The Podcast: Bathing Beaches of B'ham (Part 1)
Bathing Beaches of B’ham (Part 1): The White City at Silver Beach
Summary
In this episode we visit the White City resort built at Silver Beach on Lake Whatcom in Bellingham in the early 1900s, as part one of a two-part series exploring historical “bathing beaches” of Bellingham, Washington. Join us in exploring the history of beach destinations with amenities - Coney Island Style, and some of the places that Bellinghamsters of yesteryear went to cool their heels.
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References and Resources
“Annette Kellerman.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, May 25, 2023.
“Balloonist is Immersed in Lake” Bellingham Herald, June 12, 1911.
“Bear Pit.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Feb 1, 2023.
Benoit, Matt. “Remembering Bellingham’s Forgotten ‘White City’ Amusement Park.” Whatcom Talk
Blei, Daniela. “Inventing the Beach: The Unnatural History of a Natural Place.” Smithsonian Magazine. June 23, 2016.
Chen, Stanford. “The Short Life of ‘White City.’” Bellingham Herald, July 4, 1976.
“City May Obtain Big Military Camp.” Bellingham Herald, Aug 20, 1918.
“Coming of Airship Arouses Public Curiosity.” Bellingham Herald, Aug 14, 1908.
Dexl, Carmen. “Live Human Exhibits: The World Columbian Exposition as a Space of Empire.” U.S. Studies Online, 2020.
Emmett. “The Legacy of the World’s Columbian Expedition in 1893.” Theirs or Ours? Vassar, Feb 2017.
“Four Coal Veins Uncovered Along Lake Whatcom Shores.” Bellingham Herald, Oct 22, 1921.
“Gas Explosion Wrecks Airship.” Los Angeles Herald, July 4, 1909.
Jewell, Jeff. “Silver Beach Hotel A Lakeside Resort in 1891.” Bellingham Business Journal, January 31, 2008.
Holsather, Kent and Wes Gannaway. “Bellingham Then and Now.” Bellingham, WA: LoneJack Mountain Press, 2008.
Hunsby, George. “Amusement Park Postcard Raises Chuckles.” Bellingham Herald, July 26, 1994.
Hunsby, George. “Whatcom County Folks Frolicked at the Lake.” Bellingham Herald, March 27, 1990.
Ibbeston, Fiona. “A History of Women’s Swimwear.” Fashion History Timeline, Sep 24, 2020.
“Keeley Institute.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Mar 25, 2023.
“Lake Hotel Is Sold. Company to Make Miners’ Quarters of Silver Beach Hotel.” Bellingham Herald, January 26, 1922.
“Motorman Not to Blame; Sailors Warned of Their Danger.” Bellingham Herald, May 23, 1908.
“Rival Keeley Institute, Panter’s Golden Remedy to Be Applied at Lake Whatcom.” Fairhaven Herald, April 28, 1893.
"Seaside Resort." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Jun. 2023.
“Seaside Resorts.” Encyclopedia of Modern Europe: Europe 1789-1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire. Encyclopedia.com. Jun 30, 2023
“Shoot the Chute.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Mar 19, 2023.
“Shoot the Chutes to Be Operated: G.M. Maples Buys Equipment at Silver Beach.” Bellingham Herald, July 1, 1905
“White City (amusement parks).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Jun 5, 2023.
“White City Costing $100,000 to be Built at Silver Beach.” Bellingham Herald, June 1, 1906.
“‘White City’ Chandler Drops Dead: Owner of Park Dies While in Store.” Bellingham Herald, May 26, 1910.
“White City Fair is Opened to Public.” Bellingham Herald, July 23, 1907.
“Will Be Ideal Summer Resort: Silver Beach to Be Made More Attractive.” Bellingham Herald, Nov 18, 1903.
“World's Columbian Exposition.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Jul 6, 2023.
We want to thank Devin Champlin and the late, great, Lucas Hicks for the use of the ol’ Gallus Brothers tune “Too Bad West Coast Blues.” You can find that tune and more on bandcamp at https://thegallusbrothers.bandcamp.com/ and https://devinchamplin.bandcamp.com/ and you can find Devin at Champlin Guitars in Bellingham! <3 <3 <3
In this episode we discuss the early history of Bellingham’s historic Hotel Leo, aka the Leopold Hotel. From its earliest days as the Byron House through its take-over and expansion under PNW beer baron Leopold Schmidt. And since it’s spooky season, we include stories about some “potential ghosts” that might be wandering the halls…