Bay (originally Stockade Bay).
