Freeborn Village. We find little history for our Farm’s area from 1923 to 1953; this is embarrassing for a “history farm.” The Granite Falls Museum’s files show history of parcel ownership; the Church has few photos or records. Agnes Molstad’s Victoria Community “Then & Now” tells of the Pedersens giving 4 acres to the Church in 1904, both Pedersens
dying on their homestead in 1923 (p. 6). The period of the Depression through WW II at this site is unmentioned; as is the history of Freeborn Village, once found 100 yards NE of today’s Church-owned red farmhouse. Legend has it that the Village cabins were destroyed by the US Army under Presidential (Bess’) orders. Comments, photos – any information would be appreciated – especially the reported US Navy’s use of the adjacent parcel after WW II (to the west) for logistics (including “heavies” for Whidbey Island), the residual alphas and betas may still be polluting Freeborn Church Creek’s West Fork that supplies most of the City of Stanwood’s drinking water.
The main road by the Farm in 1920 was on its west edge, 24th Ave NW, running north to the English Grade (logging railway, then road) that passed by a dance hall and mercantile store on the way to Freeborn Elementary School (1 acre parcel, a mile away, still owned by the Stanwood School District). It connected Milltown Lutheran Church and the nearby Church who shared a pastor until 1947. Services for the former were in English, the latter Dano-Norwegian until the early 1930s (along with Council Minutes). The 3 buildings on 24th Av (disassembled) provided lumber for pioneer farmers (this writer’s grandparents’ chicken houses) and small buildings (8 – 10) for Freeborn Village (to whom he delivered eggs). Much of the other work was done mainly by Chinese laborers who, if not in residence on pioneer homesteads/farms, lived in the ravine west of the bluff on which Milltown Church sat (19287 County Line Road’s Scandinavian Cemetery). The latter church was disassembled in 1930 and its lumber used for a parsonage, now a rental. Providing assistance to the homeless was a key component of both Churches’ missions at that time. This road then curved north along the bluff overlooking the Skagit Flats and the Great Northern railroad that sits 11’ above sea level. (Sit in any East Stanwood restaurant and your iPhone will register 4’ above sea level at tabletop.) The road ran through the site of a Swinomish Indian village with its mile long seashell midden, visible from the Franklin Road. A midden lesson is to follow, this post for those who wondered about the road traveled by Romani Travelers. Note, in 2024, 24th Ave. NW will be restored, in part, by the Pacific Denkmann Co. as an access road to their Pilchuck Tree Farm. The Chinese, Elementary School, Village, Romani, Midden, etc. have given way to the next generations who are now writing the next chapter of local history. All we truly know is that a Village with 2 dozen populace was “deconstructed” in 1947.
https://www.eastonsbooks.com/products/author/Molstad,%20Agnes
https://www.seattlemet.com/web-exclusives/2010/01/red-light-history-0210
https://www.plc215.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/J-When-the-State-is-Wrong.pdf
https://www.plc215.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2013-Conditional-Use-Permit-Narrative.pdf (page 37)
https://loscho.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=d88679dd9d04410f806546b0d7f776f2
https://www.plc215.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/A-Washington-State-History-Farm.pdf
Freeborn Village’s history is hidden in mystery, due most likely because between 1923 and 1947 the red house sitting across from the Church was, during that period, used as a:
both of the below
restaurant
brothel
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