history lessons part 2
History’s about half mystery, the Band likes to say. A good historian is like a detective, digging for clues, looking for bones, finding surprises.
Nobody dug much at the South End. You ask most of us why is Summerland summerland?, what is O-Zi-Ya?, when did Tyee Grocery become a major shopping district?, who was Mabana? – most folks on the South End who drive by this stuff everyday, every week, month after month, year after year, they don’t know or don’t care or just can’t read yet.
Tyee used to be a resort, had cabins for rent in the ‘40’s. Before Tyee Store exploded on the scene, vacationers would get ice and beer and produce on the west side at Bucklin’s store. Still sits where you go down to Summerland, named that because it used to be only used in, yeah, the Summer. Brutus next door is named after Elmer Hovik, the developer’s, cow. Thought it was funny. Mabana is named after an early South End pioneer Nils Anderson’s daughter Mabel and his wife Johanna. Couldn’t make up his mind, I guess, so he named it after both, better than Joannabelle, you got to admit. Bernie Road and Dallman Road are named after Bernie Dallman. Nice guy, Bernie. Lived to be nearly a 100. Lived to see his roads paved.
Camano itself was named after a Spaniard who sailed through in search of fame and fortune and adventure. Some of the band think he was troubadour in a Tex Mex Band and that someday we’ll rename Camano after US. Washboard Island. Spoon City. The band is always rewriting history….
O-Zi-Ya though, now there’s a mystery. Could be the first part of 3 names, could be some bad spellers, could be drunk loggers having some fun ….. Hard to say. Half the band swears it’s the Kikiallus tribe’s lost language, roughly translated, means: Trailer Park –Pets Welcome. Maybe they’re on to something. Or just ON something….
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