Western Washington University Western CEDAR Klipsun Magazine Western Student Publications 10-2008 Klipsun Magazine, 2008, Volume 38, Issue 07 - October Ciara O'Rourke Western Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the Journalism Studies Commons Recommended Citation O'Rourke, Ciara, "Klipsun Magazine, 2008, Volume 38, Issue 07 - October" (2008). Klipsun Magazine. 133. https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/133 This Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Western Student Publications at Western CEDAR. It has been accepted for inclusion in Klipsun Magazine by an authorized administrator of Western CEDAR. For more information, please contact [email protected]. October 2008 . Volume 38 . Issue 7 murder p.14 prostitution p.22 & war p.4 June 2008 1 We’ll be the fi rst to admit our cover’s a little sensational. It might even smell desperate. But when we said we were planning a historical issue, we received what you might call scorn. Th e nerve. Fortunately, murder, prostitution and war aren’t just heavy-handed buzzwords we chose so you would pick up the magazine (although that’s true, too)—they fi t the bill. Th irty years ago this January, the notorious Hillside Strangler killed two Western students in a series of murders tracing back to California. Circa the early 1900s, sweet Fairhaven boasted the best brothels in town (the Horseshoe Dear Readers did, too, but we all saw that coming). And if that’s sounding a tad seedy, fl ip to page 18—did you know Fairhaven has the largest antiquarian bookshop in the PNW? Dusty history-book stigma, be gone! Sincerely, Ciara O’Rourke Editor in Chief EDITOR IN CHIEF Ciara O’Rourke MANAGING EDITOR Ryan White STORY EDITORS Kevin Diers Michael Harthorne Molly Maloney ONLINE EDITOR Nick Rohde LEAD DESIGNER Sarah Frantz DESIGNERS Tyler Nelson Adriana Torres PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Emtman Kevin McMillon Eric Schmitz WRITERS Megan Clafl in Coral Garnick Erin Miller Yuki Nakajima Peter Pearsall Colin Simpson Alissa VandenBerghe Kassidy Vietti Julia Waggoner ADVISER Stephen Howie Cover Photo from 1950 by Jack Carver courtesy of Whatcom Museum of History & Art. A HUGE thank you to Jeff Jewell for all his work providing the majority of the historical photographs. Correction from the previous issue: the three trees co-owner’s name is Dann Warick. 22 Klipsun MagazineMagazine October 2008 Volume 38 Issue 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS A LESON IN WAR BUILDING FAIRHAVEN by Megan Clafl in by Colin Simpson 48 DOWN DEVIL’S ROW: CATCHING THE HILLSIDE MARKING FAIRHAVEN STRANGLER MILESTONES by Erin Miller by Coral Garnick 12 14 A LIFE FILLED WITH STORIES STREET SMARTS: by Julia Waggoner MAKING SENSE OF BELLINGHAM’S ROADS by Yuki Nakajima 18 20 COLLECTOR’S CACHE PAINT THE TOWN RED: by Peter Pearsall BELLINGHAM’S BROTHELS by Kassidy Vietti 21 22 OLD BRICK HEART HATEFUL HISTORY by Alissa Vanden Berghe by Julia Waggoner 26 27 t Visit our Website for more articles + interactive features http://klipsun.wwu.edu JuneJune 20082008 33 aa llessonesson in war iStoryn by Megan Clawfl in // Photos bya Jeff Emtmanr David Imburgia’s understanding of the American Civil War does not rely on faintly recalled lectures or disputed dates overlooked in textbooks. Imburgia’s memories of the War Between the States are more personal. Captain David Vernon Imburgia is the acting Commander of shot at,” Imburgia says, pausing. “I was impressed.” the 15th Alabama Infantry Company G, a group of Civil War re- Members of the 15th Alabama Infantry are from all walks of enactors centered in Bellingham. life. Th e 70 members reside in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Imburgia, a 59-year-old with a wiry build, sharp eyes and a Canada with multiple families participating. Members range steady, eloquent voice, is a nine-year veteran of the group. In from young children to men and women in their 80s. Outside 1999, the soldiers of the 15th Alabama Infantry invited him of his role as commander, Imburgia is a fi nancier who owns his to participate in a battle at Hovander Park in Ferndale, Wash. own company and passionately teaches tango. Imburgia says he wanted to know what it might have felt like to Jerry Shiner, an infantry 1st Sergeant and self-proclaimed be a soldier in the Civil War. right hand to Imburgia, says the camaraderie shared between “Th e 15th Alabama was gracious enough to allow me to the members mirrors the relationships true soldiers shared. He sample the experience,” Imburgia says. “And they gave me a describes his close friendship with the Captain in its simplest uniform, a rifl e and a little bit of training, and let me go out terms. onto the fi eld with them.” “Well, I get up early and make the Captain his coff ee,” Shiner Imburgia felt excitement as he charged forward on the grassy says. “We all know the Captain can’t function without his fi eld, his rifl e wobbling precariously in his hands, toward an morning cup.” opposing line of men. Imburgia’s stern face creases with heavy Shiner chuckles and Imburgia continues the joke with his thoughts; he sighs and says he was awed by the courage the own retort. soldiers must have possessed. “Yeah he is out there in the morning rubbing two sticks “To be a solider in the Civil War, to stand shoulder to shoulder together for a fi re,” Imburgia says. “Secretly he’s just got his with your friends and brothers and to shoot at other men and be Coleman stove stowed away in his tent.” Village of Whatcom settled Whatcom Post Office established May March 25, 1853 25, 1857 19, 4 Klipsun Magazine (left) Karin Porret, an offi cer in the Civil War re-enactors group. All humor aside Imburgia, Shiner and the other re-enactors To ensure safety both on and off the battlefi eld all troops devote themselves to their craft. Members assume a variety undergo training and adhere to strict safety procedures. Th e of military and civilian roles including blacksmiths and homemade weaponry is inspected by Imburgia or Shiner and seamstresses. Some members even portray doctors and perform must pass the tedious checklist created by the Washington Civil faux surgeries and amputations. War Association, the parent club to all Civil War re-enactment Members’ abilities to transform the past into reality depend clubs in Washington. Even in the excitement of battle, infantry greatly on their historical accuracy. Th e 15th Alabama relies on re-enactors know that if their gun misfi res three times they are old patterns to sew uniforms and clothing—dresses complete required to “play dead” until the weapon can be fi xed. with hoopskirts and bonnets. When a group of soldiers are Tom Peloquim, Chairperson for the WCWA, says he is marching in their blue wool jackets, tarnished gold buttons proud of the associations untarnished safety record. Besides glinting feebly in the sun, the eff ect is convincing. A person can the rules governing weaponry, the WCWA also enforces an age believe they are looking back in time, observing the bustle of requirement for members who want to participate on the fi eld. camp activities. Th e WCWA’s goal is to re-enact a war without casualties and so For the truly spirited members of the group, original far it has been a successful campaign. blueprints for cannons help craftsman to recreate the 2,000- “We have been lucky and haven’t had many injuries,” says pound iron rocket-launchers of the 18th century. Four or fi ve Peloquim. “Occasionally someone will fall from their horse or men rally around the monstrous gun, heaving it forward bit trip in a hole, but we have avoided anything too serious.” lesson by bit toward the enemy line before it sinks into the soggy During multiple day events the 15th Alabama camps onsite, turf. When fi red, a sonic wave of thunder knocks the breath leaving their homes and vehicles behind for campfi res and out of onlookers and spits a four-foot-long torrent of sparks canvas tents. Members dawn their costumes and transition and smoke. their mindsets to their 18th-century counterparts. A few in war Imburgia says he once stood in a cannon’s line of fi re. Th e devout members choose to adopt the name of a deceased family cannon shot only gunpowder, no shell, so Imburgia walked away member who served in the war. For example, in battle Shiner is from the blast unharmed, but shaken. Josiah Henry Newton, his ancestor and a Civil War casualty. “I realized that 150 years ago, with a shell loaded in that A few years after becoming a re-enactor Imburgia traveled cannon, I would be no more. Th at part was sobering,” Imburgia to Tennessee to visit historic battlegrounds. Th ere he met a says. “Th e whole idea of the personal and impersonal death young woman and the two struck up a conversation about the these powerful weapons dealt is sobering.” Civil War and Imburgia’s re-enactments. Excitedly the woman Byron Kent and his son Jacob in costume standing by the tents, hand made by the group. First masquerade ball: The first Masquerade Ball ever given on Bellingham Bay is held on George 1874 Post Office Post Washington’s Birthday in 1874. It’s Old Fairhaven Old Fairhaven considered the grand social event of the year. June 2008 5 “I remember being in the infantry line and here is the guy I had coffee with an hour ago and watching him pretend to be shot dead, and I remember feeling, ‘Wow he’s gone.