HERE IT IS. July 5, and we celebrated the 249th anniversary of our independence as a nation. It seems we have moved from a real celebration to an excuse to keep our neighbors awake into the wee hours of the morning.
The City of Port Angeles took a different approach to the fourth of July in 1890, 135 years ago.
Historically significant things were happening in Washington during this time. By 1877, about a third of the United States was territories under the domain of Congress. The next step for territories was to evolve into states.
On November 9, 1877, our legislature approved the election of delegates to convene in Walla Walla to frame a constitution.
In 1878, Washington Territory legislators held a constitutional convention in Walla Walla. That November, the voters approved the constitution. But Congress never took action on the bill required to make Washington a state.
A second constitutional convention met 11 years later in Olympia. It started on July 4, 1889, and ended on Aug. 22, starting the process of Washington’s independence on July 4 appears to have been purposeful.
Voters approved the constitution on Oct. 1, 1889. President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation admitting Washington to the Union on Nov. 11, 1889.
On June 11, 1890, the City of Port Angeles was incorporated. Though Port Angeles was a city, much of the land was in a 3,520-acre reserve established in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. The idea was to establish “reservations” where the sale of its lots would provide federal revenue. Victor Smith (early Port Angeles promoter) sold the idea of selling lots to fund the Civil War effort. Smith envisioned great potential for Port Angeles.
The first lots were auctioned off in 1864. These lots were mostly along the waterfront. The idea clearly flopped. The lots sold for $4,570.25. But the surveying and auction costs were $37,800. As a result, only a few more lots were auctioned off. The occupied size of Port Angeles basically languished for the next 25 years.
The remaining reserve was essentially everything south of 4th Street to what is now Lauridsen Boulevard, which was along the southern boundary of the reserve. The reserve’s southern boundary went from what is now Peninsula College west past the current airport.
The reserve did not draw settlers to the area as Smith had hoped. Instead, the reserve was off limits to homesteading and trying to do so made you liable as a trespasser. Outside the reserve, settlers could homestead 160 acres and gain title to the land without buying it.
Even so, people were still coming to Port Angeles looking for a new start. The Puget Sound Cooperative Colony was incorporated in 1887 and brought over 400 colonists to the area. The colony was short-lived, but it had attracted idealistic and hardworking people.
More people were arriving in Port Angeles. But no land was available within the city. People grumbled to think that some 3,000 acres of land was still locked up in the federal Reserve.
Repeated requests from Port Angeles to open the reserve were met with federal silence. The reserve limited the growth and development potential of Port Angeles. But what could we do about it?
At this point, John C. Murphy entered the fray in 1890. Murphy was both a lawyer and an “fighting Irishman.” He came to Port Angeles as a claim agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
Not only did Murphy grumble about the locked reserve, he also listened to the people. Murphy came up with an idea, which earned him the honorary title of “father of the reserve.”
After a few public meetings, it was decided to “jump the reserve.” Further, it would be done in an orderly fashion. Settlers agreed that at noon on July 4, 1890, they would enter the reserve and mark out a claim. Settlers had agreed to claim only two 50-foot by 140-foot lots. On their claim they would erect a home and clear the adjoining lot for subsistence crops.
On July 4th, a rifle shot marked the noon opening. It started with 50 settlers. It grew rapidly to around 300 in the following days.
D. W. Morse stated, “We are going to have a city anyway, whether the reserve is opened up, or not.”
Another man stated, “It is a foolish movement. It will do us no good.”
State Rep. A. B. Hall stated, “I am glad it happened; this will force an issue.”
Other sentiments included, “If Uncle Abraham [President Abraham Lincoln] did not want it settled what did he reserve it for?” and “President Abraham reserved that land for a city and I am going up there and help carry out Father Abraham’s purpose.”
In 1890, Congress appropriated $5,000 to complete the survey of the reserve. It also granted “power to purchase to any settler who occupied any regulation lot of 100X40 feet prior to January 1, 1890.” The bill should have said “since June 30, 1890.” This egregious error was later corrected.
To protect their interests, the settlers formed the Squatters Aid Association. Their preamble stated, “Liberty, equality, and fraternity are the three grand words which can be written over the door of every man who owns his own home. To own a home not only elevates and ennobles, but it gives a certain character which nothing else can give.”
George Venable Smith was the president, John C. Murphy was vice-president, A. A. Smith was secretary, and George Myers was treasurer.
It was not too long before 1,250 homes were built. Within a few years the squatters would be able to purchase their lots at fair market value.
On Oct. 26, 1893, the local newspaper, The Tribune Times, warned the squatters to get all the required paperwork completed. The newspaper warned them to, “make his proof in the regular manner.” Otherwise, there was the potential they would lose their lots at auction.
The newspaper further warned that syndicates were being formed to buy such lots.
It seems “jumping the reserve” was a non-violent way to protest the continued closure of the reserve. This protest opened up the growth of Port Angeles.
In 1890, Port Angeles used July 4 to declare its independence from the status quo.
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John McNutt is a descendant of Clallam County pioneers and treasurer of the North Olympic History Center Board of Directors. He can be reached at woodrowsilly@gmail.com.
John’s Clallam history column appears the first Saturday of every month.
