eorge Hunsby (1910-1996) called Fairhaven home for most of his life. His wanderlust and convivial nature might label him a modern Tom Sawyer, with his adventures including serving in two wars, logging the county in the early century, an engineering aid on the survey creating the Mt. Baker Highway, movie extra, Prohibition T-Man, gardener for the esteemed poet Ella Higginson, among other things. In retirement he found his true calling as a Whatcom County storyteller and historian, penning six history books and seven years of newspaper columns. Being older than the consolidated City of Bellingham he had seen changes few other historians had. He filled in the gaps between the photos and research others were collecting with homespun tales featuring the sights, sounds and feelings of a society long gone he'd known quite well.
Following in his footsteps, I spent my college years working as a Bellingham historian. As the youngest historian in town I followed the oldest in having a history column for the Bellingham Herald. In 1999 I wrote the book 'A History of Bellingham's Parks', the first history of all the parks and open spaces past and present. When George died I decided pay tribute to him by writing this biography. Historians tell everyone else's stories, but rarely get their own stories told, but they can can often be just as interesting. This biography is primarily based on George's articles in the short-lived 'Bellingham Metropolitan' and 'Bellingham Times' newspapers, and his lesser known non-Fairhaven specific books, to provide a different view of his past than what most of his readers might know. Further, an extensive introduction painting the world of the history community at the time of George's death. When George died I was a senior at Bellingham High and the unfinished draft of this biography was soon forgotten for college life. In 2019 I found the manuscript and finished it in 2021. Also here is a one man play, originally drafted in 2005, inspired by George's life. The play features a young man who does not want to grow up, as he'll lose everything he loves. This biography and play is a tribute from one former historian to another, that only took 25 years to the month to finish. |
This book was mentioned on the weekly live stream of spiritual guru Sri Archaya, head of the International Sanatana Dharma Society, to whom the book is dedicated alongside Gordy Tweit. See the video below. The mention is in the beginning.
"I enjoyed reading your book. What a character. His recounting of his life was so honest, and of such interest to me." - Lanny Little, Bellingham artist
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This book was the focus of an article by a relative of George's in the annual Whatcom County Historical Society Journal (2022). Click photos below to enlarge.
A History Of Bellingham's Parks: A Historical & PhotographicaL Tour
1999
The first history of the parks and open spaces of Bellingham, featuring hundreds of photos and new information I'd dug up over years of research. My first book, published when I was 21 and a sophomore in college (though not a college project and I got no credit for it).
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A collection of then and now photographs from around Whatcom County. I was part of the volunteer committee of historians that organized and wrote this, under the sponsorship of the Whatcom County Historical Society and Bellingham Herald, and spearheaded by Carole Teshima Morris. I had no hand in the actual writing.
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