| Fox Island History |
| Did you know how a collection of Fox Island historical items became the Fox Island Museum? by Janice A. Miller My grandfather, Cecil Fassett, started a collection of historical items that were housed in the old schoolhouse, which was always a concern about the safety of the collection. Before he died in 1973, my parents, George and Lois Miller purchased property on 9th and Kamus and launched the Historical Society’s fund-raising campaign and building project. My dad was a teacher of history. Growing up my dad took the family to see almost every historical marker in Washington state and vacations always included visits to museums. When my dad retired from Tacoma Schools in 1979, the fund-raising kicked into high gear and building the museum began. When the building was completed in 1980, my dad assumed the role of Museum Curator. Over the next 22 years he dedicated himself to the community wide effort of creating a place where all generations of Fox Islanders and their guests could come to learn and celebrate the story of this extraordinary place. |
A story about the property that is now the Fox Lair condos from a current Fox Island resident who has lived here 60 plus years:
This resident recalls an apple orchard at the Fox Lair location that led down to woods. Her memory was quite vivid because she and a friend used to walk dogs on trails through what is now Fox Lair. The astonishing thing about their many trips through the area was that none of the dogs were theirs. The ladies and their “companions” walked 9th Avenue to the Nichols Center and then down Gway. At the second corner the group turned on to an old logging road and sauntered back up hill to the Fox Lair property. At that point, all the dogs who had joined them left, presumably for home.
Rotating Exhibits at Zog’s
The Museum has several photos displayed at Zog’s, located behind the Fox Island Store. Be sure to stop by and check them out!
Fox Islands “Boys In The Boat”
‘Our Boys in the Boat’ is a display of information about the Alaska bound canoe trip that left from Tanglewood Island on June 10, 1961. Pictured in the display are two master canoe builders, Earl and Floyd Willits, builders of the special canoes for sound-ocean travel, and Dr. A. L. Schultz, a Tacoma physician who is leading the group to Juneau, Alaska. The doctor, three adult camp counselors, and eight boys will paddle and sail five 17-foot canoes to Alaska in 36 days.
Read more about the canoe trip to Alaska on the wall in the game room at Zog’s.
The Grounding of a Nuclear Sub on Fox Island
