Friday Harbor Fun Facts
- One popular Town naming story has a ship’s captain shouting to shore “what bay is this?” and hearing the reply of “Friday” in response to the misheard “what day is this?” (Source: Unknown)
- The Doctor’s Office Ice Cream and Espresso Shop building on the corner of East and Front Street was originally built for William Burke, superintendent of the Cannery. A succession of superintendents occupied the home with the Jeffers family living there in the 1950s when there was a last attempt to use the cannery to can peas. (Source: Town of Friday Harbor)
- The building that now houses the Dos Diablos Restaurant was originally owned by Joseph Sweeney, who, with Judge John Bowman was one of the first speculators in Friday Harbor. This building has been remodeled to such an extent that it bears little resemblance to the barber shop it once was, where A. Stoliker, Art McKay, and Jack McCutcheon practiced and held court. This building has seen other uses including serving as the Star Theatre (1900-1910), where islanders enjoyed vaudeville and silent movies. (Source: Town of Friday Harbor)
- The Coldwell Banker building was originally built and operated as the San Juan County Bank. Built in 1907, this stone building, which replaced the bank’s stick-frame building, signaled a growing prosperity in Friday Harbor. J.A. Gould and Leander Clark were the founders and key stockholders for several years. The bank’s first president was J.A. Gould of Seattle, whose son Gene was the bank’s first cashier. At that time Gene Gould was known to be the youngest bank cashier in the United States. When J.A. Gould retired in 1907, his presidency was passed on to his son, Gene. This was another first for Gene, making him the youngest bank president in the United States at age 29. (Source: Town of Friday Harbor)