Rare!! Early Photo of Mt. Baker from Chain Lakes. Circa 1920's. By Bert Huntoon.

Description: Early Photo of Mt. Baker from Chain Lakes. Circa 1920's. By Bert Huntoon (1870-1947) Throughout his lifetime, Huntoon was an avid amateur photographer who submitted many of his images to numerous and varied publications. As a result, according to one obituary, "his scenic pictures of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Chuckanut Drive, the islands and many other parts of this area were given wide circulation, printed in the rotogravure sections of newspapers and in magazines, and helped to spread the scenic wonders of Bellingham and Whatcom County." The Whatcom Museum's photo archives contain more than 5,500 historic photographs and original negatives taken by Bert Huntoon, many bearing crop lines and notations in his bold hand. By 1922 Bert spent hours each week carting Northwest movers and shakers up and down Mount Baker by horse and buggy and then by automobile. People in the know were soon convinced about the importance of Mt. Baker as a recreational area. His work in the Good Roads group led to improved gravel roads in the early 1920s and finally to pavement, which meant access to many more snow lovers and alpine enthusiasts. In 1923, Huntoon became general manager of the Mount Baker Development Company. The company soon began construction of a grand lodge, which was officially opened on July 27, 1927, with Bert as manager. Once the pressure died down, Bert found himself in the middle of a nature photographer's paradise. We can only imagine his joy at age 58 as Indian summer painted the landscape for him around Baker and Shuksan peaks. Indians called this mountain Kulshan, the Great White Watcher. When Bert Huntoon took this photo in 1942 he noted that fine roads and trails led to countless scenic spots, many the result of his leadership Over the next four years travelers and nature lovers came to think of him as the premier photographer who publicized the mountains and the Mount Baker Forest Area. The lodge grew to include 100 rooms — 60 with bath and telephones, and all electrically heated. Bungalows were built adjacent to the lodge proper and soon there were accommodations for 400 or more guests at a time, along with campers. But an electrical storm on Aug. 5, 1931, led to the unthinkable — the lodge caught fire and quickly burned to the ground. The lodge was rebuilt, but Bert was beginning to think of retirement. He left active management of the lodge in 1933 and for the next 14 years he built up a huge collection of scenic photos of Baker and Shuksan, his old favorite Chuckanut Drive and other recreational areas west of the Cascades. Those photos found their way into newspapers, magazines and calendars nationwide, as well as many world fairs and regional promotional events. Eastern Washington University at Cheney also has a significant collection of his photos. After World War II, returning vets with cars, along with other long-time residents, started a tradition of putting The Mountain on the top of the list of places to show off for family and visitors from out of town. I can still remember the day in 1953 when my grandfather, William Crayton Kirks, rolled up his first snowball and threw it at me while visiting us from Missouri and seeing a mountain close up for the first time. He never stopped bragging about Mount Baker until the year he died. Bert died on Jan. 2, 1947. We have not yet found his obituary (we hope a reader will share one) but we hope he received his due in both Skagit and Whatcom counties. In 1961, Huntoon Drive washed out during a storm and rain from the Columbus Day "mother of all storms" in 1962 dredged it out even more so that from then on it was only used as a trail. But in 1974, Sehome Hill Arboretum was established in the former Sehome Park and Arboretum drive roughly follows the original Huntoon route. We suggest that you visit the website for the Whatcom County Museum, where many of Huntoon's photos and negatives reside. Lawrence Pagter, Bert's friend and the U.S. Forest Service supervisor for the Mt. Baker National Forest, collected many of those photos. The photographs were donated to the Whatcom Museum of History & Art by Pagter's daughter, Mary Jean Pagter. It is in very good condition considering it's age. Please see photos for condition. Signed lower right. Mt. Baker, from Chain Lakes Washington Measures 5-7/8"×9-1/2". Please feel free to ask questions. Sold as-is. Shipping is $8.95 here in the states.

Price: 69.95 USD

Location: Wilsonville, Oregon

End Time: 2025-01-26T01:29:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8.95 USD