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Port Angeles - The "Back-up" Capital of the United States

By
Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate/West Sound, Inc.
The following describes a true story about a sequence of events that recently revealed an important aspect of the history of Port Angeles.

During an Engineering dinner meeting I attended on 13 April 2006, an eminent land surveyor in our State, Mr. James Wengler was the speaker.

Since he was addressing a group of engineers, he had chosen as his topic an example of an interesting challenge he had encountered while conducting a recent survey. Although I am familiar with the art (and profession) of land surveying, his presentation proved to be a real eye opener.

His surveying firm in Port Angeles had been requested to conduct a new survey on what was identified on historical maps as "Block 42" on the township of Port Angeles. What was thought to have been an original survey had been performed by a Norman Smith, and had been duly recorded on 21 January 1884.

The challenge began when Jim began researching records of previous surveys. He found a number of surveys, as well as transcribed versions of the original. His concern was that there were differences between many of the documents. In particular Block 42 had variations from record to record. Jim then requested the city auditor to allow him to search the archives kept in a building that hadn't been maintained for years. There he found the archives in disrepair and full of mold. He then had to work through the Washington State Archivist in Olympia in order to authorize the records to be cleaned up and released. Still his comparison of the various documents indicated certain differences.

Some time later Jim was visiting his former home in New York when he found out that the U.S. Library of Congress, in Washington D.C. had maps that might be of interest in solving the ambiguities that continued to confront him. While at the Geography and Maps Division of the Library Jim found the information he was seeking. Included was a plat map of Port Angeles, Washington Territory dated February 2, 1864 prepared by a J.M. Edmonds. Ultimately, this map which was prepared based upon surveys made by George W. Sloan from February 4 to the 26th in 1863, was determined to be the official survey of record.

Jim's company ultimately prepared a three page survey/mapping document dated 5 December 2005. It can be found in Clallam County under auditors file number 200s-1170565. This document details the many surveys that preceded it, and it resolved the discrepancies. Ultimately it even satisfied Jim's client.

The most interesting aspect of Jim's research revealed that Norman Smith's survey of Port Angeles had been commissioned by members of President Lincoln's cabinet in order to develop that town site for use as the Union's capital, in the event the South won the war. Jim's studies found documented evidence to this fact - however to this day you won't find this information in our history books.

Comments (3)

Ken Bell
Realty Executives Brio - Bellevue, WA

Wow, that is a fabulous piece of history right there. Port Angeles is such a beautiful city and would have made a great capital had things not gone as they did. It's amazing how much history gets lost as the years progress. Less and less of a problem these days. The problem 100-200 years from today won't be about digging up that history as much as it will be trying to figure out what the real story is! :)

Welcome to ActiveRain. I really enjoyed that post and look forward to many more from you guys. I have to guess that Rich Jacobson has some hand in getting you involved since he is the ActiveRain leader on the Peninsula. If not, thanks to whoever invited you.

Bob 

Mar 02, 2007 10:00 AM
Mario Levesque
Advantage Avenue Real Estate - Wesley Chapel, FL
Tampa Realtor

Hi Lyle,

Great article you posted. 

Welcome to the ActiveRain Blog network. 
Shortly after I started blogging on Active Rain, I started having questions on how to do things and could not find the "Operating Manual".

I asked some questions to other bloggers and soon realized the the power was in the network since most questions had already been answered by other users more familiar with this website.

If you find yourself in this situation, and need to know how to do things, visit the post below and you will find tips, info and many features of ActiveRain that have been documented by other members.

   Instructions, Getting Started on ActiveRain Blog community, Google Ranking, Networking info
Nice having you on board,
Mario

Tampa Realtor , Broker Associate
People's Choice Realty Services,  Tampa, Florida

Mar 02, 2007 03:18 PM
Anonymous
BB

I have a good friend originally from PA... she told me about this years ago. I thought it was relatively common knowledge.

Dec 12, 2011 10:06 AM
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