Cosmopolis Mill, Ships and Wharves, Cosmopolis, Washington Territory 1889

Item Details

Aberdeen, Washington, J.W. Tollman, 1889

Cosmopolis Mill, Ships and Wharves, Cosmopolis, Washington Territory 1889, photograph likely by J.W. Tollman, Aberdeen, Washington, 1889

Photo is 6 7/8 x 9 1/2 inches on 8 x 10-inch mount. Moderate soiling to both sides including several partial inked fingerprints on front. Trim size of albumen photo does not fit within mount marks. Typed caption on front. Removed from frame which revealed a wealth of information on verso which includes a 'modern' typed legend, similar to that on front. Good condition.

Wonderful May 1889 photograph taken, just prior to Washington statehood (November 1889). Sepia toned albumen photo shows a series of ships docked at what is identified on verso in manuscript as "The Grey's Harbor Mill Co's Mill, Wharves & Vessels, loading lumber. May 1889. Cosmopolis, Wash."  Further manuscript notes identify all of the vessels at dock. A pasted down modern label repeats some of this information and sadly covers a portion of photographer's backstamp. 

Ships identified include: Montesano, Annie Gee, Traveller, Marion, Joseph Russ, Le Gironde, Melancthon and Annie Larsen.

Cosmopolis, Washington is the oldest community on Grays Harbor with its name traced back to 1861.  In 1888 the Grays Harbor Mill Company opened a sawmill on the banks of the Chehalis River. Within a year, as seen in this photo, the mill was very active. 

Photographer J.W. Tollman was active in several Washington communities including Aberdeen and Olympia. He moved to Oregon early in the 20th century. 

It pays to remove items from frames as every once in a while, a treasure trove of information is hidden.