Do Not Park in Church Parking Lot!
This series highlights locations in Skagit County. These communities were formed in the early 1870's remaining up until the 1920's. Many of the names still appear on maps. A few have buildings remaining in use today. These communities and many others can be found on https:/www.skagitcounty.net/Maps/iMap/?mapjs=hist
Fir, known as Mann’s Landing when the first store and hotel opened in 1876, was once a bustling river stop on the South Fork of the Skagit River below Skagit City. Charles H. Mann opened his store and small hotel to accommodate the loggers on the lower river and other transients. In 1880, his wife decided their post office should be called Fir, after a tall fir tree nearby. Others agreed and Mann’s Landing became Fir when the post office opened in April of that year. For some time, the place was more important than its sister town, Conway across the river. It had a meat market, the Fir Hotel, the post office, two general stores, a Lutheran church and a saloon. As late as 1906, it had a population of 100. Today, Fir has all but disappeared except for the church.
In the flood of 1887 the water was three feet deep in the Charles Mann store, and Mr. Mann is reported to have caught two mountain trout near the counter. His wife was chatting with friends in the Fir Hotel – before the women realized what was happening, their chairs were afloat.” From- Skagit Settlers: Trials and Triumphs
More information available at Skagit County Historical Museum in La Conner.
Congratulations LizzyRN on the FTF.