Historic Sites Tour: English Boom
English Boom is one of the 13 stops on the Camano Island Historic Sites Tour. The name "English Boom" comes from the "booms" or rafts of logs that were tied up here in the early 1900s. Most of the logs would have been from the English Logging Company owned by Mr Edward English of Mount Vernon.
Logging had a huge influence on the early development of the Puget Sound region and in this area the most influential person was probably Mr English. He was born in 1850 in Maine but grew up in Wisconsin. By about 1873 he had made his way out to Skagit County. Records show that by 1877 Mr English was co-owner of Mount Vernon’s first general store. By 1891 Mr English was involved in several small logging companies up and down the Skagit Valley. In 1902 he started the English Logging Company. Mr English died in 1930 and the English Logging Company was sold in 1944.
Even though it’s been more than 70 years since the last logs were tied up here at English Boom, across Skagit county and northern Snohomish county you can still find evidence of Edward English and his logging company. “English Grade Road” is north of Arlington-the road was built on the bed of the old railroad “grade” or track. Over in Lakewood, where Hwy 531 crosses the railroad track that neighborhood is called “English Crossing” and one of the schools is even named English Crossing Elementary. East of Conway School you'll find “English Road” where English Logging Camp 1 and the company headquarters used to be. Finally, there’s “English Boom”. Logs were moved by rail to the Skagit River, then small groups of logs were floated across the bay to “English Boom”. Here they were assembled into larger log booms and then towed to sawmills. Today, the only thing left of the English Boom operation are the piers.
Mt Baker is flanked on the left by the Twin Sisters Range and Mt Shuksan on the right
When you're done admiring the stunning view of Mount Baker, be sure to turn around and look up at the Bald Eagle nest.
Bald eagle pair on their nest
Finding the cache:
- At some high tides (about +10 and higher) portions of the trail will be under water.
- The container has room for small “treasure” and travel bugs. If you take a piece of treasure please leave something of equal or greater value in return. Also make sure the “treasure” you keep is not a “travel bug” (they are meant to be moved from cache to cache).
- It is always a good idea to have a pencil or pen with you.
- Please rehide the cache as well or better than when you found it.
- Please let me know if there are problems with either the cache or its coordinates.