COME ON in, the water's always fine and the warmest on Hood Canal at
Belfair State Park. Shallow, supervised pool is safe for tots.
FUN ALL DAY is what kids have at Belfair State Park,
whether its on the beach, in the woods, or on the swings with
plenty of soft sand to land in.
SUN AND SAND is the attraction for these visitors at Belfair State Park,
whose beach is reputed to bethe warmest, most sheltered on the Canal.
Page S-58- Sheiton-Mason County Journal, Thursday, June 17, 1971
Tl~e friendly community of Union i~, a
trade and social and recreatJonaJ aetivitie~ Of vaeat~onisLs
who come to summer homes or nesor~s along the southern
shore of Hood Canal from the mouth of the Skokomish
River to Twanoh State Park.
In the 1880's Union called itself a city and had high
hopes of becoming a tidewater railroad terminus. It was a
booming pioneer center of trade and transportation for
early logging operations.
Interesting survivals of those days remain in the post
office, established in 1858 and the oldest in Mason County,
the Masonic Lodge whose first hall was built in 1878, and the
picturesque McReavy mansion, built in the 1880's.
Union's economy today is based on the dollars earned
by serving a host of city folk seeking fun in the sun on in-
land salt water.
Sheltered from high wind and rough water, the south
shore of the canal east of Bald Point is a summer - long
playground for small boats.
Outboard racing, water skiing, sailing, and swimming all
get a big play, when "geoduck tides" are due, tremendous
crowds gather to harvest this monster bivalve. An lers take,
spring and fall salmon, ling cod, perch, red snapper, and
bottom fish.
Because of their stake in keeping this valuable water
clean and safe, Union's residents and their neighbors have
been well organized for years to battle pollution.
These efforts have been spearheaded by the Hood
Canal Improvement Association and the Hood Canal
Sportsmen's Association, both south shore organizations.
Union has a new fire hall and community center, built
with the proceeds of a bond issue. The Improvement Club
is also developing a park and picnic area.
Points of interest are a state historical monument on
State Highway 106 which passes through the town and a
memorial drinking fountain beside the monument.
The history recorded is Captain George Vancouver's
discovery and exploration of Hood Canal in 1792. The
fountain is dedicated to Frans Philip Johnson. He died in
1965 after serving for three decades as Union's old reliable
handy-man, who could fix anything from a leaky roof to
a balky sewer line.
rowln
Increasing numbers of year-round residents added to
an annual influx of vacationists which more than doubles
the-summer population account for the rapid growth of
Belfair.
The reason for this thriving community's growth is
a sheltered location at the junction of the Union River and
the northeastern end of Hood Canal.
Here the canal waters are shallower and hence warm-
er, tidal action is less, winds have less force, and the sun,
so they say, is more likely to shine.
These favorable conditions for living and recreation
are close enough to job sources such as the Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard at Bremerton to attract families of high
income workers.
Two large state parks and 22 lakes and many streams
in the immediate vicinity, public boat handling facilities,
plus the warmest swimming water on the canal are import-
tant factors in Belfair's appeal to outdoor fun seekers.
Public services include a volunteer fire department
which consistently wins top state awards for its fire pre-
vention program. The fire department also provides am-
bulance service. A port district maintains" the mooring
structures. The post office is housed in a large, modern
building.
Mason County Sheriff's Department has a sub-station in
Belfair with three deputies giving 24-hour patrol service.
Phone answering and dispatching are done by one woman
employee assisted by several volunteers•
The North Mason School system has built a complete
modern school plant in the last ten years. Its four-year high
school is college accredited. Olympic Community College
in Bremerton is within easy commuting distance.
Episcopal services for Belfair and North Shore residents
are held in the former Tahuya elementary school building,
which was opened as St. Nicholas' Church in 1968. The call
to worship is sounded by a bronze bell cast in 1690 which
came from a l.ower California mission.
Community activities are well organized with com-
mercial, fraternal, veterans, women's, and youth groups
included. Two churches and a medical clinic provide for
spiritual and bodily needs of the populace.
t
" ._3
Reliable pharmacy service, by qualified pharmacists, is
your guarantee at Neil's Pharmacy. Ample parking is
one of the conveniences offered by Neil when you shop
there for your drug store needs. And you'll like the
attractively displayed merchandise, the complete stock
of cosmetics, toiletries, greeting cards, and unique gift
items.
5th & Franklin Sts.
Phone 426-3327
In the enlarged, remodeled
AIRPORT GROCERY
• Full Grocery Line
• Produce
• Meat
• 76 Union Products
you'll find
• Frozen Food
• Cold Beverages To Go
• Sundries
• Friendly Service
ir
76 Service
Leah and Joe Anderson
Daily 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sundays 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
ACROSS FROM AIRPORT
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