Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Belle Vue Farm

Belle Vue Sheep Farm painting by Richard Schlecht ~ National Park Service

By 1853 Hudson’s Bay had established Belle Vue Farm on the South end of San Juan Island. The farm was named for its splendid view across the straits to the Olympic Mountains. Overseen by Charles Griffin the farm featured a truck garden, farmyard animals including Berkshire boars and more than a thousand sheep set loose to graze the Islands prairies. The farm employees were European, Native and Hawaiian. Hawaiian sheepherders were employed to maintain the sheep.

Belle Vue Farm site today photo: National Park Service

link to: Belle Vue Farm: San Juan Island National Historical Park

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