BAINBRIDGE ISLAND HISTORY

IslandWood, an environmental learning center based on Bainbridge Island, asked Stourwater to produce a trio of historical documentaries that would explore the rich cultural diversity that made Bainbridge Island unique.

Port Blakeley - Memories of a Mill Town

This short historical documentary depicts the rise and fall of the largest sawmill in the world and how its legacy affects Bainbridge Island, Washington. At the turn of the 20th century, Port Blakely and its sawmill were better known than Seattle. This raw seaport and mill attracted immigrants from all over the world who were searching for a job and a better life in America. Stories and memories recalled by former residents and relatives reveal the surprising histories of the Native American, Scandinavian and Japanese communities that once thrived alongside each other in this bustling town.

The Red Pines

This companion piece portrays the struggle of Japanese-American immigrants on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and the legacy of their culture in the present-day community. From the story of Zenhichi Harui, a Japanese immigrant who came to Bainbridge Island in 1908, to the present day nursery business run by his son, Junkoh, the film traces the obstacles overcome by the Japanese pioneers and their families. Bainbridge Island represented a unique opportunity for the Japanese immigrants, with a multicultural community that tolerated diversity. Even so, from the laws preventing Asians from purchasing land to the internment during World War II, the Japanese-Americans had to exert an extraordinary amount of spirit and hard work to prosper.

Island Roots

This film, the third in the Bainbridge Island history series commissioned by IslandWood,focuses on the Filipino pioneers who emigrated to the United States and subsequently to Bainbridge Island in the 1920s and 30s. They came to Bainbridge Island to work the land, mostly on Japanese-American owned strawberry farms. This film depicts the story of immigrants who struggled to achieve the American Dream. It is the story of their relationship not only with other Island residents, but in particular to the Japanese-American farmers and Canadian First Nation migrant workers, many of whom married the Filipino bachelors. It is the story of the land, and how the Filipino community became its stewards during World War II.

For more on these videos, including purchasing information, please visit the IslandWood Web site.