Railroad History of Bellingham Bay, Washington

A detailed account of the building of the first railroads in Washington Territory located in the Pacific Northwest boarded by Canada to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The author spent years collecting newspaper articles of the time and the story is told through the eyes and in the words of those who lived through this period. The focus is on the settlements along the shores of Bellingham Bay. In some ways it is not an easy story to tell. Newspaper accounts of the time were often speculative. In some cases they were used to mislead the public as well as inform them. Rumors abounded; large amounts of money were at stake. Real-estate risk-takers could make and lose fortunes overnight. At the same time editors and reporters of the time tried to second guess just where the railroads would go and what might become the so called "terminus city" for each of the national transcontinental lines building westward, the Northern Pacific, the Canadian Pacific and the Great Northern.
About the Author: Neill D. Mullen was born and raised in Bellingham, WA and was a local history enthusiast since grade four when he was introduced to pioneers and the local Indian culture. He has served as president of the Whatcom Museum Society, the Whatcom County Historical Society and the Whatcom Genealogical Society. He was a professional educator for forty years in public schools, at Western Washington University and a civilian educator with the U.S. Army educational programs in Europe. He served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served as an inspector with the U.S. Customs Service at the Bellingham International Airport during peak summer travel seasons for 18 years concurrent with his teaching in Whatcom County Schools. Mr. Mullen earned an undergraduate degree from WWU, a Master's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado (Greeley), and completed advanced graduate study at Stanford University, University of Chicago and Syracuse University. His continuing interest in local history has led to the compiling and publishing of a number of books of historical interest including Whatcom County Post Offices and Postmasters, 1857-1985 (printed 1986), The History of the Arlington (WA) Municipal Airport 1934-1946 (printed 1997 and 2005), Lest We Forget 1941-1945 the war years: aviation history of Whatcom County (printed 2001), Humor and Tragedy from Pre-1900 Bellingham Bay Newspapers (printed 2010).