Valentine’s Day will come and go, yet love stories from history, myths and legends reign eternal and likely will be told for so long as mankind sees the light of day.
Falling in love with a person is often a gamble for happiness. Falling for the awesome beauty of Puget Sound waterfront and adjoining communities is rewarding.
It was 1792, when British naval Captain George Vancouver was sent to the northwest coast of America to settle fur trade dispute claims and complete the geographical exploration begun by Captain Cook on his final voyage here of 1778.
History records Capt. Vancouver’s ship anchored at Brown’s Point for dinner, 9 miles south of Des Moines. It’s difficult to picture how the city we live in now must have looked those centuries ago.
Indians lived in the Kent Valley, yet came to Des Moines and Saltwater Park areas to harvest clams and other seafood. Many Indian myths and legends are a large part of local history, as recorded in the book, “One Hundred Years of the Waterland Community.” (Editor, Richard Kennedy, Assistant Editor,Grechen Schmidt, and Historian, Melanie Draper, deceased)
In the 1800’s, legend tells the tale of an Indian man running up these beaches in pursuit of an Indian maiden through the waterfronts of Des Moines, Burien and Three Tree Point.
“It tells of a girl who married a Squally man. She did not like him, so ran away to come back home. The man, dressed in his marmot skin robe, ran after her. When he saw her running northward along the beach, he threw his robe on a boulder, so as to make more speed.
Almost overtaken, the woman looked far up the beach, and saw her mother and father loading their effects into a canoe to go away. She called to them to wait. At that moment, the Transformer turned all to stone.”
“The canoe with three protruding tent poles became Three Tree Point, which the Indians called, S-he-lahb, “loading things into a canoe.”
The women became a white rock called Qah-weils ,“glistening white.” It is now under the east side of the parking lot of Anthony’s Homeport Restaurant, due east of marina float B.
The rock on which her husband tossed the blanket is called Ko-KWOI-It-sah , “Blanket Rock, and is located at Redondo. The surface of that rock is folded, crinkled and looks like an old blanket.”
I don’t know if any leftover historical, wandering Indian love story spirits are floating around today’s Des Moines Marina. There have been weddings at Beach Park and some young people lost in each other with teenage love fondness now and then.
Activities for young people offered by the city and other organizations are many, yet I wonder if there’s a drop-in gathering place for teens open daily where they can find a safe and positive environment.
If there’s one thing folks just can’t love enough, it’s where we choose to live. First-time visitors say how excited there are to find Des Moines and this beautiful waterfront. Meanwhile, I’m wondering if that new prospective resident will help preserve the beauty and community spirit here.
Des Moines once had 12 downtown gas stations and few restaurants. Now there is; Red Robin, Anthony’s Home Port, Wally’s Chowder House, Des Moines Creek with weekly buffets, Spyros Gyros, Tokyo Teriyaki, Athens Pasta and Pizza, Mandarin Kitchen, Jack in the Box, Taco Time, Auntie Irene’s and more, plus shopping at quality B & E Meats and QFC in the downtown area.
Tom Lin and Isaiah Dummer, new Des Moines Theater owners, plan to open for business soon when restoration work is finished, adding much-needed, local entertainment and reasons to go out for dinner.
High tech communication is miraculous, still there’s nothing like talking face to face to make and keep good connections. At my home, we had daily conversation at the kitchen table. Now, people are out walking with someone and at the same time each are talking on their cell phones to someone else. That’s mind-boggling!
Successful friendships, love and marriage are created and nurtured with simple conversation and listening. “How was your day? Can I help you with that project? I love you.”
So let’s celebrate every day as Valentine’s Day for the wonderful times we have together and memories of those we love -- or have loved.
Darn near beats a box of chocolates on any affectionate day!
Today’s Thought: “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” (William James)
