The Presbyterian Picnic at Vashon Island
A mid-summer gathering of Sunday School members turns the undeveloped shores of Vashon Island into a scene of croquet, baseball, and local amusement.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Chautauqua Assembly grounds at Vashon Island were christened yesterday by the arrival of some two hundred members and friends of the Presbyterian Sunday School, with their lunch baskets, croquet, football, and train. They found the picnic grounds not yet prepared, but the beach afforded a natural diversion, and the pleasant breeze and shade transformed the beach into a lively place. There was air and water and fun and frolic, but no pools or false swearing. Rev. Mr. Strange and Superintendent John Miller spoke, in which the former told of the glory of his opponent. The girls played at speed with varied success, and the boys had a match game of baseball. Mr. Delworth, the owner of the grounds, assured those present that he would work a great transformation before the Chautauqua meeting in August, and the primeval shade and town site should be so arranged as to combine beauty and utility. A. D. Hobb, of Tacoma public schools, attended the picnic, and claimed to enjoy Seattle hospitality. Altogether it was a pleasant affair, and after the morning exercises, followed by a slight sprinkle, the day was very enjoyable.
“They found the picnic grounds not yet prepared, but the beach afforded a natural diversion, and the pleasant breeze and shade transformed the beach into a lively place.”
Long before Vashon Island became a tranquil retreat for commuters and a hub for independent artists, it served as a raw, 'primeval' site for early civic and religious gatherings. The transition from picnic spot to organized community space reflects the broader transformation of Puget Sound islands from rugged wilderness to managed recreational and residential districts.
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